Checked bag policy

Checked bag allowances

Checked bag fees have changed for flights within the U.S. or to / from Canada, Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands for tickets issued on / after September 21, 2018.

1st checked bag fee applies to Transatlantic Basic Economy tickets.

The 2nd checked bag fee has changed for flights to / from Haiti for tickets issued on / after November 13, 2018 and for travel beginning January 14, 2019.

If you’re flying to Bonaire (BON) you’ll be limited to 2 checked bags per person for tickets issued on or after March 22, 2018. If you’re flying to Guyana (GEO), Oaxaca, MX (OAX), Pereira, CO (PEI), or St. Vincent (SVD) you’ll be limited to 2 checked bags per person for travel between November 15, 2018 and January 13, 2019.

Seasonal date changes for checked bags have been updated as of October 1, 2018.

Checked bags

How many bags can you take?

Check up to 10 bags if your trip is:

  • Domestic
  • Transatlantic
  • Transpacific

Check up to 5 bags if you’re traveling to / through / from:

*There are seasonal and year-round bag restrictions

Weight and size

We calculate the size limits of your bag by adding the total outside dimensions of each bag, length + width + height.

For all regions, your checked bag allowance is:

  • Dimension: 62 in / 158 cm
  • Weight: 50 lbs / 23 kgs
  • For First / Business, weight is 70 lbs / 32 kgs


Oversize and overweight bags

What will it cost?

Complimentary bags

In some cases, you won't have to pay the fees for up to 3 bags. If you qualify for complimentary bags based on elite status, the benefits are based on your highest status level at time of ticketing or check-in.

If your status level is:

  • Higher at ticketing than at check-in, show your ticket receipt to the airport agent
  • Lower at ticketing than at check-in, current benefits will automatically apply

1st checked bag is complimentary for:

  • Eligible AAdvantage® Aviator® and Citi® / AAdvantage® cardmembers (on domestic American Airlines operated itineraries)
  • AAdvantage® Gold
  • oneworld® Ruby
  • Confirmed Business customers*
  • Confirmed Premium Economy customers
And when traveling to these destinations This content can be expanded

1st and 2nd checked bags are complimentary for:

  • AAdvantage® Platinum Pro
  • AAdvantage® Platinum
  • oneworld® Sapphire members
  • Confirmed Business customers*
  • Confirmed Premium Economy customers**

**$100 2nd bag fee applies to trips booked on or before November 12, 2017. $0 2nd bag fee applies to trips booked on or after November 13, 2017 (excluding Hawaii).

And when traveling to these destinations This content can be expanded

1st, 2nd and 3rd checked bags are complimentary for:

  • Confirmed First customers on 3-cabin aircraft
  • AAdvantage® Executive Platinum
  • oneworld® Emerald
  • Active U.S. military and/or dependents with ID traveling on orders (1st - 5th bags free of charge)
  • Active U.S. military with ID on personal travel

Cuba

For bag fees, 'U.S.' refers to:

  • Domestic U.S.
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Puerto Rico
  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • Caribbean

One-way to Cuba

Trips originating in the U.S. or Canada to Cuba pay the applicable 1st bag fee.

Round-trip to Cuba

Round-trips originating in the U.S. or Canada to Cuba:

  • 1st bag and 2nd bag fees apply to Cuba
  • 1st and 2nd bag free back to U.S.

One-way from Cuba

Standard-sized 1st and 2nd bags are free when departing Cuba

Round-trip from Cuba

Round-trips originating in Cuba to the U.S. or Canada:

  • Standard-sized 1st and 2nd bags are free when departing Cuba
  • Standard-sized 1st bag is free and 2nd bag fee applies when returning back to Cuba

Charges

Region Bag 1 Bag 2 Bag 3 Bag 4+
Domestic $30* $40** $150 $200
Mexico $30* $40 $150 $200
Caribbean $30* $40/$70** $150 $200
Panama $0 $40 $150 $200
Central America (except Panama) $30* $40/$55** $150 $200
Brazil $0 $0 $150^ $150^
Colombia $0/$30* $55 $150 $200
Ecuador $0 $40 $150 $200
Venezuela $0 $55 $150 $200
South America (except Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela) $0 $0 $150 $200
Transatlantic $0/$60^^ $100 $200 $200
Transpacific $0 $0 $200 $200

Bag fee based on travel date and destination. Seasonal pricing applies to trips booked on / before January 9, 2018 for travel on June 20 - August 9, 2018 and December 8 - 24, 2018 or for trips booked on / after January 10, 2018 for travel on June 15 - August 12, 2018 and December 8 - 24, 2018.

*1st checked bag fee of $25 applies for tickets issued on or before September 20, 2018 and $30 for tickets issued on or after September 21, 2018. For travel to/from Cali, Colombia and El Salvador, the 1st bag fee applies seasonally.

**2nd checked bag fee of $35 applies for tickets issued on or before September 20, 2018 and $40 for tickets issued on or after September 21, 2018. For travel to/from Honduras, a $55 2nd bag fee applies seasonally. For travel to/from Port au Prince, Haiti a $55 2nd bag fee applies seasonally for tickets issued on / before November 12, 2018 and a year-round 2nd bag fee of $70 applies for tickets issued on / after November 13, 2018 and for travel beginning January 14, 2019.

^For travel to/from Brazil, 3rd and 4th checked bag fees are $85 for tickets issued on or before January 31, 2018, and $150 for tickets issued on or after February 1, 2018.

^^$60 1st bag fee applies to Transatlantic Basic Economy tickets

Optional service fees

If your region is not listed, we can still help:

All bag fees are non-refundable and apply per person, each way. If you believe you've been incorrectly charged for bag fees, contact an American representative for help or file a refund claim within 45 days.

Refunds

What else can you travel with?

Restricted items

There are some items that are only allowed in checked bags or your carry-on. Check to see how to pack and travel with restricted items.

Restricted items

You may also like...

Oversize and overweight bags

Back to top