American Airlines Baggage Fees (2026)

American Airlines overweight fee: $30 extra for a checked bag over 50 lb up to 53 lb, $100 extra over 53 lb up to 70 lb, and $200 extra over 70 lb up to 100 lb, per bag, each way, on top of the regular bag fee on flights within and between the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. American won't take bags over 100 lb (45 kg), and a bag that's both overweight and oversize pays only the higher fee.

Last checked: September 26, 2026

Fees are in US dollars, per person, each way, and don't include taxes. Your fee depends on the date your ticket was issued, and older tickets can have lower rates (aa.com lists them in its footnotes). In this table, "core region" means travel within and between the U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean (except Cuba and Haiti), Central America (except Panama) and Guyana.

Flying another airline too? You can compare checked bag fees on other U.S. airlines.

Overweight and oversize: what counts

• Overweight means heavier than 50 lb (23 kg). American charges in three steps: over 50 lb up to 53 lb ($30 extra), over 53 lb up to 70 lb ($100 extra) and over 70 lb up to 100 lb ($200 extra on U.S. and Canada routes). Bags over 100 lb (45 kg) aren't accepted.
• Oversize means bigger than 62 linear inches (158 cm): length plus width plus height, counting wheels and handles. There are two steps: over 62 in up to 65 in ($30 extra) and over 65 in up to 115 in ($200 extra on U.S. and Canada routes). Bags over 115 in (292 cm) aren't accepted.
• Both at once: you pay only the higher of the two fees, plus the normal bag fee. Never both.
• It's added to the bag fee. A 60 lb first bag in Main Cabin, paid online, costs $45 plus $100, so $145 each way.
• International rules differ. Bags over 70 lb (32 kg) aren't accepted to or from Europe, Israel or Qatar. On China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, India and New Zealand routes, a bag over 70 lb up to 100 lb costs $450 extra. To or from Australia, bags over 70 lb aren't accepted.

How to avoid American's overweight fee

1. Weigh your bag at home. The $30 step only covers bags over 50 lb up to 53 lb. Past that, the fee jumps to $100.
2. Move heavy items into your free cabin bags. Every fare, including Basic Economy, comes with a carry-on (22 × 14 × 9 in) and a personal item (18 × 14 × 8 in). Check the American carry-on size limits and American personal item size before you go.
3. Price out a second bag. If your one bag is over 53 lb up to 70 lb, the overweight fee is $100. A second bag paid online is $55 in Main Cabin ($60 in Basic Economy), so splitting the load into two bags under 50 lb usually costs less.
4. See if heavier bags are free for you. Business and Domestic First confirmed customers can check 2 bags up to 70 lb (32 kg) at no extra cost.

Online or at the airport

On core region routes (defined above the table), paying for your 1st and 2nd bag on aa.com or in the app up to 2 hours before departure saves $5 per bag. From the 3rd bag on, it's $200 either way. Bag fees paid at the airport are non-refundable. For timing tips, see our guide on when to pay airline bag fees.

What Basic Economy includes

• Free: 1 carry-on bag (must fit in the overhead bin) and 1 personal item (must fit under the seat).
• Not free: checked bags, on most routes. For tickets issued on or after May 18, 2026, bag 1 is $50 online or $55 at the airport, and bag 2 is $60 or $65. That's $5 more than Main Cabin.
• Exceptions: AAdvantage status members; eligible AAdvantage credit cardmembers on domestic itineraries operated by American Airlines; 1 free bag to or from Australia and New Zealand, and to or from Asia, India and Qatar on tickets issued on or after April 23, 2026.
• Boarding: Basic Economy boards last, usually Group 9. aa.com warns that bins are often full by then, so be ready to check your carry-on.

What is the overweight fee for American Airlines?

On flights within and between the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada, American adds $30 for a bag over 50 lb up to 53 lb (23 to 24 kg), $100 for over 53 lb up to 70 lb (24 to 32 kg), and $200 for over 70 lb up to 100 lb (32 to 45 kg). The fee is per bag, each way, on top of the regular checked bag fee. Bags over 100 lb (45 kg) are not accepted.

Is a 51 lb bag overweight on American Airlines?

Yes. The standard limit is 50 lb (23 kg), so a 51 lb bag costs an extra $30 on top of the checked bag fee. That $30 covers bags over 50 lb up to 53 lb. Moving a pound or two into your carry-on or personal item avoids it.

Do I pay both the overweight and oversize fee on American?

No. If one bag is both over 50 lb and over 62 linear inches (158 cm), American charges only the higher of the two fees, plus the regular checked bag fee.

How much is the first and second checked bag on American Airlines?

For Main Cabin tickets issued on or after April 9, 2026, on trips within and between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean (except Cuba and Haiti), Central America (except Panama) and Guyana, the first bag is $45 online or $50 at the airport and the second is $55 online or $60 at the airport, each way. A third bag is $200.

Is it cheaper to pay for American Airlines bags online?

Yes, by $5 on the first and second bag when you pay on aa.com or in the American app up to 2 hours before departure. That applies within and between the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean (except Cuba and Haiti), Central America (except Panama) and Guyana. From the third bag on, it's $200 either way. Bag fees paid at the airport are non-refundable.

Does American Airlines Basic Economy include a checked bag?

Not on most routes. Basic Economy tickets issued on or after May 18, 2026 pay $50 online or $55 at the airport for the first bag and $60 or $65 for the second, which is $5 more than Main Cabin. A carry-on bag and a personal item are still free.

What is the weight limit for checked bags on American Airlines?

The limit is 50 lb (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (158 cm) per bag in Main Cabin and Basic Economy. Free bags in First and Business can weigh up to 70 lb (32 kg). Bags over 100 lb (45 kg) or 115 linear inches (292 cm) are not accepted.

Fees and rules change; confirm on aa.com before travel. BagRule is not affiliated with American Airlines.