American Airlines Raises Baggage Fees and Cuts Basic Fare Perks

American Airlines Joins the Fee Hike Trend

It's undeniable that after Delta, United, JetBlue, and Southwest all raised their baggage fees, American Airlines has chosen to follow suit. Recently, the airline announced significant changes to its baggage fee policy and basic fare offerings.

Skyrocketing Baggage Fees

American Airlines has officially increased its checked baggage fees, becoming the last major U.S. airline to join the current price hike trend. For domestic flights and short international routes, the checked baggage fee will rise by $10, bringing the cost for the first checked bag to $50 and $60 for the second. If you need to check a third bag, be prepared to fork out a hefty $200.

Changes to Basic Fare Tickets

Starting May 18, 2026, passengers purchasing basic fare tickets will face an additional $5 fee for checked baggage, making it more expensive than standard economy tickets. For flights to South America, the basic fare baggage fees will be $70 for the first bag and $100 for the second.

New Restrictions for Basic Fare Tickets

American Airlines isn't just raising fees; they're also tightening restrictions on basic fare tickets. AAdvantage members will no longer enjoy complimentary upgrades or free seat selection for basic fare tickets, including Main Cabin Extra seats. As a result, American's basic fare option has shifted from one of the more generous choices in the airline industry to one of the less favorable options.

A Warning for Loyal Travelers

In light of these changes, it's clear that American Airlines is trying to discourage “loyal” travelers from booking basic fares by implementing frustrating rules. While a large carry-on bag is still allowed on domestic basic fare flights (unlike United Airlines), this hardly alleviates the dissatisfaction among passengers.

Updated Baggage Fee Table

Here’s an updated table of baggage fees for domestic flights within the U.S. and Canada:

• American Airlines: First checked bag (old) $40, (new) $50
• Second checked bag (old) $45, (new) $60
• Basic fare surcharge: +$5 for each bag

Airline Explanation

American Airlines stated: “These changes are the result of the airline's ongoing evaluation of pricing policies in the current operational context.”

Conclusion

American Airlines was the last airline to hold out on raising baggage fees... but that is no longer the case. The airline has now increased checked baggage fees, added new surcharges for basic fare passengers, and restricted several perks associated with these tickets.

It seems that American Airlines has gone further than any other airline regarding baggage fees. However, I predict that other airlines will soon adjust to keep pace with higher fees for basic fare passengers, especially when compared to the fees charged by Frontier and Spirit for carry-on and checked baggage.

As for the new regulations on basic fare tickets, I’m not too surprised... as I’ve seen similar rules at United and Delta.