Is American Airlines a Good Airline? 

If you're planning to travel by air soon, you have a lot of airline options available. Choosing which airline brand to book a ticket with is a big decision, and your choice can impact your entire trip experience. The booking process, the type of customer service you encounter and your comfort level during the flight can significantly vary depending on the airline you choose.

If you're thinking of flying, you may be wondering, is American Airlines a good airline? We'll help you better understand what to expect from this flight operator to decide if you want to book one of its flights.

NerdWallet’s airline analysis

When choosing a particular brand to fly with, comparing its offerings to other airlines in the industry is one way to make a more informed decision. What is American Airlines like? NerdWallet has analyzed important factors across major airlines, and here’s where American Airlines stands.

Loyalty program

A good loyalty program will reward you for frequent travel. When compared to other airlines, NerdWallet rates American Airlines' overall loyalty program lower than some. With a score of 3.0, American ranked 5th, after Alaska, Hawaiian, JetBlue and Southwest, but higher than Delta, United and Frontier. Overall, it’s not a bad program.

NerdWallet also compared airline loyalty programs to find the best program for frequent fliers. We rated the American Airlines program 2.8 out of 5. Alaska, Hawaiian, JetBlue and Southwest all ranked higher, while United received the same score. Delta and Frontier ranked even lower.

» Learn more: American Airlines versus Southwest

Airline fees

Airline fees are another important consideration. NerdWallet compared average add-on fees between carriers — including fees for checked bags, overhead carry-on bags, and seat selection. We found that American Airlines has an average add-on fee of around $49 for a one-way fare. This is higher than many other airlines, but Frontier and Spirit had the highest fees.

American Airlines’ baggage fees are typical. NerdWallet found that the average fee to add both a checked and carry-on bag for a one-way journey was $30 — the same for several other carriers. JetBlue, United, Frontier and Spirit had higher average fees.

When it comes to seat selection fees, NerdWallet found that American Airlines charges an average fee of $19 for a one way fare. This is higher than Alaska, Hawaiian, Delta, United and JetBlue. On average, American Airlines charges less than Spirit, Frontier and Southwest.

» Learn more: American Airlines bag fees: How they work, how to avoid them

What is American Airlines like?

American Airlines flies to 350 destinations around the globe. While the airline has many destination choices, you should still consider other important factors before booking your flight.

• Making reservations: You can make reservations online or by phone by calling 800-433-7300. Both of these options are available 24/7. You can also make reservations at most reservations offices, travel centers and ticket counters, but there may be a fee to do this depending on where you’re located.

• Check-in: Usually, you can check-in for your flight online or from the airline's mobile app between 24 hours and 45 minutes before your flight’s departure (90 minutes for international flights). At most airports, you can also check-in at an airport ticket counter, curbside check-in counter or self-service kiosk. When checking in or checking bags at the airport, make sure you do so at least 45 minutes before departure for domestic trips and at least 60 minutes before international trips. Some international airports may require an even earlier check in time, so make sure to double check the requirements in advance.

• Boarding: For most American Airlines flights, boarding begins 30 to 50 minutes before departure and ends 15 minutes before departure. Customers who need assistance and families with children under two can ask to board early. Airline status and ticket type typically determine boarding order, with exceptions for active duty U.S. military members and certain credit card members, such as with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® or the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®.

• In-flight experience: Is American Airlines comfortable? Your flight experience will greatly depend on the ticket purchased. First class and business class seating vary but typically offer more comfort and space. Some long-haul routes even offer lie-flat seats. Paying for a Main Cabin Extra seat will get travelers a seat pitch from 33 to 39 inches, a bit more spacious than the 30 to 32 inches in economy class. Regardless of ticket type, flights with WiFi access offer passengers a free library of movies, music and TV shows that can be streamed from personal devices.

• Loyalty program: The American Airlines AAdvantage program is a solid loyalty program. NerdWallet values AAdvantage miles at 1.6 cents per mile. Members will earn 5 miles for every $1 spent with American Airlines. Basic economy fares for tickets issued on or after Jan. 1, 2023, for travel starting March 1, 2023, will now earn just 2 miles per dollar spent instead of 5. Achieving elite status will offer travelers more perks and higher earning rates (up to 11 miles per $1 spent). American Airlines uses a dynamic pricing model for award redemptions, so the cost to book an award flight will vary based on demand.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

Other things to consider

Safety ratings

AirlineRatings.com rates American Airlines with a 7/7 for safety. Here's what AirlineRatings looks at when rating:

• Whether the airline has had a fatal crash in the last 10 years.

• Whether the airline has suffered numerous serious pilot related incidents.

• Whether the airline and its country of origin passed major audits.

• Whether the airline is complying with international COVID-19 standards.

As for health safety, American Airlines has a GBAC STAR™ Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council. This means that the airline has a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program in place. If you have concerns about flying amid the pandemic, this may help you feel more comfortable about booking travel.

Overall, you can feel confident with safety when flying on an American Airlines flight.

Reliability

When it comes to being on time, American Airlines has some improvements to make. The Bureau of Transportation collects important data about commercial airlines. We used some of their data to evaluate the reliability of American Airlines.

In 2020, in regard to all of American Airlines delayed flights, the average departure delay was 57.74 minutes. That same year, American’s on-time arrival percentage was 83.37 percent, with 6.01 percent of scheduled flights canceled.

As for lost baggage and baggage delays, American Airlines has even more work to do. In January 2020, American Airlines was responsible for 46,598 mishandled bags, or 7.81 bags per 1,000 enplaned. It ranked 16th out of 17 carriers for baggage mishandling. In October 2020, American Airlines had 20,310 mishandled bags, or 6.77 bags per 1,000 enplaned. Again it ranked 16 out of 17 when compared to other major airlines.

Recently, amid the pandemic, American Airlines canceled a large number of flights. While it’s not the only airline to do this, canceled flights can add to travel frustrations. The airline blamed severe weather for these cancellations.

There is a risk of delay or cancelation when you book with any airline. But based on the stats above, you may have more chances of this happening when flying with American Airlines.

Customer satisfaction

The 2021 J.D. Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study examined customer satisfaction across major carriers in North America from August 2020 through March 2021. The study looked at satisfaction measures across three groups: first and business, premium economy and economy. Participants were surveyed on various topics, including boarding, check-in, costs, flight crew and in-flight services.

With a ranking of 791 points out of 1,000, American Airlines was near the bottom of the list and below the industry average of 820 points. The only airline to score worse was Air Canada. Delta and Southwest topped the list, while United Airlines was just above American.

» Learn more: American Airlines versus Delta Air Lines

General cost

American Airlines offers various ticket types at different price points. If your priority is a low-cost ticket, basic economy ticket options offer some of the lowest fares.

Travelers seeking a more comfortable flight experience may prefer first and business class tickets available for a higher price. While not known as a low-cost carrier, the airline does offer deals and discounts throughout the year. You can take a look at their current deals to find inspiration for your next trip.

Due to its new dynamic pricing model, the cost of award redemptions through the AAdvantage loyalty program varies depending on demand. Even so, the airline has published an "award chart" showing what you can expect to pay, but there are no guarantees:

» Learn more: Considerations to make before joining an airline loyalty program

Unique American perks

American Airlines has some notable perks. NerdWallet found that American Airlines offers the best basic economy ticket when compared to basic economy tickets across major airlines. These tickets provide a more affordable solution for travelers who have limited funds. While basic economy tickets can't be changed or canceled, they're a good value, you’re able to fly standby, and you can pick your seat for a fee.

» Learn more: Your guide to the American Airlines award chart

Who should avoid American Airlines?

While American Airlines is a popular airline choice, it may not be the right airline for all travelers. Should you avoid it? While that largely depends on your travel preferences, some travelers may want to consider other available options before selecting American Airlines:

• Travelers who don't live in or near a hub: If you don't live near one of American Airlines’ hubs, you may find limited flight availability and may have to deal with more layovers to get to your destination.

• Travelers who don't like bag fees: Depending on ticket type purchased, American Airlines may charge fees for checked bags and oversized bags. Choosing an airline that offers more baggage allowance may make sense for those who like to travel with more luggage.

• Travelers who value reliability: American Airlines doesn’t offer the best reliability when it comes to on-time flights and baggage handling. If this is a crucial factor for you, you may want to think about flying with a different airline.

» Learn more: The beginner's guide to points and miles

If you're considering flying American Airlines ...

Is American Airlines a good airline? While it does have areas for improvement, no airline is perfect. American Airlines is considered to be a safe airline and has excellent mileage redemption options. It offers flights to many destinations worldwide and has a variety of ticket types for travelers of all budgets.

Before booking a ticket, be sure to join the AAdvantage loyalty program for added benefits. Whether you're buying a ticket or redeeming AAdvantage miles for travel, make sure your expectations are realistic. If you know what to expect based on your chosen ticket type, you can have a comfortable and positive travel experience.