Are you looking to book a seat on one of the American Airlines flights, or have you booked an AA seat? Then you need to know all about the American Airlines carry-on size, AA baggage policy 2020-2021, carry-on dimensions and restrictions, and personal items in American Airlines.
Here is a summary of American Airlines Carry-on and Checked Luggage policy.
- Passangers can bring one carry-on and one personal item. Carry-on should not exceed 22x14x9 inches (56x36x23 cm) or up to 51 linear inches and must fit in the overhead bin. Personal items should fit under the seat. There is no limit on personal item bags and American airlines’ carry-on baggage weight.
- Checked baggage size should not exceed 62 inches in total dimensions and 50 pounds (23kgs) in weight. Oversize and overweight charges apply
- The first two bags will be considered standard checked bags, subsequent bags will be considered as excess luggage. Corresponding fees for standard and excess bags apply.
- When traveling with infants, passangers are allowed to bring one extra item on top of the carry-on. This can be a gov’t approved car seat, diaper bag, or stroller, to name a few.
- Pets are allowed on some AA flights. Pet must be inside a kennel and will be counted as a carry-on.
Read on below to know more details including restrictions, fees, and exceptions.
Contents
American Airlines Carry-on and Personal Item
American Airlines allows each passenger to bring 1 personal item and 1 carry-on baggage with dimensions of 22x14x9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm) and 18x14x8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) respectively, without any weight limit. Additionally, you can take 1 medical device, assistive device, or childcare baggage. We will discuss each category below.
For carry-on luggage without structure, the total dimension (length + width + height) should not exceed 51 inches or 130 cm. Sizers are located at various locations in the airport to ensure that your carry-on does not exceed the size requirements.
American Airlines Checked Luggage Dimension and Policies
The following table shows how many bags you can bring in what class you have booked in American Airlines:
| Which class? | No. of Checked Bags? | Fees applied? |
| First | 3 (in 3-cabin plane) or 2 (in 2-cabin plane) | No |
| Business | 2 (any plane) | No |
| Premium Economy | 2 (any plane) (except to/from Alaska, Hawaii) | No |
| Main | 2 (any plane) | Yes |
American Airlines checked bags size and weight restriction
- Each checked bag must be under 62 inches (158 cm) in total dimensions (length + width + height).
- Any bag bigger than the above will be considered an “Oversize Bag” in AA and extra fees for these bags will be applicable.
- Each checked bag must weigh under 50 pounds (23 kg) overall.
- Any bag heavier than that will fall into the AA “Overweight Bag” category and you will need to pay extra fees for those bags.
- You can bring up to 10 bags with you on an AA flight to check-in. This is applicable on flights that are:
- Domestic
- Transatlantic
- Transpacific
- You can bring up to 5 bags only if your plane route/itinerary includes these regions:
- Mexico
- Caribbean
- Central America
- South America
- Brazil
- Only the first two bags or items will be considered as standard checked bags in AA, and from the third bag or item onwards they will be considered as Excess Luggage in American Airlines and extra fees will be charged.
- Multiple fees may be applied to one item if it falls into multiple categories. For example, a bag may be both larger and heavier than the standard regulation mentioned above; in that case, you will have to pay both oversize fees and overweight fees.
- Musical equipment in AA: Musical equipment is considered a carry-on or personal item if it can fit overhead bin or under the seat. If not, then either (1) you have to purchase the seat next to you to keep the musical instrument, or (2) pack it safely and check it in.
- In case (1), the instrument must be less than 165 pounds (75 kgs) and must fit in the sit safely.
- In case (2), the instrument should be smaller than 150” (381 cm) in total and weigh 165 pounds (75 kgs) or less.
- Fees for musical instruments follow the AA checked baggage fee structure as mentioned beneath, and will be categorized similarly.
Other than the above, there are many different rules and fees for taking special equipment on AA flights. You should check this page to find out the exact rules for the item you want to transport.
Attention! For traveling to and from Cuba, you cannot take more than 2 checked bags in any condition on an American Airlines flight. However, the weight limit here is raised to 70 pounds (32 kgs).
American Airlines Baggage fees
Standard checked bags fees in AA
Generally, AA takes $30 for the first bag and $40 for the second bag. However, this rule is widely varied depending upon what region your trip is taking you through. The following table depicts AA checked baggage fees in detail.
American Airlines Checked Bags Fee Chart
| RegionStandard Checked bags Excess Luggage Bag 1Bag 2Bag 3Bag 4 +Domestic $30 $40 $150 $200 Mexico $30 $40 $150 $200 Haiti $0 $70 $150 $200 Cuba $0 / $30 $0 / $40 $150 $200 Caribbean (except above locations) $30 $40 $150 $200 Panama $0 / $30 $40 $150 $200 Central America (except above locations) $30 $40 / $55 $150 $200 Colombia $0 / $30 $55 $150 $200 Ecuador $0 / $30 $40 $150 $200 Guyana $30 $40 $150 $200 South America (except above locations) $0 / $45 $65 $150 $200 Transatlantic $0 / $75 $100 $200 $200 Transpacific $0 $0 $200 $200 * The prices after the “/” apply for basic economy class, for tickets booked after April 21 2020 or for flights in 2021. |
|---|
Note: The first checked bag in AA is always free if you are one of the following:
- AAdvantage Aviator and Citi / AAdvantage card members (on domestic AA flights)
- AAdvantage Gold member
- Oneworld Ruby member
- Confirmed Business customer
- Confirmed Premium Economy customer
- AAdvantage® Platinum Pro
- AAdvantage® Platinum
- Oneworld® Sapphire members
- Confirmed First customers on 3-cabin aircraft*
- AAdvantage® Executive Platinum
- Oneworld® Emerald
- Active U.S. military and/or dependents with ID traveling on orders (1st – 5th bags free of charge)
- Active U.S. military with ID on personal travel
Learn more about “first bag free” on American Airlines flights here.
AA overweight and/or oversize baggage fees
Any bag you check in that is above 62 inches (158 cm) is considered oversize baggage by American Airlines. They do not take bags that are larger than 126 inches (320 cm) – you will need to book special transport for that.
Bags or equipment that are over 50 pounds (23 kgs) is considered overweight luggage with AA. There are two fee slabs for overweight bags – 51 pounds (23 kgs) to 70 pounds (32 kgs), and 71 pounds (32 kgs) to 100 pounds (45 kgs). American Airlines will not accept anything heavier than 100 pounds.
The AA fees for overweight/oversize bags vary depending upon which places your flight will go through. Following is the fee chart for American Airlines’ overweight/oversize luggage.
| AA Flight Stops Include | AA Oversize | AA Overweight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62” to 126” | 51 lbs to 70 lbs | 71 lbs to 100 lbs | |
| USA internal, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Canada | $200 | $100 | $200 |
| Mexico / Caribbean / Central America (except Panama) | $200 | $100 | $200 |
| South America and Panama | $150 * | $100 | $200 ** |
| Europe | $150 | $100 | n/a ** |
| China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong Australia | $200 | $100 | $450 ** |
** This weight category is not accepted for AA flights to/from Cuba and Australia.
Special or Additional Items
This section includes other special items you might need or want to bring during your next flight. This includes most common sports equipment musical instruments, prohibited and allowed items, as well as liquids, gas, and aerosols.
American Airlines sports equipment fees and rules
You can transport various kinds of sports equipment in an AA flight, like duffel bags, golf bags, diving gear, bicycles, etc. They are subjected to the following regulations:
- Sports equipment size: Generally, the maximum size of sports equipment in American Airlines should be 126” (320 cm), and it can be at most 70 pounds (32 kgs) heavy.
- You have to declare the item specifically as sports equipment, for a particular type of sport, for each bag or equipment to AA.
- The sports bag/pack must contain only sports equipment of that sport as you declared.
- If you don’t declare something you check in as “sports equipment” specifically, then it will be treated the same as general baggage and will be subjected to AA baggage fees and regulations mentioned above.
Detailed American Airlines sports equipment rules and fees chart
| Sport Type | Allowed items and packing | Prohibited Items | Numbers allowed | Size (length+ weight+ height) | Weight (slabs) | Fee per checked item | |||||
| Antlers | Trophy antler with skull, completely clean, in safe package | – | 1 | – | – | $150 | |||||
| Archery | Bow, quiver, arrows, maintenance kit | – | 1 set | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees | |||||
| Baseball | Bats must be safely packed within luggage, will consider as part of normal bags | – | – | – | – | – | |||||
| Bicycle | Non-motorized, compactly packed in hard carrying case | – | 1 | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | Standard checked bags fees up to 50 lbs, afterward $150 | |||||
| Bowling | Bowling case with 3 balls & shoes, | Cleaners with high acetone or more than 70% alcohol | 1 case | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees | |||||
| Camping | Packed tent, packed sleeping bag, rucksack – each will be considered as 1 separate bag | Stoves, Fuels, Sterno, Matches, Lighters, Flares | – | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees | |||||
| Curling | Curling bag or case including stone, broom, sticks, stabilizers | – | 1 bag/case | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees | |||||
| Fencing | Bag or case containing foils, jacket, gloves, mask, very securely packed | – | 1 bag/case | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees | |||||
| Fishing | Case with 2 rods& 1 reel, equipment bag, tackle box, net, boots, waders (encased) | – | 1 rods case + 1 equipment bag or box = 1 checked item | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees. If any of the case/bag/boxes go above size or weight, standard charges will apply Golf Golf bag with clubs, balls, tees, 1 pair of shoes | Swing-less golf club load strips | 1 bag | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | Standard checked bags fees up to 50 lbs, afterwards $150 |
| Hang gliding | Glider packed in appropriate, protective case | – | 1 | – | – | $150 | |||||
| Hockey | bag or case with hockey sticks, equipment bag | – | 1 sticks set + 1 eq bag = 1 checked item | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | Standard checked bag fees up to 50 lbs, afterward $150. * | |||||
| Cricket | bag or case with cricket bats, equipment bag | – | 1 bats set + 1 eq bag = 1 checked item | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | Standard checked bag fees up to 50 lbs, afterward $150. * | |||||
| Lacrosse | bag or case with lacrosse sticks, equipment bag | – | 1 sticks set + 1 eq bag = 1 checked item | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | Standard checked bag fees up to 50 lbs, afterward $150. * | |||||
| Javelin throw | Javelin, in transport case | – | 1 | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | Standard checked bags fees up to 50 lbs, afterward $150 | |||||
| Pole vaulting | Pole, in transport casing | – | 1 | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | Standard checked bags fees up to 50 lbs, afterward $150 | |||||
| Kayaking / Canoeing | Oars or paddles, packed securely | – | 1 pair | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees | |||||
| Parasailing | Packed parachute | Compressed gas canister or such | 1 pack | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees | |||||
| Scuba diving (with tanks) | Scuba tank, equipment bag, scuba regulator, harness, gauge, fins, snorkel, mask, vest. Regulator parts must be completely disconnected from the tank, the cylinder must have an opening to be inspected. | – | 1 set | – | – | $150 | |||||
| Scuba diving (without a tank) | Regulator, harness, pressure gauge, fins, snorkel, mask, vest | – | 1 set | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees | |||||
| Hunting or Shooting | Hard, locked gun case with an unloaded rifle, shotgun, pistol, revolver, up to 11 lbs. (5 kg) of ammunition securely packed, shooting mat, noise suppressor and tools. | Loose ammo | 1 case | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees ** | |||||
| Skateboarding | Board | – | 1 | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees | |||||
| Skiing | Ski set, pole set, boots, helmet, life preserver | – | 1 set + 1 eq bag = 1 checked item | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | Standard checked bag fees up to 50 lbs, afterward $150. * | |||||
| Snowboarding | Snowboard with equipment | – | 1 set + 1 eq bag = 1 checked item | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | Standard checked bag fees up to 50 lbs, afterward $150. * | |||||
| Watersports | Surfboard, water ski, wakeboard, boogie board, skim board, paddle board, speed board, kiteboard. All attached parts must be removed and safely packed | – | 1 bag (may contain multiple items) | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | Standard checked bags fees up to 50 lbs, afterward $150 | |||||
| Tennis, Badminton, Racquetball, Squash | Bag of rackets and balls | – | 1 bag (may contain multiple items) | 126 in / 320 cm | Up to 50 lbs; 51 lbs to 70 lbs | General checked bag/ overweight bag fees | |||||
| Windsurfing | Board, mast, boom + sail | – | Any 2 of the items = 1 checked item | – | – | $150 |
** Plus $80 extra if to/from London.
Restricted items on American Airlines flights
To begin with, you cannot take anything that the TSA specifies as items restricted in air travel. Furthermore, FAA has another list of things you cannot take on a plane. You will absolutely have to abide by those rules or you won’t even clear security. Worse, you may even get arrested.
Apart from the above, American Airlines has a list of things that you cannot take on their flights, or can take under some conditions. These are described in the table below.
American Airlines Restricted Items Chart
| Item type | Common items of this type | Allowed in carry-on? | Allowed in checked bags? | Under what conditions? |
| Alcoholic drinks (70% and above) | Drinks with over 140 proof alcohol | No | No | – |
| Alcoholic drinks (less than 70%) | Beer, wine, or other drinks – fully packaged | No | Yes | Bottle not opened, max 5 liters per head (or according to customs rules) |
| Animal produce | Meat, cheese, lard, sausages | Yes | Yes | Not to Europe |
| Batteries (good) | 9-volt, AA, AAA, C, D, Alkaline, Carbon Zinc, Silver oxide, Zinc-air, Lithium or lithium-ion*, Nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride | Yes | Yes | Batteries must be removed from the device and placed in separate plastic bags. |
| Batteries (damaged) | Damaged cells, automobiles, aircraft or boat batteries | No | No | – |
| Batteries (embedded in devices) | Batteries embedded inside watches, calculators, cameras, cell phones, computers and so on | Yes | Yes | 2 spares are allowed, individually protected. Conditions apply depending on the type of cells. * |
| Sharp instruments | Knives, forks, razors, box cutters, ice picks | No | Yes | Plastic cutlery and safety razors are allowed in carry on |
| Defence sprays | Mace, pepper spray, tear gas | No | No | – |
| Drones | Drones for recreational uses | Yes | Yes | The drone battery must be less than 160 Wh |
| Dry Ice | Dry ice for packing perishable items food or drink | Yes | Yes | Up to 5.5 lbs (2.5 kgs) only, packed securely in hard plastic or styrofoam and declared at the gate |
| E-cigs | Vapes, e-cigs, etc. | Yes | No | Must be inside the proper casing, cannot use in-flight |
| Explosives | Gunpowder, fireworks, flares, swing-less golf club load strips | No | No | You can carry the swing-less golf club as sports equipment if you don’t bring the strips |
| Firearms | Handguns, rifles, shotguns, ammunition | No | Yes | See the sports equipment section above |
| Flammable substance | Fuel, paints, gas torches and lighters, flammable glues | No | No | – |
| Gas-powered tools | Gas-powered trimmers/shavers, chain saws | No | Yes | In mint packaging only |
| Household items | Bleach, Spray starch, Insecticides, Drain cleaners, Solvents, Aerosols, Oven, or bathroom cleaners | No | No | – |
| Hoverboards & scooters | Hoverboards, Balance wheels, Electric small scooters, Intelligent scooters | No | No | Not if Li-on powered or similar |
| Matches and lighters * | Matches, lighters, lighting fluid, grill lighters | Yes | No | – |
| Marijuana | Recreational or medical marijuana | No | No | – |
| Mobility devices | Electric wheelchairs with spillable batteries | – | No | – |
| Personal Care | Aerosol deodorant or hair spray, Insect repellent, Perfume or cologne containing alcohol, Nail polish or nail polish remover, Large bottles of acetone such as liquid nails, etc. | Yes | Yes | In the checked bag: less than 16 oz in a container, summing up to 70 oz. |
| Pressurized containers | Spray cans, Butane, Fuel, Propane tanks, CO2 cartridges, Self-inflating rafts, Recreational oxygen | No | No | – |
| Full-body PPE | Personal face / full-body pod, Personal face / full-body tent, Stadium tent | Yes | Yes | Cannot use in-flight |
| Air purifier | Portable electronic air freshener/purifier, Ozone generator | Yes | No | Cannot use in-flight |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 7 | Samsung Galaxy Note 7 | No | No | – |
| Self-heating meals | Flameless meal products such as HeaterMeals, Meals Ready-To-Eat (MREs) | No | No | – |
| Self-inflating life jackets | Self-inflating life jackets | No | Yes | One jacket, with up to 2 small CO2 cartridges only, may get confiscated by TSA |
| Small scissors and Tools * | Metal scissors, Screwdrivers, Wrenches, Pliers | Yes | No | With special size restrictions |
| Large tools | Crowbars, drills, hammers, saws | No | Yes | – |
| Smart bags | Checked or carry-on bags with charging devices | Yes | No | Allowed as a carry-on item only if the battery is removed |
A Complete Packing Guide and Tips for American Airline Travelers
If you’ve chosen an American Airlines flight as your ride, good choice! Here is some advice to make your AA travel smoother and better.
American Airlines Baggage Tips
- Try to travel light and pack everything you must have in two bags that you would check-in.
- Keep only a small bag or briefcase as a carry-on.
- Keep only the items you must use on the flight or immediately after leaving the airport.
- It’s better to send heavy or large things in the mail to your destination, rather than traveling with them.
- Do check the TSA and FAA lists of restricted items before you pack. Also, check the list of restricted items in American Airlines given above – you may be surprised to see something you thought perfectly common not allowed on their flights.
A guide about packing for AA
- Remember that you are allowed only the following when traveling on an AA flight:
- 1 personal item (jacket, purse, etc.)
- 1 carry-on (backpack, briefcase, handbag, etc.)
- 1 extra medical, childcare, or assistive item (diaper bag, a milk container, crutch, etc.)
- 2 checked bags or cases (actually you can take up to 10 but at a huge cost)
- Measure the sizes of your bags, suitcase, briefcase, etc.
- Personal item size: 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm)
- Carry on size: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm)
- Checked bag sizes: 62 inches (158 cm) – the sum of all sides
- Check the list of restricted items to see if everything will pass through airport security. Above, we have discussed items not allowed in American Airlines.
- Make two heaps of items – the first for a carry-on bag and a personal bag, the second for the checked bags.
- Put only in-flight essentials in the first heap, and everything else in the second heap.
- All containers, bottles, and tubes with more than 3.4 oz (100 ml) size will go in the second heap. You can take smaller tubes and bottles (100 ml or less) in the carry-on.
- You cannot take bottles larger than 16 oz, or any more than 70 oz in total.
- Fold and pack all your clothes properly, because this saves a lot of space.
- Now pack your bags, spreading items around to cover as wide an area in the bags as possible. Don’t just pile things on top of each other.
- When done, weigh the bags on a home scale or something similar.
- Are the bags under the AA baggage weight limits? The carry-on and personal items don’t have any weight restrictions (as long as they’re reasonable), but the checked bags have to be under 50 lbs. (23 kgs), or else you will have to pay overweight fees, which are substantial.
- If one bag is heavier than the other, try exchanging items between them to get them more even. You may have to discard something in order to get under the precise weight limit.
- Very important – place info cards inside and outside all your luggage saying your name, contact, and your AA flight information. It helps the airport people to sort them out, also very useful if you lose something on the way.
Frequently Asked Questions – American Airlines Carry-on Luggage Policy
What is called a “Carry On” in American Airlines?
Any small bag, briefcase, backpack, or similar container that is too small to check in, or which contains items you may need on the plane, is termed as a ‘Personal Item’ or ‘Carry On baggage in American Airlines.
How many bags can you carry-on American airlines for free?
Customers are permitted 1 free carry-on, the details about size and weight limit are mentioned above.
How many personal items I can take with me on an AA flight?
You are restricted to taking only one (1) personal item with you on the AA flights, as long as fits under the seat.
However, accessibility, childcare, or medical devices don’t count as a carry-on items for Americal Airlines. These include the following – jackets or similar garments, baby needs like diaper bags or breast milk containers, crutches, strollers, etc.
Can I bring pets with me on an AA flight?
Yes, you can bring pets on an American Airlines flight. However, the animal must be securely enclosed in a travel kennel or similar container, will be counted as your AA carry-on, and you will have to pay $125 per kennel. Note: Registered service animals are free of this charge.
What can I bring inside my carry-on bag or as a personal item?
Bring only what you would absolutely need on the flight, or immediately after leaving the airport. The TSA has a full list of things you cannot take on a plane, you must avoid those. Also, any container of fluid or cream-like item cannot be larger than 3.2 oz (100 ml). This means the container (bottle or tube or jar) will have to be 100 ml in size, regardless of how much is left in it.
That’s all about the best way to pack your luggage for American Airlines flights. We hope you found it useful. Please let us know your thoughts and suggestions using the comments section below.