American Airlines has just made Basic Economy a little less economy for trans-Atlantic travelers, raising the price of a first checked bag from $60 to $75 starting this week.
If you can fit everything in a carry-on, you can still get away without paying; you can also get a pass if you have elite status with American or the right American co-branded credit cards. The fee for second and third bags will stay at $100 and $200. By the time you add in all the baggage, seat selection and other fees, you may find you’re not saving over regular economy fares.
American is blaming its partners for the increase. It has a joint operating agreement for trans-Atlantic travel with British Airways, Iberia and Finnair, and AA says it’s making the change to match Finnair’s fees. In theory, joint operating agreements allow the carriers to plan and price together and compete with others, supposedly to the benefit of passengers.
