What You Need to Know Before Flying With American Airlines

With around 6,800 daily flights serving destinations in over 60 countries around the world, American Airlines is the nation’s largest passenger airline. Whether you’re a dedicated American Airlines credit card holder or simply fly with whichever carrier has the best flights for you, you’re likely to find yourself aboard an American Airlines flight at some point in your travels.

There’s a lot to consider before booking a flight with American Airlines, from fare classes and amenities to baggage policies and loyalty benefits.

American Airlines Fare Classes

American Airlines offers eight fare classes with select amenities at a wide range of price points. Note that the amenities and services offered can change depending on the plane type and the destination.

Flagship First

Flagship First is the airline’s most premium experience (only available on international and transcontinental flights on Boeing 777-300 and A321T aircraft), with a private check-in process, priority privileges (for quickly getting through check-in, security, and boarding), lounges, and five-star service. During the flight, passengers can sleep in lie-flat, semi-enclosed Flagship Suite seats, indulge in chef-inspired dining, and stay pampered with name-brand amenity sets.

Flagship Business

This class offers many of the same perks as Flagship First, including priority privileges and lounge access at the airport, as well as spacious lie-flat seats, elevated dining, and the aforementioned amenity kits. However, the seats are not as roomy. You can also upgrade to Flagship Business Plus, which includes up to three checked bags and access to preflight Flagship Dining, a seated restaurant experience.

First Class

First class is the highest level of service on non-transcontinental flights across the United States, and passengers can expect priority privileges at the airport. During the flight, they’ll enjoy premium dining and comfortable seats with more space than the typical economy seats. First-class and Flagship customers board the plane after ConciergeKey Members, but ahead of business customers and other preboarding groups. Yelp and Tripadvisor reviews about first class show a wide range of experiences; while some customers appreciate the more spacious seats, others criticize the service and lack of decent snacks or meals.

Business

Business is the highest level of service on shorter international flights to destinations like Bermuda, Canada, and the Caribbean. Passengers can enjoy priority privileges such as lounge access (for some flights) before the flight as well as onboard perks like wider seats with more legroom and premium dining (including alcoholic beverages). Business-class travelers board the plane ahead of preboarding and standard groups.

Premium Economy

This class is a step up from a main cabin fare, with priority privileges at the airport and more spacious seats, free entertainment, chef-inspired dining, and amenity kits (for select flights) on board. These passengers board the plane in Group 4, ahead of the main cabin passengers.

Main Cabin Extra

Main Cabin Extra offers the same advantages as a main cabin fare, plus perks like early boarding, extra legroom, and complimentary snacks and drinks (including alcoholic beverages). These travelers can board the aircraft in Group 5 ahead of other main cabin passengers.

Main Cabin

This is a standard economy class that includes seat selection and some complimentary items like snacks and soft drinks. Your ticket also includes one personal item and one carry-on bag, but no checked bags. If you’re on a long-haul flight, you can expect in-flight meals.

Basic Economy

The lowest-cost fare has the most restrictions. While passengers can still enjoy free snacks, soft drinks, and entertainment, they can’t choose their seats without paying a fee. (If you choose to skip the fee to select your seat, members of your party may be separated.) This group typically boards the aircraft last.

American Airlines Flight Change and Cancellation Policies

Regardless of your fare class, if you need to cancel your ticket, you can do so for a full refund within 24 hours of booking (as long as you booked it at least two days before the flight).

After that window, American Airlines still has a forgiving policy when it comes to making changes and canceling flights in most fare classes. If you change your flight to a more expensive option, you will have to pay the difference, but if your new flight is less expensive, you will receive a travel credit for the difference. If you cancel a nonrefundable ticket, you will receive a flight credit for future travel. The exception is for basic economy, though AAdvantage members may receive a partial credit, subject to a cancellation fee.

Baggage Policies and Fees

All fares include one free carry-on bag (that does not exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches) and one free personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you. Customers in first class can bring two to three complimentary checked bags that weigh up to 70 pounds (depending on the aircraft). Business-class passengers can check two complimentary bags that weigh up to 70 pounds, while premium economy passengers can carry two complimentary bags that weigh up to 50 pounds. Main cabin passengers can bring up to two 50-pound bags, but they will likely have to pay a fee (from $35 in advance online).

While some online reviewers criticize the baggage fees or say they were unaware that they had to pay, the headache of a surprise cost can be avoided if you do your research before your flight. Exact policies and fees can vary depending on your fare class, destination, military status, credit card or airline status, and number and weight of the bags. You can find more details on the American Airlines website.

Seats and Legroom

Thanks to a range of fare classes and different airplane configurations, exact legroom and seat design can vary from flight to flight. Flagship fares include lie-flat seats for the most spacious and comfortable experience, while first and business class still provide wider seats and more legroom than typical main cabin seats. To find the exact seat pitch and width for your flight, look up your plane type on the American Airlines website. You can also use sites like SeatGuru to research your exact plane layout ahead of time to find the most desirable seats. American Airlines received three stars for legroom on Tripadvisor, which has over 83,000 reviews of the airline.

Amenities and Entertainment

Passengers in all classes can enjoy free entertainment and purchase Wi-Fi on most flights. Wi-Fi on equipped flights is also free for AAdvantage members. You can stream movies, music, TV shows, and more (including Apple Music and Apple TV+) from your personal phone, tablet, laptop, or seat-back entertainment system on some planes. You can also learn new skills or even a new language, thanks to Skillshare, available on the Lifestyle channel.

Yelp reviewer Greg T. commended the airline’s planes but pointed out the need to use personal devices to stream, saying, “The planes I have flown on with American usually seem to be in good repair, clean, and as comfortable as an airplane can be. My only complaint would be the trend to make you use your own electronics to access the entertainment—I prefer the seat back screens!”

Depending on the destination and flight length, main cabin tickets could include soft drinks and a snack, a meal, and even an alcoholic beverage (on some long-haul international flights). Additional snacks and beverages—wine, beer, and spirits—can be purchased on flights over 250 miles. First-class fares include snacks and alcoholic beverages, with larger meals on longer flights.

Tripadvisor reviewer Anthony H. described the food, saying, “AA has improved their in-flight food and beverage for the main meals, although, frankly, it’s still airplane food.”

American Airlines Credit Cards

Signing up for the AAdvantage loyalty program is free, but frequent fliers might want to take advantage of additional perks offered by the airline’s credit cards. Look out for limited-time sign-up deals offering bonus miles if you spend a certain amount in the first few months. There are five Citi/American Airlines credit cards.

• AAdvantage MileUp Mastercard: This card has no annual fee and offers one mile for every dollar spent and two for every dollar on groceries and eligible American Airlines purchases.
• Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard: You’ll earn one mile for every dollar and two per dollar spent at restaurants and gas stations, as well as on eligible American Airlines purchases. The $99 annual fee is waived for the first year. This card also gets passengers their first checked bag free on domestic American Airlines flights and preferred boarding.
• Citi/AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard: This card has an annual fee of $595 and offers all the perks of the Platinum Select World Elite card, plus more miles for eligible American Airlines purchases, hotels, and car rentals. You’ll also get an Admirals Club membership and a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
• Citi/AAdvantage Business World Elite Mastercard: Geared toward business owners, this card offers similar perks to the Platinum Select World Elite card, plus miles for purchases made by authorized card-holding employees. The annual fee is $99.
• Citi/AAdvantage Globe Mastercard: This card has a $350 annual fee. You’ll receive four Admirals Club Globe passes each year, and earn six miles per dollar spent on eligible hotels, two on restaurants, and three on eligible American Airlines purchases. Other travel benefits include your first bag checked free on domestic flights, preferred boarding, and a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

You can find full details about these cards’ perks and mileage benefits on the American Airlines website.