Nov 21, 2016, 8:48 pm
Last edit by: JDiver
American Airlines Carry-On Baggage Limits
Strict enforcement directive issued 28 August 2015)
Strict enforcement directive issued 28 August 2015)
American Airlines Carry-on baggage (link)
Q. Why is AA suddenly becoming so picky about sizing bags?
A. AA formulates carry on baggage policy that meets FAA criteria as well as airline established criteria; these are submitted to the FAA and if approved become the airline's policy. If the airline repeatedly violated their FAA-approved policy, they can be held accountable by the FAA. Recently, during an FAA audit, AA was found to be violating its FAA-approved carry on policy.
What can I carry on?
You can bring 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item per person (exception: infants. Exception: some regional aircraft have insufficient bin space for otherwise "legal" bags, so carry-on bags might be limited, or even prohibited. If the latter, they will usually be "valet checked" airside and delivered at the jetway before you enter the gate area.
Carry-on bag
Your carry-on bag should be: You can travel with horizontal rolling and/or hanging garment bags as your carry-on bag if: You can also carry on a soft-sided garment bag of up to 51in or 130cm (length + width + height)
Personal item
Your personal item must be smaller than your carry-on, able to fit under the seat in front of you and can include: Additional allowed items
You can also bring: Liquids and restricted items
TSA allows certain duty-free liquids through security in your carry-on bag if they’re properly packaged in a security tamper-evident bag (STEB). If you’re traveling with liquids or are unsure about any item, please contact the TSA.
For more, e.g. special items, etc. please use link
Q. Why is AA suddenly becoming so picky about sizing bags?
A. AA formulates carry on baggage policy that meets FAA criteria as well as airline established criteria; these are submitted to the FAA and if approved become the airline's policy. If the airline repeatedly violated their FAA-approved policy, they can be held accountable by the FAA. Recently, during an FAA audit, AA was found to be violating its FAA-approved carry on policy.
What can I carry on?
You can bring 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item per person (exception: infants. Exception: some regional aircraft have insufficient bin space for otherwise "legal" bags, so carry-on bags might be limited, or even prohibited. If the latter, they will usually be "valet checked" airside and delivered at the jetway before you enter the gate area.
Carry-on bag
Your carry-on bag should be:
- Up to 45 inches (22 x 14 x 9 in or 115 centimeters (23 x 36 x 56 cm) including handles and wheels
- Able to fit comfortably into the sizer we’ve provided at the airport
- Please note, you’ll also need to be able to lift your bag into the overhead bin
- They fit comfortably in the bag sizer
- They measure up to 22" length x 14" width x 9" height or 115cm (56 x 36 x 23 cm)
Personal item
Your personal item must be smaller than your carry-on, able to fit under the seat in front of you and can include:
- A purse
- A briefcase
- A laptop bag
- Similar items such as a tote
You can also bring:
- Outerwear such as coats, wraps and hats
- A book or newspaper
- A small bag of food to eat on the flight
- An approved safety seat for a lap or ticketed child
- A pillow or blanket
- An umbrella stroller for a lap or ticketed child
- A diaper bag for a lap or ticketed child
- Duty free items
- Assistive devices (e.g. wheelchairs, walkers, portable oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines etc.)
- Breast pump
TSA allows certain duty-free liquids through security in your carry-on bag if they’re properly packaged in a security tamper-evident bag (STEB). If you’re traveling with liquids or are unsure about any item, please contact the TSA.
For more, e.g. special items, etc. please use link
22 x 14 x 10
So today I took measurements of the sizer at my airport... There is obviously some slippage and subjectivity in the eye of (s)he who must be obeyed due to the open ended 1/4" lines outlining the baggage dimensions placed either horizontally or vertically. But, strictly speaking, the outside edge of the lines are 22' and 14". The depth is a definitive full 10 inches from the back board to the inner side of the metal tube running low laterally across the front of the sizer. This is the current sizer that I measured:
22 x 14 x 10
...We are given a 22 x 14 x 9 but there is some room to maneuver. We have 22" and 14" with a very subjective but limited amount of slippage. And there is definitely 10" of depth.
The subjectivity would be greatly reduced if the sizers were constructed, as Delta's, to form a full sided box.
Those on the margin should really test their bags in advance in all of the different positions to see which allows the most favorable view of its size if required to use the sizer at the gate.
So today I took measurements of the sizer at my airport... There is obviously some slippage and subjectivity in the eye of (s)he who must be obeyed due to the open ended 1/4" lines outlining the baggage dimensions placed either horizontally or vertically. But, strictly speaking, the outside edge of the lines are 22' and 14". The depth is a definitive full 10 inches from the back board to the inner side of the metal tube running low laterally across the front of the sizer. This is the current sizer that I measured:
22 x 14 x 10
...We are given a 22 x 14 x 9 but there is some room to maneuver. We have 22" and 14" with a very subjective but limited amount of slippage. And there is definitely 10" of depth.
The subjectivity would be greatly reduced if the sizers were constructed, as Delta's, to form a full sided box.
Those on the margin should really test their bags in advance in all of the different positions to see which allows the most favorable view of its size if required to use the sizer at the gate.
AA e-mail to customer re: carry on baggage
and
Comparison of USA airlines carry-on limits Apr '25 by Outdoor Gear Lab
and
Airline carry on variances and the new IATA recommended standard
and
New IATA recommended standard vs. current common
[/CENTER]
AA carry on / carryon baggage rules & enforcement (master thd)
Jun 10, 2014, 10:31 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 301
[QUOTE=Mark_T]
I'd say there was a strong possibility you'll have to check the bag, even if you are in F.
Wont happen. F overheads are twice the size unless you're on a regional.
Jun 10, 2014, 10:51 am
#17
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA
Programs: SA Air, Air Canada, KLM, BA,Lufthansa, United, AA, Hawaiian, Air New Zealnd, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic
Posts: 777
laptop- what to do with it now?
I travel with a Sony laptop which is very light but it measures 14x10x3/4. It's only a year old, not planning on replacing it.
What in the world are we supposed to do with laptops? Has anyone seen this addressed? Putting it in any kind of a case or backpack is going to make it over the 14".
What in the world are we supposed to do with laptops? Has anyone seen this addressed? Putting it in any kind of a case or backpack is going to make it over the 14".
Jun 10, 2014, 11:14 am
#18
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,439
I travel with a Sony laptop which is very light but it measures 14x10x3/4. It's only a year old, not planning on replacing it.
What in the world are we supposed to do with laptops? Has anyone seen this addressed? Putting it in any kind of a case or backpack is going to make it over the 14".
What in the world are we supposed to do with laptops? Has anyone seen this addressed? Putting it in any kind of a case or backpack is going to make it over the 14".
I have a carry-on bag that is slightly too big for the sizer, however, never ever have I been asked to put it in the sizer. It's a laptop bag with room for other stuff. My laptop is 15" wide.
I also have a convertible purse that I got from Eagle Creek. This purse has hooks that allow it to "fold over" and be purse-sized or expanded and be tote-bag sized. This purse has a laptop sleeve, and my laptop fits snugly in that laptop sleeve.
My plan is to continue getting on an airplane with the laptop in the laptop bag, also carrying the convertible purse as my "personal item". If I am ever told I must gate-check the laptop bag, I will pull the laptop computer out of the laptop bag and put it in the convertible purse laptop sleeve, which will easily go in the sizer.
The convertible purse will also hold my iPhone, iPod and Kindle, as well as wallet, passport and glasses, even when folded over in the purse size. Thus I can board the airplane with the convertible purse and my electronic gear that I need for IFE and cannot afford to lose, leaving the rest of the stuff like charging cables and power supplies in the laptop bag.
Eagle Creek item # EC-60281
Jun 10, 2014, 11:51 am
#19
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA- EXP UA - Silver SPG- PLT Marriott- PLT
Posts: 759
Good on US-AA for cleaning up the boarding process. And good on FAA for stepping up its enforcement against air carriers, which is leading to the enforcement of pretty simple rules.
Rather than delaying the boarding process for those who don't know how to use a tape measure, pull them out of the boarding queue and let them wait until others have boarded. At that point, tag the bags to the baggage office of the final destination where they can be picked up after paying the baggage fees and a processing penalty.
.
Rather than delaying the boarding process for those who don't know how to use a tape measure, pull them out of the boarding queue and let them wait until others have boarded. At that point, tag the bags to the baggage office of the final destination where they can be picked up after paying the baggage fees and a processing penalty.
.
Jun 10, 2014, 11:54 am
#20
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA- EXP UA - Silver SPG- PLT Marriott- PLT
Posts: 759
As long as they are doing this at the gate, and not the end of the jet bridge, it's pretty easy to rip the tag off and just take items, WHICH FIT, onboard.
Oh, and I always put BOTH of my items (rollerboard and briefcase) in the overhead bin. Sorry, but I'm not giving up my foot space.
Oh, and I always put BOTH of my items (rollerboard and briefcase) in the overhead bin. Sorry, but I'm not giving up my foot space.
Jun 10, 2014, 12:51 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 127
Jun 10, 2014, 12:51 pm
#22
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA
Programs: SA Air, Air Canada, KLM, BA,Lufthansa, United, AA, Hawaiian, Air New Zealnd, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic
Posts: 777
Here is my strategy.
I have a carry-on bag that is slightly too big for the sizer, however, never ever have I been asked to put it in the sizer. It's a laptop bag with room for other stuff. My laptop is 15" wide.
I also have a convertible purse that I got from Eagle Creek. This purse has hooks that allow it to "fold over" and be purse-sized or expanded and be tote-bag sized. This purse has a laptop sleeve, and my laptop fits snugly in that laptop sleeve.
My plan is to continue getting on an airplane with the laptop in the laptop bag, also carrying the convertible purse as my "personal item". If I am ever told I must gate-check the laptop bag, I will pull the laptop computer out of the laptop bag and put it in the convertible purse laptop sleeve, which will easily go in the sizer.
The convertible purse will also hold my iPhone, iPod and Kindle, as well as wallet, passport and glasses, even when folded over in the purse size. Thus I can board the airplane with the convertible purse and my electronic gear that I need for IFE and cannot afford to lose, leaving the rest of the stuff like charging cables and power supplies in the laptop bag.
Eagle Creek item # EC-60281
I have a carry-on bag that is slightly too big for the sizer, however, never ever have I been asked to put it in the sizer. It's a laptop bag with room for other stuff. My laptop is 15" wide.
I also have a convertible purse that I got from Eagle Creek. This purse has hooks that allow it to "fold over" and be purse-sized or expanded and be tote-bag sized. This purse has a laptop sleeve, and my laptop fits snugly in that laptop sleeve.
My plan is to continue getting on an airplane with the laptop in the laptop bag, also carrying the convertible purse as my "personal item". If I am ever told I must gate-check the laptop bag, I will pull the laptop computer out of the laptop bag and put it in the convertible purse laptop sleeve, which will easily go in the sizer.
The convertible purse will also hold my iPhone, iPod and Kindle, as well as wallet, passport and glasses, even when folded over in the purse size. Thus I can board the airplane with the convertible purse and my electronic gear that I need for IFE and cannot afford to lose, leaving the rest of the stuff like charging cables and power supplies in the laptop bag.
Eagle Creek item # EC-60281
Jun 10, 2014, 1:10 pm
#23
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 301
If the bag was oversized then perhaps he should check it. If it wasn't then he had the right to show them it would fit. I've taken a duffle bag on the plane that looks too big but it's usually half full and compressible. I've only been asked one time to check the bag and I would always show them that it's not full. Perhaps I only took up 1 minute of everyones time...But if I know I'm right and they're wrong then I don't have a problem arguing. Historically the bag handlers show peoples belonging no respect and usually people who carry-on have either breakable things or something nice (in this case a nice bag) that they don't want destroyed. I believe people have this notion that the airlines are some authority in every respect but the reality is that everyone on that plane is a paying customer and if the airline is wrong then they have to be corrected (even if that means taking up other passengers time) He has the right as a paying customer to hold up the line if he has a legitimate reason. Like I said, ever since TSA started treating people like terrorist, the airlines has been able to treat passengers similarly and what's sad is that most passengers just put up with it.
Last edited by fearziz; Jun 10, 2014 at 1:18 pm
Jun 10, 2014, 1:23 pm
#24
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 127
If the bag was oversized then perhaps he should check it. If it wasn't then he had the right to show them it would fit. I've taken a duffle bag on the plane that looks too big but it's usually half full and compressible. I've only been asked one time to check the bag and I would always show them that it's not full. Perhaps I only took up 1 minute of everyones time...But if I know I'm right and they're wrong then I don't have a problem arguing. Historically the bag handlers show peoples belonging no respect and usually people who carry-on have either breakable things or something nice (in this case a nice bag) that they don't want destroyed. I believe people have this notion that the airlines are some authority in every respect but the reality is that everyone on that plane is a paying customer and if the airline is wrong then they have to be corrected (even if that means taking up other passengers time) He has the right as a paying customer to hold up the line if he has a legitimate reason. Like I said, ever since TSA started treating people like terrorist, the airlines has been able to treat passengers similarly and what's sad is that most passengers just put up with it.
You're right, everyone knows baggage workers don't care about luggage. So why buy very expensive bags that you expect to be damaged? When you paint your house do you wear your Louis Vuitton? No, absolutely not because you expect some sort of wear and tear.
Jun 10, 2014, 1:43 pm
#25
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: DCA | DEN
Programs: AA EXP/2.9mm | Marriott LT Titanium 1.6k nights | NEXUS
Posts: 981
As long as they are doing this at the gate, and not the end of the jet bridge, it's pretty easy to rip the tag off and just take items, WHICH FIT, onboard.
Oh, and I always put BOTH of my items (rollerboard and briefcase) in the overhead bin. Sorry, but I'm not giving up my foot space.
Oh, and I always put BOTH of my items (rollerboard and briefcase) in the overhead bin. Sorry, but I'm not giving up my foot space.
Even in F assuming that's where you live.
Jun 10, 2014, 1:46 pm
#26
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 301
Yeah, but he wasn't right. He threw a fit because they let him board with it in prior flights but not that flight. It clearly didn't fit so he slammed it into the bin and tried to force it into the bin but was ultimately unsuccessful. This wasn't a case of him reasonably showing the gate agent that it would in fact fit. This was a case of self-entitlement meeting a boundary. So, to punish her he held the line up for several minutes to argue. The gate agent was professional, he was not. Some people need to get over themselves. I think I see the error in my original post, I said he put it in the bin to prove it would fit. My wording was not right, it should say, "in an attempt to prove that he was right he put it in the bin but the bag would still not fit." That's entirely my fault for causing that confusion.
You're right, everyone knows baggage workers don't care about luggage. So why buy very expensive bags that you expect to be damaged? When you paint your house do you wear your Louis Vuitton? No, absolutely not because you expect some sort of wear and tear.
You're right, everyone knows baggage workers don't care about luggage. So why buy very expensive bags that you expect to be damaged? When you paint your house do you wear your Louis Vuitton? No, absolutely not because you expect some sort of wear and tear.
Jun 10, 2014, 1:49 pm
#27
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
If it doesn't fit in the sizer it doesn't go on the plane.
I'm hearing from more than one place that a policy change is due to hit from tomorrow and things are going to get tightened up considerably ...
Jun 10, 2014, 1:58 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 127
Good. In the past few months I've been hit in the head a couple of times from bags that are too bulky and heavy for their owners to lift and fit into the overhead bin. They apologized but it is annoying.
Jun 10, 2014, 4:15 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 3,049
They are going to be getting a lot of grief from those who believe the rules are for other people, not them, so a little balance and support from people happy that the crazy carry-on excesses may be curtailed may help them feel a little less stressed.
Jun 10, 2014, 6:33 pm
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,774
I am fine with enforcing rules,....
but if my rimowa trolley can fit in the overhead bin on flights when i flew with international carriers (lufthansa, swiss, turkish..etc), why should they force me to check it? It's not like the Swiss' A321 has larger overhead bin than AA's A321.
Is it a coincidence that they decided to shrink the allowable size / dimension at the time they decided to enforce the rule?
They should target those who apparently bring a way too large carry-on luggage... not those who travel with regular size carry-on trolleys that may be just an inch or two over the allowable dimension.
but if my rimowa trolley can fit in the overhead bin on flights when i flew with international carriers (lufthansa, swiss, turkish..etc), why should they force me to check it? It's not like the Swiss' A321 has larger overhead bin than AA's A321.
Is it a coincidence that they decided to shrink the allowable size / dimension at the time they decided to enforce the rule?
They should target those who apparently bring a way too large carry-on luggage... not those who travel with regular size carry-on trolleys that may be just an inch or two over the allowable dimension.