American Airlines is raising prices for checked bags and making other changes to encourage customers to buy tickets directly from the airline if they prefer. earn mileage points.
The airline announced Tuesday that the price to check a bag on domestic flights will increase from the current $30 to $35 online and $40 if purchased at the airport. The price for a second checked bag will increase from $40 to $45 both online and at the airport.
The last time the US government increased baggage fees was in 2018.
American Airlines, based in Fort Worth, Texas, introduced a baggage fee (then $15) in 2008 to combat the soaring cost of jet fuel. Since then, they have become a steady source of revenue for most major U.S. carriers. American Airlines easily led the industry, raising $1.4 billion in baggage fees in 2022, the last year for which Department of Transportation statistics are available.
The airline is also increasing baggage fees by $5 on short-haul international flights, including to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, so the first bag now costs $35 and the second bag costs $45.
The company typically offers at least one credit card to customers who hold elite status in American Airlines’ loyalty program, purchase premium class tickets, or use a U.S.-branded credit card. Allows you to check your baggage for free.
American will give you a break if your bag is slightly overweight or oversized. Instead of full surcharges ranging from $100 to $650, tiered fees start at $30 for bags not exceeding 3 pounds or 3 linear inches over the limit.
It also reduces the cost of transferring points between frequent flyer accounts.
At the same time, American Airlines said that if customers want to earn points in the AAdvantage loyalty program from tickets issued on May 1, customers can purchase tickets directly from the airline or partner airline, or from a preferred online travel agent. announced that it was necessary. The airline announced it will list its preferred travel agencies in late April. Corporate travelers are not affected.
About 60% of American’s ticket sales are already sold directly through airlines, said Scott Chandler, vice president of revenue management.
The change is part of a long-term shift for airlines to stop using and paying travel agents and instead sell tickets themselves.
“The old way of booking tickets relied on agents who had extensive experience and understood the characteristics of the product,” Chandler said in an interview. “Old technology doesn’t explain things very well and customers get even more confused when introducing new products.”
Chandler likened this to the way Amazon.com describes the features it sells on its site.
