Last updated: 31 October 2026.
On domestic flights the airline compensates the proven value of a lost, damaged or late checked bag, to a maximum of USD 4,700, or USD 5,000 when excess value was declared. For international travel the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions apply, and American cannot change their terms.
USD 4,700domestic checked baggage liability, or USD 5,000 with declared excess value
2 yearstime to take legal action
4 hoursafter arrival to report delayed bags if not done at the airport
30 daysto submit the Passenger Property Questionnaire
What is not covered
- Excluded: antiques, artwork, books, papers, business gear, china, silver, computers and electronics, breakables, furs, family heirlooms, jewellery, keys, liquids, non-prescription medicine, cash, orthotics, perishables, camera and optical equipment, precious metals and stones, securities, watches, and one-of-a-kind items. Wheelchairs and other mobility aids are the exception and are covered.
- Small scratches, scuffs, stains, dents and ordinary wear; harm to protruding parts such as wheels, straps, handles and hooks; interior damage when the outside is intact; damage caused by another item in the bag; and poorly packed things such as instruments or sports kit without a hard case.
- Incidental, punitive or special damages, lost revenue or business interruption, and items not accepted as checked baggage.
Time limits
- Lost or late bags: report before you leave the airport; for late bags, a report within 4 hours of reaching your final destination is also accepted (12 hours if you used Bags VIP delivery).
- Damaged bags: report at the airport, or inside 6 hours of getting the bags.
- Request a repair, and send the Passenger Property Questionnaire if you want compensation, within 30 days of the first report; go to court within 2 years of the incident.
- Mobility or medical devices: delayed, report within 24 hours of arrival on domestic and 21 days on international itineraries; damaged, within 24 hours (domestic) or 7 days (international) of receiving the device.
Questions travellers ask us
What is the domestic baggage limit?
USD 4,700; USD 5,000 with declared excess value.
How long do I have to report damage?
At the airport, or no later than 6 hours after you receive the bags.
How long to sue?
Two years.
Baggage Allowance is an independent information site and is not part of American Airlines. Check the airline's own pages before you travel.
Questions and answers
No questions yet. Be the first to ask.