Should I pay for checked bags online or at the airport?

Save time, pay at check-in Don't wait in line at the airport – check up to 3 bags when you check-in on aa.com or in the app. For more information about paying for your bags online, visit our customer service FAQs.



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It's nearly always cheaper to book extra hold luggage in advance rather than paying excess baggage fees at the airport. Airlines know that keeping within weight/size limits is not always possible, so they encourage you to plan ahead by selling extra weight online.

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If you are checking luggage online check in will only save you a little bit of time. It's like confirming a reservation so the airline knows that you still plan on flying. Checking in ahead of time helps the airline know possible head counts especially if the flight is overbooked.

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For a short-haul flight where you are only taking hand luggage, checking in online saves a lot of time and is therefore much better than checking in at the airport. If, on the other hand, you have to check in bulky luggage, it is better to use the classic check-in at the airport for security reasons.

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Where to pay. Bag fees are not pre-paid. Please pay during check-in, online or at the airport.

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Best ways to avoid checked bag fees
  1. Hold elite status (or travel with a friend/family member with elite status)
  2. Carry the right airline credit card (or travel with a friend/family member with the right card)
  3. Use a travel credit card that covers ancillary costs like baggage fees.


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When you can't get your bag under 23kg (50lb), here are your options: Pay an overweight charge. If your overweight bag is less than 32kg and there is space on the flight, you can pay an overweight charge at the airport.

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Southwest Checked Baggage Allowance Southwest is the only airline that provides 2 FREE CHECKED BAGS for all fares.

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A key driver in domestic checked baggage fees is tax arbitrage. Airlines want to get a portion of the transportation cost out from under the base airfare so that it is not subject to the government's 7.5% excise tax on tickets. At some level it doesn't matter what pricing mechanism is used, as long as there is one.

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While this can be confusing, most popular airlines allow you to bring a carry-on and personal item, such as a backpack or purse. In general, your personal item should be smaller than your carry-on and under the specific airline's carry-on dimensions, allowing it to fit under the seat in front of you.

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Winner: Southwest Airlines Southwest charges absolutely no bag fees. American, Alaska, Delta and Hawaiian charge $30 for a checked bag, while JetBlue and United charge $35 for the same. Low-cost airlines Spirit and Frontier separate from the pack here, as they charge customers for all overhead carry-on items.

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Online check-in lets you check in from your home or office and print your own boarding pass. You can also choose to have a link to your boarding pass emailed to your mobile device.

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A boarding pass is a document provided by an airline during check-in giving a passenger permission to board the airplane for a particular flight. At a minimum, it identifies the passenger, the flight number, and the date and scheduled time for departure. Boarding passes are always required to board a flight.

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Not technically. Your boarding pass is your “ticket” to board the plane, but technically your ticket is generated as an “e-ticket,” or an electronic ticket, when you book your flight. Your boarding pass will be generated upon check-in, either online or at the check-in counter.

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All passengers must check-in online from 15 days up to the deadline of 4 hours before the scheduled flight departure time. To check-in online: Go to the Manage my Booking section on ryanair.com and print out boarding passes.

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If you don't check in, you won't receive a boarding pass that allows you to board the plane, and your seat might be given up to a standby passenger. The check-in process also confirms your traveler details like your passport information and frequent flyer number.

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If your flight ticket is marked with the code “2 PC”, you may take two pieces of baggage, each weighing a maximum of 23 kg. If your flight ticket is marked with the code “3 PC”, you may take three pieces of baggage, each weighing a maximum of 23 kg.

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