Airline baggage fees have long been a point of frustration for travelers, and American Airlines is once again drawing attention for quietly adjusting what passengers pay to check a bag. In late 2025, the airline made changes that eliminated cheaper checked bag fees on short international routes, bringing them in line with those on domestic American Airlines flights. Here’s a closer look at what has changed and how it compares to the other US airlines.

American Increases Checked Bag Fees On Short International Flights

In December 2025, American quietly introduced changes to checked baggage fees on short international flights. Up until this past December, passengers traveling from the United States to Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and Guyana could take advantage of cheaper checked bag fees than domestic travel within the US. This pricing quirk made checking a bag on regional international trips slightly more affordable for travelers who needed to check luggage, especially the families and leisure travelers these routes typically serve.

However, American has now aligned the cost of a first checked bag on these short international flights with its domestic bag charge. This means passengers will now pay $40 for their first checked bag, up from $35 previously, a $5 increase. Notably, this price increase only applies to tickets issued on or after December 1, 2025, so passengers who booked their travel on American Airlines prior to this date will pay the old checked bag fee.

Passengers who prepay for their luggage online prior to check-in can still receive a $5 discount, bringing the cost down to $35 for the first checked bag on flights within the US or to nearby international destinations. This online discount benefits both passengers looking to save on luggage and American, which can reduce airport congestion and receive the money upfront. Still, the difference between domestic and short international bag fees has disappeared, leaving travelers with fewer opportunities to save.

Checked Bag Fees On Other American Airlines Flights

Beyond the changes to bag fees on short international flights, American previously increased the cost of checked luggage on all domestic flights, raising the airport price from $35 to $40 for the first checked bag. This move brought American in line with several competitors that had already increased their fees. However, it left a discrepancy in bag charges for short international flights costing less than domestic ones, one that has now been eliminated.

As a result, the majority of American Airlines flights now follow a semi-consistent luggage fee scale for economy passengers. Domestic and regional international travel are in line with each other and fees for luggage on long-haul flights remain standard as well. In these long-haul international markets, all passengers, excluding those who purchased a basic economy fare, are entitled to at least one complimentary checked bag. This includes transatlantic and transpacific flights, as well as ones to many South American countries, Qatar, Israel, and more. These inclusive baggage allowances reflect the policies of many international airlines where free checked luggage is standard on all flights.

There are still select routes where American continues to charge a standard $35 for a checked bag rather than the increased $40. For example, on flights to or from Haiti, basic economy passengers are charged $35 for their first checked bag. The same pricing applies to flights from the US, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean to Cuba. These exceptions are limited, but are just some of the nuances in American’s baggage policy.

How Does This Compare To Other US Airlines?

American Airlines is far from the only US airline to increase fees for checked luggage. Across the US airline industry, baggage fees have been trending upward as carriers look to generate more revenue to offset rising operating costs and inflation. Airlines like Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, and others have all raised first checked bag fees on domestic routes, closely mirroring American’s pricing. In most cases, this means checked bag fees of $40-$45 with an online pre-purchase price of $35.

When flying on budget airlines within the US, like Spirit Airlines or Frontier Airlines, checked bag fees are exponentially higher, with bags often $55 to over $100 for the first checked bag, depending on when it is purchased. On the other end of the spectrum, Hawaiian Airlines offers some of the cheapest checked bags, with the first checked bag starting at just $15 for interisland travel. Fees for flights to the mainland are similar to the standard $40-$45 of the other US airlines.

However, perhaps the most notable shift in luggage policy in the past year came from Southwest Airlines, long famous for its two free checked bags policy. In 2025, Southwest introduced checked bag fees on most fares, marking a departure from one of its most iconic customer-friendly practices. In the context of rising bag fees at Southwest and other US airlines, it is not surprising that American is following suit.

Ways To Get Free Checked Bags On American Airlines

With checked bag prices on the rise across the US airline industry, more passengers are turning to either packing lighter with only a carry-on or turning to some of the many ways to get complimentary checked bags when flying with American. One of the most common ways travelers can avoid paying for checked bags is through American AAdvantage elite status. Members with any of American’s four elite status tiers can check up to three bags for free, depending on status level, all with priority handling. This benefit can apply to other guests traveling on the same reservation and can potentially save hundreds of dollars each flight.

In addition, another strategy passengers can use to avoid baggage fees is by using an American Airlines co-branded credit card. While not all of American’s Citi credit cards offer a free checked bag as a benefit, for the ones that do, complimentary luggage can apply for up to eight companions on the same reservation. Like elite status, this benefit can save hundreds of dollars per year when checking a bag and flying with American.

Passengers flying in premium cabins on American Airlines are also entitled to complimentary checked bags. American customers flying in domestic first, international business class, or international premium economy can check at least two bags for free. For travelers in American’s Flagship First or in Flagship Business Plus, only available on select Boeing 787-9 aircraft, up to three complimentary checked bags are included in the ticket price.

American Airlines Carry-On Guidelines

With checked bag fees on the rise in recent years, more passengers are choosing to pack lighter into just a carry-on bag instead of a larger checked bag. American Airlines continues to allow every passenger to bring one carry-on bag onboard, as well as a personal item, like a backpack or purse, for free. Carry-on bags on American cannot exceed 22 x 14 x 19 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm) and must fit in either the overhead compartment or under the seat. For personal items, dimensions shouldn’t exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm). However, American no longer uses carry-on bag sizers during the boarding process, instead relying on the discretion of gate agents for size compliance.

Instead of a carry-on bag, passengers can choose to bring a soft-sided garment bag or a small musical instrument. According to American’s guidelines, the sum of all dimensions of the garment bag shouldn’t be greater than 51 inches (130 cm). For musical instruments, no size restrictions are listed, as long as they can fit in the overhead bin or under the seat. Passengers can also choose to check larger musical instruments instead or purchase an additional seat for their instrument.

If a passenger’s carry-on does not fit in the overhead bins, it will need to be checked. For flights that are full or close to full, American will often ask for volunteers to gate-check their carry-on to their final destination, helpful for travelers who would rather not deal with the hassle of a carry-on during their flight or future connections. In addition, on some small regional aircraft where overhead bins aren’t large enough for full-size carry-ons, carry-ons will be checked and placed on the jet bridge after exiting the airplane.

American Extra And Special Luggage Fees

In addition to standard checked bag fees, American Airlines also has a variety of extra charges for non-standard luggage. The most common is the additional charge for overweight or oversized bags. For bags just slightly over the 50-pound limit (23 kg), an additional $30 charge is levied. For bags from 53 pounds (24 kg) to 70 pounds (32 kg), a $100 charge is applied, and for bags greater than 70 pounds, American charges an additional $200 to $450, depending on the route. Notably, American does not accept luggage exceeding 100 pounds (45 kg). While most checked bags are limited to the standard 50 pounds, passengers in certain fare classes and on select routes may be able to check up to 70 pounds of luggage without an additional charge.

In terms of oversize baggage, bags from 62 total inches (158 cm) to 65 inches (165 cm) are $30 extra, while bags over 65 inches are between $150 and $200 extra. As with overweight bags, American doesn’t accept luggage exceeding 115 inches. The size of these bags is measured by adding the length, width, and height of the luggage. American also offers services for specialty baggage, like sporting equipment or musical instruments, and these can vary in cost.

Overall, American Airlines’ baggage fees are highly variable depending on route, fare, cabin, and luggage size. However, the overall trend of rising checked luggage prices continues to be true. While there are ways to get free checked bags when flying American, most passengers can expect to pay a little extra the next time they fly with the airline.