It pays to plan ahead on American Airlines – and you may pay extra if you don’t.
Customers who prepay for checked luggage can now get a $5 discount on their first and second bags for domestic U.S. and select international flights. Prepayment is available up until 2 hours before departure.
However, if you wait to pay in person at the airport, a second checked bag will now cost you more on those same itineraries.
This specifically applies to flights within the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
It also applies to flights between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean (except Cuba and Haiti), Central America (except Panama), Guyana, and Mexico.
If you’re flying on American to any of those destinations, your first checked bag will cost $35 if you prepay online or $40 if you pay at the airport. No change there for paying in person.
What’s different is the fee for your second checked item. It will cost $45 if you prepay online and $50 if you pay in person at the airport. That’s a $5 increase from before.
The change was rolled out amid a series of enhancements to the airline’s digital platforms, which American says aim to streamline the travel experience and save customers time and money on checked luggage.
Customers with AAdvantage or oneworld status, eligible AAdvantage credit cardholders, travelers booked in certain classes like Confirmed Domestic First, and active U.S. military service members and their families are eligible for waived baggage fees, with varying terms.
Travelers on longer-haul international flights have different baggage terms, as well. Details are available on American Airlines’ website.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Checking in a second bag could now cost you more on American Airlines
Reporting by Eve Chen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
