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American Airlines Launches New Service to Help Track Your Lost Baggage

July 27, 2017
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3 min read
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American Airlines Launches New Service to Help Track Your Lost Baggage
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Airlines soon won't have any excuse for losing your checked baggage, but if they do, American Airlines is making it easier for you to track when you'll get it back. Today, the carrier officially launched a new product, called Customer Baggage Notification, or CBN, which removes the question of where your bags are when you land.

When you check a bag, one of the biggest question marks is if it will actually make it to your final destination. CBN allows you to be more of the location of your bags and when you can expect to be reunited with them after a flight if for some reason the bag didn't make it on the same flight as you. With CBN, you'll be able to check the status for the whereabouts of your bag right from your phone — whether it's delayed or if it's early.

Shortly after you arrive at your final destination, you'll get an alert from CBN if your bag was early in arriving or was left behind. Here are the three types of alerts, according to AA:

  • Early Baggage Arrival: Alerts customers that their bag arrived before them and directs them to pick up their bag at the Baggage Service Office.
  • Late Baggage Arrival - Go to the Baggage Service Office: Alerts select customers, for example, those with an international segment in their reservation, to see an agent at the Baggage Service Office.
  • Late Baggage Arrival - Mobile Baggage Order (MBO): Alerts customers to fill out an MBO on their mobile device. The MBO will prompt you for delivery details and a bag description to ensure you're reunited with your bag. With MBO, there's no need to stop at the Baggage Service Office.

In order to use the new CBN service, you have to either use the American Airlines app, have an AAdvantage account or provide contact information during booking or check-in. AA will then be able to send you the alert to easily track your baggage until you're reunited with it.

This is a nice addition from AA, which is taking some of the pain out of not getting your bag after arriving at your destination. Now, instead of having to wait in line and file a claim with an agent at the Baggage Service Office, passengers whose bags didn't make it can go through the same process directly from their phone.

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.