American Airline Baggage Policy

Is your next flight scheduled with American Airlines? If yes, then knowing American Airline Baggage policy is a must for you. Sometimes we overpack without knowing that there are penalties if we cross certain limits. What would be more awkward than unpacking your pack at the check-in counter to avoid those penalties?

Let’s analyze American Airlines’ baggage policy before you begin packing. This blog has all the details about the policy and associated fees, so you don’t face such a situation at the airport.

Types of Baggage Policy on American Airlines

Airlines have different policies for carry-on and check-in bags. These policies also vary according to the type of ticket and destination. Also, if your bag is overweight or larger in size then they will be charged according to a different policy. Here are the types of baggage policy on American Airlines.

Checked baggage
Carry-on baggage
Overweight and Excess baggage
Oversized baggage

American Airlines Baggage Policy Carry On

American Airlines allows its passengers to bring 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal bag on board without paying any extra fee. It is applicable to every ticket holder of American Airlines.

A carry-on bag shouldn’t be more than the dimensions of 22″x14″x9″ inches. It needs to fit in the overhead bin!
A small personal item is also allowed. Make sure that it can fit under the seat in front of you. The dimensions of your personal item are under 18″ x 14″ x 8″ inches.
According to AA, Pets can only travel in the cabin if they remain seated beneath the seat in front of you the entire time. The charge for bringing a pet on American Airlines is $125 each way.
You can also bring a standard-size musical instrument as a carry-on, which could fit either under your seat or overhead bin.

American Airlines Carry-on Policy for a Passenger Traveling with an Infant

If you have an infant with you, then it is obvious that you will have certain requirements to cater to the needs of the child. So, American Airlines has made some policies regarding this too:

You can carry one diaper bag on board free of cost.
You can check in one stroller and 1 car seat at the boarding gate, without paying anything extra. And it will be counted as a check-in item.
Make sure the stroller doesn’t cross the weight limit of 9 kg/ 20 pounds.

American Airlines Carry-on Baggage Restrictions

These items are prohibited by American Airlines from being on board:

Sharp objects
Lithium batteries
Mace
Tear gas
Pepper spray
Explosives or arms and ammunition.
Marijuana is illegal in most countries.
Aerosol sprays.

How Many Bags can I check in with American Airlines?

According to American Airlines Checked Baggage Policy, your destination and your ticket will determine how many bags and weight you can check in baggage allowances.

Region / Destination	Max Bags Allowed	Weight Limit (Economy)	Weight Limit (Business Class)
Domestic	Up to 10 bags	23 kg (50 lbs)	32 kg (70 lbs)
Transatlantic	Up to 10 bags	23 kg (50 lbs)	32 kg (70 lbs)
Transpacific	Up to 10 bags	23 kg (50 lbs)	32 kg (70 lbs)
Mexico	Up to 5 bags	23 kg (50 lbs)	32 kg (70 lbs)
Caribbean	Up to 5 bags	23 kg (50 lbs)	32 kg (70 lbs)
Central America	Up to 5 bags	23 kg (50 lbs)	32 kg (70 lbs)
South America	Up to 5 bags	23 kg (50 lbs)	32 kg (70 lbs)
Brazil	Up to 5 bags	23 kg (50 lbs)	32 kg (70 lbs)
St. Croix	2 bags per person	23 kg (50 lbs)	32 kg (70 lbs)
St. Thomas	2 bags per person	23 kg (50 lbs)	32 kg (70 lbs)
St. Maarten	2 bags per person	23 kg (50 lbs)	32 kg (70 lbs)

What are the charges according to American Airlines’ baggage check-in policy?

In the following conditions, passengers can check bags free of cost on American Airlines:

Traveling in a fare group above the basic economy
Has elite AAdvantage or Oneworld membership
On-duty U.S. military officer

Other than that, American Airlines baggage fees depend on the number of bags and the destination. You should also ensure that your bag is not overweight or oversized. The linear dimension for a check-in bag on AA is 158 cm. The weight allowance varies according to the fare class. To get an idea about charges, check the chart given below:

Destination/Route	1st Bag Fee	2nd Bag Fee
Within the US	$40	$45
Between the US Virgin Islands	$40	$45
Between Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands	$40	$45
Between Puerto Rico and the US	$40	$45
To/from/within Canada	$35	$45
To/from/within Guyana	$35	$45
To/from/within Central America	$35	$45
To/from/within Mexico	$35	$45
To/from/within the Caribbean	$35	$45

Note—Keep in mind that if you make a payment before arriving at the airport, then you will save $5 on each bag!

What is American Airlines’ oversized baggage policy?

If your bag size exceeds the linear dimensions of 158 cm, then you may have to pay extra money, around C$30-C$36. However, if your bag size lies between 165 cm and 292 cm, then the overweight baggage charge will vary according to the region. Check the table given below to know the details:

Region/Route	Oversized Baggage Fee
Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S., Puerto Rico ↔ Central America (excluding Panama), the Caribbean	$200–$236
Central America (excluding Panama) ↔ Caribbean	$200–$236
South America → Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S., Qatar, Israel, Europe	$150–$177
U.S. ↔ U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Puerto Rico	$200–$236
Central America, Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands ↔ Panama, South America	$150–$177
From/To New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, China, India	$200–$236

What is the overweight policy of American Airlines?

American Airlines has made it clear that a passenger can bring up to 50 lbs on American Airlines. But if you are travelling in business or first class, then up to 70 lbs is also allowed. If one breaches this limit, then he/she has to pay an extra fee.

Region	51–53 lbs (24 kg)	54–70 lbs (32 kg)	71–100 lbs (45 kg)
U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands ↔ Canada	$30	$100	$200
Cuba	$30	$200	Not accepted
Mexico, Caribbean (excluding Cuba), Central & South America*	$30	$100	$200
Europe, Israel, Qatar	$30	$100	Not accepted
China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Australia	$30	$100	$450 (Not accepted to/from Australia)

Tips to Save Money on American Airlines Baggage Allowances

1. If you have a credit card that is partnered with American Airlines, then opt to pay with that to get a benefit on checked baggage.

2. Passengers with elite status in the AAdvantage Membership can avoid paying for checked bags. It is also applicable to OneWorld Elite members.

Gold member – 1 free checked bag
Platinum member – 2 free checked bags
Platinum Pro member – 3 free checked bags
Executive Platinum member – 3 free checked bags

3. If you opt to travel in a fare class that is above the basic economy, then you can check up to 2 free bags.

4. The U.S. military officer on duty also gets up to 3 free checked-in bags.

5. On some destinations, AA doesn’t charge any fee for a checked bag.

Conclusion

American Airlines has very thorough baggage policies for its passengers. Hopefully, this blog will help you in your next trip, but if you still have some doubts, then reach out to us at +1-855-956-2158. Pack your bag according to these guidelines, and your travel will be smoother than butter!

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