Basic Economy

Basic Economy

Our lowest Main Cabin fare around the world

If you want our lowest price, try our Basic Economy fare. There are some restrictions but you’ll still get a comfortable seat in the Main Cabin and enjoy free snacks, soft drinks and inflight entertainment.

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Restrictions

Route type Bags Choose seat (fee may apply) Eligible for upgrades# Eligible for ticket changes Boarding group**
Within the U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico, Caribbean*, Guyana & Suriname Checked: No free bags
Carry-on: 1 personal item and 1 carry-on
At time of booking Yes No Group 9
To / from Europe Checked: No free bags
Carry-on: 1 personal item and 1 carry-on
At time of booking Yes No^ Group 8
To / from South America Checked: No free bags
Carry-on: 1 personal item and 1 carry-on
At time of booking Yes No Group 8
To / from Israel Checked: No free bags
Carry-on: 1 personal item and 1 carry-on
At time of booking Yes No Group 8
To / from India, China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand Checked: No free bags
Carry-on: 1 personal item and 1 carry-on
At time of booking Yes No Group 8

Bag details

You can board with 1 carry-on and 1 personal item. The carry-on item must fit in the overhead bin and be no larger than 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm). The personal item like a purse or small handbag must fit under the seat in front of you and be no larger than 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm). Carry-on requirements apply to all customers including AAdvantage® status members.

In addition to your personal item; instruments, pets and special items that meet our guidelines can be carried on but will be subject to standard charges.

No other items can be carried on; they must be checked at ticket counters.

Seat details

You can choose a specific seat at any time for a fee (complimentary for AAdvantage® members based on your status). Otherwise, seats will be automatically assigned for free at check-in. We can’t guarantee that you’ll be seated together.

Families traveling

If you’re a family traveling with children under 15, and do not already have seats assigned, our system will search for seats together automatically before the day of departure. We’ll try our best to keep you together, but if seats are limited, we’ll assign seats so children under 15 are next to at least 1 adult.

Traveling with children and infants

Same-day travel

Change your flight

Change of plans? We allow same-day confirmed changes on select flights for a fee, with some exceptions.

Customers can stand by for a flight at no charge.

Same-day travel

AAdvantage® members

AAdvantage® and eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers

AAdvantage® status benefits may vary for flights marketed and / or operated by our partners.

AAdvantage® status members and eligible Citi® / AAdvantage® or AAdvantage® Aviator® Mastercard® cardmembers are exempt from certain restrictions.

Eligible cards This content can be expanded

You keep

  • Upgrade privileges
  • Complimentary Preferred and Main Cabin Extra seat benefits based on AAdvantage® status
  • Complimentary confirmed same-day flight changes for AAdvantage Executive Platinum® and AAdvantage Platinum Pro® members
  • Priority or preferred boarding privileges
  • Checked bag benefits***

Award miles and AAdvantage® status qualification

  • Award miles earn based on ticket price (includes base fare plus carrier-imposed fees; excludes government-imposed taxes and fees) on flights marketed and operated by American
  • Basic Economy tickets issued on or after January 1, 2023, for travel starting March 1, 2023 will earn award miles at a rate of 2 miles per dollar in addition to Loyalty Points. Status members bonus percentages will apply to the base mileage rate of 2 miles per dollar on American and other select partner airlines.

#Applies to AAdvantage® status members who book travel more than 24 hours prior to departure

^Changes allowed with a fee on Basic Economy tickets issued on or after June 8, 2022, for flights departing from Europe (excludes Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania)

*Excludes Cuba

**Restriction doesn't apply to AAdvantage® status members, AAdvantage® members who reach 15,000 Loyalty Points during the qualification year or eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers

***Eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers may check 1 free bag when traveling to domestic destinations on flights marketed and operated by American Airlines

Restriction doesn’t apply to AAdvantage® status members. Eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers are exempt only when flying within the U.S. and Canada

Restriction doesn’t apply to AAdvantage® status members. For travel to / from Asia, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel for tickets issued on / after June 7, 2023 there are no free checked bags and for tickets issued on / before June 6, 2023 Basic Economy has 1 free checked bag.

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