How to get free checked bag on American Airlines?
They are also acquiring free checked bags on American Airlines, though they have yet to post what constitutes a carry-on bag and a checked bag on their website.
INTRO:
This is the case with checked baggage fees, that concern many passengers flying American Airlines today as the costs remain high. This becomes a challenge to anyone who is planning to pack for either a short or long journey. Fortunately, there are ways on how you can be eligible for at least getting a free check bag or at least minimizing the amount that you will pay for the baggage fees when using American Airlines. This guide will help you understand the steps of your choice.
JOIN THE AADVANTAGE AVIATOR PROGRAM OR GET A CITI CREDIT CARD
Another way that does not require flying often or achieving any status is to have an American Airlines-branded credit card. Both these cards are issued by American Airlines but are offered by two different banks, which are AAdvantage Aviator card that is issued by Barclays and Citi AAdvantage card that is issued by Citibank.
For the AAdvantage Aviator Red Mastercard, AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard, and AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard from Barclays, it allows you and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation to check in one bag free of charge only if the card was used in purchasing the ticket. This benefit can be used irrespective of the tier of your loyalty program membership or the cabin class you have purchased. An annual fee is charged, and the cost may vary between 95 dollars and 195 dollars depending on the particular type of card.
Other cards which offer this benefit include the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select cards, the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard, and the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select cards; they also offer one checked bag for the primary cardholder and up to 4 companions on the same reservation. Once again, the ticket has to be bought with your card in order to derive this benefit. These cards attract annual fees ranging from as low as ninety-nine dollars to as high as four hundred and fifty dollars.
These may vary depending on the credit card terms and conditions, that are subject to change from time to time. If you already have one of these cards or are planning to get one for any other reasons, it is one of the easiest methods to avoid the checked baggage fees on American Airlines by using this card to pay for your ticket.
If you are an American Airlines Advantage elite status member, I would advise flying the miles.
Elite customers are other customers who get privileged to be part of the American Airlines Advantage program, where some of the benefits include free checked bags. The first tier of elite status is Gold and it comes with privileges such as an allowance of one free checked bag. The frequent flyer program has different tiers and travelers who fall under the Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum categories are allowed two free checked bags.
To achieve this status, you must travel the required number of miles or the required number of segments on American Airlines or affiliated flights in calendar year. To achieve gold status, one is expected to travel for twenty-five thousand miles or complete thirty flight segments. To earn Platinum status, you would need to accumulate fifty thousand miles or sixty flight segments. For Platinum Pro, the following are needed: 75,000 miles or 90 flight segments; $12,500 in purchases with the American Airlines credit card. Executive Platinum is the highest frequent flyer program tier, which has the following qualification criteria: one hundred thousand miles flown or one hundred and twenty flight segments.
Once you qualify for such a status, you are awarded it for the rest of the current year plus the entire next program year since most airlines implement it, meaning that you would get the free checked bag benefits for close to two years. Always check your status and determine whether you frequently fly with American Airlines enough to warrant a higher status for free bags and premium perks like priority check-in, boarding, better designated legroom, and a shot at an upgrade.
CURRENT CREDIT CARD: AAA credit card, ELITE MEMBER
Extra checked baggage: Main cabin, main cabin extra, and business class passengers with no checked bags get an additional checked baggage allowance if you’re an AAdvantage elite member and hold one of the American Airlines credit cards above. In this case, instead of shoppers being allowed to pick a free bag, as is the current trend among supermarkets, Gold members would be allowed to pick two. Similarly, one additional free checked bag would be provided to Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum members, totaling three free checked bags. This is a fusion of their credit card and loyalty elite membership, since one gives them benefits of both.
TRAVEL WITH A BABY OR BRING A TREE CAR SEAT OR STROLLER
When traveling with an infant under the age of two for American Airlines, they can carry -on one stroller and one car seat at the gate free of charge. It can save you a checked bag fee and also helps manage young kids when traveling with them. You don’t even have to put them in a bag to be checked as well, They must be carried in a bag and be charged an extra fee When you get to the gate, just grab them and tell the gate attendant that you need to check those bags side by side with the other luggage items.
Based on the above guidelines, other than children that are under two years being allowed to check a car seat and stroller free of charge, children who are two and above would require their own checked baggage; however, communicating to American Airlines that one would require to check a car seat and stroller when traveling as a family with kids would assist in avoiding some of the baggage fees when traveling as a family even when children are no longer infants. It also assists in reducing the number of bags, which are usually paid for in the process.
TRAVEL AND TOURISM DURING THE Yuletide Season
One important thing to note is that, during several occasions in the year, American Airlines has certain rules whereby they allow the first checked baggage to be free of charge, irrespective of the status of the passengers, the credit cards they use, or any other factors. Among the most recommendable times to travel when one of these promotions is being run would be during the holiday season in December.
American Airlines sometimes promotes checking the first bag free during some dates in December to cope with extra volumes like gifts. For instance, in December of 2021, American airline offered all travelers one free checked bag between December 16th and January 3rd for domestic and short international flights to Mexico and Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.
The exact dates when this offer will be applicable for the 2022 holiday season have not been released, but as the holiday season approaches, the company is likely to publish more free first checked bag offers for the month of December. Even if the specified promotional dates of booking the flights alone, it should be enough to avoid the checked luggage fares and have some cash for the holidays.
BOOK REFUNDABLE FARES
A basic rule in checking fees on American Airlines is that checking baggage fees are free if you choose to book fully refundable fares. Another way to receive a free checked bag and, at the same time, keep the cancelation or changing flight privileges is to purchase more costly refundable tickets. This is one of the tactics that travelers who wish to have a lot of flexibility use to avoid checking-in luggage fees.
Just remember that with refundable fares, you would have to pay two to three times more as compared to non-refundable fares. For instance, if some passengers check in more bags or plan a longer trip, it is still possible that they are better off paying the higher airfare if they can benefit from the refundable fare, including free checked luggage, which would be more than the money they would spend on a non-refundable fare and fees for luggage. When it comes to refundable tickets, sometimes the numbers work and sometimes they don’t, so you need to check them.
TAKE AN EXTENDED TRIP
American Airlines’ current travel policy is that if you are including three or more cities on your trip with at least one international stop, you may check one piece of luggage for free. For instance, if you book an itinerary that includes two cities in the United States, another city in the United States, and an international location, you are eligible for one free checked bag under this international multi-city booking.
Another issue one faces when booking online is that when you want to book a trip such as this one, you have to call American Airlines to have the trip priced as one instead of pricing the flights individually by going through the flight options on the website. But it could earn you a free checked bag even without elite status or airline credit cards so is useful for extended trips where you plan far enough in advance to call.
PRESENT THEM WITH AN AMERICAN AIRLINES GIFT CARD
You and other passengers with the same reservation as you, when using an American Airlines gift card to book and pay for the flight, get your first checked luggage at no cost. This applies to any American Airlines physical or e-gift card valid for spending in the United States. Using both award miles and a gift also enables checking of the free baggage; hence, it is also possible to have one bag fly for free, subject to paying the taxes and other charges, using an AA gift card.
For example, if you earn an American Airlines gift card from your company’s incentive program or if you have been gifted a card for your birthday, let’s say, you could use these to purchase your next flight and the terms and conditions state that you shouldn’t be charged for checked baggage. This is applicable on both Domestic and International American flights using the American Airlines gift cards emerging from its US gift card program; thus, it can be very useful when booking if only you have an AA gift card with you.
TRAVEL TO CERTAIN DESTINATIONS
That is why American Airlines continues to offer free checked bags for the routes that go to and from those destinations. This is in the sense of those who left from or are arriving at Buenos Aires, Argentina (EZE), Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (GRU/CGH/SDU). The following South American cities are among those for which your first checked bag flies free on American to and from these destinations.
Also, the first checked-in baggage is free if you are traveling with American Airlines for a flight to or from central China or Hong Kong. Hence, places like Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG & SHA), Guangzhou (CAN), and Hong Kong (HKG) do offer free checked baggage without having to log-in, have status, or possess a special credit card.
It is important to always visit the official site of American Airlines since this list covers ports of call with free first-checked bags for passengers and it may change from time to time depending with promotional routes. Another approach that might allow you do qualify for a free bag based on the promotion associated with that city on a different itinerary is to add a connection to or from that city on different itinerary if it is not inconvenient.
TO: Director of Marketing FROM: Manager, Industry Analysis DATE: 7/3/2010 SUBJECT: Review of AA’s Baggage Discounts Page
Other ways of avoiding this fee include visiting American Airline’s baggage discounts and exemptions page, which is available on the airline’s official website, aa.com, in the Travel Information sub-section of Baggage. They offer clearer information on partnerships, membership, city destinations or other conditions that allow for free baggage or a reduced price for additional items. Some of the particularities are variable but observing this site every time we make a flight reservation is the best way to know the majority of the current offers or tricks that some passengers can apply to avoid additional costs.
For instance, active military service or being a veteran of the US military means your bags fly for free, just like elite status members, plus there might be more perks. Unbeknownst to many, even on codeshare flights on other airlines such as Alaska Airlines, British Airways, Fiji Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas, etc. , one is privy to free bag allowances if you are a loyalty member of American Airlines so checking on the joint partners of AA is advisable.
Traveling standby, as a student, children flying alone, traveling because of the loss of a loved one, or even a weather delay are some of the particulars that may entitle one to first free checked bag too when flying with American, and hence know how to fight your corner by being informed through their discounts page.
CONCLUSION:
Carrying free bags should be easier with above steps. When traveling, American Airlines avoids checked luggage fees. The simplest steps that frequent travelers with American airline can take to avoid bag charges include applying for the airline credit card, signing up for an AAdvantage loyalty program or waiting for the right time when you will find that the airline has dropped its charges due to some promotions or during certain seasons. Consider the other destinations with free bags while making your international bookings. Please contact the reservations to ensure that you start travel with the right information concerning the baggage allowances of America, since other questions may arise.
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