As of Tuesday surfboards, skis and bicycles are going to be treated like regular checked bags on American Airlines. That means when flying domestically with oversized sporting equipment you will only have to pay a $30 fee rather than the $150 fee they had been running for years.
CNBC reports the new rules do come with a few provisions. Items that are overweight will still be subject to additional charges of $100 to $200 for most routes and up to $450 for trans-Pacific travel. Also hang gliders, scuba tanks and antlers will still be subject to $150 oversize luggage fee. Lets hope this pricing formula catches on and skiers and snowboarders don’t get dinged so heavy every time they board a flight!
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What you should know
- Based on feedback from our customers and American team members, American is eliminating the charge for common oversize sports and music equipment — up to the maximum size we accept for these items. The change is effective for travel on or after May 21.
- American will accept these oversize items as a standard checked bag without an additional oversize charge.
- The checked oversize bag counts toward a customer’s normal baggage allowance. For example, customers traveling within the United States, who used to pay $150 to check one oversize item such as a surfboard, will now pay $30 — the cost of a standard first bag — if the weight is less than 50 lbs. Customers traveling with skis or a snowboard will now be able to check in an equipment bag with the skis or snowboard as one bag (up to 50 lbs./62 in.).
- Due to special handling requirements, oversize items such as antlers, hang gliders, scuba tanks and kite/windsurfing items will continue to incur a flat $150 fee.
- Additional allowances/restrictions may apply based on destination, class of service, elite status, active U.S. military members or AAdvantage® cardmembers (on domestic American-operated itineraries). For more information, visit aa.com/checkedbags.
images from americanair IG