American Airlines Baggage Rules: Carry-On, Personal Item and Bag Fees

Where these numbers come from

American sells most domestic fares with a simple split. Every ticket includes a personal item up to 18 x 14 x 8 inches, and the carry-on limit is 22 x 14 x 9 inches including handles and wheels. The airline lists no weight cap for cabin bags, but you must lift yours into the bin alone. Basic Economy travelers are commonly reported to keep the carry-on, though American's own carry-on page does not spell out fare rules, so confirm on your booking.

Checked bags are where the money goes. For Main Cabin tickets the first bag is $45 when you pay online and $50 at the airport. The second bag is $55 online and $60 at the airport. Basic Economy tickets issued on or after May 18, 2026 cost $5 more per bag, so the first bag is $50 online and the second is $60 online. A third bag is $200. Fees apply each way.

Here is a worked example. A couple flies round trip on Main Cabin with one checked bag each, paid online. That is $45 x 2 bags x 2 directions, or $180. If one person adds a second bag, the extra cost is $55 x 2 directions, so the trip rises to $290. Paying at the airport instead would add $5 to each bag, turning the $180 into $200. Prepaying is a small but free saving.

Weight and size are the gotchas. A standard checked bag must stay at 50 pounds and 62 linear inches (length plus width plus height). A 55-pound bag picks up the $30 tier, but a 60-pound bag jumps to $100 on top of the bag fee, so a $45 bag becomes $145 each way. If a bag breaks both the weight and size rules, only the higher of the two surcharges applies. American accepts bags up to 100 pounds and 115 inches.

Compared with rivals, American sits at the same $45 and $55 online level as Delta and Southwest, and below the $200 surcharges that budget carriers add. Its small $30 tier near 50 to 53 pounds is unusual; a bag repacked to 50 pounds avoids it entirely. Premium Economy and above include free checked bags. Fees rose in April and May 2026, so a price you saw last year is out of date.

To compare total trip cost across carriers, run your bag count through the total bag cost calculator. Check a suitcase against the size rules with the bag fit finder, see how the same bags price at Delta, or read the American personal item size page.

Sources

• American Airlines checked bag fees and policies
• American Airlines carry-on baggage
• American Airlines oversize and overweight bags
• American Airlines optional service fees

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.