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)
Sep 4, 2015, 8:00 pm
#452
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 280
Flew out of SEA Aug 26 and was unpleasantly surprised to find them enforce this policy when I had my carry-on, backpack and small shopping bag. My other bags were packed completely full, and they still made me check my carry on. I made the point that I don't mind following the rules, and of course they are doing their jobs by enforcing them, but in doing so they are the exception rather than the rule to which I and many others have become accustomed, and that the official rules should be consistently enforced across AA's network so as to avoid spats just like this. I guess Sir Doug took heed of my advice! 
Last edited by vhrum; Sep 4, 2015 at 8:02 pm Reason: Minor additions
Sep 4, 2015, 8:37 pm
#453
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Sep 5, 2015, 9:04 am
#455
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
This is the "consistency" argument, and is often heard in reference to airport security screening. A recent ExpertFlyer survey on travel gripes listed "inconsistent security screening" as one option. Personally, I detest stupid, non-productive rules, and having them consistently enforced is even worse.
Sep 5, 2015, 11:46 am
#456
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Sep 5, 2015, 3:26 pm
#457
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AA (Gold), Alaska MVP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, IHG Plat, SPG Gold,
Posts: 513
Maybe this will be a boon to SEV / SCOTTeVEST? 
I have a Scottevest trench coat and really do use it like that sometimes. Well, I don't pack clothes or shoes in it but do use if for other extras that don't fit in my suitcase or personal item backpack. My coat really does become an extra (free) carry on! Once on the plane I remove the extra stuff from the pockets and put them in a tote bag that I stash under my seat along with my backpack.
Last edited by JDiver; Sep 5, 2015 at 3:32 pm Reason: redacted repeated image
Sep 5, 2015, 3:31 pm
#458
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
<redacted repeated image>
I have a Scottevest trench coat and really do use it like that sometimes. Well, I don't pack clothes or shoes in it but do use if for other extras that don't fit in my suitcase or personal item backpack. My coat really does become an extra (free) carry on! Once on the plane I remove the extra stuff from the pockets and put them in a tote bag that I stash under my seat along with my backpack.
Sep 5, 2015, 4:24 pm
#459
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 280
I one of these bags, not sure exactly which
http://www.rimowa.com/en-us/topas-ca...ge/923.52.00.4
http://www.rimowa.com/en-us/topas-ca...ge/923.53.00.4
Since getting it about a year ago, I've carried it onto all of my AA flights without issue. But it is slightly larger than the guidelines, apparently, so I'm wondering if I'll have trouble getting it on now?
http://www.rimowa.com/en-us/topas-ca...ge/923.52.00.4
http://www.rimowa.com/en-us/topas-ca...ge/923.53.00.4
Since getting it about a year ago, I've carried it onto all of my AA flights without issue. But it is slightly larger than the guidelines, apparently, so I'm wondering if I'll have trouble getting it on now?
Sep 5, 2015, 4:28 pm
#460
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 280
, having to wait at baggage claim for my bag, which I purchased with the knowledge that it supposedly fit the "standard" rules so I wouldn't have to ever check it.
Sep 5, 2015, 6:23 pm
#461
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: DCA's home, AA hubs and spokes are where you'll usually find me
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat
Posts: 367
In case anyone is wondering, the B&R U122CX (domestic circa 2013) fits comfortably in the RDU sizer -- it's packed for a 10 day trip (and I'm a female with lots shoes!) but closed easily . . . straining the zipper might result in a non-compliance situation. YMMV.
Sep 5, 2015, 7:53 pm
#462
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: west of DFW airport
Programs: AA LT Gold 1.9 MM flying my way to LT PLAT
Posts: 11,074
I recently fly AA on several flights carrying a Red Oxx Rock Hopper bag that exactly matched my jacket in color and texture of fabric. I carried it as a shoulder bag and although it is a fairly obvious bag of medium size, I was not stopped from carrying it on.
I have done this same thing in the past with the same results. It seems to really pay to be subtle and clever.
I have done this same thing in the past with the same results. It seems to really pay to be subtle and clever.
Sep 5, 2015, 11:25 pm
#463
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NYC, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 280
I recently fly AA on several flights carrying a Red Oxx Rock Hopper bag that exactly matched my jacket in color and texture of fabric. I carried it as a shoulder bag and although it is a fairly obvious bag of medium size, I was not stopped from carrying it on.
I have done this same thing in the past with the same results. It seems to really pay to be subtle and clever.
I have done this same thing in the past with the same results. It seems to really pay to be subtle and clever.
Sep 6, 2015, 7:08 am
#464
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: AA - Plat, HHonors - Diamond, IHG - Plat, Marriott - Gold, National - Exec, Amtrak - Select, NEXUS
Posts: 1,075
I get that the shopping bag may have been created airside, and that both the backpack and the shopping bag may have fit under the seat in front - but the vast majority of 3 bag offenders put two (or three) in the bins in my experience.
FWIW, I boarded my E190 to BOS without challenge with my 14.5" wide bag on Friday 9/4 at PHL. Completely full flight, too, so another example of a situation where strict enforcement makes sense but was not applied.
Sep 6, 2015, 5:30 pm
#465
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: jfk area
Programs: AA platinum; 2MM AA, Delta Diamond, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,291
I travel with two 15" x 8" x 8" bags (not IDENTICAL, but both the same size)--no sizer problems for these--could "they" force me to check BOTH, since there is NO smaller bag to place under the seat in front of me? [Nitpickers can be picky.
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