Basic Economy

Special notice

Customers flying Basic Economy are now allowed 1 free carry-on (in addition to a personal item) to all destinations.

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) Eligible for upgrades Make changes (fee) Boarding group
Within the U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico & Caribbean* Checked: No free bags†
Carry-on: 1 personal item and 1 carry-on 		7 days before departure No No Group 9**
To / from Europe Checked: No free bags††
Carry-on: 1 personal item and 1 carry-on 		At time of booking No Yes Group 8**
To / from South America Checked: No free bags††
Carry-on: 1 personal item and 1 carry-on 		At time of booking No Yes Group 8**
To / from Africa Checked: No free bags††
Carry-on: 1 personal item and 1 carry-on 		At time of booking No Yes Group 8**

Flights with connections

Restrictions for flights within the U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean don’t apply to trips including flights to / from Europe.

Example This content can be expanded

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).

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

Flights within the U.S., Canada, Central America, Mexico & Caribbean

You can choose a specific seat within 7 days of departure for a fee. Otherwise, seats will be automatically assigned for free at check-in.

Flights to / from Europe

You can choose a specific seat at any time for a fee. Otherwise, seats will be automatically assigned for free at check-in.

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

AAdvantage® members

Elite status and eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers

Elite benefits may vary for flights marketed and / or operated by British Airways, Iberia or Finnair.

AAdvantage® elite 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

  • Priority or preferred boarding privileges
  • Checked bag benefits***

Award miles and elite qualification

  • Award miles and Elite Qualifying Dollars (EQDs) 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
  • Elite Qualifying Miles (EQMs) and Elite Qualifying Segments (EQSs) earn at a reduced rate of 0.5 per mile/flight segment flown on flights marketed by American

*Excludes Alaska, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Cuba, Haiti, El Salvador and Panama

**Restriction doesn't apply to AAdvantage® elite status members or eligible AAdvantage® credit cardmembers

***AAdvantage® credit cardmembers flying to / from Europe will pay a fee for checked bags

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

††Restriction doesn’t apply to AAdvantage® elite status members

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