American Airlines is raising checked-luggage prices

New York (CNN) —& Checking a bag on American Airlines will now cost you more than at every other major US airline. The carrier announced Tuesday that the& price& of the first checked bag on most flights is increasing to $40 for customers that didn’t prepay online. It will cost $35 if paid online during check in. That’s as much as a 33% increase from what it previously cost on American Airlines: $30 for both methods. Flights within and between the United States, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands are all affected by the price increase. American has also hiked the price of a second checked bag to $45 (up from $40.) Other routes are also getting price increase, too: Checked-baggage fees on flights between to and from the US to Canada, Caribbean, Mexico and Central America destinations now costs $35 (up from $30) and the second checked bag fee is $45 (up from $40). Changes are effective for flights booked beginning Tuesday. Passengers that bought tickets prior to this will pay the previous prices. Flyers that have an airline-branded credit card, buy tickets in premium cabins or have status are& largely exempt from the price increases. American said in...