Luggage question for those who fly American Airlines...

[ruadisneyfan2]

Before American Airlines took over US Airways (or was it vice versa?) we used to be able to prepay online for any baggage fees with US Airways. I'm looking all over American's website and don't see any link to prepay.
Am I missing it or do we just pay at the airport?

 

[DebbieB]

Before American Airlines took over US Airways (or was it vice versa?) we used to be able to prepay online for any baggage fees with US Airways. I'm looking all over American's website and don't see any link to prepay.
Am I missing it or do we just pay at the airport?

I believe you can pay at online checkin (24 hours). I flew them in October but had free luggage due to their credit card.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We are less than 24 hours til the flight and checked in online but I don't recall seeing anything for luggage. I may have missed it though.

 

[DebbieB]

You may have to pay at the airport then.

 

[tjmw2727]

Just went through this last week and no you have to pay at the airport, there is no pre pay option and no discounts offered.

For new bookings it seems the only way to pre pay is to upgrade to the next level - choice plus I think. For some flights it is just a bit more than the $25 bag fee to upgrade to the next level and get "free bags" and zone one boarding and for others it is over $60!! I did upgrade one level at about $29 for my daughters trip in April and just think of it as prepaying the luggage.

I was a long time US Air flyer due to the airports I use and it is taking me some time to get familiar with AA. I spent quite a bit of time reading and poking around the website this week as I have a few trips to book and want to get as much info as I can before I decide who to book with.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We're back! We did have to pay at the airport but it was pretty quick with the kiosk inside and a cc. The lady who helped us was with USAirways prior to the merge and said she misses it.

I wonder if AA also charges the $2/bag for curbside check in. I never understood that; it only makes people go inside to check bags and leaves the curbside crew with very little work.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Before American Airlines took over US Airways (or was it vice versa?) we used to be able to prepay online for any baggage fees with US Airways. I'm looking all over American's website and don't see any link to prepay.
Am I missing it or do we just pay at the airport?

US Airways took over American Airlines, but the combined airline is using the American Airlines name and most of American Airlines' systems.

American Airlines does not have a pre-pay option for baggage charges. Yes, you pay at the airport.

 

[tjmw2727]

We're back! We did have to pay at the airport but it was pretty quick with the kiosk inside and a cc. The lady who helped us was with USAirways prior to the merge and said she misses it.

I wonder if AA also charges the $2/bag for curbside check in. I never understood that; it only makes people go inside to check bags and leaves the curbside crew with very little work.

I checked in curbside with AA at Philly two weeks ago and there was no fee - I do tip when using curbside (usually $2 a bag) so it doesn't matter to me either way.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I checked in curbside with AA at Philly two weeks ago and there was no fee - I do tip when using curbside (usually $2 a bag) so it doesn't matter to me either way.

It matters to me. I tip curbside too so if I have to pay $2/bag to the airline, it's like they want to pocket the tips from the curbside staff. It's enough to make people just go inside to avoid the fee. To me it's not that amount of extra cost but the principle of it.
Either way it's history now.

 

[DebbieB]

It matters to me. I tip curbside too so if I have to pay $2/bag to the airline, it's like they want to pocket the tips from the curbside staff. It's enough to make people just go inside to avoid the fee. To me it's not that amount of extra cost but the principle of it.
Either way it's history now.

USAirways started that around the same time as they started charging $2 for soft drinks and $1 for water on the plane. Since no other legacy airlines followed their lead, they stopped doing it. They took away curbside at my airport (PIT) so I don't know if that continued.