AirlineLimitsAirline baggage limits, decoded.

American Airlines baggage allowance and rules

Last checked: 7/14/2026 • IATA: AA • ICAO: AAL

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Not a binding baggage approval: fare, route, aircraft or operating carrier can vary. Check the linked official sources before booking and departure.

Carry-on for the overhead bin

Included in fare

Dimensions H×W×D
UnitHWD
in22149
cm563623
Weight
No published limit
  • Every passenger may bring one carry-on bag plus one personal item.
  • The carry-on, including handles and wheels, is limited to 22 × 14 × 9 in / 56 × 36 × 23 cm and must fit the airport sizer; American publishes no general weight limit on this page.
  • Most American Eagle regional flights valet bags larger than the personal-item dimensions at the gate free of charge, except the ERJ-175.
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Source for this section: Carry-on bags

Personal item

Included in fare

Dimensions H×W×D
UnitHWD
in18148
cm453520
  • One under-seat item up to 18 × 14 × 8 in (45 × 35 × 20 cm) comes with every ticket.
  • Typical examples include purses, small backpacks, or laptop bags.
  • Baby supplies, strollers, child seats, and medical or mobility gear do not count against this allowance.

Source for this section: Personal items

Checked baggage

Weight (standard limit per piece)
50 lb / 23 kg
  • The standard limit is 50 lb / 23 kg and 62 in / 158 cm in total dimensions; free First and Business bags may weigh 70 lb / 32 kg, with separate Australia and New Zealand rules.
  • For the listed North American and nearby regions, tickets issued from May 18, 2026 cost $50 for the first bag and $60 for the second, reduced to $45 and $55 online; Basic Economy costs $5 more.
  • Included pieces and the maximum number accepted depend on route, cabin, status, card benefits and operating carrier.

Source for this section: Checked bag policy

Overweight & excess baggage

  • American-operated flights reject checked bags above 100 lb / 45 kg and items above 115 in / 292 cm in total dimensions, with lower weight acceptance on some international routes.
  • Fees are route-specific: the published tables separate 51–53 lb / 24 kg, 54–70 lb / 24–32 kg and 71–100 lb / 32–45 kg, plus 63–65 in / 159–165 cm and 66–115 in / 166–292 cm.
  • If one item is both heavy and large, the higher of the two surcharges applies in addition to its checked-bag fee.

Source for this section: Oversize and overweight bags

Liquids in carry-on

Varies

  • At U.S. checkpoints, personal-care liquids in carry-on must use containers of 3.4 oz or less in one clear, quart-size zip-top bag; qualifying duty-free liquids may use a sealed security bag.
  • These are security rules rather than an airline allowance, so requirements can differ at non-U.S. departure airports.

Source for this section: Restricted items

Pets

Pet transport

Allowed

Cats and dogs may travel in the cabin on eligible routes when they meet the age, size and destination rules; American recommends a soft carrier up to 18 × 11 × 11 in beneath the seat.

More details
  • Checked-pet handling at the ticket counter is limited to eligible active US military and State Department personnel on official orders, while other larger pets may need American Airlines Cargo.
  • Trained service dogs fly free when qualified, and route, temperature and breed restrictions still apply.

Source for this section: Pets — Travel information

Special baggage

Sports equipment

Varies

Each sport has its own packing, piece-count and fee rules.

More details
  • Most listed equipment uses the destination's standard checked-bag fee up to 50 lb / 23 kg, with overweight charges up to the general sports limit of 70 lb / 32 kg and no oversize fee; exceptions such as antlers, scuba tanks and windsurf gear have fixed charges.
  • The general sports maximum is 115 in / 292 cm, subject to aircraft space, while javelins, vaulting poles and hang gliders are not accepted as checked baggage.

Source for this section: Special items and sports equipment

Musical instruments

Varies

A small instrument may replace the carry-on bag when it fits available overhead or under-seat space.

More details
  • An instrument on a purchased adjacent non-exit-row seat may weigh up to 165 lb / 75 kg and must fit that aircraft's seat limits; a checked instrument may measure up to 150 in / 381 cm and weigh 165 lb / 75 kg, otherwise Cargo is required.
  • Standard destination bag fees apply through 50 lb / 23 kg, with overweight charges above that, and a hard case is required for American's damage liability.

Source for this section: Special items and sports equipment

Medical equipment

Allowed

Required mobility and medical devices do not count toward the carry-on allowance; items that do not fit or are not needed in flight may be checked.

More details
  • Battery-powered mobility aids require an approved, manufacturer-labeled battery and coordination with Special Assistance.
  • An approved portable oxygen concentrator needs charged batteries for at least 150% of flight and ground-connection time; personal compressed or liquid oxygen is prohibited, and AA recommends fully charged batteries for medical devices because an onboard outlet may not be available.

Source for this section: Mobility and medical devices

Prohibited items in the cabin

  • Large portable power banks and lithium-ion battery generators
  • Damaged batteries and automobile, boat or aircraft batteries
  • Pepper spray, tear gas and other defense sprays
  • Hoverboards and other lithium-powered personal transportation devices
  • Bleach, drain cleaners, solvents and many household aerosols
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices, including replacement units
  • This is a selected summary, not the complete restricted-items table.
  • Spare lithium batteries are carry-on only and must be protected; onboard, each passenger is limited to 2 accessible portable chargers of no more than 100 Wh, which may not be stored overhead or recharged from the seat outlet.
  • Other articles may be checked-only, carry-on-only or approval-dependent, so verify the exact item before travel.

Source for this section: Restricted items

Official source

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