American Airlines has increased its fees for checked bags, joining several other major U.S. carriers that have done the same over the past 10 days, according to the carrier's website. Further, customers with basic economy tickets purchased on or after May 18 will have even higher checked-bag fees.
For tickets purchased on or after April 9 for travel in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America (except for Panama), the Caribbean (except for Cuba and Haiti) and Guyana, the fees for first and second checked bags increased by $10, to $50 and $60, respectively. Customers can save $5 on first and second checked bags if they prepay online via the American website or mobile app, according to the carrier.
The fee for a third checked bag for flights in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands increased by $50 to $200. Fees for third checked bags for other regions were already $200.
American on Feb. 18 already had increased its fee for second checked bags to $50 from $45, so this makes the second increase in two months.
In addition, for domestic basic economy tickets, for tickets purchased on or after May 18, the fees for first and second checked bags will be $55 and $65, respectively, according to American. The $5 prepay discount will be available.
For select South American markets, the first checked-bag fee will be $70 for travelers with basic economy tickets purchased on or after April 9, with additional South American markets added for tickets purchased on or after May 18, according to the carrier.
AAdvantage loyalty program members will continue to receive eligible complimentary bags per status level [EW1] on American flights and that most AAdvantage credit cardmembers also get their first eligible checked bag free on domestic American itineraries, according to the carrier.
JetBlue the week of March 30 kicked off this round of fee increases, and quickly was followed by United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines. As of 1 p.m. Eastern time Thursday, Alaska Airlines had not updated its checked-baggage fees.