What is the weight of luggage for international flights

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Checked bag allowances

Changes to bag limitations have been updated as of April 26, 2022.

All bag fees are non-refundable and apply per person, at each check-in location, each way, even if you purchase or get an upgrade that includes free checked bags. If you believe you've been incorrectly charged for bag fees, contact an American representative for help or file a refund claim within 45 days.

  • Bag limitations
  • Bag and optional fees
What is the weight of luggage for international flights
  • Bags

  • Checked bag policy

  • Carry-on bags

  • Delayed or damaged bags

  • Track your bags

How many bags can you take?

Check up to 10 bags on American Airlines operated flights if your trip is:

  • Domestic
  • Transatlantic
  • Transpacific

Check up to 5 bags on American-operated flights if you’re traveling to / through / from:

  • Mexico / Caribbean / Central America*
  • South America*
  • Brazil*
  • Bag limitations
  • Bag regions

*There are seasonal and year-round bag restrictions

Weight and size This content can be expanded

We calculate the size limits of your bag by adding the total outside dimensions of each bag, length + width + height.

For all regions, except to / from Australia or New Zealand, your checked bag allowance is:

  • Dimension: 62 in / 158 cm
  • Weight: 50 lbs / 23 kgs
  • For First / Business, weight is 70 lbs / 32 kgs for complimentary bags and 50 lbs / 23 kgs for excess charged bags

For all confirmed customers on flights to / from Australia or New Zealand:

  • Dimension: 62 in / 158 cm
  • Weight: 70 lbs / 32kgs for complimentary bags and 50 lbs / 23 kgs for excess charged bags

Oversize and overweight bags

What it will cost

Complimentary bags This content can be expanded

In some cases, you won't have to pay the fees for up to 3 bags when traveling on itineraries marketed and operated by American Airlines. If you qualify for complimentary bags based on your AAdvantage® or oneworld® status, the benefits are based on your highest status level at time of ticketing or check-in.

If your status level is:

  • Higher at ticketing than at check-in, show your ticket receipt to the airport agent
  • Lower at ticketing than at check-in, current benefits will automatically apply

Free checked bags may not apply to codeshare flights operated by our partners. Visit the website of the airline operating your flight for details.

Other airlines

1st checked bag is complimentary for:

  • Eligible AAdvantage® Aviator® and Citi® / AAdvantage® cardmembers (on domestic American Airlines operated itineraries)
  • AAdvantage Gold®
  • oneworld® Ruby

And when traveling to these destinations:

  • Argentina*
  • Australia
  • Brazil*
  • Chile*
  • China
  • Colombia*
  • Ecuador*
  • El Salvador*^
  • Haiti*
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Panama*^
  • Paraguay*
  • Peru*
  • Qatar
  • South Korea
  • Transatlantic*
  • Uruguay*

*Excluding Basic Economy

^$0 1st bag fee applies to / from Panama for tickets issued on / before May 11, 2021, and on / after November 9, 2021. For tickets issued on / after May 12, 2021, and on / before November 8, 2021, a 1st bag fee of $30 applies to / from Panama. $0 1st bag fee applies seasonally to / from San Salvador, El Salvador for tickets issued on / before May 11, 2021. For tickets issued on / after May 12, 2021, a 1st bag fee of $30 applies year-round to / from El Salvador.

1st and 2nd checked bags are complimentary for:

  • AAdvantage Platinum®
  • oneworld® Sapphire members
  • TrueBlue Mosaic members^
  • Confirmed Domestic First customers
  • Confirmed Business customers
  • Confirmed Premium Economy customers

^Up to 2 free checked bags with check-in at American ticket counters

1st, 2nd and 3rd checked bags are complimentary for:

  • Confirmed Flagship® First customers*
  • AAdvantage Executive Platinum®
  • AAdvantage Platinum Pro®
  • 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

*Applicable only to Flagship® First International and Flagship® First Transcontinental. AAdvantage Executive Platinum®, AAdvantage Platinum Pro® and oneworld® Emerald members traveling in Flagship® First may check a 4th bag at no charge

Bag fees This content can be expanded

RegionBag 1^^Bag 2^^Bag 3Bag 4+
Domestic $30 $40 $150 $200
Mexico $30 $40 $200 $200
Haiti $0 / $30* $65 $200 $200
Caribbean (except Cuba and Haiti) $30 $40 $200 $200
Central America $30*^ $40 / $65** $200 $200
Guyana and Suriname $30 $40 $200 $200
South America (except Guyana, and Suriname) $0 / $45* $65 $200 $200
Transatlantic $0 / $75* $100 $200 $200
Transpacific $0 $100 $200 $200

All bag fees are non-refundable and apply per person, each way, even if you buy or get an upgrade that includes free checked bags. If you believe you were incorrectly charged for bag fees, contact an American representative for help or file a refund claim within 45 days.

  • Bag and optional fees
  • Refunds

All published bag fees are base rates according to travel dates and destination; applicable taxes are not shown. Seasonal pricing applies for tickets issued on / before April 25, 2022 for travel June 1, 2022 – August 19, 2022 and November 27, 2022 – January 10, 2023, and for tickets issued on / after April 26, 2022 for travel November 27, 2022 – January 10, 2023.

^For travel to / from Panama, there is no fee for the 1st bag (excluding Basic Economy) for tickets issued on / after November 9, 2021. For tickets issued and on / before November 8, 2021, the 1st bag fee of $30 applies to / from Panama.

^^Main Plus includes 1 more free checked bag above the Main Cabin allowance.

*Free bag excludes Basic Economy: For travel to / from Haiti, a $30 1st bag fee applies. For travel to / from Panama, a $30 1st bag fee applies for tickets issued on / before November 8, 2021, and for tickets issued on / after November 9, 2021, the 1st bag fee is $45. For travel to / from South America (excluding Guyana, Suriname) a $45 1st bag fee applies. For Transatlantic Basic Economy travel (excluding Israel), a $75 1st bag fee applies.

**For travel to / from Honduras, a $65 2nd bag fee applies seasonally (see above for seasonal travel dates). For travel to / from Panama, a $40 2nd bag fee applies for tickets issued on / before November 8, 2021, and for tickets issued on / after November 9, 2021, the 2nd bag fee is $65.

If your region isn’t listed, we can still help:

  • Reservations and ticket changes
  • Bag regions

Through checked bags

We only through check bags if all your tickets are in the same record locator and you’re connecting to another American Airlines or oneworld® flight.

Customer service FAQs

Cuba

Each passenger traveling to Cuba may only check up to 2 bags with a maximum weight of 70 lbs / 32 kgs per bag, plus 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item. There are no exceptions.

  • Bag limitations
  • Carry-on bags
What it will cost This content can be expanded

Trips originating in CubaBag 1Bag 2Bag 3Bag 4+
From Cuba $0 $0 $200 $200
To Cuba $0 $200*
Trips originating outside CubaBag 1Bag 2Bag 3Bag 4+
To Cuba $30 $200*
From Cuba $0 $0 $200 $200

All bag fees are non-refundable and apply per person, each way, even if you buy or get an upgrade that includes free checked bags. If you believe you were incorrectly charged for bag fees, contact an American representative for help or file a refund claim within 45 days.

  • Oversize and overweight bags
  • Bag and optional fees
  • Refunds

*For travel to Cuba, a $65 2nd bag fee applies for tickets issued on / before April 25, 2022, and a $200 2nd bag fee applies for tickets issued on / after April 26, 2022 and travel on / after May 26, 2022.

What else can you travel with?

  • Mobility and medical devices
  • Traveling with pets
  • Special items and sports equipment

Restricted items

There are some items that are only allowed in checked bags or your carry-on. Check to see how to pack and travel with restricted items.

Restricted items

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  • Paying for bags online
  • Oversize and overweight bags

What if my luggage is 1 kg overweight?

Should your baggage exceed the limitations of the Free Baggage allowance, an excess baggage charge needs to be paid. For Domestic sectors within India, the excess baggage rate is INR 600 plus applicable GST per kg.

What is the size of 23kg luggage bag?

Maximum Weight per piece: 50 lb/23 kg. Maximum Dimensions: 62 linear inches/158 cm (length + width + height)

How much does 1 kg of excess baggage cost?

Additional Piece(s): Charges at the airport – Additional pieces of baggage will be chargeable at a rate of INR 1000 per piece.

Do international flights check carry on weight?

Most airlines have a carry-on weight limit of 40 pounds. International airlines may have different restrictions for carry-on luggage. Again, it is always best to check with your airline first to get their exact requirements. Airlines enforce all size and weight limits much more strictly now than in the past.