Skip to site navigation

Airline tickets and cheap flights price comparison

Airline Guide for American Airlines

Airline Overview

American Airlines is the largest airline in the world in terms of total passengers transported. It is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and operates scheduled flights throughout the United States, as well as flights to Latin America, Western Europe, and Japan. American has five hubs: Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O'Hare, Miami, San Juan, and St Louis. American also has major operations at Boston, New York LaGuardia and JFK, and Los Angeles. It operates maintenance bases at Tulsa, Kansas City, and Fort Worth Alliance. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld alliance.

Telephone

Reservations: 1-800-433-7300 seven days a week

Check-in

For domestic travel (other than Hawaii or U.S. Virgin Islands) with no baggage to check, passengers must check in 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure. If checking baggage, check-in is 90 minutes prior. For domestic travel departing Hawaii or U.S. Virgin Islands, check-in is 120 minutes prior. For international travel (departing other than Nassau, Port-au-Prince, Port of Spain, or Aruba) check-in is 120 minutes prior to scheduled departure. For international travel, departing Nassau, Port-au-Prince, Port of Spain, or Aruba check-in is 180 minutes prior.

Back to top

Baggage

Carry-on: One carry-on item limited to 45 linear inches, and one personal item. Maximum weight per carry-on item is 40lbs.

Checked: Two items for flights within the 50 States and between the United States and Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Items may not exceed 62 linear inches (length + width + height) each. The maximum weight per checked bag is 50lbs.

For flights to and from Brazil, the maximum amount of baggage allowed free of charge for each ticketed passenger is two pieces checked and one carry-on. Two checked bags may not exceed 62 inches; carry-on bag, 45 inches. The maximum weight per checked item is 70lbs and the maximum weight per carry-on item is 40lbs.

For flights to international destinations, two pieces checked and one carry-on item are allowed free of charge. The two checked bags may not exceed 62 inches each, one carry-on bag at 45 inches. The maximum weight per checked bag is 50lbs.

Excess: Overweight items: for travel within the 50 United States and between the 50 United States and Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, checked bags weighing over 50lbs but not more than 70lbs will be charged at the rate of $25 per piece. For checked baggage weighing over 70lbs but not more than 100lbs will be charged at the rate of $50 per piece. These items will also be identified with a special tag to alert handlers. Items weighing more than 100lbs will not be accepted.

Checked baggage in excess of the free baggage allowance will be charged as follows: $80 per piece for the first three additional pieces; $105 per piece for the fourth, fifth, and sixth additional pieces and $180 per piece for the seventh and any additional pieces.

Back to top

Passenger Change Details

Once a reservation has been booked online, changes can be made provided you log into the American Airlines website with your AAdvantage number and password. Passengers can change the reservation name, cancel the entire reservation and select/change seats. Alternatively, contact Reservations for help (1-800-433-7300 24 hours/day, seven days/week).

Back to top

Child Fares

Infants under two years of age who travel within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands seated on an adult's lap travel free. For domestic travel (plus Canada, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii), children two years of age and older must purchase a ticket at an adult fare.

Back to top

Senior Fares

American Airlines, American Eagle, and American Connection may offer senior fares in some domestic markets for seniors 65 years or older. For further information, call American Airlines Reservations at 1-800-433-7300.

Back to top

Pets

Pets traveling with passengers must be checked in at the ticket counter. No curbside or self-service check-in is allowed. Allow extra time beyond standard check-in guidelines, but not more than four hours prior to your flight time. Checked or carry-on pets (cats, dogs, or household birds) are allowed on domestic flights in the 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Back to top

Carrying Musical Instruments

Standard baggage allowances apply. A seat can be purchased to carry a large or fragile musical instrument instead of checking it. In this case, an instrument must travel in a window, bulkhead seat, with the customer in the adjoining seat. Due to their size Bass Fiddles are not accepted in the coach cabin and are only accepted on certain aircraft types.

Back to top

In-flight Service

American Airlines' new main cabin snack service replaces complimentary food previously offered on all domestic (plus Canada) flights greater than four hours in length as well as transcontinental and Hawaii routes. Complimentary meal service is provided in the main cabin on Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Japan, and some Mexico flights over four hours within traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner meal windows. On flights where only beverages are served, AA invites customers to visit any of the airport concessions and feel free to bring food purchases on board.

Back to top

Air Miles

American's frequent flyer program is called AAdvantage.

Back to top

Airline Food Link

There’s nothing like heading up in the skies to work up an appetite. Check out the airline’s menu before you fly so you can decide if you need to bring any extras. Full details of meals available on every type of flight can be found online at American's Web site; or see photographs taken by fellow flyers of meals they’ve been served and read reviews at AirlineMeals.net.

Back to top

In-flight Magazine

Moby Dick, War and Peace, Leaves of Grass… Do you need to pack a weighty tome or will the in-flight magazine keep you happily occupied for the duration of the flight? American Airline’s magazine, American Way Magazine is published fortnightly and is available on every flight. Read a preview online.

Back to top

Airline Alliances

The airline is a founding member of the oneworld alliance.

Back to top

American Airlines photo

Top flight deals

Handpicked Deals

The best bargains and up-to-the-minute deals

  1. Find Rental Cars from $13.95 a Day at Hotwire From $13.95 per day
  2. 4 Star Hotels at 2 Star Prices! Save up to 60%

Seating info

Travel Tips

Read expert tips on getting the most out of travel

Getting Bumped
When airlines overbook, you might lose your seat
Booking Flights by Phone
Best practice for using your phone when purchasing airline tickets
Fat-Finger Fares
The ultimate cheap airline tickets

More travel tips

Supplementary navigation

Skip to site navigation