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Carry-on Items That Meets UA's Size Requirements? Enforcement?

Old Feb 2, 2015, 12:57 am
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Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Previous thread: Carry-on Items That Meets United's Sizer Box? Enforcement? [ARCHIVE]

Carry-on Bags and Personal Items that have been tested to fit in the New Sizers

Published carry-on limit: 9"x14"x22" (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm)
Actual sizer dimensions: 10"x15"x23"

Published personal item limit: 9"x10"x17" (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm)
Actual sizer dimensions: 9"x11"x18"

Bags that Fit Carry-On Sizer

Code:
Bag Manufacturer Model Date Test Location Comment
 Briggs & Riley Baseline 20" 03/2014 IAH boraxo
 Briggs & Riley Torq 01/2014 CLE lordhamster
 Briggs & Riley Transcend TU220XW-4 03/2014 COS mre5765. 311 bag had to be removed from outer pouch. Two weeks of clothes.
 Briggs & Riley U122CX 01/2014 SNA sakaike
 Briggs & Riley BU119 (BRX 19 upright) 05/2014 SMF PV_Premier, snug in 10" dimension even when packed lightly - bag fits in any mainline OH however :rolleyes:
 Brookstone Dash Office 01/2014 DSM Fits OH E145/C200
 Delsey Helium Sky 21" 01/2015 LHR secretsea18
 Eagle Creek Hovercraft 22" 03/2014 CLT Not stuffed full
 eBags TLS Mini 21"EB2146-21W 04/2014 swco-not overstuffed, just fit
 Heys Xcase 12/2013 LAX abaheti
 Int'l Paper Safeway Grocery 02/2014 IAH IAH-OIL-TRASH
 Kirkland Signature 21.5 12/2013 SFO
 Lat56 RW01 2 wheel 05/2016 AUS txirish
 Red Oxx Air Boss 02/2014 SFO N1120A (loaded)
 Red Oxx Sky Train 01/2014 SFO N1120A (loaded)
 Ricardo of BevHills Dash 20inch Dual 01/2014 Fredd
 Wheel Spinner Costco @ $50-expandable
 Rick Steves Backpack 12/2013 LAX LaserSailor
 Rimowa Limbo Cabin IATA 02/2014 SEA MSY-MSP
 Rimowa Salsa Deluxe IATA 02/2014 SEA MSY-MSP
 Rimowa Lufthansa 747-8 IATA 08/2014 IAD N1120A
 Samsonite Aspire Lite 03/2014 DEN
 Samsonite Short-Lite 2-wheeled 12/2013 ORD Lightest bag out there
 Samsonite Silhouette Sphere 21" 05/2014 BOS Fits perfectly but very snugly
 Tom Bihn Aeronaut 03/2014 Uncle Dave - fits every dimension with room to spare
 Travelite Delite v 2.0 02/2014 ORD exbayern (bag full)
 TravelPro Crew 4 22" 08/2014 SFO Not stuffed full
 TravelPro Crew 7 20" 12/2013 KWI full - not expanded FriendlySkies
 TravelPro Crew 8 22" 11/2013 DFW Not stuffed full
 TravelPro Crew 9 21" spinner 02/2014 ORD ilovesprint not stuffed
 TravelPro FlightCrew3 22" 02/2014 BOS Not stuffed full. Very snug fit CDKing
 TravelPro FlightCrew4 20" various Not stuffed
 TravelPro Maxlite2 20in 12/2013 SFO Expandable too
 TravelPro Maxlite2 22in 03/2014 Snug fit not stuffed
 TravelPro Maxlite3 21" 04/2014 EWR EmileG - full, outside compartment empty
 TravelPro Walkabout Spinners2 21" 04/2014 EWR EmileG - full, outside compartment empty
 TravelPro Walkabout Lite 4 03/2014 IND United747 - pretty empty bag to start with
 TUMI Alpha 22922 Many FLL DelrayChris
 TUMI Alpha 28251 lw Continental 03/2014 EWR lensman
 TUMI Alpha 2 22021 Continental 04/2014 EWR suzy1K - fit perfectly. Bag full, not expanded
 TUMI Alpha International 20" 022020DH 04/2014 SFO Snug if front pocket used, easy fit on 22/23" dimension by 1"
 TUMI T-Tech Int'l Carryon 04/2014 jeremiahsullivan
 Victorinox Avolve 22" 02/2014 SFO MrOCTeckels - only with front pocket empty
 Victorinox Mobilizer NXT 5.0 20" 03/2014 ORD gobluetwo - not expanded, every dimension fits with room to spare
 Victorinox WT 4.0 Duffel 21" 03/2014 ORD gobluetwo - packed for 3 days, squeezed sides easily into sizer


Published personal item limit: 9"x10"x17"
Actual sizer dimensions: 9"x11"x18"

Bags that Fit Personal Item Sizer


Code:
Bag Manufacturer Model Date Test Location Comment
 Briggs & Riley Verb VB414-4 03/2014 COS mre5765. Easy fit despite being stuffed with sleeved 13 inch lap top, ipad mini, kindle paperwhite, pills, papers, chargers, ...
 Case Logic 14" ZLCS-214 04/2014 EWR Fly5x
 eBags TLS Pro Slim Laptop 04/2014
 Backpack EB2146-16
 Everki Versa Premium Backpack 07/2014 ORD gobluetwo
 Red Oxx CPA 12/2014 YYZ N1120A
 Skooba Satchel v3 02/2014 ORD ilovesprint
 Tom Bihn Co-Pilot 03/2014 SFO frankmu
 Tom Bihn Super Ego 03/2014 GRR LufthansaFlyer
 Tom Binh Western Flyer 01/2014 DSM when packed "right"
 Waterfield Cargo Large 01/2014 SFO MrOCTeckels
 LL Bean North Ridge Backpack 04/2014 LAX fgirard Works with a 13" MackBook, Asus Transformer packed inside

Bags that Do Not Fit Sizers

Code:
Bag Manufacturer Model Date Test Location Comment
 Eagle Creek Tarmac 20 wide 03/3014 AUS Curvature on back increases width
 Eagle Creek Tarmac ES 22 03/2014 1/2 inch too tall
 Gregory Cache 22 03/2014 BOS Cloudship
 Timbuk2 Checkpoint Roller 12/2014 BOS Cloudship
 Tumi Alpha Backpack 03/2014 SEA Full bag, fit length and height, 1/2" too tall when laying on side in personal sizer.

Official size as per Rule 23.B.2, Baggage, Contract of Carriage:
https://www.united.com/web/format/pd...f_Carriage.pdf

Carry-on Baggage must not exceed the Maximum Outside Linear Dimensions of 9 inches (22 cm) x 14 inches (35 cm) x 22 inches (56 cm), which includes its wheels and handles.

Personal items must not exceed 9 inches (22 cm) x 10 inches (25 cm) x 17 inches (43 cm), which includes any wheels and handles.

A personal item that exceeds these maximum linear dimensions but is not greater than 9 inches (22 cm) x 14 inches (35 cm) x 22 inches (56 cm) will be considered as Carry-on Baggage. Carry-on Baggage or personal items suspected of being oversized may require being placed into a sizing unit to determine acceptability. Carry-on Baggage that exceeds the Maximum Linear Dimensions allowed or that exceeds the Carry-on Free Baggage Allowance will be considered as Checked Baggage and is subject to Checked Baggage service charges.
relatyed thread: Baggage sizer use at the gate? (No longer at gates after 23 Jan 2020)
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Carry-on Items That Meets UA's Size Requirements? Enforcement?

Old May 28, 2015, 4:27 pm
  #31  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC*E50
Posts: 594
Torq wide-body spinner fits

Can confirm that the Briggs & Riley Torq International Carry-On Wide-Body Spinner fits in a United Airlines sizer. The published/actual dimensions are 21.5x15.5x9, which is too wide for United's specs (got it for Air Canada where it is compliant). However, as you can see below it fits neatly in the United sizer - the wheels sit just under the lip of the sizer.

If this one fits then the slightly taller non-wide body version should also be fine.

FrequentFlyerYYZ is offline  
Old May 28, 2015, 4:39 pm
  #32  
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 8,953
To be honest, I have never bothered to use the sizer - I just got a cheap $90 roller based on the stated specs and have gone with it ever since with no issues. Even when it puffs out, no GA has ever made me try and stuff it in the box.
PsiFighter37 is offline  
Old Jun 10, 2015, 9:41 am
  #33  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
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Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,872
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...d-to-carry-on/

Major airlines thinking about changing the rules, again?
chavala is offline  
Old Jun 10, 2015, 11:07 am
  #34  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Originally Posted by chavala
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...d-to-carry-on/

Major airlines thinking about changing the rules, again?
Actually a push from the IATA, and as of this morning, the airlines were moot on this.
LaserSailor is offline  
Old Jul 16, 2015, 12:25 pm
  #35  
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Berkeley, CA
Programs: United 1K, Hyatt Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 44
I heard about sizer enforcement earlier in the year but did not see it happening in the airports I use (primarily SFO and EWR.)

However, I have seen enforcement this summer as more families are traveling. One one flight two weeks ago the gate agent stood at the door of the jetway solely to look at people's bags as they were boarding. He didn't size check mine (Tumi Tegra Lite Continental) as it is clearly one of the smaller rollers. But later in the flight, I didn't see anyone trying to fit huge rollers in the overhead and then having to gate check, as I would usually see.

They size checked at boarding both ways on my round trip this week, again giving a pass to anyone with one of the smaller rollers.

Frankly, I'm happy to see it. I disklike having the boarding process delayed because people roll on items that won't or barely fit, or seeing people get shut out of overhead space toward the end of boarding.

I'm traveling with my family in August, and I bought them new 20" rollers to be sure we're compliant.
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Old Jul 18, 2015, 12:41 pm
  #36  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Germany
Programs: TK elite+(*gold), Marriott Lifetime Platinum, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond, (Ex-Hyatt Diamond/Globalist)
Posts: 220
Question What about Tumi wheeled briefcases?

Hi everyone,
what about Tumi's wheeled briefcases? I had always dreamed of getting the "Alpha 2 deluxe wheeled leather brief with laptop case" ( modell 96127 DH, Nylon version is exactly the same size = modell 26127 DH). They just replaced it with a 4 wheeler so it was on sale for 45% less - so finally I just ordered it for 590 Euros instead of 1.000 Euros

Seems to be the perfect bag sizewise if it should look good for business meetings, last long, take all your electronics + clothes for 2 days . But now I am afraid of the UA sizer, since the bag is 15,5 x 17,5 x 10.
While the 17,5 is significantly smaller than the sizer, the 15,5 might stick out a little at the top and the 10" should just barely fit. But what if the 15,5 stick out a little too much at the top or the 10" do not fit because of a 0.3" difference in measures or because the bag is packed?
I don't want to check in a 1.000 USD briefcase made from soft leathrr with all my electronics inside. I can still return the bag for the next 7 days (just bought it, but did not use it so far) but for every other airline it seems perfect…

I just googled it, did not find anything if it fits the UA sizer and then searched this whole thread including the 2014 part for "Tumi" and read every post with "Tumi" in it which almost took 2 hours, but didn't find anything about the Tumi wheeled briefs.

I am based in Europe so I can't just drive to the airport to check united's sizer, but I will have to fly with them multiple times later this year (GRU-EWR in C and maybe some intra US legs in F/C).

Did anyone here fit a Tumi 96127 or 26127 in the UA sizers?
Any thoughts on wheeled briefcases that are exactly 10" thick, 1" too high but therefore 5" less wider than allowed?
Thanks and best regards,
zap!

Last edited by zap7; Jul 19, 2015 at 11:05 am Reason: got modell number of nylon bag wrong, it's now corrected
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Old Jul 18, 2015, 5:33 pm
  #37  
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 4
Size of my personal item on United Airlines

Hi, I'm pretty new here but glad I've found you. I'd like to bring a daypack as my personal item on United Airlines but so far, I can't find one that fits there maximum dimensions of 17"x10"x9". The daypacks always seem to be something more like 18"x11"x6". I wish United would do this by cubic inch volume but I do understand that the item has to fit under the seat. Does anyone have a pack or a messenger bag/computer bag sort of thing suggestion? I'd love to have a specific example of something that works well. How sticky is UA about the size being exact? Seems to me that they picked an impossible size for anyone who needs to take a computer bag or daypack. I don't fly often and this has been a huge headache for me. No one else seems to have a problem so I wonder if it's just me.
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Old Jul 18, 2015, 6:26 pm
  #38  
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,068
You are pretty much certain to be fine with a daypack of that size as a carryon. Don't worry about it.
physioprof is offline  
Old Jul 18, 2015, 6:59 pm
  #39  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
Originally Posted by holland
Their sizers were a good 6" smaller than the overheads on their RJ's (let alone the A319 I usually flew on)... revenue generators I guess.
You could fit a person in some bins. That doesn't mean they belong there. Being able to fit a big in a bin doesn't mean it's carry-on size. You have to share that bin space with 100+ other passengers. If everyone had 1 bag that "fit in the [entire] bin" then there would be enough room for 20 passengers and the rest S.O.L.

United gets fined when they are caught by the FAA allowing bags onboard that do not fit their size dimensions.
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Old Jul 19, 2015, 11:12 am
  #40  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Germany
Programs: TK elite+(*gold), Marriott Lifetime Platinum, HH Diamond, IHG Diamond, (Ex-Hyatt Diamond/Globalist)
Posts: 220
Originally Posted by sgal
Hi, I'm pretty new here but glad I've found you. I'd like to bring a daypack as my personal item on United Airlines
...
Does anyone have a pack or a messenger bag/computer bag sort of thing suggestion? I'd love to have a specific example of something that works well.

How sticky is UA about the size being exact?
Welcome to the forum!
Just scroll to the top of the page of this post (where it says "FlyerTalk Forums Thread Wiki") and click on "click here to display full wiki". This will summarize the dozens of pages that have already been written, and show specific "Bags that Fit Personal Item Sizer" as the examples you asked for.

If you read the previous pages of this thread including the 2014 postings (see top of wiki post), you'll find some discussion about how strict they are with personal items. So far they seem to be very relaxed and not checking them (personal items) if they don't look too big (see previous pages for details). The big concern is the bigger cabin bag if it just barely fits.
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Old Jul 19, 2015, 11:23 am
  #41  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
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Posts: 2,872
Originally Posted by Widgets
United gets fined when they are caught by the FAA allowing bags onboard that do not fit their size dimensions.
what?
chavala is offline  
Old Jul 19, 2015, 11:31 am
  #42  
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Posts: 52,110
Originally Posted by chavala
what?
I've never heard of it actually happening, but when an airline has a policy as part of its op spec, it's enforceable as an FAR.
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Old Jul 20, 2015, 10:58 am
  #43  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
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Care to cite the relevant part from FAR? I've heard this before as well, but the person claiming this wasn't able to cite anything.
diburning is offline  
Old Aug 25, 2015, 4:13 pm
  #44  
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 7
Have to buy a new carry-on for a family member. The Briggs & Riley she uses won't fit in the sizer due to some raised hard plastic at the top (the whole "put another piece of luggage on it" thing). Too bad because it's an excellent bag and got it for a steal of a price.

I see the Travelpro Maxlite 2 22" was tested by another user. Is it safe to say that the Maxlite 3 should have no issue if we get checked? eBags has a sale to bring it down under $100 after a coupon.

http://www.ebags.com/product/travelp...uctid=10296705

Flying out of IAD. Not sure if they check anything, but last trip during Christmas no one did anything.
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Old Sep 3, 2015, 9:58 pm
  #45  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, TY, UR, UA, US, WN, MR, SPG
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I'm flying UA LAX>LHR tomorrow. I've always just checked a single bag and carried a small backpack on. This is a longer trip with my wife, though, so I'm debating carrying a duffel bag on. It's an Adidas Gym bag (
Here Here
). Stated dimensions are slightly bigger than reality. It's soft-side / smashable, and would not be even close to stuffed. Am I likely to get shut down trying to carry that on? I feel like I've seen people carry on way bigger items, but that may have been before they started cracking down. 2nd bag is a ludicrous $200, so that's not even an option.

Edit: as a data point, no issues with that bag as a carry on

Last edited by roki; Sep 4, 2015 at 12:38 pm
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