American Airlines Baggage Policy: A Traveler's Guide

Booked your flight tickets and concerned about the amount of baggage you can carry? Carrying light is always a good idea. Still, knowing American Airlines baggage policy in advance can help measure your baggage. American Airlines has a set of instructions for checked or carry on baggage. Therefore, you must go through them before you pack a cabin or checked baggage. Therefore, check out the highlights of baggage rules on American Airlines in the below article and avoid inconvenience at the airport. 

American Airlines Baggage Rules-Key Highlights 

American Airlines has its own set of rules for passengers for taking a carry-on or checked baggage on the aircraft. To learn about them, go through the pointers below:

Carry on Baggage Policy: American Airlines lets you take a  carry-on bag and a personal item for free. The personal items include a purse, laptop bag or a small handbag. Further, you can also carry duty free liquids in a secured bag. 

However, you should consider some specific bag size requirements of American Airlines.

• Your personal item size should not cross 14X8X18(lxbxh) in inches. 
• Similarly, the carry-on bag size should not be over 14X9X22(lxbxh) inches.

Note: If your bag size does not meet the size requirement, then you may need to shift them to checked bag. Also, you may need to check different airports and planes requirement regarding carry-on bags. 

Few Items that American Airlines does not count in personal items include:

• Breast pump
• Diaper bags(per child)
• Breast milk cooler,
• Any stroller for baby, mobility equipment, or child safety seats. 

Checked Baggage Rules: American Airlines checked baggage policy explains the number of bags one can check. As per that American Airlines allows 2 checked bags for a fee or complimentary based on fare class and flight route. Further, it is important to consider the following points:

• Baggage Size: You can only carry a checked baggage size of maximum 62 inches. 
• Baggage Weight: Usually, you can take maximum 50lbs or 23 kgs. First class or business class can take around 70 lbs or 32 kgs.

American Airlines checked baggage fee is non refundable in every situation. Also, it is applicable per person. 

Similarly, you can check maximum 10 checked bags except on some routes. However, it comes with an additional fee. 

American Airlines also allows complimentary checked bags in some circumstances.  Basic economy ticket holders can not take benefit of complimentary checked baggage. 

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How Many Bags Can I Check on American Airlines?

American Airlines usually allows 2 checked bags for every passenger. However, you can add up to 10 bags for an additional fee. Beside that, American Airlines baggage check in policy lets Flagship First Class passengers bring 3 checked bags. Therefore, following table will explain it better:
 

How Much Does American Airlines Charge to Check a Bag?

American Airlines can charge between $35 to $45 for a checked bag. It usually allows 2 checked bags to its passengers. However, you can also carry additional bags upto 10, except for some routes, for an extra fee. American Airlines may charge a different fee when you pay online or offline. Therefore, you may need to pay the following American Airlines baggage fees for checked bags.
 

You can contact an American Airlines representative if, in any case, the airline charges your baggage fee incorrectly. Also you can use some discount deals available on official website for booking American Airlines flight reservations.

Does American Airlines Provide Complimentary Baggage Allowance?

Yes. American Airlines provides complimentary baggage allowance of upto 3 bags in some circumstances on flights operated by them. It all depends on your ticket status, such as AAdvantage status or Oneworld status.  Accordingly, following situation develops:

Complimentary 1st Checked Bag

• AAdvantage member status (For domestic flights)
• AAdvantage Gold status
• GOL Diamond Smiles status. 
• Oneworld Ruby

Or while travelling to destinations like 

• Argentina
• Chile
• Brazil
• Ecuador
• Hong Kong
• Japan 
• Panama etc. 

Complimentary 1 and 2nd Checked Bag

• AAdvantage Platinum® status
• Oneworld® Sapphire members
• First class passenger(domestic flight)
• Business class passenger
• Premium Economy passenger

Complimentary 1st, 2nd and 3rd Checked bags

• Flagship® First / Flagship® Business Plus Passengers
• AAdvantage Executive Platinum® member
• AAdvantage Platinum Pro® status
• oneworld® Emerald
• Active U.S military personnel alongwith dependents(1st to 5th bags (maximum 100lbs))
• Active U.S military on personal travel(1 to 3 bags(maximum 50lbs)

Note: Complimentary bags are not available for basic economy and codeshare flights. 

What If My Checked Bag is Over in Size or Weight?

American Airlines gives you flexibility in size and weight to some extent. However, nothing comes for free. Therefore, you may need to pay an American Airlines overweight baggage fee and an oversize size charge for it. To get the clarity over the charges, go through the table below:

Oversize Checked Bag Size Charge on American Airlines

Overweight Checked Bag Charges on AA

How American Airlines Helps In Case of Delayed or Damaged Bags?

American Airlines provides every help to get your delayed baggage or replacement for your damaged bags as soon as possible. Therefore, American Airlines baggage policy allows you to file a claim when you do find your bag on reaching your destination.  

For U.S based flights, file baggage claim 

• In 4 hours of reaching the destination 

• And, in 12 hours when you availed VIP luggage delivery for bags.

For International Flights 

• File a baggage claim right on arriving at the destination or prior to leaving for home.

Damaged Bags

American Airlines makes every effort to keep your luggage secure. Despite of that, you may face a damaged bag in some circumstances.  In that case, you should do the following. 

For U.S based flights

File a report in 24 hours of receiving the luggage or before you leave the airport.

International  Flights

Report the damage inside 7 days of receiving the luggage or prior to exit from the airport. 

Note: You should report a missing item from your baggage as “damaged bag”.

How to File a Claim for Delayed or Damaged Bags on American Airlines?

You can file a claim for damaged or delayed bags online or at the airport. To report, you have to keep the bag fee receipt handy. Then, complete the below steps:

• Visit American Airlines website 
• Look for “Submit a Claim” section.
• Then, enter the reason for the claim, such as delayed or damaged.
• Further, choose from drop down menu such as domestic, international, or Canada. 
• Similarly, fill in all the details and submit the form.

Note: The airport authority gives you a 13-digit file incident number or file ID. Use it while submitting the claim if your baggage still missing for over 5 days. 

Does American Airlines Allow to Track your Bags?

Yes. You can easily track your bags by visiting the American Airlines website. For that, you have to follow the below steps:

• Visit American Airlines website.
• Look for Baggage section. 
• Then, click on “Track your Bags” option. 
• Further, enter last name in the box.
• Choose an option from the drop down, such as confirmation code.
• Enter the confirmation code. 
• Lastly, click on “Search” button. 

Conclusion

Hopefully, you have got clarity on American Airlines baggage policy from the above article. Therefore, you can consciously pack your bags while looking for a journey with American Airlines. American Airlines provides a perfect baggage allowance that covers your all stuff. Lastly, contact an American Airlines executive for more assistance on AA baggage rules. 

Read Related: Formas de conectarse American Airlines Teléfono español

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