Checked bag policy − Travel information − American Airlines (2023)

Table of Contents
Checked bag allowances How many bags can you take? Check up to 10 bags on American Airlines operated flights if your trip is: Check up to 5 bags on American-operated flights if you’re traveling to / through / from: What it will cost 1st checked bag is complimentary for: 1st and 2nd checked bags are complimentary for: 1st, 2nd and 3rd checked bags are complimentary for: Charges to / from Europe and Middle East Charges to / from U.S. Domestic Through checked bags Cuba What else can you travel with? Restricted items Flying on a partner airline? You may also like...
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Checked bag allowances

Changes to bag allowances and fees have been updated as of March 14, 2023.

All bag fees are non-refundable and apply per person, at each check-in location, each way, even if you purchase or get an upgrade that includes free checked bags. 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.

  • Bag limitations
  • Bag and optional fees
Checked bag policy − Travel information − American Airlines (1)

How many bags can you take?

Check up to 10 bags on American Airlines operated flights if your trip is:

  • Domestic
  • Transatlantic
  • Transpacific

Check up to 5 bags on American-operated flights if you’re traveling to / through / from:

  • Mexico / Caribbean / Central America*
  • South America*
  • Brazil*
  • Bag limitations
  • Bag regions

*There are seasonal and year-round bag restrictions

Weight and sizeThis content can be expanded

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

For all regions, except to / from Australia or New Zealand, your checked bag allowance is:

  • Dimension: 62 in / 158 cm
  • Weight: 50 lbs / 23 kgs
  • For First / Business, weight is 70 lbs / 32 kgs for complimentary bags and 50 lbs / 23 kgs for excess charged bags

For all confirmed customers on flights to / from Australia or New Zealand:

  • Dimension: 62 in / 158 cm
  • Weight: 70 lbs / 32kgs for complimentary bags and 50 lbs / 23 kgs for excess charged bags

Oversize and overweight bags

What it will cost

Complimentary bagsThis content can be expanded

In some cases, you won't have to pay the fees for up to 3 bags when traveling on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines. If you qualify for complimentary bags based on your AAdvantage® or oneworld® status, the benefits are based on your highest status level at time of ticketing or check-in.

See Also
Oneworld Premium Economy to New York Starting at €737 From ItalyValue of Avios Points – How much are Avios Points Worth?

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

Free checked bags may not apply to codeshare flights operated by our partners. Visit the website of the airline operating your flight for details.

Other airlines

1st checked bag is complimentary for:

  • Eligible AAdvantage® Aviator® and Citi® / AAdvantage® cardmembers (on domestic American Airlines operated itineraries)
  • AAdvantage Gold®
  • oneworld® Ruby

And when traveling to these destinations:

  • Argentina*
  • Australia
  • Brazil*
  • Chile*
  • China
  • Colombia*
  • Ecuador*
  • El Salvador*
  • Haiti*
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Panama*
  • Paraguay*
  • Peru*
  • Qatar
  • South Korea
  • Transatlantic*
  • Uruguay*

*Excluding Basic Economy

1st and 2nd checked bags are complimentary for:

  • AAdvantage Platinum®
  • oneworld® Sapphire members
  • TrueBlue Mosaic members
  • Confirmed Domestic First customers
  • Confirmed Business customers
  • Confirmed Premium Economy customers

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

  • Confirmed Flagship® First customers and Flagship® Business Plus customers*
  • AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
  • AAdvantage Platinum Pro®
  • 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

*Applicable only to Flagship® First International, Flagship® First Transcontinental and Flagship® Business Plus. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum Pro® and oneworld® Emerald members traveling in Flagship® First may check a 4th bag at no charge

Bag feesThis content can be expanded

All published bag fees apply at each check-in location and are base rates according to travel dates and destination; applicable taxes are not shown.

Charges to / from Europe and Middle East

RegionBag 1^Bag 2^Bag 3Bag 4+
U.S. / Mexico / Caribbean (except Cuba) / Central America / South America€0 / $75 (€70 / £60)*$100 (€90 / £75)$200 (€180 / £155)$200 (€180 / £155)

*For Transatlantic Basic Economy travel €70/$75 1st bag fee applies and there is no 1st bag fee for Main Cabin.

^Main Plus includes 1 extra free checked bag in addition to the Main Cabin allowance (max of 2).

Charges to / from U.S. Domestic

RegionBag 1^Bag 2^Bag 3Bag 4+
Domestic$30$40$150$200
Mexico$30$40$200$200
Haiti$0 / $30*$65$200$200
Caribbean (except Cuba and Haiti)$30$40$200$200
Central America (except Panama)$30$40 / $65**$200$200
Guyana and Suriname$30$40$200$200
Panama / South America (except Guyana, and Suriname)$0 / $45*$65$200$200
Transatlantic$0 / $75*$100$200$200
Transpacific$0$100$200$200

All bag fees are non-refundable and apply per person, each way, even if you buy or get an upgrade that includes free checked bags. If you believe you were incorrectly charged for bag fees, contact an American representative for help or file a refund claim within 45 days.

  • Bag and optional fees
  • Refunds

Seasonal pricing applies for tickets issued on / before April 25, 2022 for travel June 1, 2022 – August 19, 2022 and November 27, 2022 – January 10, 2023, and for tickets issued on / after April 26, 2022 for travel November 27, 2022 – January 10, 2023 or travel November 27, 2023 – January 10, 2024.

^Main Plus includes 1 extra free checked bag in addition to the Main Cabin allowance (max of 2).

*Free bag excludes Basic Economy: For travel to / from Haiti, a $30 1st bag fee applies. For travel to / from South America (excluding Guyana, Suriname) a $45 1st bag fee applies. For Transatlantic Basic Economy travel (excluding Israel), a $75 1st bag fee applies.

**For travel to / from Honduras, a $65 2nd bag fee applies seasonally (see above for seasonal travel dates).

If your region isn’t listed, we can still help:

  • Reservations and ticket changes
  • Bag regions

Through checked bags

We only through check bags if all your tickets are in the same record locator and you’re connecting to another American Airlines or oneworld® flight.

Customer service FAQs

Cuba

Each passenger traveling to Cuba may only check up to 2 bags* with a maximum weight of 70 lbs / 32 kgs per bag, plus 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item.

  • Bag limitations
  • Carry-on bags

*Seasonal exceptions apply to Havana, Cuba effective for travel on/after March 14, 2023

What it will costThis content can be expanded

All published bag fees apply at each check-in location and are base rates according to travel dates and destination; applicable taxes are not shown.

Trips originating in EuropeBag 1Bag 2Bag 3Bag 4+
From Cuba€0€0€180 ($200)€180 ($200)
To Cuba€0€180 ($200)**^€180 ($200)€180 ($200)
Trips originating in CubaBag 1Bag 2Bag 3Bag 4+
From Cuba$0$0$200$200
To Cuba$0$150/$200*$200–
Trips originating outside Cuba^^Bag 1Bag 2Bag 3Bag 4+
To Cuba$30^$150/$200*$200–
From Cuba$0$0$200$200

All bag fees are non-refundable and apply per person, each way, even if you buy or get an upgrade that includes free checked bags. If you believe you were incorrectly charged for bag fees, contact an American representative for help or file a refund claim within 45 days.

  • Oversize and overweight bags
  • Bag and optional fees
  • Refunds

*For travel to Cuba, a $65 2nd bag fee applies for tickets issued on / before April 25, 2022. A $150 2nd bag fee applies for tickets issued on / after March 14, 2023 for travel on / before November 15, 2023 or travel on / after January 10, 2024. A $200 2nd bag fee applies otherwise.

**For travel between Europe and Cuba, a €90 ($100) 2nd bag fee applies for tickets issued on / before April 25, 2022, and a €180 ($200) 2nd bag fee applies for tickets issued on / after April 26, 2022.

^Main Plus includes 1 extra free checked bag in addition to the Main Cabin allowance (max of 2).

^^Excluding Transatlantic and Transpacific trips.

What else can you travel with?

  • Mobility and medical devices
  • Traveling with pets
  • Special items and sports equipment

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

Flying on a partner airline?

Find helpful information if your trip includes 1 or more flights with our partner airlines.

  • British Airways
  • Finnair
  • Iberia
  • Japan Airlines
  • Qatar Airways

You may also like...

  • Paying for bags online
  • Oversize and overweight bags

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