dailynewsnblog
American Airlines has become the latest US carrier to increase the cost of checked bags for those traveling on basic economy tickets. This comes as the industry grapples with sky-high fuel costs, and for American, it joins other US carriers like 
Delta Air Lines, 
United Airlines, JetBlue, and 
Southwest Airlineswhich have all increased the costs of checked bags in recent weeks.
A $10 increase will apply to the first piece of checked baggage on domestic and short-haul international flights for bookings made from Thursday, April 9. These cost increases are driven by the ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.
Checked Bag Fee Applies To Even Those With AAdvantage Status
Basic Economy passengers traveling with American will be required to fork out more to check their bags from May 18, and even those who hold AAdvantage status are not excluded and will now also be charged for seat selection, and are not eligible for complimentary system upgrades.
The airline has stressed that travel demand remains high, but it would be impossible for carriers to cover the cost of the dramatic increase in fuel prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has choked global supplies of crude and refined jet fuel. The Strait is critical to the world’s oil exports, with more than 20% of global oil supplies passing through it, located between Iran and Oman.
Those booked on basic economy tickets will be charged $55 for the first checked bag and $65 for the second. There is a 4% online discount for those who can pay in advance, bringing the cost to $50 and $60, respectively.
Jet Fuel Costs Continue To Challenge Airline Operations
Jet Fuel continues to be airlines’ second-highest operational cost after labor. Airlines, since the conflict started, have looked at their premium offerings and made basic fares more restrictive, as the higher-end options usually bring in far more revenue than budget or basic fares.
The decision to increase budget fare add-ons is likely not one made lightly, and American has become the fifth US carrier to make these adjustments in the last two weeks. For AA, these new costs are applied to all domestic routes and short-haul destinations as listed in the table below:
|
Region |
Basic Economy |
Main Cabin |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Domestic United States |
$50 |
$50 |
$45 if paid online, and for tickets issued after April 9 |
|
To Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands |
$50 |
$50 |
$45 if paid online, and for tickets issued after April 9 |
|
To Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America (excluding Cuba, Panama, and Haiti) |
$50 |
$50 |
$45 if paid online, and for tickets issued after April 9 |
American Airlines, which made the announcement on April 9, noted that the changes were a result of ‘continuing evaluation of pricing in light of the current operating environment’. JetBlue was the first to make these changes early last week, and airlines have no choice but to offset higher jet fuel prices by adjusting their add-on offerings.
Price Increase: American Airlines Raises Checked Bag Fees Again
American Airlines will now charge an extra $5 to check your second bag at the airport.
5th Airline In The Last 10 Days To Increase Checked Bag Fees
As already mentioned, JetBlue, United, Delta, American, and Southwest have all increased their checked-bag fees since the Iran crisis began. JetBlue was first, with fees now ranging from $4 to $9 for passengers and checked bags costing $49 during peak travel periods.
Delta has also increased its checked bag fees by $10, with higher charges for additional bags. Southwest also ended its long-standing two-bag policy and raised its fees as part of a wider operational reconfiguration last year. United has raised its checked bag fee to $50, up by $10, with prepaid options available online or via the airline’s mobile app starting at $45.
These price increases apply to new bookings and primarily affect domestic or short-haul international bookings. Some airlines with co-branded credit cards can offer promotional entitlements such as free checked bags, but it is worth checking with your airline to see what your bookings may be eligible for.
