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
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AA carry on / carryon baggage rules & enforcement (master thd)
Feb 12, 2020, 12:29 am
#1201
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
I think a gate agent should be willing to short-check your bag to the next airport only. You would have to go groundside to claim the bag and reclear security (unless the flight has valet-checked bags that you reclaim at the jetbridge).
Feb 12, 2020, 5:47 am
#1202
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: ORD-JFK-EZE-MAD
Programs: AA LT PLT 4mm / Free Agent / GE / Secret Handshake
Posts: 854
Unless valet checked, short-checking luggage is a dicey proposition. ex: you already boarded the plane and your luggage was short-checked to your stopover. Your flight gets delayed and doesn't give you enough time to claim your luggage and clear security again; or your initial flight gets cancelled and you get rerouted. In either case, you are at one location and the luggage someplace else.
Feb 13, 2020, 4:44 pm
#1203
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Choice Hotels
Posts: 762
I just boarded AA flight 2536 MSY-DFW A319. Completely full. 44 people on the upgrade list. It appeared that at least half the flight boarded with groups 1-4. I was the second person to board with group 5, and I took one of the last overhead bin spaces in the back of the plane. It appeared that anyone in groups 6 thru 9 had to gate check their bags. I saw a lot of bags that were bigger than standard and lots of people bringing on more than they should have.
In this case enforcing the 1+1 rule would have been helpful.
Otherwise, a very friendly crew that did an excellent job servicing the cabin during the short 75 minute flight. I'm now on a 738 that is about 90% full. It seems that the bins are bit more spacious; no issues with overhead space. A friendly crew so far again.
In this case enforcing the 1+1 rule would have been helpful.
Otherwise, a very friendly crew that did an excellent job servicing the cabin during the short 75 minute flight. I'm now on a 738 that is about 90% full. It seems that the bins are bit more spacious; no issues with overhead space. A friendly crew so far again.
Last edited by thunderdeacon; Feb 13, 2020 at 7:40 pm
Feb 13, 2020, 6:38 pm
#1204
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I just boarded AA flight 2536 MSY-DFW A319. Completely full. 44 people on the upgrade list. It appeared that at least half the flight boarded with groups 1-4. I was the second person to board with group 5, and I took one of the last overhead bin spaces in the back of the plane. It appeared that anyone in groups 6 thru 9 had to gate check their bags. I saw a lot of bags that were bigger than standard and lots of people bringing on more than they should have.
In this case enforcing the 1+1 rule would have been helpful.
In this case enforcing the 1+1 rule would have been helpful.
Feb 15, 2020, 11:04 am
#1205
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite
Posts: 1,961
I got bag checked for my first time in 3 years of flying 2+ times a week from PHX-SJC last Sunday (second leg of my trip).
It was interesting. I was in group 1, they call for CK and a lady who had a bag of something that was obviously bought from within security along with a backpack and carry-on was stopped by a GA and told she had to consolidate or she wouldn't be allowed on the plane. I could hear the GA saying in a somewhat dismissive voice "I don't care, you need to consolidate or you can't board" (which yeah, technically true, but she could have been nicer about it). A supervisor walks up and says she's fine, let her go.
So I walk through when group 1 is called and as I'm getting my BP scanned the lady walks up and says "I need to check your bag in the sizer" and grabs my rollerboard from me (yeah I'm not exaggerating, I wish I were), I said something to the affect of "It's worked fine for the last 400,000 miles I've flown with AA." She places it in the sizer next to the BP scanner and stares at it (it's right at the lines) and the supervisor walks up again and says "It's fine, he can go" she said "I'm told I need to check these, but you keep telling me to let them go." The supervisor says "don't worry about it" and I grab my rollerboard and board the plane.
It was interesting. I was in group 1, they call for CK and a lady who had a bag of something that was obviously bought from within security along with a backpack and carry-on was stopped by a GA and told she had to consolidate or she wouldn't be allowed on the plane. I could hear the GA saying in a somewhat dismissive voice "I don't care, you need to consolidate or you can't board" (which yeah, technically true, but she could have been nicer about it). A supervisor walks up and says she's fine, let her go.
So I walk through when group 1 is called and as I'm getting my BP scanned the lady walks up and says "I need to check your bag in the sizer" and grabs my rollerboard from me (yeah I'm not exaggerating, I wish I were), I said something to the affect of "It's worked fine for the last 400,000 miles I've flown with AA." She places it in the sizer next to the BP scanner and stares at it (it's right at the lines) and the supervisor walks up again and says "It's fine, he can go" she said "I'm told I need to check these, but you keep telling me to let them go." The supervisor says "don't worry about it" and I grab my rollerboard and board the plane.
Feb 15, 2020, 11:56 pm
#1206
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: CMH
Programs: BA Gold, AA Plat, NK $9 fare club
Posts: 666
She places it in the sizer next to the BP scanner and stares at it (it's right at the lines) and the supervisor walks up again and says "It's fine, he can go" she said "I'm told I need to check these, but you keep telling me to let them go." The supervisor says "don't worry about it" and I grab my rollerboard and board the plane.
Feb 16, 2020, 12:24 pm
#1207
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1
Samsonite Beck Ltd Domestic Carry-on
I am traveling to Florida in a few weeks with only my Samsonite Beck Ltd Carry-on. I have never traveled under AA before and was worried that my Carry-on was to big for AA measurements. When I measured it, it was 23, 14.5, 9.5 but the minimum is 22, 14, 9. Will my carry-on still work for AA, I don’t want to invest in another carry-on.
Feb 16, 2020, 12:41 pm
#1208
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: Marriott AmBE ; AA EXP; Amtrak Select Executive; Hertz PC
Posts: 151
I am traveling to Florida in a few weeks with only my Samsonite Beck Ltd Carry-on. I have never traveled under AA before and was worried that my Carry-on was to big for AA measurements. When I measured it, it was 23, 14.5, 9.5 but the minimum is 22, 14, 9. Will my carry-on still work for AA, I don’t want to invest in another carry-on.
other than that you should be fine. worst case scenario if your bag is too big they'll check it in at the gate. it won't prevent you from boarding the plane.
Feb 16, 2020, 12:48 pm
#1209
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
I am traveling to Florida in a few weeks with only my Samsonite Beck Ltd Carry-on. I have never traveled under AA before and was worried that my Carry-on was to big for AA measurements. When I measured it, it was 23, 14.5, 9.5 but the minimum is 22, 14, 9. Will my carry-on still work for AA, I don’t want to invest in another carry-on.
Carry-on requirements
- Shouldn’t exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches / 56 x 36 x 23 centimeters (including handles and wheels)
- Must fit in the sizer at the airport
Feb 18, 2020, 9:07 pm
#1210
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 8,937
Well, no. Absurdities aside (steamer trunks), when bags are placed in the overhead bins wheels first, bags that are an inch too tall or an inch too thick don't take space away from anyone else's bag. It's not zero-sum except in silly cases where just eyeballing a bag shows its obviously way too big. Stop those.
Feb 19, 2020, 5:38 am
#1211
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,206
Well, no. Absurdities aside (steamer trunks), when bags are placed in the overhead bins wheels first, bags that are an inch too tall or an inch too thick don't take space away from anyone else's bag. It's not zero-sum except in silly cases where just eyeballing a bag shows its obviously way too big. Stop those.
pennywise, pound foolish is a poor strategy; it gains nothing and just leaves everyone pissed off.
Feb 19, 2020, 6:53 am
#1212
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Well, no. Absurdities aside (steamer trunks), when bags are placed in the overhead bins wheels first, bags that are an inch too tall or an inch too thick don't take space away from anyone else's bag. It's not zero-sum except in silly cases where just eyeballing a bag shows its obviously way too big. Stop those.
Don't be fooled by the UA system. It was implemented solely as a means of avoiding FAA fines for failure to enforce its own policies. OH space is and remains a zero sum game (although there are certainly some extreme situations which the design of a particular bag and the particular bit of OH space happen to be complementary).
Feb 19, 2020, 7:13 am
#1213
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: KHOU/KIAH
Programs: AA EXP | Marriott Bonvoy Titanium| Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 11,206
Don't be fooled by the UA system. It was implemented solely as a means of avoiding FAA fines for failure to enforce its own policies. OH space is and remains a zero sum game (although there are certainly some extreme situations which the design of a particular bag and the particular bit of OH space happen to be complementary).
As for the UA policy - whatever the motivation, it will work better than the one AA has.
If either airline was a freight operator, then sure. However given that we don't height restrict people for the same reason that we aren't perfectly stackable with no air gap, no need to do it for bags either.
Feb 19, 2020, 7:41 am
#1214
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
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I wish they'd enforced the rules on LAX-SFO on an E75 yesterday. I was 4th or 5th on board and, seated in 2A, had to put my roller 2 rows back in Y. Combination of oversized bags and people using overhead for bags that should have gone under seat. Pushback was then slightly delayed as FAs dealt with several rollers that were massively oversize and had been allowed on nonetheless.
Mar 8, 2020, 10:06 am
#1215
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: EXT
Programs: British Airways Executive Club, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Posts: 294
115cm
So my cabin bag is H:55 W:40 D:20cm. Which is 115cm. Is this allowable? The sum of the dimensions is same as the 56 x 36 x 23cm American Airlines state, but it is narrower and a little wider.
