This article will guide you through the Domestic and international Baggage policy of American Airlines.
American Airlines 2024 Allowance for Baggage (policy)
Have you ever used US Airlines if not learn here about everything baggage, costs and limitations on American airlines.
The amount of baggage changed day by day depends on cabin class, fare and on the route.
Maximum size of baggage is 56 cm by 36 cm by 23 cm without handles and wheels. Passengers are allowed to bring one piece of hand luggage and one personal item. Both can also easily fit under the seat before you. Baggage may include a laptop bag, briefcase, pocketbook, or other objects like a tote.
Bags for carry-on
You can carry one carry-on bag and one personal time without any charges. But you have to follow the following rules.
Size restrictions
Please check your bag size before arriving at the airport. It must be fit with our our size restrictions.
Bags for carry-on
Size for carry-on bags be 9 in x 14 in x 22 in (23 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm) so it fits in the overhead bin. Take care to measure the handle and wheels of your bag.
Personal belongings
Size of personal items must be 9 in x 10 in x 17 in (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm) in order to fit beneath the seat in front of you. In this the items include laptop bags, backpacks, and purses.
Our luggage sizers can be used to measure your bag if you’re at the airport and unsure about its correct size.
Basic Economy
Most Basic Economy flights allow you to bring only one personal item. Unless you’re flying to South America, the Atlantic, or the Pacific, you can’t bring a carry-on. Every other bag should be investigated. Please be advised that if you check a carry-on at your gate, you will be charged a $25 premium in addition to the standard bag fee.
You can bring one free carry-on bag if you have MileagePlus Premier status, are traveling with a Premier member, are the principal cardholder of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card, or are a Star Alliance Gold member.
Bags checked at the gate
There are situations when a plane is too tiny for carry-on luggage or soon runs out of overhead room. In certain circumstances, your suitcase will be free to gate-check and available for pickup upon aircraft departure instead of at baggage claim. Most frequently, this occurs on United Express flights.
You can only bring one personal item on a CommutAir aircraft.
Carry-on luggage is acceptable on all other United Express flights, however capacity is restricted.
Check your itinerary in My Trips to check whether you’re flying United Express. We will notify you throughout each flight segment if your flight is being operated by a different airline.
You can pick up your carry-on luggage at baggage claim when you arrive at your destination if it exceeds our size limitations or the carry-on bag limit mentioned on your ticket and must be checked at the gate.
Checked Baggage policy
Checked bag allowances
Some changes were done on February 20, 2024, to the fees and bag allowances.
If you are traveling between the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands: the first checked bag costs $40 (or $35 if you pay online) and the second checked bag costs $45.
For traveling to Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Guyana; first bag checked costs $35 and the second checked bag fee is $45.
All baggage fees are non-refundable and apply to each individual, at each check-in site, regardless of whether you purchase or receive an upgrade that entitles you to complimentary checked baggage. Within 45 days, submit a refund claim or get assistance from an American representative if you think you were charged too much for bags.
How many bags can you carry?
On flights run by American Airlines, you may check up to ten baggage if you’re going to:
Transatlantic, transpacific, and domestic.
If you are going to any of these destinations: Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Brazil, or Mexico, you can check up to 5 bags on US air flights.
Baggage fee of United Airlines (UA)
Yes, there may be charges. They depend on a number of condition, including the kind of ticket you bought, where you’re going, whether you’re a dependent of an active member of the US military, whether you have status with an affiliated airline, whether you have a credit or charge card sponsored by United Airlines, and whether you have status with the airline’s frequent flyer program.
The standard checked baggage and hold baggage fees for domestic flights in the United States are as follows:
- $35.00 USD for the first bag
- Second bag: US$45.00
- Third and any further: one hundred fifty dollars per bag
International flights (Baggage policy)
For international flights to and from the United States, United Airlines normal checked baggage and hold baggage costs are typically $100.00 USD for the second bag and none for the first. The first checked bag is $60 USD, while the second bag costs $100 USD in international basic economy. Some itineraries need two pieces of checked luggage. The exact quantity per trip may be obtained on United.com using the “Baggage Calculator” offered by United Airlines (UA).
Fee charged by United Airlines for extra luggage
Depending on the itinerary, United Airlines will charge a range for the third bag and additional luggage, starting at $150 USD. You may find out the precise amount for each route by visiting United Airlines “Baggage Calculator” on United.com.
Note: Excess baggage embargoes to and from some locations in the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Mexico, the Middle East, and South America are both temporary and permanent. Please visit United.com and look for “Baggage Embargoes.”
The cost of overweight luggage on United Airlines (Baggage policy)
For domestic flights within the United States, United Airlines (UA) will impose the following fees on luggage weighing more than the typical 50 pounds or 23 kilograms:
51–70 pounds, or 24–32 kilograms: an additional $100–200 each bag
71–100 pounds, or 33–46 kg: an additional $400 USD per bag
Overweight bags (46 kg or 100 pounds) will not be allowed to be checked or held.
Flight costs to and from the United States range from $200 to $400 USD. The precise number for each route can be found on united.com using United Airlines’ (UA) “Baggage Calculator.”
United Airlines excess baggage fee
Any bag that is between 160 and 292 centimeters, or between 63 and 115 linear inches, will cost an additional $200.00 USD on United Airlines (UA). Bags that are larger than 292 centimeters or 115 linear inches cannot be checked or kept in the hold.
Costs associated with sporting equipment on United Airlines
The type of sports equipment determines the fee. Larger athletic goods are charged at a starting $150 USD. For precise information, visit the United Airlines baggage information page and look for the sporting equipment section.
3 Methods to avoid US airlines baggage fees (Baggage policy)
There are also no checked bag fees for passengers going to specific locations. A summary of the ways you can get around American baggage fees is provided below.
1. Waived fees by destination
All long-haul international main cabin tickets on American Airlines include one complimentary checked bag, with the exception of basic economy rates. On select itineraries to and from the United States, American Airlines provides one complimentary checked bag.
One complimentary checked bag is available at the following locations (not on basic economy fares):
Latin America: Panama, El Salvador, Cuba, and Haiti.
South America: Ecuador, Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, and Columbia.
flights over the Atlantic.
Flights from China, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Australia, and South Korea across the Pacific.
Mideast: Qatar and Israel.
Verify the cost of the checked bag with the American.
Furthermore, American offers a basic economy plus bag cost that includes one complimentary checked bag for travel to Asia, Oceania, India, and Israel.
2. Free checked bags when traveling in a premium cabin
First class, business, and premium economy travel are more expensive, but they provide more free checked bags. Flagship First and Flagship Business Plus passengers can check up to three bags per destination, while premium economy, business, and domestic first class passengers can check up to two bags for free.
3. Elite members receive free checked baggage
There are four elite tiers on American Airlines, and they come with a ton of helpful perks like free checked bags. Elite members and visitors making the same reservation on American Airlines or American Eagle are eligible for the complimentary checked bag bonus.
A single checked bag is complimentary with AAdvantage Gold.
Free two checked baggage with AAdvantage Platinum membership.
Three complimentary checked baggage with AAdvantage Platinum Pro.
Free three checked baggage with AAdvantage Executive Platinum membership.
On flights operated by American Airlines, Oneworld elite members are additionally eligible for complimentary checked baggage:
One checked bag is free with Oneworld Ruby.
Free two checked bags with Oneworld Sapphire.
Triple checked luggage is free with Oneworld Emerald
Which carriers charge the least for bags? (Baggage policy)
We examined checked luggage and overhead carry-on baggage fees assessed by the main U.S. airlines on domestic one-way prices in NerdWallet’s most recent review of airline fees.
| Airline name | Checked bag fees | Carry-on-bag |
| Southwest | $0 | – |
| Hawaiian | $30 | – |
| Alaska | $35 | – |
| American | $35 | – |
| Delta | $35 | – |
| JetBlue | $35 | – |
| United | $35 | – |
| Spirit | $39 | $44 |
| Frontier | $64 | $64 |
Concluding thoughts on the baggage policy of American Airlines
Travelers on American Airlines are entitled to a free carry-on bag. When traveling to or from specific locations, or if you meet one of the exclusions (i.e., elite status holder, premium cabin traveler, etc.), you will be provided with a complimentary checked bag.
If you use American Airlines often and check a bag, it may be wise to investigate ways to avoid paying the checked bag cost, such as booking your ticket with the appropriate credit card.
FAQ
How much luggage is permitted on an American domestic flight?
Measurement: 158 cm / 62 in. Weight: 50 lbs / 23 kg for extra bags that are paid and 70 lbs / 32 kilogram for free baggage.
What is the United States’ allowance for carry-on luggage?
Carry-on luggage cannot be more than 10 inches deep, 16 inches wide, or 24 inches tall, and must weigh less than 35 pounds. Bags must fit into the containers listed above. Checked luggage should weigh less than 40 pounds and measure no more than 62 linear inches (length, breadth, and depth).
Can I bring a 30-kg suitcase on a plane?
It states that he may only check a maximum of two bags, but he is free to check one 30-kg bag. A checked bag’s maximum weight is 32 kilograms.
What distinguishes baggage allowance from carry-on?
Once again, the airline sets the weight restriction. Please confirm your luggage’s weight restriction before packing. Carry-on luggage is often allowed to weigh up to 22 pounds, or around 10 kilograms. Checked baggage is more adaptable and can carry up to fifty pounds, or twenty-two kilos.
What is the weight of a hand-carried bag?
Kindly remember these guidelines: Inside the cabin, each visitor is permitted to bring one (1) hand carry or carry-on bag, up to seven (7) kg in weight and up to 56 x 36 x 23 cm in dimensions. This covers the majority of backpacks and wheeled cabin luggage.