Is American Airlines Strict About Carry On Size

Last Updated on October 23, 2021

Whether you lot are buying a new pocketbook or you have an old carry on bag that is slightly oversized information technology helps to know merely how strict an airline is when enforcing their carry on size rules.

American Airlines allows carry on baggage that is under 22 ten 14 x nine inches.

They did have a ticket (Basic Economic system) that didn't even include a carryon but this has been scrapped. During this time they were very strict about carryon luggage because they only allowed passengers with a bones economy ticket to have under-seat luggage.

So I suppose nosotros tin say they are a little less strict about carryon bags than they used to be since that ticket has been discontinued.

They also let an under-seat personal item that must be smaller than xviii 10 xiv x viii inches.

Merely are they flexible or draconian? Let's take a look.

Flying With An Oversized Carry On With On American Airlines

At the final time of measurement (don't shoot me if it's changed) the AA conduct on sizer was really 22.25 10 xiv ten 10 inches.

If your pocketbook volition fit in the AA sizer then you lot won't have any bug. It seems they are a footling more generous with the depth of your pocketbook because they know this is where suitcases often bulge or have expandable areas.

So their sizer gives you a little extra leeway, especially with depth.

Enforcement is sporadical, to say the least, and as long every bit your bag doesn't look too large it probably won't exist measured anyway.

"Probably" is the central hither. In that location is e'er the hazard that you are one of the unlucky ones.

If you have a bag that is jutting, large, and you are too trying to take a big personal item and carrying a large jacket and generally expect like a pack mule then you will stand out from the oversupply and might be asked to check the size of your bag in the sizer frame.

Merely AA doesn't enforce their carry on limits by checking every passenger's luggage, they practice it by fearfulness.

They only need to pick out some passengers occasionally and charge them for gate checking to get most people to adhere to their carry on size restrictions.

If you want to avoid gate checking your bag the best mode to do that is to board early on but it isn't foolproof as Jessi's experience shows:

Isn't Gate Checking Free Anyway?

Often when carryon numberless get checked at the gate it is free. But that's when they are beingness gate-checked for a unlike reason.

AA sometimes strength people to check their bear on when in that location is no room in the overhead bins.

When they do this they normally don't charge whatsoever fee for gate checking these numberless. Gate checking is officially only costless for bags that are carry on size i.due east. under 22 x fourteen 10 nine inches.

If during this process it is discovered that your bag doesn't fit in the sizer so you volition be charged a fee.

Customers get very confused almost this and it's understandable why. It'due south a mess.

American Airlines charges to bank check bags, causing everyone to try to fly carry on only. Then they discover that the aircraft doesn't take enough space in the bins and ask for volunteers to check-in carry on luggage causing chaos at the boarding gate.

At this point, a purse that is slightly too large could be checked free or y'all could be charged if the agent tin be bothered to cheque the size.

The other matter to think about is the size of the aircraft y'all are flying on.

If you are flying on a small commuter jet the agents will be much stricter most carry-on luggage size. Even if your pocketbook is carry-on size you may be forced to bank check it at the gate.

The Verdict

AA are moderately strict about carry-on luggage sizes. Their sizer device is generous in depth.

They don't check every passenger just instead become most people to follow the rules by occasionally charging a few unlucky passengers.

If you fly American Airlines yous will witness many passengers taking oversized numberless into the motel, so when the overhead bins start to fill up there will be a panic and a search for volunteers to check numberless.

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