What to know when flying American Airlines?

As a frequent flyer of American Airlines, there are some key points that you need to understand when flying with this company.

He is a passenger of American Airlines, which is one of the leading US-based airlines that provides domestic and international travel services. Currently, American Airlines has hundreds of aircraft and operates flights to over two hundred destinations across the world, which means millions of passengers are ferried in a year. If this is your first time or if you are a frequent flyer with American Airlines, some important tips are worth knowing to ensure that your journey is quite easy and enjoyable.

Booking Your Flight While selecting your preferred flight on the American Airlines’ website or in the application, do not forget about the fare information. America has what can be termed the basic economy, main cabin, premium economy, business class, and first class. Basic economy fares eliminate certain privileges, such as having no full-size carry-ons or free seat selection. Economy class ticket provisions permit one piece of standard carry-on baggage and a choice of seat at an additional charge. Promotion, in turn, entails more perks in the form of amenities, services, and comforts in the higher classes. American also codeshare with other airlines on some of the International flights so if you are booking a flight, make sure to check whether the flight is marketed by American or an affiliate airline.

Baggage Policies and Fees Before going to pack, it is advisable to know the baggage allowance of American Airlines since they charge for checked luggage depending on the class of ticket, the destination, the passenger status, and military status. In the main cabin, passengers are allowed to carry one free carry-on bag along with one article referred to as a personal item; this could be a handbag or a laptop bag, for instance. You also have the opportunity to check one bag for a certain amount of money. Premium economy and business/first policies permit two checked pieces of luggage at no extra cost. Note that certain rides have restrictions on size and weight to prevent such problems from occurring. Overtime luggage charges, on the other hand, include:

Bicycles, surfboards, musical instruments, and sports equipment.

This helps to avoid excessive charges by paying luggage fees online rather than at arrival stations.

Earning Frequent Flyer Miles Sign up to American’s AAdvantage frequent flyer program to start accumulating mileage that applies to award travel and upgrade flights. You are awarded miles according to the fare paid on tickets, with possible additional incentives through flight promotions, credit cards, or bonus mile sales. Over time, you earn elite status, usually Gold, Platinum, or Executive Platinum, to earn even more travel benefits. Next, you have to match your flights and reward miles with the actual statement for the month to ensure that your flights and miles are correctly credited.

Airport and Check-in Info Arrive at the airport much earlier than the time you want to fly; it is advisable to arrive 90 minutes before your domestic flight and 2-3 hours for international flights. This is to allow time for parking or dropping off individuals, check-in of the luggage, the long TSA security lines, and getting to the gate on time. Additionally, boarding passes could be obtained and printed at home or any of the aforementioned ways using American’s mobile app for electronic passes. Think about arriving at the airport at the exact time of one full day before the scheduled flight to be assigned final seats ahead of time, then dropping off checked luggage before the final check-in time, which ranges from thirty to sixty minutes before the flight. Make sure to get a flight status and receive updates on any change that may happen, such as delays or changes in gate location.

Suddenly, at the Gate and Onboard Keep an ear out for any changes to the gate at the airport where you will be waiting, and make sure you are at the gate when your boarding group is announced. Make sure your passport is open and your mobile boarding pass is handy so that they can be scanned easily. Before the actual travel, the passenger should go to the American airline’s website and study the seating arrangements of different aircraft types, the location of restrooms, and emergency exits. Each passenger is required to store their hand-carried items properly and if a passenger needs assistance with the assigned seat, he or she should inquire from the gate agent before boarding. DO NOT cause any problems onboard and do not infringe on the rights of crew members and other passengers.

Fasten your seatbelt at take-off, landing, and during periods of turbulence.

Strictly follow all safety instructions and announcements.

Food and Entertainment Soft drinks, juices tea, and coffee are available on most of the flights over two hundred fifty miles, and most flights provide complimentary snacks as well. In some flights, especially those that take longer durations, passengers are allowed to order meals before the flight or buy them during the flight. For water, try to carry your empty water container through the security so you can top it up on the other side. If WiFi is a priority for you, look at the availability of airplanes before your booking because WiFi is included for free on some flights and is available for a fee for some cross-country and international flights. Seating is at least 90% power reclining seats with power outlets and a touch-screen audio visual system with a library of movies, TV shows, music, and games. You are also allowed to take your own devices on board if you want to do so for inflight entertainment.

Seat Selection and Upgrades When planning to travel, ensure that you book your tickets during the least busy times to enjoy the best airfare prices. Then choose your seats as soon as you can, especially for free if allowed by your fare bucket. Lavished seats depend on the airplane type, but most passengers choose the window or aisle, which is also closer to the front in coach class. It is better to choose an exit row seat since they offer more legroom but one has to be in a position to help in the case of an emergency. Passengers may also upgrade to premium economy, business class, or even first class at check-in if there are any available. Passengers with status in the respective airline’s loyalty program can typically also ask for complimentary upgrades at the time of check-in, which are granted based on availability.

Additional information and Tips

• Remember to apply to TSA PreCheck or Global Entry to avoid waiting long hours in line when screening your documents during air travel within the United States.
• It is easier to do this in the early morning or late in the evening during the peak holiday season when the airport is full.
• It also offers flight alerts through text or email in case there is any form of irregularity, such as flights that experience delays or cancellations.
• Fragile items such as medication, money, and a few other important items should be kept in the hand luggage and not in the checked-in baggage on the off chance that the baggage gets lost.
• Get the app for American Airlines and use mobile check-in, notifications, flight status, booking your flight, and many others with ease.
• If traveling internationally, it is useful for saving time upon return with the customs/immigration  Mobile Passport app.
• Make sure you have at least several months of validity on your passport with the necessary visas for the countries you are planning to visit as well as the countries you are allowed to transit through.
• Consult on how to transport you to the airport and how transport will be arranged to and from various places.

If you know the policies of American Airlines, make use of online and mobile facilities, gain their loyalty by enrolling in their frequent flyer program, and provide ample travel time at both ends, you could look forward to your next trip. Have a good journey, American!

Book your American Airlines ticket now and experience comfort and reliability. Call +1 833-902-2090 to speak with our travel experts.