American Airlines allows a carry-on up to 22 x 14 x 9 in, measured including wheels and handles. Put your own bag's measurements in below — it opens with American Airlines's own limit filled in.
| Carry-on maximum | 22 x 14 x 9 in (including wheels and handles) |
| Personal item | 18 x 14 x 8 in |
| Cabin weight limit | None published |
| Is the carry-on free? | Yes, included with your fare |
| If it does not fit | Gate-checked, and the checked-bag fee applies. |
Soft-sided garment bags may not exceed 51 linear inches. Diaper bags, breast pumps, strollers and mobility devices do not count as your personal item or carry-on.
American Airlines's 22 x 14 x 9 in works out to about 2772 cubic inches (45.4 litres) of cabin allowance, which ranks 14 of 22 among the airlines we have verified, about 7% less than the median carrier.
The same 22 x 14 x 9 in limit is used by 6 other airlines here — Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, JetBlue and others. A bag bought to that spec travels widely, which is exactly why it is the size most luggage is sold in.
13 of the airlines we track allow a larger bag and 2 allow less, so a bag sized to American Airlines clears roughly 14% of the carriers here.
Common bag sizes measured against American Airlines's published limit. Every figure includes wheels and handles, which is where most bags lose.
| Bag | Size | On American Airlines | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin-max spinner | 22 × 14 × 9 in | Only just — 0 in spare | The standard US carry-on, sold as “22-inch” |
| Compact 21-inch | 21 × 14 × 9 in | Only just — 0 in spare | A common step down |
| European cabin bag | 21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in | Too big by 1.7 in | Sized to 55 x 40 x 20 cm |
| Underseat tote | 17 × 13 × 8 in | Fits, 1 in spare | Typical personal-item size |
| Oversized “carry-on” | 24 × 16 × 10 in | Too big by 2 in | Sold as carry-on, larger than most limits |
If it does not fit, the bag gets checked — and on American Airlines a first checked bag costs $50 each way, with another $100 if it is over 50 lb. On a return trip that is $100 for a bag you meant to carry on.
American Airlines allows a personal item up to 18 x 14 x 8 in alongside the 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on. Both are included in the fare, so the practical question is only whether each bag is within its own limit.
American Airlines allows a carry-on up to 22 x 14 x 9 in, measured including wheels and handles. Soft-sided garment bags may not exceed 51 linear inches. Diaper bags, breast pumps, strollers and mobility devices do not count as your personal item or carry-on.
No — a full-size carry-on is included with your fare, alongside a personal item.
Gate-checked, and the checked-bag fee applies.
American Airlines publishes no cabin weight limit for the main carry-on on most fares, though staff can still refuse a bag you cannot lift into the locker yourself.
Up to 18 x 14 x 8 in. Must fit under the seat in front of you.
Yes. American Airlines measures the bag including wheels, handles and any external pockets, which is why a bag sold as “22 inch” can still measure over.