AwardWallet may receive compensation from advertising partners when you visit our site, click on a link, when you are approved for a credit card, or when an account is opened. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here’s our complete list of Advertisers.
Offers for the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers
It's never fun to have to pay for a checked bag. When you fly with American Airlines, you'll pay $40 for your first checked bag when flying within the U.S. or on short-haul international flights to most of Canada, Central America, and the Caribbean. That might not seem like much, but if you're traveling on a budget, that can quickly add up.
However, travelers have plenty of ways to avoid paying baggage fees, ranging from carrying an AAdvantage credit card to holding elite status. Here's what you need to know about American Airlines checked bag fees — and how to avoid them.
Page Contents
What Does American Airlines Charge for Checked Bags?
The cost of a checked bag will depend on your route, fare class, and when you purchase the bag.
American Airlines bag fees for domestic and international travel
American Airlines charges passengers $40 for their first checked bag and $45 for a second checked bag for domestic American Airlines flights (including Hawaii and Alaska), Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as to flights between the U.S. and the following regions:
- Canada
- Mexico
- Caribbean (except Cuba and Haiti)
- Central America (except Panama)
- Guyana
Here's the current American Airlines checked baggage fee chart:
As you can see, this chart has a slew of asterisks and footnotes. Here's how to read it: For flights to the regions we've already discussed, travelers can save $5 off their first checked bag fee by prepaying their checked bag on American Airlines' website or app. In other words, your first checked bag is $35 instead of $40. This doesn't apply to flights to other markets or for additional checked bags.
If you're flying to other markets, you get a free checked bag if you book any fare class besides basic economy. So, if you book a basic economy ticket to Haiti, you'll pay $35 for a checked bag. If you're traveling in basic economy to South America (except Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, or Peru), you'll pay $60 for your checked bag, and so on. The only destinations you can go to and receive a free checked bag when flying in basic economy are Australia and New Zealand.
How to Check Bags With American for Free
For many loyal readers of the AwardWallet Blog, the American Airlines checked bag fee should be a non-issue. That's because travelers have several ways to avoid paying American Airlines checked bag fees.
Carry an American credit card
For most travelers, getting an AAdvantage credit card is going to be the easiest way to avoid paying checked bag fees on American Airlines. Most American Airlines credit cards offer cardholders a free checked bag on domestic and short-haul international American Airlines flights. This perk generally extends to the other travelers in your reservation, making getting an AAdvantage card a must-have for families and groups.
Now that Citi is the sole issuer of AAdvantage cards, here are your options:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®: First checked bag free on domestic itineraries for you and up to four companions on the same reservation.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® and Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®: First checked bag free on domestic itineraries for you and up to eight companions on the same reservation.
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at restaurants
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at gas stations
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- Earn 10X miles for every $1 spent on eligible hotels booked at aa.com/hotels and eligible rental cars booked through aa.com/cars
- Earn 4X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases (increased to 5X miles through the end of the calendar year after you pass $150,000 in purchases annually)
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on cable and satellite providers
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent at gas stations
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on select telecommunications merchants
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on car rentals
- Earn 2X miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn 1X mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
Earn AAdvantage elite status
The other primary way of avoiding checked bag fees on American Airlines is to have elite status through American Airlines AAdvantage or another Oneworld airline:
- First checked bag free: AAdvantage Gold, GOL Diamond Smiles members, and other Oneworld Ruby elites all get one free checked bag on all American Airlines flights.
- Two free checked bags: AAdvantage Platinum and other Oneworld Sapphire elites get two checked bags anywhere American Airlines flies.
- Three free checked bags: AAdvantage Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum, and Oneworld Emeralds can check up to three checked bags at no cost.
Related: A Complete Guide to American Airlines AAdvantage Elite Status
Book an eligible fare
If you don't want to pay for a checked bag, but you don't hold AAdvantage elite status or a co-branded credit card, you'll need to book an fare that includes a checked bag:
- Two free checked bags: Customers flying in domestic first, business, or premium economy can each check two free bags.
- Three free checked bags: Passengers flying in Flagship First or Flagship Business Plus can each check three bags at no cost.
Related: How to Fly American Airlines' Best Business (and First) Class Seats Within the U.S.
Use a credit card travel credit or airline fee credits
Your last option for getting a free checked bag is to utilize a credit card that offers an airline incidental fee credit. The most popular card with this style of credit is the American Express Platinum Card®. It offers up to $200 back in statement credits each year for incidentals charged by an airline of your choosing.
Luckily, American Airlines is included as an eligible airline. As long as you select American (and enroll in the benefit) before you make your purchase, you'll be reimbursed for checked bags, up to $200 each year.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
- More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
- More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
- More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
Or, you can go for a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees). Although it doesn't offer an incidental fee credit, it does offer the most flexible travel credit on the market. Each year, you can get up to $300 back as a statement credit for travel purchases, which can range from the flight itself to the checked bags you'd like to bring with you.
- Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (Rates & Fees) is also a fantastic card to have if you want to cover your checked bag fee while also being able to transfer the ThankYou® Points you earn as a cardholder at a 1:1 ratio to American Airlines AAdvantage. Among the several statement credits that the Citi Strata Elite offers, the $200 Annual Splurge Credit is one of the more flexible. You can choose between a variety of brands to use your Splurge Credit, including American Airlines.
The credit can be used to book an American Airlines flight, or for ancillary fees like checked bags or seat selection.
- For a limited time, earn 100,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- 12X – Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com.
- 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com.
- 6X – Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time.
- 1.5X – Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
Bottom Line
You have several different ways to avoid paying for your checked bag when you fly with American Airlines. Although $40 for a checked bag is the industry standard these days, credit cards and elite status are easy ways to avoid these fees and enjoy plenty of additional perks.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), and Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.