American Airlines introduces free checked bag lottery for international flights

American Airlines is implementing a new strategy to encourage passengers to check their bags, aiming to streamline the boarding process for international flights. The airline's latest initiative involves offering a free checked bag lottery at airport kiosks during check-in.

The primary objective is to reduce the number of carry-on bags, which can slow down boarding as passengers take time to stow their belongings and may find limited bin space. According to an internal memo from American Airlines, "If you’ve got a smaller bag, want to check it, you might as well see whether American Airlines will give you an offer to check it for free at the airport kiosk."

Southwest Airlines' model of offering free checked bags has shown that fewer gate-checked bags can lead to quicker turnaround times for planes. This efficiency allows Southwest to operate its schedule with fewer aircraft. However, American Airlines does not plan to eliminate baggage fees entirely due to the associated revenue and tax benefits.