Dallas, Feb 20 (AP) American Airlines is pushing customers to buy tickets directly from the airline if they want to earn frequent-flyer points, and it is raising the cost of checking bags.

American announced on Tuesday that most customers will have to buy tickets directly from the airline or its partner carriers if they want to earn points in its AAdvantage loyalty programme.

Also Read | Vladimir Putin Has Found Love? Report Says Russia President Is Romantically Linked to ‘Barbie-Lookalike’ Ekaterina Mizulina.

Corporate travellers won't be affected by the change.

The airline said checking a bag will rise from USD 30 now to USD 35 online and USD 40 if purchased at the airport. The fee for a second checked bag will rise from USD 40 to USD 45 both online and at the airport.

Also Read | Russia: FSB Arrests 33-Year-Old Woman Holding Dual Citizenship in Yekaterinburg on 'Treason' Charges for Allegedly Fundraising for Ukraine (Watch Video).

American says it last raised bag fees in 2018.

The changes affect flights booked on or after Tuesday for travel within the United States and to nearby international destinations including Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The airline will generally allow customers to check at least one bag free if they hold status in American's loyalty programme, buy a premium-class ticket or use an American-branded credit card. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)