American Airlines Increases Baggage Fees and Tightens Basic Economy Policies

American Airlines Increases Baggage Fees

As many may know, after Delta, United, and JetBlue, American Airlines has joined the trend of raising checked baggage fees. The airline has officially entered this price hike, not only increasing fees but also making basic economy tickets more cumbersome for travelers.

New Checked Baggage Fees

Starting May 18, 2026, passengers booking basic economy tickets will incur an additional $5 fee for each checked bag. This means the first checked bag will now cost $50 and the second will be $60. If you plan to check a third bag, brace yourself, as it will set you back a whopping $200. This change isn't too surprising, as there have been many predictions about American Airlines following in the footsteps of other airlines.

Changes to Basic Economy Ticket Policies

In addition to increasing fees, American Airlines has also decided to implement other changes to its basic economy ticket policies. Specifically, AAdvantage members will no longer receive complimentary upgrades for basic economy fares. Furthermore, they will no longer be able to select seats for free prior to boarding, including seats in the Main Cabin Extra area.

Overview of New Baggage Fees

To give you a clearer picture of the new baggage fees, here’s a comparison of the old and new checked baggage fees for American Airlines:

• First checked bag old: $40 - new: $50
• Second checked bag old: $45 - new: $60
• Additional fee for basic economy ticket: +$5 per bag

Response from American Airlines

American Airlines stated, “These changes are the result of continuous evaluations of pricing and in the context of the current operating environment.”

Conclusion

With American Airlines being the last airline to join the baggage fee increase trend, they are no longer lagging behind in this race. The hike in baggage fees, the introduction of new charges for basic economy passengers, and the tightening of conditions on these tickets clearly indicate that the airline is very serious about adjusting its policies.

If you're planning to fly with American Airlines, make sure you're aware of these new fees and policies. It’s important to note that the airline is trying to deter loyal passengers from booking basic economy tickets by making them less appealing. This could be a trend that other airlines may follow in the future, especially considering how Frontier and Spirit have charged for carry-on and checked luggage.