American Airlines Just Added a New Fee for Travelers. There’s One Easy Way to Avoid It

It incentivizes planning ahead of time.

BY AVA LEVINSON, NEWS WRITER

(Photo by Kevin Carter via Getty Images)

American Airlines recently announced a $5 increase for the cost of checking a second bag. The updated fee took effect on February 18 and applies to all flights booked on or after that day. 

“The new bag fee for domestic flights, including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada, and short-haul international flights is $50 when purchased at the airport,” according to the announcement. 

Previously, this additional bag cost $45. 

A History of Bag Fees

American is not the only airline that recently raised its bag prices. In 2024, a wave of pricier bag fees were imposed.

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JetBlue increased its fee from $35 to $45 for people checking online within 24 hours of the flight, and Alaska Airlines had raised the cost from $30 to $35 for the first checked bag and from $40 to $45 for the second, according to TheStreet.

Even American Airlines has made this kind of a shift before, when they went from charging $30 to $35 for passengers checking bags online and $40 for in-person checking. The airline also previously moved the cost up from $40 for a second bag to $45. 

It adds to the additional costs customers have come to expect when booking air travel.

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