American Airlines Baggage Fees 2023
Carry On Size & Weight - Checked Bag Fee

You can bring 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item on-board all American Airlines flights. On smaller planes, you may be asked to gate-check a carry-on bag if there is limited space. After recent changes, Basic Economy passengers are now allowed both a Personal Item and a standard Carry-On Bag to all destinations.

Your carry-on bag should be:
Up to 45 inches (22 x 14 x 9 in) or 115 centimeters (23 x 36 x 56 cm) including handles and wheels
Able to fit comfortably into the sizer American Airlines provides at the airport
Please note, you’ll also need to be able to lift your bag into the overhead bin

You can travel with horizontal rolling and/or hanging garment bags as your carry-on bag if:
They fit comfortably in the bag sizer
They measure up to 22" length x 14" width x 9" height or 115cm (56 x 36 x 23 cm)
You can also carry on a soft-sided garment bag of up to 51in or 130cm (length + width + height)

Your personal item must be smaller than your carry-on, able to fit under the seat in front of you. The size of your personal item is limited to 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) and can include:
A purse
A briefcase
A laptop bag
Similar items such as a tote

Restrictions for BASIC ECONOMY fares
There are no longer carry-on restrictions for Basic Economy passengers. You are allowed both a standard carry-on bag and one personal item, the same as any other economy passenger.

Additional allowed items
Outerwear such as coats, wraps and hats
A book or newspaper
A small bag of food to eat on the flight
An approved safety seat for a lap or ticketed child
A pillow or blanket
An umbrella stroller for a lap or ticketed child
A diaper bag for a lap or ticketed child
Duty free items
Assistive devices (e.g. wheelchairs, walkers, portable oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines etc.)
Breast pump

Medical Equipment
Hearing aids, heart pacemakers, or other approved medical devices are accepted during all phases of flight. If a passenger must travel with oxygen due to medical necessity, a 48-hour notice is required. You will have the option to indicate a request for special assistance when making your reservation on AA.com. See Special Service Requests for more information.

Musical Instruments
Small musical instruments may be carried onboard the aircraft providing they meet existing carry-on size requirements and fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. We recommend all musical instruments travel in a hard-sided case in the event the item needs to be checked. Case dimensions may not exceed 45 dimensional inches (width + length + height), except for guitars which may be brought on board only if they can be safely stowed in an overhead bin or approved stowage location in the cabin.

The instrument is considered the passenger's one allowed carry-on bag. A personal item is allowed in addition to the instrument.

The American Airlines checked baggage policy is dependent on the origin and destination of your flight, as well as fare class frequent flyer status. Please note that more than one baggage charge may apply to a particular bag. For example a second checked bag that is overweight would incur both a second checked bag charge and an overweight bag charge. If that bag was also oversize, it would incur an additional oversize charge as well.

American Airlines has updated it's checked bag fees for 2023, including new 1st bag fees for Basic Economy passengers on some routes effective June 7th 2023. Be sure to check the new allowances and fees in detail before your flight.

Baggage Weight and Size Restrictions on American Airlines
We calculate the size limits of your bag by adding the total outside dimensions of each bag, length + width + height.

For all regions your checked baggage allowance is:
Dimension: 62in/158cm
Weight: 50lbs/23kg

Weight and Size Limits for First / Business Class Passengers:
Dimension: 62in/158cm
Weight: 70lbs/32kg

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AMERICAN AIRLINES CHECKED BAGGAGE FEES ALL DESTINATIONS
Below is a table with all American Airlines checked bag fees, depending on destination.

American Airlines US Domestic Flights Baggage Fees
1st Bag - $30
2nd Bag - $40
3rd Bag - $150
4+ Bags - $200 each

Mexico
1st Bag - $30
2nd Bag - $40
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

Caribbean
1st Bag - $30
2nd Bag - $40 (Increased to $55 peak season for SAP, TGU and PAP)
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

Exception: Cuba - Effective 2023, the government of Cuba has removed it's 2-bag restriction on international commercial flights.

On flights to/from Cuba, different baggage rules apply. New Baggage fees are in place as of March 14 2023, including a significant increase in the cost of a 2nd bag when flying to Cuba (previously $65, now $150, and increasing to $200 on Jan 10 2024). You will only be charged on your way to Cuba, but the amount depends on whether your flight is one-way or round trip, as follows. Please note, this refers to all flights to/from Cuba, including departures from Domestic US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, US Virgin Islands, Canada, and the Caribbean.

One-way to Cuba - 1st Bag $30, 2nd Bag $150 ($200 after January 10 2024)
Round-trip to Cuba - 1st Bag $30, 2nd Bag $150 ($200 after January 10 2024). Free on return flight.
One-way from Cuba - 1st Bag Free, 2nd Bag Free
Round-trip from Cuba - 1st Bag Free, 2nd Bag Free (1st Bag Free on return, 2nd bag $150 on return, $200 after January 10 2024)

Exception: Haiti - On flights to Haiti, the first bag costs $30, a 2nd bag will cost you $65 USD. All other baggage fees are the same.

Central America
1st Bag - $30 ($45 to/from Panama)
2nd Bag - $65 (some exceptions apply)
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

South America (Including Brazil), except Guayana, Suriname
1st Bag - $0 ($45 for Basic Economy Passengers)
2nd Bag - $65
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

Special prices for American Airlines flights to/from Guyana, Suriname
1st Bag - $30
2nd Bag - $40

Transatlantic
1st Bag - $0 ($75 for Basic Economy Passengers)
2nd Bag - $100
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

Between Israel and North/South America
1st Bag - $0 ($75 for Basic Economy - effective June 7 2023)
2nd Bag - $100
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

India, China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Australia (transpacific), New Zealand
1st Bag - $0 ($75 for Basic Economy - effective June 7 2023)
2nd Bag - $100
3rd Bag - $200
4+ Bags - $200 each

1st checked bag is complimentary for:
Eligible AAdvantage® Citibank card members (on Domestic American Airlines flights only)
Eligible US Airways MasterCard® and US Airways Visa® card members (on Domestic US Airways flights only)
AAdvantage Gold
oneworld Ruby
Alaska MVP members

1st and 2nd checked bags are complimentary for:
AAdvantage® Platinum
oneworld® Sapphire members
Alaska Airlines MVP Gold
Confirmed Business Class customers*

1st, 2nd and 3rd checked bags are complimentary for:
AAdvantage® Executive Platinum
oneworld® Emerald
Alaska Airlines MVP Gold 75K
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