American Airlines flights fare to go up? Check new baggage fees

Flyers travelling on American Airlines flights will have to pay more as the carrier has decided to raise the price of checking bags. The new rates will be applicable for travel tickets booked on or after February 20, as per a Reuters report.

Passengers will now have to pay $35 to check their first bag for domestic flights if the service is booked online in advance, or $40 if they purchase the option at the airport, the carrier said. A second checked bag will cost $45 if purchased online or at the airport.

For Canada and short-haul international flights, the fee is $35 for first checked bags, and $45 for the second purchased online or at the airport. Customers who purchase premium cabins on domestic and international flights "will continue to receive complimentary bags", the airline said.

American last raised bag fees in 2018.

American, based in Fort Worth, Texas, introduced bag fees in 2008 — $15 back then — to cope with the rising cost of jet fuel. Since then, they have become a steady revenue source for most major US carriers. American easily led the industry by raising $1.4 billion in bag fees in 2022, the last year for which US Transportation Department figures are available, as per a report in AP.

The airline will generally allow customers to check at least one bag free if they hold elite status in American's loyalty program, buy a premium-class ticket or use an American-branded credit card.

American will give a break to customers whose bags are slightly overweight or oversized. Instead of being hit with the full extra fee — ranging from $100 to $650 — graduated fees will start at $30 for bags that are no more than 3 pounds (1.36 kg) or three linear inches over the limits.

And it is cutting the cost of transferring points between frequent-flyer accounts.

American Airlines also announced that starting with tickets issued on May 1, customers will have to buy tickets directly from the airline or its partner carriers or from preferred online travel agencies if they want to earn points in its AAdvantage loyalty program. The airline said it will list the preferred travel agencies in late April. Corporate travelers won’t be affected.

FAQs:

Q1. When did American Airlines raise bag fees?
A1. American Airlines last raised bag fees in 2018.

Q2. What are new announcements from American Airlines?
A2. American Airlines also announced that starting with tickets issued on May 1, customers will have to buy tickets directly from the airline or its partner carriers or from preferred online travel agencies if they want to earn points.