American Airlines Limits Points Earning, Increases Bag Fees

American Airlines Limits Points Earning, Increases Bag Fees

American Airlines announced today that it is updating the way customers earn AAdvantage® miles and Loyalty Points on flights, and adjusting bag fees. In other words, the airline is limiting points earning and increasing fees for checked bags.

The new points earning rules are aimed at pushing more customers to book directly with the airline or its partners and will go into effect in May. The higher bag fees kick in today.

Book Direct to Earn Points

Most customers will have to buy tickets directly from the airline or its partner carriers if they want to earn points in its AAdvantage loyalty program. Starting with tickets issued on May 1, 2024, American is limiting the way customers earn AAdvantage® miles and Loyalty Points on flights, depending on where they book. Customers will earn miles and Loyalty Points on flights when they:

• Book directly with American and eligible partner airlines.
• Book travel anywhere as an AAdvantage Business member or contracted corporate traveler.
• Book through preferred travel agencies. American will share a list of eligible preferred agencies on aa.com in late April.
• Basic Economy fare tickets will only earn when booked directly with American and eligible partner airlines.

AAdvantage® members will also continue to earn miles and Loyalty Points through non-airline partners, like the AAdvantage® eShopping℠, AAdvantage Hotels and AAdvantage Events platforms and more.

Checked Bags Cost More

Customers traveling with American Airlines will see increased fees for checking a bag on their flights for the first time in more than five years. The airline is increasing fees for first and second checked bags for travel booked on or after Feb. 20.

The new bag fees for domestic flights including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are $35 for first checked bags purchased online or $40 for first checked bags purchased at the airport. That’s up from $30 per checked bag.

The second checked bag fee is $45 (up from $40) purchased online or at the airport. The new bag fees for Canada and short-haul international flights are $35 for first checked bags and $45 for second checked bags purchased online or at the airport.

All AAdvantage status members will continue to receive complimentary bags on American Airlines flights.

Most AAdvantage® credit cardmembers also get their first eligible checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries. Eligible AAdvantage® Credit Cards include AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard®, AAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®, AAdvantage® Aviator® Business Mastercard®, Citi ® / AAdvantage® Executive Card, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select Card, CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Card.

Customers who purchase premium cabins on domestic and international flights will continue to receive complimentary bags. American also offers complimentary bags to active-duty U.S. military personnel on all American flights.

One Positive Change

Fees for slightly overweight bags will also be reduced on American Airlines flights. Those with bags three pounds over the 50-pound limit will now pay $30 instead of the former $100 fee.