American Airlines Makes Changes to Baggage Fees, Rewards
Checked baggage fees are going up, but customers are getting some relief from overweight bag surcharges.
American Airlines is raising fees to check a bag for the first time in over five years, the company announced Tuesday. Additionally, American is changing the way customers can earn frequent flyer miles by restricting which third party ticket resellers can participate in the loyalty program.
Going forward, passengers will pay $35 for the first checked bag in domestic flights if booked in advance, or $40 if they opt to check a bag at the airport. Previously, it cost $30 to check a bag regardless of when customers chose the option. The cost of a second checked bag has also been raised to $45, up from $40, whether purchased online in advance or checked at the airport.
The baggage fee for the first checked bag on flights between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean, or Mexico will likewise be $35 whether purchased in advance or at the airport.
However, frequent flyer members with elite status, those who buy a premium-class ticket, or use an American-branded credit card will continued to receive a complimentary checked bag.
The airline is also cutting a break for passengers who have slightly overweight bags. Whereas it used to incur a $100 surcharge for bags over 50 pounds, bags that fall within three pounds of the limit will now pay just a $30 fee for the extra weight.
The other big change heading to the airline involves how customers can earn AAdvantage frequent flyer miles. In an effort to encourage travelers to book directly though American, it will begin to limit eligibility of tickets purchased through third parties. Starting on May 1, customers will have to buy tickets directly from American Airlines, its partner carriers, or from "preferred online travel agencies" to earn points.
The company plans to provide a list of the preferred travel agencies in late April. The change will not affect corporate customers.
Scott Chandler, vice president of American Airline revenue management, said on Tuesday that about 60 percent of ticket sales are currently made directly through the airline. The changes are part of an ongoing effort by airlines to steer away from partnering with travel agents.
"The old way of booking a ticket relied on agents having a ton of experience and understanding product attributes," Chandler said, via the Associated Press. "The old technology doesn’t let us explain things very well, and it is a little more confusing for customers when we introduce new products."