dailynewsnblog
For Worth-based 
American Airlines has announced its plans to increase the cost to check a second bag, for those who aren’t prepared enough to pre-book it online, that is. The oneworld carrier annouced this week that for those wanting to check their second bag, they will now have to fork out an extra $5 than they may be used to.
Currently, passengers can pre-pay for checked baggage. The cost to do so is $45. The same fee has previously been charged for those adding a second bag at the airport, this is now set to increase to $50. The cost of your first checked bag remains unchanged.
Pre-Plan To Save Money
Affecting domestic and short-haul international flights, the new baggage charge cost is effective immediately. The news to hike their second bag fee looks to incentivise passengers to pre-plan, potentially saving extra time and hassle for both passengers and staff at the airport. This move is expected to see the wait time for check-in and the queue for bag drop decline in the terminal.
The $5 discount, which will be available for those who add their second checked bag online, will allow the airline to forecast the number of bags that would be expected for the flight. Those who have left it to the last minute to travel with that second bag will now have to swallow the extra $5.
American Airlines isn’t the first airline to follow such incentives, with its main competitor, 
United Airlines, also adhering to a similar formula to incentivize passengers’ pre-planning.
Current First Bag Fee Remains Unchanged
The current cost for your first checked bag on domestic or short-haul international flights starts at $35 if prepaid online; this fee increases to $40 if deciding to check in a bag at the airport. These costs remain unchanged. For those wishing to add a second bag, the fee to pre-pay online remains at $45, while the second bag at the airport has increased by $5, for all bookings onwards from February 18.
These changes come at a time when the airline has improved its app and website, in a bid to improve and streamline the customer experience. This also now includes the ability to pre-pay for luggage at the time of booking, versus where historically you had to wait to add bags during check-in. Keeping in mind, Elite status members of AAdvantage get one checked bag free, while Platinum members enjoy up to two checked bags complimentary.
As analysed by The Points Guy, American’s change to its baggage policy comes almost two years after the United States increased its bag fees. Additionally, AA also recently announced its 2025 profits, which saw its profits nosedive when compared to the last financial year.
American Airlines Launches Its Shortest Route With First-Ever Nonstop US Flights To This Caribbean Oasis
The 64-mile route will be operated thrice weekly from Miami.
More Digital Features For American Airlines Customers
The recent improvements to the app and website now ensure that customers can add bags online at any time, from booking through to check-in. Additionally, those who have pre-paid bags are now able to make same-day changes with ease via the website or app (if their ticket permits), without the need for an agent, saving time. As the carrier shared recently on its Facebook page, AA continues to work behind the scenes to improve the airport and onboard experience one flight at a time.
More recent improvements include those who made changes or upgrades to their trip, including prepaid bags, are able to have these automatically refunded as a travel credit or refunded to their form of payment when cancelling or changing their itinerary. Travel credits can also now be used to purchase standalone bags, which sees the airline provide a more flexible check-out option. Premium travelers can also add additional bags via the same channels.
Customers who have prepaid for checked bags enjoy the ability to bypass long check-in queues at the airport by using the Express Bag Tags, which are available at more than 100 kiosks across 16 of American Airlines’ busiest airports.
