American is making changes to its bag fees for travel booked on or after Feb. 20 and continues offering complimentary bags for all AAdvantage status members.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Starting with tickets issued on May 1, 2024, American Airlines will update the way customers earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points on flights, depending on where they book.
Customers will earn miles and Loyalty Points on flights when they:
- Book directly with American and eligible partner airlines.
- Book travel anywhere as an AAdvantage Business member or contracted corporate traveler.
- Book through preferred travel agencies. American will share a list of eligible preferred agencies on aa.com in late April.
Basic Economy fare tickets will only earn when booked directly with American and eligible partner airlines.
“We want to make it more convenient for customers to enjoy the value and magic of travel,” said Vasu Raja, American’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Not only does booking directly with American provide the best possible experience, it’s also where we offer the best fares and it’s most rewarding for our AAdvantage members.”
AAdvantage members will also continue to earn miles and Loyalty Points through non-airline partners, like the AAdvantage eShopping, AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Events platforms and more.
Adjustments to ancillary services
For the first time since 2018, American is adjusting bag fees for first and second checked bags for travel booked on or after Feb. 20. The new bag fees for domestic flights including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are $35 for first checked bags purchased online or $40 for first checked bags purchased at the airport. The second checked bag fee is $45 purchased online or at the airport. The new bag fees for Canada and short-haul international flights are $35 for first checked bags and $45 for second checked bags purchased online or at the airport.
Certain AAdvantage members and credit cardmembers still receive important benefits:
- All AAdvantage status members will continue to receive complimentary bags on American Airlines flights.
- Most AAdvantage credit cardmembers* also get their first eligible checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries.
Customers who purchase premium cabins on domestic and international flights will continue to receive complimentary bags. American also offers complimentary bags to active-duty U.S. military personnel on all American flights.
The pet-in-cabin fee is now $150 for tickets purchased on or after Feb. 20.
Oversize and overweight items
American is introducing the lowest fee ever for checked items that are only a few pounds heavier or a few inches larger than a standard bag. The lower costs and simpler fee structure for oversize and overweight checked items result in savings of more than $350 for some customers.
| Checked item | Current fee | Travel on/after April 17 |
|---|---|---|
| Bag +50–70 lbs. | $100–$200 | +50–53 lbs. / $30 +53–70 lbs. / $100–$200 |
| Bag +70–100 lbs. | $200–$450 | $200–$450 |
| Bag +62 linear inches | +62–126 inches $150–$200 | +62–65 inches / $30 +65–115 inches / $150–$200 |
| Items that are both oversize and overweight +50–70 lbs. | $250–$400 | $30–$200 (one single fee instead of two) |
| Items that are both oversize and overweight +70–100 lbs. | $350–$650 | $200–$450 (one single fee instead of two) |
American is also reducing the oversize limit to 115 linear inches and will no longer allow javelins, pole vaults and hang gliders starting April 17.
Book travel and earn with American
As previously announced, American will continue to enhance the AAdvantage program so that loyalty with American goes even further for members.
Some of these benefits have already rolled out:
- Transfer AAdvantage miles for less: Want to move miles to another member’s AAdvantage account? Now, transfer costs are 66% less than before.
- Use miles to stay connected: Later this year, members will be able to use miles to pay for Wi-Fi on select flights.
- Upgrade with our partners: Members can redeem miles for upgrades with select airline partners in 2024.
- Cancel Basic Economy tickets: Members can cancel non-refundable Basic Economy tickets and receive a partial Trip Credit for a fee* as an AAdvantage® member.
- Same-day standby: Beginning March 1, members can stand by for an earlier domestic flight free of charge.
- Extended Trip Credit: Beginning March 11, members can enjoy six more months to use Trip Credit than non-members when canceling travel online.
*Eligible AAdvantage Credit Cards include AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard, AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard, AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard, Citi / AAdvantage Executive Card, Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card, CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card. Review your AAdvantage® Aviator Mastercard Reward Rules and your Citi Terms and Conditions for details.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
