American Airlines carry-on size: will your bag fit?

American Airlines carry-on size

You can bring one carry-on bag and one personal item on American Airlines. The carry-on can’t be bigger than 22 × 14 × 9 inches (56 × 36 × 23 cm), handles and wheels included. It has to fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you, and in the bag sizer at the airport. American suggests putting a name label on it in case it has to be checked, and notes that some airports and planes may have extra carry-on restrictions.

A soft-sided garment bag can be your carry-on if its length, width and height add up to 51 inches (130 cm) or less.

American Airlines personal item size

Your personal item, like a purse or small handbag, can measure up to 18 × 14 × 8 inches (45 × 35 × 20 cm) and must fit under the seat in front of you. A bag within those measurements, a small backpack for example, passes the size rule.

These don’t count as your personal item or carry-on:

• A diaper bag (one per child)
• A breast pump, and a small, soft-sided cooler of breast milk
• Child safety seats and strollers
• Medical and mobility devices

Basic Economy: a carry-on, but you board last

American’s Basic Economy fares include one carry-on bag and one personal item, and the same carry-on rules apply to every customer, AAdvantage status members included. The catch is boarding: Basic Economy passengers board last, usually in Group 9. American itself says the overhead bins are usually full by then, so plan to check your carry-on and bring only your personal item on board. Basic Economy doesn’t include a free checked bag on most routes, though AAdvantage status members, eligible cardmembers and some international routes are exceptions.

Regional flights: valet bags on American Eagle

American Eagle planes, used on regional flights, have little overhead bin space. If your carry-on is bigger than the personal-item size, you have to valet it before boarding: it’s tagged and checked at the gate at no charge, and returned to you on the jet bridge when you arrive. Embraer ERJ-175 planes are the exception: they take carry-on bags and have no valet service.

Batteries, e-cigarettes and powders

Batteries and e-cigarettes can’t go in checked bags, so keep them in your carry-on, and take them out if your carry-on or valet bag is checked. On flights to the U.S., powders over 12 oz (350 mL) in a carry-on may need extra screening, American warns, and it suggests packing larger amounts in a checked bag.

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