American Airlines Baggage and Carry-on

What is the carry-on allowance?

American Airlines accepts one carry-on bag and one personal item per passenger, free of charge. The suitability of carry-on baggage will be determined by American Airlines. Depending on the main cabin stowage capacity of specific aircraft, additional limits may be placed on carry-on baggage.

In most cases, the carry-on baggage limitations are the same for domestic and international travel. However, carry-on allowance may vary by country.

What is American Airlines policy on checked baggage allowance?

American Airlines allows passengers traveling in the Main Cabin to check up to 2 pieces of checked baggage with a maximum weight of 50 lbs (23 kg) and a maximum outside linear dimension of 62 inches (158 cm), either complimentary or subject to payment of the applicable charges. Baggage charges for the first and second bag vary depending on the type of fare purchased, active military status, the itinerary (e.g., domestic or international), etc.

To Premium Economy passengers, American Airlines offers 2 free checked bags with a maximum weight of 50 lbs (23 kg) per piece (70 lbs (32 kg) per piece to/from Australia or New Zealand), and a maximum linear dimension of 62 inches (158 cm).

In Business and First Class, the maximum weight is 70 lbs (32 kg) per piece, and the maximum linear dimension is 62 inches (158 cm). Passengers traveling on American Airlines or connecting with British Airways or Iberia are allowed to check free of charge:

• Business Class – 2 pieces of checked baggage.
• First Class – 2 pieces of checked baggage on 2-cabin aircraft.

       – 3 of checked baggage pieces on 3-cabin aircraft.

American Airlines may make exceptions to the baggage allowance policy (e.g., to the number, size, weight, and/or applicable service charges) for certain customers, such as active  US military personnel, AAadvantage members, MVP members, oneworld Alliance Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby members, etc.

What are the baggage policies in the case of codeshare flights?

When your itinerary includes traveling on codeshare flights operated by other carriers, the baggage allowance and charges of the operating carrier may apply.

Carry-on

Baggage carried on board the aircraft must be retained in the passenger’s custody and safely secured in either the overhead bin or under the seat stowage area.

One carry-on bag may include, but is not limited to: suitcases, collapsible strollers, garment bags, pet carriers, sports bags, camera bags, shopping bags or small duffels. The carry-on bag must fit in the bag sizer and cannot exceed any of the following measurements: 22″ x 14″ x 9″ (56 x 36 x 23 cm). A soft-sided garment bag up to 51 inches (130 cm – length + width + height) may be taken as a carry-on bag.

The personal item may be a purse, briefcase, laptop or another similar item (e.g., small tote bag, shoulder bag, small backpack or book bag) with maximum dimensions of 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) and must fit under the seat in front of the passenger.

In addition, certain items will be allowed to be carried on board the aircraft:

• Outerwear, such as coats, wraps or hats.
• Book, newspaper.
• Small bag of food for consumption during the flight.
• Pillow, blanket.
• Approved safety seat, diaper bag and umbrella stroller for a child.
• Assistive devices (e.g., wheelchairs, portable oxygen concentrators, walkers, etc.).

Checked Baggage

American Airlines will accept checked baggage only on flights on which you are traveling. Your name and address must be on the outside of your baggage, but you should put your name and address on the inside of your baggage too. Name tags are available at all airport baggage check-in locations.

Items that weigh more than 100 pounds (45 kg) or have a total outside dimension (length plus width plus height) of more than 126 inches (320 cm) will not be accepted as checked baggage. Additional restrictions apply to some American flights operated on smaller aircraft.

Excess, Overweight and Oversized Baggage

On domestic (including Canada), transatlantic, and transpacific routes, you may check up to 10 bags. On routes to/through/from Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, you may check up to 5 bags, but seasonal or year-round limitations may apply to baggage that is overweight (over 32 kg), oversized, or in excess.

On American Airlines flights, excess bag charges apply starting with the 3rd checked bag. As an exception, passengers traveling in First Class on 3-cabin aircraft, AAdvantage Executive Platinum, oneworld Emerald members, and active U.S. military with ID on personal travel pay excess bag charges starting with the 4th checked bag.

Overweight baggage charge applies for any bag weighing more than 50 lbs (23 kg), except the free checked bags up to 70 lbs (32 kg) for Business and First Class passengers on all flights, as well as for all passengers on flights to/from Australia and New Zealand.

Oversized baggage charges apply for any baggage larger than 62 linear inches (158 linear cm). Baggage larger than 126 linear inches (320 linear cm) will not be accepted on American Airlines flights.

There are limitations on checked baggage and boxes, seasonal or year-round when traveling to some destinations in Mexico, Latin America or the Caribbean, so you should contact Reservations for more information.

Fees

Overweight and/or oversized baggage charges are payable at the curbside or airport ticket counter. Online pre-paid bags option is currently available for up to 3 bags only on domestic flights and to/from select Caribbean destinations, on the website or through the app, when you check in and up to 4 hours before departure.

The following excess, overweight and oversized baggage charges apply on American Airlines flights.

Sports Equipment

For all classes of service, standard baggage charges (1st or 2nd bag fee, excess or overweight baggage charges) apply for the following sports equipment:

The standard bag fee (1st, 2nd, or additional) applies up to 50 lbs (23 kg), and the sports equipment fee of $150 applies from 51 lbs (23 kg) up to 70 lbs (32 kg) for the following sports equipment:

For the following sports equipment, American Airlines always applies the  $150 sports equipment fee:

Baggage Delivery

Priority Baggage Delivery is a benefit American Airlines offers to its top customers: First Class and Business Class passengers, AAdvantage Executive Platinum and Platinum members, AirPass travelers, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members. This service is offered on all flights marketed and operated by American Airlines, AmericanConnection and American Eagle. Baggage tagged with branded Priority bag tags will be the first ones delivered to the baggage claim area.

American Airlines teamed up with BAGS VIP Luggage Delivery to let the luggage experts deliver your bags for you to your selected destination, such as a hotel, an office or your home. Baggage delivery service is available for domestic flights and flights from selected international pre-clearance cities. The service available for purchase up to 2 hours in advance of scheduled departure, online only, at a flat rate of $39.95 for 1 or 2 bags, and +$10 per bag for additional bags, for delivery to destinations that are within 40 miles of the arriving airport. An additional $1 per mile will incur for deliveries between 41 and 100 miles. This service is in addition to applicable baggage charges.

Baggage Service

If you forgot an item at an American Airlines Skycap, ticket counter, Admirals Club, gate lounge, or aircraft, you should file a report at the American Airlines Baggage Service. Lost items turned in to American Airlines at the airport are retained up to 15-30 days prior to disposal. If you left an item at another area of the airport property, you should contact the Lost and Found office of the airport.

All American Airlines and American Eagle airport locations are equipped to handle the initial report, evaluation and settlement of damage claims.

Damage claims should be filed in person with an American Airlines representative before leaving the airport. For domestic itineraries, damage claims must be filed within 24 hours after you receive your bag(s). If the itinerary included international travel, damage claims must be filed within 7 days of receipt of the damaged article(s). Failure to comply with the prescribed time limits may affect reimbursements. The damaged article(s) needs to be presented for inspection at the airport where American Airlines personnel are responsible for the final resolution of your damage claim.

When you arrive at your final destination on a flight operated by American Airlines, AmericanConnection or American Eagle you must notify an American Airlines/American Eagle baggage service agent prior to leaving the airport if you are unable to locate your checked bag(s). Notification must be made within 12 hours after the arrival of your flight if you purchased the baggage delivery service provided through BAGS VIP in advance of travel.

If your bag(s) are located within 5 days, you will be contacted by a Service Representative. Otherwise, Central Baggage Service will take over the tracing effort, and you must fill out and return a Property Questionnaire within 30 days from the date you traveled.

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