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FAQ: Baggage / Luggage Rules, Allowance, Through-check on AA & Other Airlines

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Old Jun 10, 2015, 2:33 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: Prospero
How much am I allowed?

Can I check it through?

Im on award travel...

How long can my connection be to through check? Etc.


Link to American Airlines' policy on through checking baggage as of 1 Sep 2016.

Notice that different protocols are followed in IROPS / OSO conditions.

Code:
Through Checked Baggage Policy (AA, 1 Sep 2016)

To align American Airlines (AA) with our oneworld partners
and to reduce baggage mishandlings, we will now only through
check customers and baggage when all the tickets are in the same PNR.

Through check-in will be honored between the following carriers only:
  • Code:
    American Airlines and American Eagle
  • Code:
    oneworld airlines and affiliates


Code:
What if I have separate tickets in the same PNR for itineraries
with American to a non-oneworld carrier?

Our policy on American to non-oneworld airline tickets has not changed.
We will not through check customers or bags even if the tickets are in
the same PNR.

What would be the bag charges if the customer holds separate tickets
in separate PNRs?

American will not through check a customer’s bag, regardless if it is
a oneworld carrier. The customer will need to collect their bag at
the final destination on the AA ticket. They will pay for the bag on the
second ticket when they recheck it. This may involve exiting the secure
area, then claiming and re-checking the bags. The Minimum Connecting
Time (MCT) will usually not be sufficient when the customer has separate
tickets issued for each airline.

International flights will usually require claiming bags, clearing
customs and rechecking bags on another carrier to be continued to
their next destination.

What will customers be charged if we can through check the bag?

The charges would depend on what tickets the customer holds in the same PNR.

Do JetBlue (B6) and our other codeshare/interline partners count as affiliate airlines?

No, the oneworld affiliate airlines are generally the regional partners
of the other oneworld carriers. If a customer held an B6 ticket and an
AA ticket in the same PNR we would not through check the bag. They
would need to reclaim then recheck their bag with B6.
EXCEPTION: "Customers traveling on separate tickets where one
segment is an award ticket and another has been purchased can
through-check bags. Travel must be on American or oneworld partners,
and not on partners outside the oneworld alliance (like Etihad or Air
Tahiti Nui). Tickets much be in the same reservation."
-Gary Leff, Boarding Area

Link to FT thread: Separate PNR: oneworld AA, protection, through baggage issues as of 2016

Q. Can I check my baggage through?

YES: Due to new rules instituted by oneworld in June, and by AA 1 September of 2016, baggage between the fifteen oneworld airlines on the same PNR are required be through-checked.

NO: However, if the trip is booked ticketed separately, or with non-one world partners, through checking by AA will not occur; baggage will have to be recovered at baggage carousels landside and rechecked at the next operating airline's counter (depending on your initial operating carrier's policies about through-checking on separate booking).

On U.S.A. domestic or regional travel, you will have to retrieve your baggage and re-check the following day if your stop is overnight, or recheck, if your connection is 12 hours or longer. On international travel with overnight connections under the same PNR, you often will be able to through check (as long as the new ticket conditions are met).

If you are flying AA and a non-oneworld partner on separate PNR / tickets, you will have to recover and recheck baggage, particularly on separate PNRs. If there is no interline agreement between the airlines (e.g. AA and Spirit, Southwest, etc.) you will certainly be required to do so.

See Multi-Reservation Through-Checking across oneworld no longer required

See Australian Business Traveller article. (Link)

Q. If I'm connecting using AA on a single PNR but have a stopover at my connecting airport, can I check through or recheck?

AA will generally not through check bags or allow you to recheck bags if your layover exceeds twelve hours.

Q. Which carrier's rules apply?

Note: Checked baggage allowances may vary by status, class of service, origin or/and destination, type of baggage. Some AA affiliated credit cards allow one free checked bag on domestic travel - some up to four or eight passengers on the same itinerary.

A. It depends. On separate PNRs AA will collect baggage fees due, and the other airlines will collect what is due under their baggage policies.

On through-checked baggage, USDOT regulations require the marketing carrier of the initial segment baggage rules apply to USA originating (or ending, iirc) flights. E.g. flying QF as an AA codeshare, or QF connecting from AA marketed by AA, AA rules would apply. These take precedent of IATA rules if travel begins (or ends) in the USA.

For IATA governed international itineraries, baggage rules of the Most Significant / Prevailing Carrier apply:

In compliance with the new baggage policy issued by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), free baggage allowance and extra baggage charges for tickets issued on or after 1 April 2011 which involve one or more flights provided by other airlines will be based on a new method. If your journey includes connecting flights with more than one airline, the baggage allowances and fees of the airline that operates the longer leg of the itinerary (MDC) will apply throughout the itinerary. For example, if you fly a transpacific leg with one carrier and a domestic leg with another, the baggage allowances and fees of the carrier that operated the transpacific leg would apply to the whole journey, regardless of which carrier issued the ticket. (Language from Cathay Pacific.)

The Most Significant Marketing Carrier (MSC) is:
  • For travel between IATA areas: The first carrier flying in between two of the IATA areas
  • For travel between IATA sub areas: The first carrier flying in between the sub areas
  • For travel within an IATA sub area: The first carrier crossing an international border


IATA divides Areas and sub-areas. For example:

Area: North America, Central and South America, Hawaii
Subareas:
  • Canada, Mexico
  • Caribbean
  • Central America
  • South America

Area: Europe, Middle East
Subareas:
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Africa


Area: Asia, Guam, Southwest Pacific
Subareas:
  1. Japan, Korea
  2. Southeast Asia
  3. South Asian Subcontinent / India
  4. Southwest Pacific
Q. Can I through check my baggage if I have an overnight stop?

That will probably depend on your first operating carrier. Some carriers have no problem with through checking bags if you're stopping overnight, e.g. Qatar Airways with an overnight in DOH, but AA uses a maximum of under 12 hours to determine whether you can through check or must recover bags on overnight stops. (However, ground agents may vary.)

Q. What are my AA and oneworld baggage allowances with [_______] status?

See here on aa.com for updates

A. Complimentary bags
In some cases, you won't have to pay the baggage fees for up to three 23 kg / 50 lb bags (32 kg / 70 lb some premium passengers). Find out if this applies to you. EXPs could have to three checked 32 kg / 70 lb bags.

1st checked bag is complimentary for:
  • Eligible AAdvantage® Aviator™ and Citi® / AAdvantage® cardmembers (on domestic American Airlines operated flights)
  • AAdvantage Gold
  • oneworld Ruby
  • Alaska MVP members


1st and 2nd checked bags are complimentary for:
  • Platinum
  • oneworld Sapphire members
  • Alaska Airlines MVP Gold (AS is a oneworld member now)
  • Confirmed Business Class customers*


2nd and 3rd checked bags are complimentary for:
  • Confirmed First Class customers on 3-cabin aircraft*
  • AAdvantage Executive Platinum
  • oneworld Emerald, including Alaska Airlines MVP Gold 75K
  • Active U.S. military and/or dependents with ID traveling on orders (1st - 5th bags free of charge)
  • Active U.S. military with ID on personal travel


Executive Platinum / oneworld Emerald are allowed one more checked bag:

*See AA reducing some checked baggage allowance tickets pchs on / after 29 Mar 2016

Note: on through baggage: oneworld policy no longer entitles checking baggage through when using oneworld flights when connecting on separetily ticketed segments. Only AA and MH will still through-check baggage with separate PNRS.

Q. Do I have extended baggage allowance as AAdvantage Executive Platinum / oneworld Emerald? (Yes, as of 1 Feb 2013

A. All oneworld Emerald customers, including AAdvantage Executive Platinums, will be entitled to an extra bag.

See:Customer Planning Advisory
Subject . . . APS 13002 – Extra bag for oneworld Emerald

Date . . . . . . Effective: February 1st, 2013
Issued . . . . .January 31st, 2013

Overview . . .Extra bag for oneworld Emerald
. . . . . . . . . . To improve the travel experience for our top tier customers
. . . . . . . . . . we are pleased to offer all oneworld Emerald members
. . . . . . . . . . one extra bag in addition to their free allowance.

Detail. . . . . All oneworld Emerald customers, including AAdvantage
. . . . . . . . . . Executive Platinums, will be entitled to an extra bag.

. . . . . . . . . . Emeralds will have the following allowance:
. . . . . . . . . . First/Business 4 free pieces up to 70lbs (32kgs)
. . . . . . . . . . Main Cabin 3 free pieces up to 70lbs (32kgs)
. . . . . . . . . . This applies to both international and domestic travel
. . . . . . . . . . on/after 1st February.

Processing . Please override the excess baggage mask using the OT
. . . . . . . . . . code using the explanation Emerald. Automation for this
. . . . . . . . . . change will be in place later in the year.

<redacted issuing personnel>

Reference . . .APS13002


Q. How many bags can I check?

A. Check up to 10 bags if your trip is:
  • Domestic
  • Transatlantic
  • Transpacific


Check up to 5 bags if you’re traveling to / through / from:
  • Mexico / Caribbean / Central America*See footnote
  • South America*See footnote


*There are seasonal and year-round baggage embargoes and restrictions


Q. Can I "split" my allowance? E.g. can I split a 23 kg / 50 lb per bag allowance and check two bags weighing up to 23 kg / 50 lb together?

A. No. Per bag weight maxima or number of bags allowed can not be shared or split.

Q. What are my Overweight Baggage Charges?

A. aa.com: Oversize and overweight baggage

We’re pleased to say that your bag can weigh up to 70lbs./32kgs at no extra cost if you are:
  • First Class
  • Business Class
  • Executive Platinum
  • oneworld Emerald

If you are checking more than 3 bags charges will apply.*

Additionally:

Link to checked baggage policy

Link to oversized and overweight baggage policy AA has a "hard limit" of not accepting any baggage that exceeds 45 kg / 100 lb for check-in.


Q. Must I recover and re-check my bags arriving from another country?

A. If you are arriving in the U.S.A. from an international airport, it will depend:

1) If you check in at airports like AUH, DUB, YVR etc. where you process USCBP immigration and customs prior to boarding, your flight will arrive in the U.S. as a domestic flight. Your bag can be checked through (assuming other conditions mentioned above are met), you will be able to proceed to your next flight airside.

2) If you are otherwise arriving from an international airport, you will generally be required to pass USCBP immigration, recover your baggage at the indicated carousel and process through Customs. As you depart the Customs hall, you can re-check your baggage for your continuing flights prior to departing the airside part of arrivals. You will generally have to produce a valid boarding pass and pass through TSA Security to return airside to continue your travel.

3) DFW, MIA (only) in the USA allow through ("ITI") checking for certain passengers arriving internationally and departing on another international flight. This will result in an "ITI" (International to International) check with ITI sticker on your boarding pass, and baggage will not have to be collected and rechecked. ITI passengers may still be required to pass through immigration, exit through customs gate and pass back through security. See this FT thread.


Helpful resource links:

Link to American Airlines' policy on through checking baggage as of 1 Sep 2016. Notice that different protocols are followed in IROPS / OSO conditions.

AA: American Airlines a Checked baggage policy (includes infant assistive and medical devices, mobility devices, pets and specialty sports items).

See No More Multi-Reservation Through-Checking across oneworld

See Change to through-checking Oct 2014 (interlining) baggage on separate tickets

oneworld: oneworld Extra baggage allowance (status / class of service)

Please see FT: EXP / Emerald extended baggage / luggage allowance 1 FEB 2013 (master thread) if you are AA Executive Platinum / oneworld Emerald.


Link to archived thread with older posts.

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FAQ: Baggage / Luggage Rules, Allowance, Through-check on AA & Other Airlines

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Old Nov 19, 2021, 7:41 am
  #301  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 17
Originally Posted by JJeffrey
You can try, although I would not expect any success given that your UL flights are roughly 4 days later, on a different carrier and from a completely different airport.

And the fact that all flights are on the same PNR doesn't matter, you can book all sorts of flights together on the same PNR but that doesn't mean that the first flight's baggage allowance carries over to every other one.
Thanks for your inputs, we will have to see how this goes.
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Old Nov 19, 2021, 3:58 pm
  #302  
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Originally Posted by JJeffrey
You can try, although I would not expect any success given that your UL flights are roughly 4 days later, on a different carrier and from a completely different airport.

And the fact that all flights are on the same PNR doesn't matter, you can book all sorts of flights together on the same PNR but that doesn't mean that the first flight's baggage allowance carries over to every other one.
This is incorrect as poster is covered by US DOT rules since ticket has origin or destination in the US. The allowance will be per the policy of marketing carrier of 1st flight on ticket. (not the operating carrier, but the the carrier whose two letter code is before flight number)

If first flight was marketed as AA, then AA policy and fees apply. Thus when checking in for return UL will grant the allowance per AA policy and charges fees based on same.

As for fees, you always pay fees each direction. Ie if 2nd bag is $100, you pay $100 outbound and $100 on return.
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Old Nov 19, 2021, 6:20 pm
  #303  
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Similar question. We are a party of 4 on the same PNR in main cabin. As a BA silver what is our baggage allowance? Is it only me that is allowed the extra bag? 23kg?
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Old Nov 20, 2021, 5:20 pm
  #304  
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Bump. Anyone?
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Old Nov 20, 2021, 5:43 pm
  #305  
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I know that the baggage allowance offered to AAdvantage elites is extended to their traveling companions on the same PNR when flying on AA. Don't know whether the same policy applies to elites from other oneworld FFPs. As a BA Silver (oneworld Sapphire), you are entitled to check two pieces when traveling in Economy on AA.

Perhaps send a message to AA via aa.com and inquire?
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Old Nov 21, 2021, 4:03 am
  #306  
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Originally Posted by guv1976
I know that the baggage allowance offered to AAdvantage elites is extended to their traveling companions on the same PNR when flying on AA. Don't know whether the same policy applies to elites from other oneworld FFPs. As a BA Silver (oneworld Sapphire), you are entitled to check two pieces when traveling in Economy on AA.

Perhaps send a message to AA via aa.com and inquire?
Thanks. Will send a message to AA and see what they say.
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Old Nov 21, 2021, 4:36 am
  #307  
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Got a almost instant reply from AA twitter

Hello! Your 1st checked bag up to 50 lbs is complimentary. Your family would get the same allowance since you're in the same PNR.
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Old Nov 21, 2021, 6:53 am
  #308  
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Originally Posted by onlysuites
Got a almost instant reply from AA twitter
Well, we know that AA's response is wrong in at least one respect. From aa.com:

"1st and 2nd checked bags are complimentary for:

AAdvantage® Platinum
oneworld® Sapphire members
TrueBlue Mosaic members^
Confirmed Business customers
Confirmed Premium Economy customers**"

(Emphasis added.)
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Old Nov 21, 2021, 7:46 am
  #309  
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Originally Posted by guv1976
Well, we know that AA's response is wrong in at least one respect. From aa.com:

"1st and 2nd checked bags are complimentary for:

AAdvantage® Platinum
oneworld® Sapphire members
TrueBlue Mosaic members^
Confirmed Business customers
Confirmed Premium Economy customers**"

(Emphasis added.)
I just need 1 each so am ok with their reply.

Have asked for clarification though as it would be handy to know.

Last edited by onlysuites; Nov 21, 2021 at 7:53 am
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Old Jan 11, 2022, 7:59 am
  #310  
 
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Looking to fly DEN --> DFW (AA) -> LHR (BA), all on a single ticket, but with a ~18hr overnight layover in DFW. Will AA force me to recollect our bags at DFW, or can they be checked all the way through to LHR. We will have ski stuff, so would rather no have to lug them around in DFW.
If they force us to collect, what is the earliest we can re-check our bags in DFW as a oneWorld sapphire, or do we have to wait for the BA desk to open ~4hr before the flight?
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Old Jan 11, 2022, 8:03 am
  #311  
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Originally Posted by barneyb
Looking to fly DEN --> DFW (AA) -> LHR (BA), all on a single ticket, but with a ~18hr overnight layover in DFW. Will AA force me to recollect our bags at DFW, or can they be checked all the way through to LHR. We will have ski stuff, so would rather no have to lug them around in DFW.
If they force us to collect, what is the earliest we can re-check our bags in DFW as a oneWorld sapphire, or do we have to wait for the BA desk to open ~4hr before the flight?
AA will only check through on layovers of 12 hours or less. So you will unfortunately have to collect your bags at DFW. And you'll have to wait to check in with BA when they open.
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Old Feb 19, 2022, 7:47 pm
  #312  
 
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Baggage allowance on AAward on oneworld partner

If i am a one world emerald (through AA) and i am booking a biz class reward ticket through AA on a one world partner flight, what is the baggage allowance (3 bags at 32kgs each?).

This would be on qr/cx/jl on a per piece system.

Thanks
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Old Feb 19, 2022, 9:08 pm
  #313  
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Originally Posted by ambush276
If i am a one world emerald (through AA) and i am booking a biz class reward ticket through AA on a one world partner flight, what is the baggage allowance (3 bags at 32kgs each?).

This would be on qr/cx/jl on a per piece system.

Thanks
That is dependent on the baggage allowances for Business Class passengers on each respective airline. As a oneworld Emerald, you are entitled to one additional piece beyond what the airline normally allows.
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Old Mar 11, 2022, 11:39 am
  #314  
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Mixed cabin trip - baggage allowance

My sister is flying DCA-JFK-SFO. She has no status. I upgraded her on JFK-SFO to J on the a321T, but she is in Y for DCA-JFK.

What is her baggage allowance? I searched on aa.com but the section showing her baggage allowance is missing. The original all Y receipt shows bags as charged, but I did not receive a new email ticket after applying the BXP instrument.

Searched FT but wasn't able to tell for sure. Is there a way to get an updated receipt with the baggage allowance?
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Old Mar 11, 2022, 11:51 am
  #315  
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She will get the business allowance of 2 checked bags free.
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