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)
Oct 4, 2018, 11:24 pm
#1111
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,060
Isn't it possible to bypass by going to the non-priority security and walking along the upstairs walkway toward the CLEAR stations?
I've never been questioned going up the priority escalator, but my rollaboard carryon and briefcase are both within the published dimensions and would fit easily in the sizer.
I've never been questioned going up the priority escalator, but my rollaboard carryon and briefcase are both within the published dimensions and would fit easily in the sizer.
Oct 4, 2018, 11:30 pm
#1112
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,595
Oct 5, 2018, 8:04 am
#1113
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,645
While I agree that the overhead bins are not full in business in certain wide body/ long haul flights, the same is not true for domestic first. On several occasions , when I have boarded late domestic first the overhead bins are already full.
Also, it is more often than not that the overhead bins in general are completely full and bags have to be checked despite the aircraft being newer and having more generous overhead room.
I could see the argument that a more generous policy could be established for pax on international business or premium economy but then many of those passengers will connect domestically so they will be non compliant on their next leg.
It is not going to happen, IMO
Last edited by carlosdca; Oct 5, 2018 at 9:00 am
Oct 7, 2018, 11:57 am
#1115
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Washington,DC
Posts: 1,822
Two baggage questions
I couldn't find answers to these on aa.com
1. If as an Ex Plat I check 4 bags for a domestic flight, will my 4th bag fee be the 1st bag fee ($30) or the 4th bag fee ($150)
2. If I book two people on the same reservation , me Ex Plat and companion no status - do they get the Ex Plat bag allowance
Thanks
Steve
1. If as an Ex Plat I check 4 bags for a domestic flight, will my 4th bag fee be the 1st bag fee ($30) or the 4th bag fee ($150)
2. If I book two people on the same reservation , me Ex Plat and companion no status - do they get the Ex Plat bag allowance
Thanks
Steve
Oct 7, 2018, 4:20 pm
#1117
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
I couldn't find answers to these on aa.com
1. If as an Ex Plat I check 4 bags for a domestic flight, will my 4th bag fee be the 1st bag fee ($30) or the 4th bag fee ($150)
2. If I book two people on the same reservation , me Ex Plat and companion no status - do they get the Ex Plat bag allowance
Thanks
Steve
1. If as an Ex Plat I check 4 bags for a domestic flight, will my 4th bag fee be the 1st bag fee ($30) or the 4th bag fee ($150)
2. If I book two people on the same reservation , me Ex Plat and companion no status - do they get the Ex Plat bag allowance
Thanks
Steve
Oct 27, 2018, 11:06 pm
#1118
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 42
I have an early morning flight this Friday from MIA to DCA and have never traveled with a garment bag before. How likely is it that I can successfully ask to use the closet? I was also planning to bring a carry on as well so would that incur an additional charge at the gate (assuming a garment bag is counted as a carry on)?
Oct 27, 2018, 11:50 pm
#1119
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
I have an early morning flight this Friday from MIA to DCA and have never traveled with a garment bag before. How likely is it that I can successfully ask to use the closet? I was also planning to bring a carry on as well so would that incur an additional charge at the gate (assuming a garment bag is counted as a carry on)?
Soft-sided garment bags up to 51 inches / 130 cm (length + width + height) can also be taken as your carry-on item
If one bag isn't the size of a personal item, most fares I'm familiar with do not permit two carry-on bags
Oct 28, 2018, 12:00 pm
#1120
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 205
I have an early morning flight this Friday from MIA to DCA and have never traveled with a garment bag before. How likely is it that I can successfully ask to use the closet? I was also planning to bring a carry on as well so would that incur an additional charge at the gate (assuming a garment bag is counted as a carry on)?
Nov 1, 2018, 9:11 pm
#1121
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
Haven’t seen those garment bag hangers for years.
As as a note if the changes to carry on rules, I am not looking forward to holiday travel,
As as a note if the changes to carry on rules, I am not looking forward to holiday travel,
Mar 28, 2019, 4:21 pm
#1122
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 447
Hi all,
My first time on AA next month - what's the latest on carry-on size enforcement? I'm flying on a domestic 737-800 connection and have a "BA size" carry-on (50x40x20 cm), but as you all know the published maximum AA width is 35 cm which seems unusually narrow.
I'm OWE so in one of the first groups if that makes a difference. Will I be okay?
Thanks!
My first time on AA next month - what's the latest on carry-on size enforcement? I'm flying on a domestic 737-800 connection and have a "BA size" carry-on (50x40x20 cm), but as you all know the published maximum AA width is 35 cm which seems unusually narrow.
I'm OWE so in one of the first groups if that makes a difference. Will I be okay?
Thanks!
Mar 28, 2019, 6:14 pm
#1123
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Odds are, you'll be fine. If you are asked to put your bag in a sizer, I'm not sure if it will fit but it might.
Mar 29, 2019, 9:57 am
#1124
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Hi all,
My first time on AA next month - what's the latest on carry-on size enforcement? I'm flying on a domestic 737-800 connection and have a "BA size" carry-on (50x40x20 cm), but as you all know the published maximum AA width is 35 cm which seems unusually narrow.
I'm OWE so in one of the first groups if that makes a difference. Will I be okay?
Thanks!
My first time on AA next month - what's the latest on carry-on size enforcement? I'm flying on a domestic 737-800 connection and have a "BA size" carry-on (50x40x20 cm), but as you all know the published maximum AA width is 35 cm which seems unusually narrow.
I'm OWE so in one of the first groups if that makes a difference. Will I be okay?
Thanks!
Last edited by Exec_Plat; Apr 10, 2019 at 12:24 pm Reason: typo, clarity