How many luggage can i take on american airlines

Direct guidance: One standard cabin bag plus one personal item are included at no charge; checked pieces on U.S. domestic itineraries are commonly billed $30 for the first and $40 for the second. Maximum checked weight per piece is 50 lb / 23 kg; maximum checked dimensions are 62 linear inches / 158 cm.

Carry-on dimensions: 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm). Personal items must stow under the seat (examples: briefcase, laptop bag, small backpack). Some deeply discounted fare classes alter carry-on eligibility – confirm your fare code before travel.

Overweight charges: $100 for checked pieces weighing 51–70 lb (23–32 kg); $200 for 71–100 lb (32–45 kg). Oversize items exceeding 62 linear inches typically incur a $200 fee. Third and subsequent checked pieces on domestic itineraries generally carry a $150 surcharge each.

Elite members, travellers in premium cabins and holders of co‑branded cards often receive one or more complimentary checked pieces; active military personnel have separate allowances. Prepay checked-piece fees online to avoid higher airport charges, weigh and measure baggage at home, redistribute weight between bags to stay under limits, and add visible contact information to every piece.

Consult the carrier’s official site or your booking details for route- and fare-specific rules, international allowances and any temporary policy changes before arriving at the airport.

Allowed pieces per fare class

Pack one full-size roll-aboard (maximum 22 x 14 x 9 in / 56 x 36 x 23 cm) plus one personal item that fits under the seat; Basic Economy fares usually include only the personal item, while Main Cabin and higher include the roll‑aboard as well.

Size, weight & checked-bag overview

Checked bag standard limits: linear dimensions up to 62 in (158 cm). Weight limit for standard economy tickets is 50 lb (23 kg); premium cabins and some international fares allow up to 70 lb (32 kg). Oversize or overweight items will incur extra charges or may be refused; special items (sports equipment, musical instruments) follow separate rules and fees.

Fee-reduction tactics

Hold a co-branded credit card that offers a first checked bag free for the primary cardholder and qualifying companions. Elite status frequently waives one or two checked-bag charges depending on tier. Prepay checked-bag allowance during booking or online check-in to avoid higher airport rates. Measure and weigh items at home to avoid overweight and oversize surcharges.

Carry-on and personal item rules: exact dimensions, permitted items and boarding placement

Use a personal item no larger than 18 x 14 x 8 in (45 x 35 x 20 cm) and a cabin bag not exceeding 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm); measurements must include wheels, handles and external pockets.

Personal item requirement: stow under the seat in front of you. Cabin bag placement: overhead bin only. If overhead space is full at boarding, gate staff will tag oversized cabin bags for gate-check; tagged items are returned at the jet bridge for most domestic sectors and at baggage claim for some international arrivals.

Liquid, gel and aerosol rules: individual containers limited to 3.4 oz / 100 ml or less, all containers placed inside a single clear quart-sized (one-liter) resealable bag. Exceptions allowed for prescription medications, baby milk/formula and medically necessary liquids; these must be declared at security screening and presented separately.

Lithium battery and power bank rules: spare lithium-ion batteries and power banks must travel in the cabin bag only. Installed batteries in devices are permitted in cabin. Batteries up to 100 Wh require no airline approval; batteries between 100 Wh and 160 Wh require prior approval from the carrier and typically limited to two spare units per passenger; batteries over 160 Wh are prohibited from both cabin and checked compartments.

Permitted carry items (subject to size limits): laptop, tablet, camera, essential medications, duty-free purchases sealed in tamper-evident bags with receipt, small musical instruments that fit the size limits, infant supplies. Place fragile or valuable items in the personal item to reduce risk of damage.

Prohibited cabin items: knives and tools with blades or pointed tips (including scissors with blades longer than 4 in), flammable liquids and gases, fireworks and compressed gas canisters, firearms (firearm transport requires declaration and is restricted to checked baggage under strict procedures). Sporting equipment such as baseball bats, golf clubs and skis are not permitted in the cabin unless they meet size requirements for personal instruments and are approved by gate agents.

Practical tips: measure bags laid flat including wheels and handles before travel; store power banks inside the personal item rather than checked bags; pack medications and valuables in the under-seat item; place liquids in an accessible outer pocket of the quart bag for quicker security screening; have receipts and tamper-evident packaging ready for duty-free liquids.

Checked baggage allowance by fare and route: number of bags, size/weight limits and where to check

Recommendation: add checked-bag allowance during booking or via online check-in to lock lower fees and receive electronic tags before airport arrival.

• Standard size limit: 62 linear inches (158 cm) total (length + width + height) per checked bag.
• Standard weight limits: Economy fares – 50 lb (23 kg) per bag; Premium cabins and many long-haul premium fares – 70 lb (32 kg) per bag.
• Overweight and oversize thresholds: Overweight 51–70 lb and oversize above 62 linear inches typically incur surcharges; items exceeding airline maximums (very large or very heavy) must be handled as cargo.

Allowance by fare family and route (typical patterns)

• Domestic U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands:
  • Basic Economy: no complimentary checked bags for most tickets; first and second checked bags available for purchase.
  • Main Cabin / Standard economy: checked bags available for purchase; first and second bag fees apply on most itineraries.
  • Premium cabins (Premium Economy / Business / First): at least one checked bag included on many premium fares; transcontinental premium fares usually include two or more free checked bags.
• Short international (Caribbean, Central America, Mexico):
  • Allowance depends on fare and origin-destination pair; economy fares often include one free checked bag on certain routes, while Basic/discount economy fares may not.
• Long-haul international (Europe, Asia, South America long-haul):
  • Economy: many fares include one free checked bag on transoceanic services; some sale or basic fares exclude the free bag. Weight for included bags is usually 50 lb (23 kg).
  • Premium cabins: 2–3 free checked bags with 70 lb (32 kg) allowance per bag on most long-haul international fares.
• Codeshare and partner-carrier segments:
  • Allowance follows the operating carrier’s rules for the specific flight segment. Always verify the baggage allowance on the operating carrier if a partner operates any flight leg.

Typical fee examples (use as a guide, verify your fare):

• Domestic first checked bag fee – commonly charged when not included in fare; second bag fee higher than the first.
• Overweight surcharges apply for 51–70 lb; larger surcharge for 71–100 lb; bags over the airline’s weight maximum are not accepted as checked and must be shipped as cargo.
• Oversize surcharges apply for bags larger than 62 linear inches; extremely oversized items may be refused at the counter or routed via cargo.

Where to check or purchase checked-bag service

1. During booking: add baggage allowance to the reservation before finalizing payment to often obtain the lowest price.
2. Manage booking on the carrier’s website or mobile app: add, pay for, or review checked-bag allowance tied to specific fare rules.
3. Online check-in (24–48 hours before departure): purchase and print electronic bag tags if offered.
4. Airport kiosk or ticket counter: buy or change baggage allowance; expect higher fee levels than pre-purchase online.
5. Curbside bag drop or dedicated bag-drop desks: use when electronic check-in completed and tags issued; oversized or special items must be handled at ticket counter or cargo desk.

Practical steps before travel

• Weigh and measure checked bags at home; distribute contents to avoid overweight fees.
• Compare fare rules in your itinerary for included bags and verify any codeshare segments for differing policies.
• Purchase excess-bag or overweight coverage online when possible; retain receipts and tag numbers in the mobile app or printed itinerary.
• For oversized/fragile/sports equipment, contact the carrier’s special baggage or cargo team ahead of departure to reserve space and confirm procedures.

Overweight, oversized and extra bag charges: fee calculation and application

Weigh and measure every checked piece before travel; prepay extra-piece, overweight and oversize charges online via Manage Trips whenever possible to reduce costs and speed check‑in.

Fee calculation method

Charges are composed of up to three elements applied per piece and per flight segment: (1) an extra‑piece fee for third and subsequent checked pieces, (2) an overweight surcharge when a piece exceeds the standard weight limit, and (3) an oversize surcharge when linear dimensions exceed the carrier limit. Overweight and oversize surcharges are additive to any extra‑piece fee and to the standard checked‑bag fee where that still applies.

Standard weight threshold: 50 lb (23 kg) is the common economy limit; surcharge tiers generally begin at 51–70 lb (23.1–32 kg) and increase again above 70 lb up to about 100 lb (45 kg). Linear size threshold for oversize is 62 in / 158 cm (length + width + height, including wheels and handles). Pieces over ~100 lb or very large items are typically refused at ticket counter unless shipped as cargo.

When surcharges apply and practical steps

Surcharges are assessed at bag drop/check‑in for each flight segment (including connections with partner carriers). If a checked piece exceeds both the weight and size limits, both surcharges will be charged in addition to any extra‑piece fee. Elite status and most co‑brand credit cards often waive the first checked‑bag fee but do not usually waive overweight/oversize or extra‑piece surcharges.

Practical checklist: use a bathroom or postal scale and a measuring tape (include wheels & handles); repack to split weight under 50 lb when possible; remove nonessential items or move heavier items to a carry‑on if allowed by your ticket; book and pay for extra pieces online before arriving at the airport; for items over 100 lb or unusual shapes (skis, bikes, musical instruments) reserve and declare them in advance because separate handling and fees apply.

Special items (sports gear, instruments, medical) – packing, fees and advance reservation requirements

Reserve special handling at least 48–72 hours prior to departure for bicycles, surfboards, full-size instruments and powered medical devices; contact the carrier’s special items desk and obtain written confirmation or a reservation code.

Sports equipment – packing and typical charges

Disassemble bulky items (remove pedals, turn handlebars, deflate tires) and use a hard bike box or padded travel case; secure loose parts in a labeled parts bag. Standard checked-size threshold remains 62 linear inches (length + width + height); items exceeding that are assessed oversize fees. Typical fee ranges for domestic routes: bicycles $100–200, surfboards $150–300, skis/snowboards $30–100 per direction; golf clubs are often treated as one checked piece with fees from $50–150 depending on fare class and route. Heavier items over 23 kg (50 lb) usually trigger overweight surcharges; a second overweight tier above 32 kg (70 lb) often carries higher penalties or refusal. Deflate inflatable equipment before boarding and drain fuel from motorized items; if gear contains fuel or flammable liquids, obtain carrier approval well in advance.

Instruments and fragile items – packing, seating and liability

Use a rigid case with internal bracing and climate-appropriate padding; add humidity control packs for wood instruments. If the instrument fits cabin allowances and stows safely in an overhead bin or under the seat, bring it aboard as a carry-on and secure a gate-check tag only if required. For oversize or irreplaceable instruments, reserve an extra passenger seat (purchase a standard fare for the instrument) rather than checking it; many carriers refuse liability for fragile damage when an instrument is checked as regular baggage. Photograph contents, carry proof of value and purchase specialized insurance or declare value with the carrier when available. Typical extra-seat costs equal a one-way fare for the empty seat; oversized checked-instrument handling fees fall in a broad $75–300 range depending on route and carrier policy.

Protect cases from sun and rain with weatherproof covers and choose materials recommended for prolonged outdoor exposure such as those listed in best umbrella fabric to withstand fading outdoors and pick rugged accessories including the best durable windproof umbrella for on‑site protection. After transit, launder athletic apparel and padded inserts using an appropriate machine such as the best fully automatic washing machine 9kg.

Battery and oxygen rules: lithium‑ion batteries up to 100 Wh are permitted in carry‑on without prior approval; batteries between 100 Wh and 160 Wh require airline approval and must be carried in the cabin with terminals insulated; batteries above 160 Wh are prohibited in passenger aircraft. Portable oxygen concentrators require advance approval and a physician’s statement; ensure battery capacity exceeds the total anticipated travel time (including delays) or arrange for airline-supplied oxygen where available. Powered mobility aids are typically accepted at no charge but require notification, documentation about battery type (wet, gel, lithium) and, if the battery is non-spillable, proper terminal protection.

At check‑in, present written approvals and medical letters, keep spare batteries and critical spare parts in carry‑on, tape exposed terminals, and request an equipment handling tag. Verify specific fees, dimensional and battery limits using the carrier’s special items page after reservation confirmation to avoid denial at airport counters.