American Airlines bag fees depend on three things: the fare you buy, where you're flying and your AAdvantage status or card. On U.S. and Canada routes, a first checked bag costs $50 at the airport and $45 if you prepay online, and the second bag costs more. Basic Economy tickets issued on or after May 18, 2026 pay $5 more on the first and second bags.
Status holders and some cardmembers skip the fee on the first bag. Here's what each bag costs, what happens past 50 pounds, and who checks free, so you can price a trip before you pack.
Checked Bag Fees on Main Cabin Tickets
These prices apply to tickets issued from April 9, 2026, on flights within the U.S. (including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and to Canada. Each fee is per bag, each way.
- First bag: $50 at the airport, $45 prepaid online.
- Second bag: $60 at the airport, $55 prepaid online.
- Third bag: $200.
Fees on other international routes vary by route and fare, so price your own itinerary on American's site before you book.
Basic Economy Bag Fees
Basic Economy tickets issued on or after May 18, 2026 pay $5 more than Main Cabin on the first and second bags. For travel within the U.S. and to Canada, Mexico, most of the Caribbean and most of Central America, the first bag is $50 prepaid online or $55 at the airport. The second bag is $60 prepaid or $65 at the airport. Prepay online and you'll pay the lower number.
Size, Weight and Overweight Fees
The standard checked bag is 50 pounds (23 kilograms) and 62 linear inches, which is length plus width plus height. Go past either number and a fee is added on top of the bag fee.
On U.S. and Canada routes, a bag over 50 and up to 70 pounds adds up to $100, and one over 70 and up to 100 pounds adds $200. American won't take a bag over 100 pounds. For size, an oversize bag adds up to $200, and a bag over 115 linear inches isn't accepted. Weigh the bag at home, and measure it too.
Who Checks Bags Free
Status is the cleanest way around the fee. AAdvantage Gold gets one free checked bag, Platinum gets two, and Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum get three. American uses the highest status at ticketing or check-in, and your AAdvantage number has to be in the reservation.
Eligible AAdvantage cardmembers get the first checked bag free on domestic American itineraries, and the number of companions covered varies by card. The Citi AAdvantage Executive, for example, covers the cardmember plus up to eight companions on the same reservation. Tickets in premium cabins include free checked bags too, and how many depends on the route and fare.
Which Route to Take
If you check a bag on most trips, a card or status that waives the first bag is the biggest lever. Our guide to avoiding checked bag fees compares the cards and status levels that do it, and our checked bag size, weight and fee chart shows how American stacks up against other airlines. If you can pack light, the carry-on guide covers sizes and personal items. Before you book, check your fare type, your route and your status, then prepay your bags online.
