American Airlines allows a free personal item up to 18 x 14 x 8 in, under the seat in front of you. Put your own bag's measurements in below.
| Personal item maximum | 18 x 14 x 8 in (under the seat in front) |
| Is it free? | Yes — every fare includes one personal item |
| Full-size carry-on | 22 x 14 x 9 in (also included) |
| If it does not fit | Gate-checked, and the checked-bag fee applies. |
Must fit under the seat in front of you.
At 18 x 14 x 8 in it holds roughly 2016 cubic inches, about 73% of the volume of American Airlines' own 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on. It is the most generous published personal-item allowance in our set.
Worth knowing: 6 of the 23 airlines we track publish no personal-item measurement at all, so a bag chosen against American Airlines's stated 18 x 14 x 8 in is being measured against a firmer rule than most carriers give you.
Common small bags measured against American Airlines' published 18 x 14 x 8 in limit.
| Bag | Size | On American Airlines | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-inch laptop bag | 15 × 11 × 4 in | Fits, 3 in spare | A slim work bag |
| Small daypack | 17 × 12 × 7 in | Fits, 1 in spare | The commonest personal item |
| Weekender tote | 20 × 13 × 9 in | Too big by 2 in | Often too big for under the seat |
| Compact backpack | 16 × 11 × 6 in | Fits, 2 in spare | Fits almost anywhere |
Both bags are included in the fare on American Airlines, so the personal item is an addition to your 22 x 14 x 9 in carry-on rather than a replacement for it. The two limits are judged separately — a bag that is too big for under the seat may still be fine overhead.
American Airlines publishes no cabin weight limit, so in practice the personal item is judged on whether it fits the space rather than what it weighs. You still have to be able to handle it yourself.
Gate-checked, and the checked-bag fee applies. An over-large personal item usually travels overhead instead, which is free on American Airlines and therefore a much softer landing than on a carrier that charges for the carry-on.
Two practical notes that apply on any airline: the under-seat space is smaller in a row with a lifejacket box or an entertainment unit beneath the seat, and a soft bag that compresses will pass where a rigid case of identical stated dimensions will not. Measure with anything strapped to the outside included.
American Airlines allows a personal item up to 18 x 14 x 8 in, stowed under the seat in front of you.
Yes. Every American Airlines fare includes one personal item.
A purse, small backpack, laptop bag, briefcase or similar. Must fit under the seat in front of you.
Gate-checked, and the checked-bag fee applies.
The personal item goes under the seat and is free. The carry-on goes in the overhead locker and can be up to 22 x 14 x 9 in, included with your fare.
Yes — American Airlines measures the whole bag, so soft bags that squash down have a real advantage under the seat.