American hikes bag fees, trims perks

American Airlines has raised checked-bag fees and is making its cheapest tickets less useful for its own frequent flyers. (aa.com) For tickets booked on or after April 9, 2026, the first checked bag on domestic flights and many short-haul international routes now costs $50 at the airport, up from $40, and the second bag costs $60, up from $50. Customers who prepay on American’s website or app get a $5 discount on each of those first two bags. (aa.com) The higher fees apply on routes within the United States, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands, plus Canada, Mexico, much of the Caribbean, Central America and Guyana. American’s checked-bag policy page shows the April 9, 2026 update and says the fees are charged each way. (aa.com) The next change starts May 18, 2026, and it targets Basic Economy. On those tickets, the first checked bag will cost $55 at the airport and the second will cost $65, with the same $5 prepay discount bringing them to $50 and $60. (aa.com) American is also removing key elite perks from Basic Economy tickets bought on or after May 18. The airline said all customers, including AAdvantage status members, will have to pay to pick a seat and will no longer be eligible for complimentary or systemwide upgrades on those fares. (aa.com) That is a sharper split between Main Cabin and Basic Economy than American showed on its public Basic Economy page before this announcement. That page still says AAdvantage members can choose complimentary seats based on status and that status members are exempt from the usual no-free-checked-bag rule. (aa.com) American said the pricing move came after a review of fares “in light of the current operating environment.” Other large United States airlines have also raised bag fees in recent days as jet-fuel costs climbed. (aa.com) (cnbc.com) The carrier did not eliminate every exception. American said AAdvantage status members will still get complimentary bags on American-operated flights, most co-branded credit card holders still get a first eligible checked bag free on domestic itineraries, and premium-cabin passengers and active-duty United States military personnel still get complimentary bags. (aa.com) American also carved out separate pricing for some South America markets. In select markets, Basic Economy travelers already pay $70 for a first checked bag on tickets bought on or after April 9, and more South America markets move to that structure on May 18. (aa.com) For travelers, the practical change is simple: a ticket that looks cheap at checkout now carries a bigger penalty for luggage and fewer benefits for loyalty status. On American, the difference between Main Cabin and Basic Economy will get wider starting May 18, 2026. (aa.com)