No free suitcase on domestic US Avios flight redemptions – and what to do

I don’t know if this is a new policy or if it is simply a coincidence.  However, two Head for Points readers contacted me recently to make the same observation.

Economy Avios redemptions on US Airways and American Airlines for domestic travel no longer come with any free checked luggage allowance.  None at all.

This is, to be fair, made clear on ba.com when you book although it is easily overlooked if you don’t normally read the baggage rules.

Here is an example:

New York to Boston, 4500 Avios + £3.60 tax on American or US Airways

Baggage allowance: “Hand baggage only fare. No checked baggage allowance.”

When you click the link to the AA website, you see that your first suitcase will cost $25, the 2nd $35 and the 3rd a shocking $150.

Looking at this page, a BA Bronze (oneworld Ruby) gets one free bag, a BA Silver two free bags and a BA Gold three free bags.

There is a way around this – book a business class or first class redemption.  Note that some US domestic flights are two class aircraft but sold as Economy and First – and that British Airways treats the premium cabin as a First Class redemption and prices it accordingly.

A First Class redemption between New York and Boston will cost 18,000 Avios + £3.60 one way.  However, a First Class ticket comes with THREE free pieces of checked luggage.

Given that you will have to pay for your luggage if you book in economy, I would be tempted to book First Class if I had no airline status and was checking in multiple bags.   If there are two of you, perhaps one flies in economy for 4,500 Avios with hand baggage whilst the other books into First for 18,000 Avios and checks in two or three cases for free?

This is not a no-brainer decision – if you are not ‘Avios heavy’ then you may still prefer to conserve your miles and pay the baggage fees.  Part of it will depend on whether your domestic flight is two-class (so your only option is First) or three-class (where you could book into Business for fewer Avios and still get two pieces of luggage).

PS. If you are reading this but are not a regular Head for Points visitor, please consider signing up for our FREE weekly or daily newsletters. They are full of the latest Avios, airline, hotel and credit card points news and deals to improve how you travel. To sign up, visit this page of the site or click any of the ‘Subscribe’ links on this page. Thank you.

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (January 2025)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 20,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, and the standard card is FREE. Capital on Tap cards also have no FX fees.

Capital on Tap Visa

NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.