If your bags are lost or damaged on an international flight, American will pay you no more than approximately $1,700 (the value of 1,288 Special Drawing Rights) regardless of what your bags were actually worth.
This analysis describes what American Airlines's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The liability caps define the maximum financial exposure American Airlines assumes for loss, damage, or delay of checked baggage on international routes. The applicable cap depends on which international air transport convention governs the specific flight route.
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View change record →This provision caps American's financial liability for lost or damaged checked baggage on international flights at approximately $1,700, meaning passengers who check bags worth more than this amount bear the excess risk themselves.
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"For international travel governed by the Montreal Convention, American's liability for loss, damage, or delay of checked baggage is limited to 1,288 Special Drawing Rights per passenger. For international travel still governed by the Warsaw Convention, liability is limited to $9.07 per pound ($20.00 per kilogram) for checked baggage.Excerpt from American Airlines's Terms of Use
1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision is governed by the Montreal Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air (1999), Article 22, which establishes the 1,288 SDR per-passenger liability limit for checked …
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The liability caps define the maximum financial exposure American Airlines assumes for loss, damage, or delay of checked baggage on international routes. The applicable cap depends on which international air transport convention governs the specific flight route.
This provision caps American's financial liability for lost or damaged checked baggage on international flights at approximately $1,700, meaning passengers who check bags worth more than this amount bear the excess risk themselves.
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