Checked Bags Just Got More American Airlines

Short-Haul Routes Now Match Domestic Pricing

If you’re flying American Airlines to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean, checking a bag just got more expensive.

Starting December 1, 2025, the airline bumped its first checked bag fee from $35 to $40 on short-haul international routes.

The increase brings these flights in line with what American already charges for domestic travel. It’s only $5 more per bag, but for a family of four checking bags both ways, that adds up to an extra $40 per trip.

And American isn’t alone in squeezing more money from luggage.

The $5 Hike Applies to Many Popular Destinations

The new $40 fee covers flights to and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean (except Cuba and Haiti), Central America (except Panama), and Guyana.

These are some of the most popular vacation routes for American travelers, especially during winter months. If you bought your ticket before December 1, 2025, you still pay the old $35 rate.

But anything booked after that date falls under the new pricing.

The fee applies per person, each way, so a round trip with one checked bag now costs $80 at the airport.

Booking Online Saves You $5 Per Bag

American offers a small break if you pay for your bag before you get to the airport. The online price is $35 for the first checked bag, compared to $40 at the counter.

That $5 discount has been American’s policy for a while now, and it gives the airline an incentive to push customers toward self-service. You can add bags when you book your ticket or during online check-in.

Either way, paying ahead saves money and speeds up your airport experience.

Second Bag Fees Stay at $45

The price for a second checked bag remains unchanged at $45, whether you pay online or at the airport. Third bags cost $150 on most routes, and anything beyond that runs $200 each.

Overweight bags between 51 and 70 pounds add $100 to your total. American also charges $200 for oversized bags that exceed 62 linear inches.

These fees can pile up fast if you’re not careful about what you pack.

American Wants One Price for All Short Flights

The fee increase is about simplification. Before December 1, American charged $35 for short-haul international bags and $40 for domestic.

Now both cost the same. An internal memo reviewed by travel industry site View From The Wing confirmed the change was meant to align pricing across similar routes.

For passengers and gate agents, one less variable means less confusion. For American, it means slightly more revenue on every international bag.

Domestic Bag Fees Jumped in February 2024

American last raised its domestic checked bag fees in February 2024, ending a six-year freeze. The first bag went from $30 to $40 at the airport, or $35 online.

The second bag rose from $40 to $45. At the time, American cited rising fuel and labor costs.

The airline hadn’t touched bag prices since 2018, so the $10 jump felt steep to travelers. But it matched what competitors were already charging or soon would.

American Collects More Bag Fees Than Any U.S. Airline

In 2024, American Airlines brought in $1.5 billion from baggage fees alone.

That’s more than any other U. S. carrier. United came in second at $1.34 billion, and Delta third at $1.06 billion.

These three legacy airlines dominate domestic travel, which is where most bag fees get collected. Budget carriers like Frontier and Spirit also pull in hundreds of millions, but they fly fewer passengers overall.

For American, bag fees represent a steady, reliable income stream.

U.S. Airlines Set a Bag Fee Record in 2024

Across all U.S. carriers, baggage fees totaled $7. 27 billion in 2024.

That’s a new record, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The number has climbed steadily since airlines first started charging for checked bags in 2008.

American introduced the first $15 bag fee that year during a fuel price spike. Other carriers followed, and prices have risen ever since.

What started as a temporary measure became a permanent revenue source.

Southwest Ended Free Bags After 54 Years

For decades, Southwest Airlines was the one major carrier that didn’t charge for checked bags. That ended on May 28, 2025.

The airline now charges $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second on most fares. Only passengers with top-tier loyalty status or the airline’s credit card still get free bags.

The change came after pressure from activist investors who wanted Southwest to boost profits. It also marked the end of the “bags fly free” slogan that had defined the brand since 1971.

Delta and United Charge $35 for the First Bag

American’s $40 airport fee puts it at the high end among major airlines.

Delta and United both charge $35 for a first checked bag on domestic flights, with $45 for the second. Alaska Airlines matches that pricing.

JetBlue charges $35 if you pay in advance, but $45 within 24 hours of departure.

Budget carriers like Frontier and Spirit use dynamic pricing, so bag fees can swing wildly depending on when and how you book. Paying at the gate often costs $99 or more.

Credit Cards and Loyalty Status Get You Free Bags

You don’t have to pay bag fees if you have the right credit card or enough frequent flyer status.

American’s co-branded cards from Citi and Barclays waive the first checked bag fee on domestic flights for cardholders and companions on the same reservation.

AAdvantage Gold members get one free bag, Platinum gets two, and Executive Platinum gets three. Similar perks exist at Delta, United, and other airlines.

For frequent travelers, these benefits often pay for the card’s annual fee in just a few trips.

Pack Light or Pay the Price

Bag fees aren’t going away. Airlines made more than $7 billion from them last year, and that number keeps climbing.

American’s latest increase is small on its own, but it reflects a broader trend of airlines charging separately for services that used to come with your ticket.

If you want to avoid fees, your best options are packing everything in a carry-on, signing up for the right credit card, or earning loyalty status.

Otherwise, budget an extra $80 to $180 per round trip for checked luggage and plan accordingly.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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