American to add bag fees to some flights

updated 4:44 p.m. ET Aug. 21, 2009

FORT WORTH, Texas - American Airlines will begin charging some international travelers a $50 fee for checking a second piece of luggage.

American said Friday it would impose the fee for tickets purchased on or after Sept. 14.

The new $50 fee applies to customers on American flights between the United States and India, England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Belgium and Switzerland. It also covers flights between those foreign countries and U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The airline said it won't charge the fee for elite-level members of its frequent-flier program or the program run by the oneworld alliance of airlines. Also, passengers in first and business classes, those with full-fare coach tickets and active U.S. military personnel won't be charged, the airline said.

Fort Worth-based American, a unit of AMR Corp., began charging for the first bags checked on domestic flights last year.

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