Anyone who has ever had to try to squash a slightly oversized bag into a bag sizer at an airport boarding gate may be pleased to hear that American Airlines is moving away from bag sizers for carry-on luggage. Instead, from Monday, 6th October 2025, staff members will monitor flyers and their cabin bags and apply the rules as needed.
“Team members will continue to monitor carry-on baggage in the lobby and at the gate, and oversized items will still be required to be checked in ahead of the flight,” the carrier said.
American insists that the changes are part of improvements to the boarding process that the carrier has been making since 2024. But some could argue that boarding with carry-on bags is about to become a more subjective process as a result of the rule change, making it harder for passengers to prove that their bag is within reasonable limits.
Those limits will still apply. American Airlines allows passengers one “personal item” and one carry-on. The personal item should fit under the seat in front and be no bigger than 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm). Meanwhile, the carry-on should be able to be placed under the seat in front or in an overhead compartment and cannot exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm).
However, American Airlines team members have been directed in an internal memo to “use their judgment” and “err on the side of the customer” if there is uncertainty over the size of items to be taken on board with passengers. Only if the luggage is “clearly oversized” should it be forcibly checked in, the new rules say.
Parents can follow a set of exceptions. Anyone carrying nappies or diapers should note that only one bag is allowed per infant. Breast pumps, breast milk, child seats, and pushchairs are all permitted and do not count as part of the carry-on allowance. Passengers with special physical requirements should note that medical and mobility aids also do not count toward carry-on limits. However, American says: “if space is limited, the device doesn’t fit in the cabin, or if it isn’t required during the flight, it may need to be checked.” That includes:
- Canes, walkers, continuous positive airway pressure machines (CPAP), and other assistive devices that can be collapsed to fit into overhead and under-seat storage
- Items used for comfort, such as seat cushions, arm or footrests
