American Airlines has once cut baggage allowances on basic economy tickets. For all tickets issued after June seventh, passengers could have to pay $75 for the primary checked bag on all international flights outside North and South America. Previously, passengers were allowed at the least one checked bag on long-haul routes, but this isn’t any more, with the change coming days before peak summer travel.
Only carry-ons please
In a disappointing yet unsurprising move, American has removed checked bags from international basic economy tickets. All tickets issued on or before June sixth, 2023, include one checked bag on flights to and from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Oceania in all fare classes, including basic economy. Nevertheless, the carrier updated its policy on Wednesday, as first seen by The Points Guy, adding a $75 fee for the primary bag, making it far costlier for travelers. The second bag will set you back one other $100 and a 3rd can be $200.
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Flights throughout the US, to all US territories, Mexico, Canada, Central America, and South America, have different fees for basic economy and are not subject to this variation. Now, all basic economy routes with American charges for checked bags, regardless of the destination, a move even rivals United and Delta haven’t taken (yet).
Delta and United still offer one free checked bag on transpacific routes (Oceania) but in addition charge $75 on all other long-haul routes. Nevertheless, these changes are likely to ripple quickly, and it won’t be surprising to see the pair make this variation in the long run too.
Check Foremost Cabin fares
For American, the choice so as to add a $75 fee is basically driven by additional revenue since passengers on long-haul trips are prone to be carrying checked bags. For travelers, checking the worth difference between Basic Economy and Foremost Cabin has never been vital. If you’ve got a hold bag and the worth difference is lower than $75, moving to the upper class is a no brainer, especially given the opposite advantages as well, similar to seat selection and no change fees.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Easy Flying.
Booking through third-party sites can be not really useful since they mostly offer the most affordable fare and you may end up paying a fee before check-in or on the airport. As basic economy is now present on all US airlines, not only Southwest, checking fare classes has turn out to be more vital than ever, so the most affordable fare is generally not so.
Frequent flyers and credit holders hit too
Starting June seventh, those with AAdvantage Gold or oneworld Ruby also is not going to receive a free checked bag on any routes if booked in basic economy, extending the policy that applied to regional international flights as well. Flights to Qatar are the one exception currently, where members can still take one bag in basic economy in the event that they have status. The identical applies to Citi AAdvantage and Barclays Aviator cardholders.
Nevertheless, any member with oneworld Sapphire and AAdvantage Platinum can still take two free checked bags on all routes. Those with even higher status can take three checked bags, even on basic economy fares.
What do you consider American’s latest changes? Tell us within the comments!
Source: The Points Guy