American AirlinesAA

American Airlines is the world's largest airline by fleet size and passengers carried. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, American operates over 6,700 daily flights to nearly 350 destinations in 50+ countries.

As a founding member of the Oneworld alliance, American offers connections to 1,000+ destinations worldwide through partners including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Japan Airlines, and Finnair.

Carry-On Allowance

Personal Item (free on all fares):

• Dimensions: 18" x 14" x 8" (45 x 35 x 20 cm)
• Must fit under seat in front of you
• Examples: Backpack, purse, laptop bag

Cabin Bag (overhead bin):

• Dimensions: 22" x 14" x 9" (56 x 36 x 23 cm) including handles/wheels
• Included: Main Cabin, Premium Economy, Business, First
• Basic Economy: NOT included—personal item only, or pay $35

Fare Class	Personal Item	Cabin Bag
Basic Economy	✓ Free	✗ $35
Main Cabin	✓ Free	✓ Free
Premium Economy	✓ Free	✓ Free
Business/First	✓ Free	✓ Free

Checked Baggage

Standard Size: 62 linear inches / 158 cm maximum (L + W + H)

Domestic:

Fare	1st Bag	2nd Bag	Weight Limit
Basic Economy	$40	$45	50 lbs (23 kg)
Main Cabin	$40	$45	50 lbs (23 kg)
Premium Economy	Free	Free	50 lbs (23 kg)
Business/First	Free	Free	70 lbs (32 kg)

International (Transatlantic/Transpacific):

Fare	Bags Included	Weight Limit
Economy	1 bag	50 lbs (23 kg)
Premium Economy	2 bags	50 lbs each
Business	2 bags	70 lbs (32 kg) each
First	3 bags	70 lbs (32 kg) each

Overweight & Oversized

Weight	Fee
51-70 lbs (24-32 kg)	$100
71-100 lbs (33-45 kg)	$200

Size	Fee
63-80 linear in	$150
81-115 linear in	$200

Elite Status Benefits

Status	Free Bags (Domestic)
AAdvantage Gold	1 bag
AAdvantage Platinum	2 bags
AAdvantage Platinum Pro	3 bags
AAdvantage Executive Platinum	3 bags

Citi / AAdvantage credit card holders: First checked bag free on domestic for cardholder + up to 4 companions on same reservation.

Special Items

Item	Fee	Notes
Golf clubs	Standard	Counts as 1 checked bag
Skis/Snowboard	Standard	Oversize fee waived
Bicycle	$150	Hard case or box required
Car seat	Free	Gate-check available
Stroller	Free	Gate-check available
CPAP machine	Free	Doesn't count toward limit

For general prohibited items, see our What Can You Bring on a Plane? guide.

Flagship First (International/Transcontinental):

• Lie-flat suites with direct aisle access
• Flagship Lounge access at DFW, JFK, LAX, MIA, ORD
• Multi-course dining, Flagship First Dining pre-departure at JFK/MIA/LAX
• Casper bedding, amenity kits

Flagship Business (International/Transcontinental):

• Lie-flat seats, most with direct aisle access
• Flagship Lounge access
• Multi-course meals, premium wines
• Noise-canceling headphones, amenity kits

Premium Economy:

• 38" pitch, 18.5" width
• Larger seatback screens
• Enhanced meal service with wine
• Priority boarding, amenity kit

Main Cabin Extra:

• 34-38" pitch (extra legroom)
• Priority boarding
• Complimentary alcoholic beverages

Main Cabin:

• 30-32" pitch
• Complimentary snacks and soft drinks
• Personal device entertainment via AA app (download before flight)
• Free texting via satellite WiFi on most flights

Basic Economy:

• Same seat as Main Cabin
• No carry-on bag, no seat selection, boards last
• No same-day changes

Booking:

• Tuesday/Wednesday often have the best fares
• Basic Economy rarely worth it—no carry-on and last boarding
• Check aa.com directly; they price-match OTAs

At the Airport:

• DFW: Skylink connects all terminals airside (3-5 min between any gates)
• ORD: Only Terminal 3, no airside connection to United (T1) or Delta (T2)
• Use mobile boarding pass—skip the kiosk entirely

Upgrades:

• Same-day upgrades clear 24 hours before departure for elites
• Complimentary upgrades priority: Executive Platinum > Platinum Pro > Platinum > Gold
• Systemwide Upgrades (for Platinum Pro and above) can confirm international business class at booking

AAdvantage Tips:

• Miles don't expire with any activity every 24 months
• SimplyMiles: Earn bonus miles by linking credit cards
• AAdvantage eShopping portal: 2-15x miles at online retailers
• AAdvantage Dining: 3 miles per $1 at participating restaurants