American Airlines is making it easier for customers to save a little time and money when they need to check luggage. The airline recently rolled out a series of digital enhancements to make the process easier and expand self-service luggage options.

New digital features give customers more self-service bag options

In the past few weeks, American has updated aa.com and its mobile app to give customers more control over their trip, especially when it comes to their bags.

• No more waiting until check-in to prepay for your luggage. Customers can add up to three checked bags when booking their flight.
• Customers who prepay for their bags online can now make confirmed same-day changes without needing an agent, creating a more consistent and transparent experience.
• If a customer changes or cancels their trip (or buys an Instant Upgrade), eligible prepaid bags purchases are automatically refunded as a travel credit or returned to the original form of payment, providing customers with more flexibility.
• Customers can now redeem their travel credits when purchasing standalone bags online, a major step toward more flexible checkout options and the future expansion of credits across additional ancillary products.
• For those booked in American’s premium cabins, most customers can now add their checked bags on aa.com and the mobile app prior to departure.

Together, these updates make it easier for customers to plan, change and manage their travel on their own terms — no calls, no lines, just a smoother digital experience.

And when customers prepay for their checked bags, they can skip the lines and scan their boarding pass at the kiosk to print Express Bag Tags. In the past year, American has installed approximately 100 new bag kiosks at 16 airports.

Adjusting bag fees charged at the airport

American is adjusting bag fees for the second checked bag for travel booked on or after Feb. 18. The new bag fee for domestic flights including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and short-haul international flights is $50 when purchased at the airport. Customers who prepay for their second checked bag on aa.com or through the mobile app will receive a $5 discount, paying the current fee of $45. There are no changes to bag fees for the first checked bag.

Certain AAdvantage® members and credit cardmembers still receive important benefits:

• All AAdvantage® status members will continue to receive complimentary bags on American Airlines flights.
• Most AAdvantage® credit cardmembers also get their first eligible checked bag free on domestic American Airlines itineraries.

Customers who purchase premium cabins on domestic and international flights will continue to receive complimentary bags. American also offers complimentary bags to active-duty U.S. military personnel on all American flights.