American Airlines Increases Price of Second Checked Bag

American Airlines is upping the cost of checking a second bag at the airport, raising it by $5 to $50 for those flying domestically.

The change only affects passengers who pay for the second checked bag at the airport. Those who prepay, either online or via the American Airlines app, will continue to pay $45. American has a similar tiered policy for its first checked bag; prepaying the first bag costs travelers $35, while paying at the airport costs $40.

While “prepay discounts” are common among major U.S. carriers, the policies vary by airline. United Airlines also charges $5 more at the airport, bringing their fees to $40 for the first bag and $50 for the second. However, United is stricter with its timing, requiring passengers to pay at least 24 hours before their flight to secure the lower price.

Delta Air Lines remains the outlier among the “Big Three.” As of 2026, Delta continues to charge a flat domestic fee of $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second, regardless of whether you pay through their app or at an airport kiosk. While Delta encourages digital check-in to save time, they have not yet implemented a penalty for those who wait to pay at the terminal.

American allows passengers to pay via their mobile device and receive the discounted rate right up until they finalize their check-in at the airport.