American Airlines is making a change that might seem unusual on the surface, as flagged by View from the Wing. However, the airline is simply following a competitor’s move, even if I can’t make much sense of it.
In this post:
American eliminating gate bag sizers, adding discretion
As of Monday, October 6, 2025, American will start the process of removing carry-on bag sizers from all gate areas. There will still be bag sizers at at check-in counters, but past security, you’ll no longer find them.
Now, just because American is eliminating bag sizers doesn’t mean that restrictions on carry-on items are being eliminated. Gate agents are being told to use their best judgment in deciding whether a bag is too big, but they’re supposed to err on the side of the customer, if it’s a close call.
Here’s the memo that American sent out to employees:
As we continue to build on the success of our revamped boarding process to improve the experience for our customers, bag sizers for carry-on bags will be removed from all gates systemwide beginning Monday, Oct. 6.
How to support this change:
- In the lobby: One of the most effective ways to reduce gate-checks is by identifying oversized bags early — ideally in the lobby, before customers reach the gate. That’s why lobby bag sizers will remain in place, and we’re encouraging agents to proactively scan the area, identify oversized bags, guide customers to use the sizer and check bags when necessary.
- At the gate: Rather than relying on the bag sizer, gate agents may use their judgment to determine whether a bag is clearly oversized and needs to be checked; if the bag appears slightly oversized, or if you’re not sure, err on the side of the customer.
What isn’t changing:
- Carry-on bags should not exceed 45 linear inches.
- Our carry-on bag policy (one carry-on bag, one personal item) remains the same. Any additional items (such as crossbody bags or purses) need to be consolidated to fit within the person’s carry-on or personal item.
- Whether in the lobby or at the gate, use your judgment to identify clearly oversized bags while making allowances for minor overages, like small front pockets or wheels. Third items such as crossbody bags/purses must be consolidated before boarding.
I’m confused by the motivation for this change?
Admittedly the whole airport gate environment can be pretty unpleasant, including announcements about carry-on bags, and more. Personally, I can’t make much sense of this change. Some passengers will of course continue to bring bags that are way too big.
Isn’t it better for the gate agent to be able to point someone to a sizer, rather than using their discretion? People already love arguing with gate agents about the size of their bag, about how they were allowed to bring it on their last flight, etc.
Perhaps this will be a net positive, though, with gate agents being told to err on the side of the customer when it comes to deciding whether to gate check bags. Then again, that’s all highly subjective, and I’m not sure allowing more big bags onto planes is actually good all-around.
I do wonder what the motivation is for this change. American has been making a lot of customer friendly changes lately, so is this supposed to be one of those? American claims this builds on the success of its revamped boarding process, but that doesn’t actually explain the logic for this policy update.
Interestingly, American isn’t the first airline to do this. United eliminated bag sizers at gates all the way back in 2020, and that seemingly hasn’t caused any major issues, so I guess it’s fine?
Bottom line
American Airlines is eliminating carry-on sizers at gates, following a similar policy change at United all the way back in 2020. American is telling gate agents to instead use their discretion in determining whether a bag is oversized, while telling them to err on the side of the customer, if it’s close or they’re not sure.
What do you make of American eliminating bag sizers at gates?
Airlines should start charging for the convenience of carrying on bags (obviously a perk of loyalty programs would be free carry on) and making checked bags (up to a certain weight/size) free.
Never going to happen. The tax and W&B treatment of checked vs carry on bags will prevent that.
So they want agents to catch oversized bags in the lobby...while encouraging OLCI and grossly understaffing many check-in desks so most customers not checking a bag will never interact with the check-in desk?
*looks confused*
Confused here. I was stopped by a United rep at EWR (Newark Liberty), a United hub, within the past two years and pointed to a luggage sizer where my wheels — just the wheels — prevented my small, rolling luggage item from being approved for carry-on bc it exceeded the metal sizer.
It was the first time I’d been challenged that way after owning the bag for nearly a decade.I subsequently gave away that...
Confused here. I was stopped by a United rep at EWR (Newark Liberty), a United hub, within the past two years and pointed to a luggage sizer where my wheels — just the wheels — prevented my small, rolling luggage item from being approved for carry-on bc it exceeded the metal sizer.
It was the first time I’d been challenged that way after owning the bag for nearly a decade.I subsequently gave away that bag, buying a slightly smaller one to avoid similar inconveniences in the future. Your article says that this ended in 2020.
I think it is a good idea. It reduces conflict at major stress points (boarding) and keeps GAs focused on a smooth boarding process rather than playing gotcha. It also adds a differentiator from ULCCs that are constantly fishing for fees. I also think the take up of BE has been enough that bin space isnt filled up as much as in the past, not to mention the widespread addition of larger, more space efficient bins on both the 737 and A320 families.
The bag sizers were always tiny compared to what can easily fit in the overhead so they never made sense. Good to see them go.
As seats and seat pitch got smaller, carry-on bags got big enough to carry a child or average dog, just to give the size examples. These are too big. And they have to fit in the over-head spaces, possibly far from their owners' reaches, where they can fall on people while being handled or during accidents.
I thought my carry-on bag from the 1970s was too big and gave up using it onboard as part...
As seats and seat pitch got smaller, carry-on bags got big enough to carry a child or average dog, just to give the size examples. These are too big. And they have to fit in the over-head spaces, possibly far from their owners' reaches, where they can fall on people while being handled or during accidents.
I thought my carry-on bag from the 1970s was too big and gave up using it onboard as part of the luggage set, it got left behind or checked with the set. That was a huge purse on a shoulder strap, sure, like a backpack of similar capacity with wheels it could have had wheels too, but it had more space than I needed for access during the flight. That bag might have been more useful for overseas flights or long-haul train travel to have more food and other goodies to last out the many hours or a day or more. Now, the carry-on bags can carry suits, big souvenirs, and so much more which have no purpose being in the way of passenger spaces. I don't even know how they all fit in.
I say, reverse sizes of passenger compartment usage spaces to fit the people and their purses, backpacks and or old-style carry-on bags, with overhead-space to add coats and other outerwear such as hats and mittens.
And why do purses and other small bags need to fit into large suitcases when they are likely the bags that can carry most important things in the seat space?
As for sizing equipment, at the counter that may be okay, just as weighing to ensure everything has a place in the cargo areas. Stop weighing and sizing the hell out of passengers and their bags, if it can fit over the shoulder or on the back for foot travel, good to go onboard, with or without wheels.
If I recall, in the 1970s to 1990s, typically sized carry-on bags of suitcase sets and of any kind had to fit completely under seats even if they took up the entire space or were somewhat smaller. There was always that booked seat space right in front of anyone carrying one of those big bags.
Overhead compartments were the spacious shared spaces generally used for outerwear clothing and smaller bags to free up seating space...
If I recall, in the 1970s to 1990s, typically sized carry-on bags of suitcase sets and of any kind had to fit completely under seats even if they took up the entire space or were somewhat smaller. There was always that booked seat space right in front of anyone carrying one of those big bags.
Overhead compartments were the spacious shared spaces generally used for outerwear clothing and smaller bags to free up seating space alongside or without use of the under-seat space. Things loaned to passengers for seat comfort could also be stored up there when not in use as opposed to tucking a blanket or pillow at side of seat when not needed.
I think the airlines should have added a hinged bag securing / footrest bar at back of seats with the permanent bar at front of seats caging them in. Lower and latch that down to hold the bag from being tossed in turbulence and place feet on floorboards under it or inches up on it, unlatch that bar and stow up to access the bag.
And keep overhead spaces available for light items which just need a closable shelf over passengers' rows.
...I remember getting pillows on almost every flight of any real length. Sigh.
On my last business trip from DCA-LAX in first, One guy had a "carryon" that took up the entire overhead bin. It could not rest on its side and it was clear that it was a size that could not be considered the standard size of carryon. That he was allowed to carry it on amazed me.
I wonder if this is what's going to happen now, resulting in more jostling for overhead bin space.
Well....if the airlines would continue to totally rob you with baggage fees that are absolutely ridiculous then people wouldn't feel the need to bring oversized carry on's
This is a pure and simple money grab - gate checking oversized bags go for free (usually) but now if they're doing them at the check-in counter, it's an opportunity to charge/monetize.
AA is getting rid of bag sizers because that way when gate agents tell people their bag is too big passengers won't have a way to prove it isn't.
Ding ding ding!
How quickly have we forgotten our mantra about American Airlines? "All hail D0, flights that take off on time will arrive on time"
Never seen Delta use a bag sizer.
I’ve even taken LCC in Europe and it really depends the agent and airline if they even care about bag sizes. Recently took 2 fueling flights and the agents didn’t care about bag sizes
Bag sizers are far too small - designed for classic small “door opens up” overhead bins that are increasingly phased-out for the modern interiors of most narrow body jets. Rather than replacing the sizers with the same size (pointless) or larger ones (requiring total replacement across all airports), it makes sense to simply eliminate them entirely.
I guess I didn't even realize these were still a thing.
Lucky, you should go measure the carry on you take on most trips and then compare the dimensions to the ones that AA publishes. You will find that your bag is too large. Most bags are 16”+ wide and the dimensions that airlines publish only allow 14”. Since airlines allow 90% of people boarding to break the rules, it is dumb to enforce it in a rigid manner with a sizer.
This is exactly right. If there's any logic at all behind carry-on size limits imposed by airlines, it's that the maximum size is the largest bag that would fit into the smallest overhead bin in the fleet. But on many planes, bags that are considerably larger will fit just fine.
Here's an idea: airlines should provide *guidelines* about carry-on size, with a list of maximum dimensions for each aircraft type, and tell people that the...
This is exactly right. If there's any logic at all behind carry-on size limits imposed by airlines, it's that the maximum size is the largest bag that would fit into the smallest overhead bin in the fleet. But on many planes, bags that are considerably larger will fit just fine.
Here's an idea: airlines should provide *guidelines* about carry-on size, with a list of maximum dimensions for each aircraft type, and tell people that the only limitation is that the bag has to fit, otherwise it will be checked. This is more or less how US airlines operate now, except they don't publish "guidelines", they publish "rules" that they routinely let people break.
Jetblue used to have a sizer that was different for the A320 vs its E190s
Very clearly there is a reason. It is because the American gate (gAAte) agents' judgment is very bad. Too often they become bag-nazis. If they were reasonable, then the bag sizers would stay.
What they really should do is have bag sizers that are about 2-3 inches too big. That would eliminate the 24" bags but the 21-22" bags with a wheel that sticks out would pass.
Good help is sometimes hard to find. AA...
Very clearly there is a reason. It is because the American gate (gAAte) agents' judgment is very bad. Too often they become bag-nazis. If they were reasonable, then the bag sizers would stay.
What they really should do is have bag sizers that are about 2-3 inches too big. That would eliminate the 24" bags but the 21-22" bags with a wheel that sticks out would pass.
Good help is sometimes hard to find. AA already has developed a reputation for being unpleasant with carry on bags. This is the start to getting better.
I routinely break the carryon bag size rules on many airlines and no one enforces ♂️
And not only that - your bag probably pretty much always fits in the overhead bin. So the size rules make no sense.
Rearranging deck chairs. The only thing that will fix boarding, and the extremely expensive slow turns and delays, is to roll back the clock and include free bags with all tickets. And maybe charge for carry ons.
The first airline to do this will not only lower their costs significantly, but will see their revenues rise. There's no business person who would not choose an airline you can board at the last minute with no...
Rearranging deck chairs. The only thing that will fix boarding, and the extremely expensive slow turns and delays, is to roll back the clock and include free bags with all tickets. And maybe charge for carry ons.
The first airline to do this will not only lower their costs significantly, but will see their revenues rise. There's no business person who would not choose an airline you can board at the last minute with no problems (and space for your high-value carry on) and deplane in a hurry over today's very stressful situation. And there's no family on vacation or grandma who would not choose an airline where they don't have to undergo the hassle of schlepping bags onboard.
Especially now that Southwest has been enshittified by Wall Street wanting to make a quick buck (and leaving the carcass behind), the competitive space is wide open.
Hello, Delta?
free bags won't make that much of a difference. Southwest had it for years and there was still a mad rush and all sorts of boarding games being played to try and secure overhead space (there's a reason they were the most well known for having preboarding issues)
people just like being close to their bags.
I’d argue it’s not even being close to their bags, it’s that most people don’t want to wait for ages for their bags when they arrive. If an airline made checked bags free and had a 20-minute baggage guarantee, you might - MIGHT see an uptick in checked bags and a reduction in boarding times. However, I highly doubt it would result in turn times so much shorter you could outweigh the revenue generated from bag fees.
No, they're just too cheap to check it.
Charging for a carry on would definitely change the situation. Turn times could actually be met.
People associate bag sizers with the overaggressive anti-customer service of airlines like Frontier. If AA wants to be seen as customer friendly, getting rid of the sizers is an easy win
Now that almost all mainline jets have bins that accommodate bags on their side, the sizer model needs to be adjusted to make sure all bags fit that way. The old sizers no longer make sense, but a new sizer would be helpful. Nothing worse than getting to the end of the boarding process and the bins won’t close because some dude brought a double wide bag on.
If this means more oversize bags get past the gate, isn't it just transferring the burden from gate agents to FAs? But I guess in the majority of cases, even non-compliant bags can be stored onboard. My favourite carryon bag fails bagsizers all the time, but goes into overhead bins without fail. I have a feeling this change will lead to...nothing.
I think you hit the nail on the head. Even “older” current aircraft often have overhead lockers that will admit bags that are slightly too big for the sizers, which probably date from the 727/MD80 era anyway. I don’t really see many people being obviously ‘checked-bag size’ bags through security, which is easy to spot. Of course I’m only one person but the majority of people trying to carry on use appropriate bags that may...
I think you hit the nail on the head. Even “older” current aircraft often have overhead lockers that will admit bags that are slightly too big for the sizers, which probably date from the 727/MD80 era anyway. I don’t really see many people being obviously ‘checked-bag size’ bags through security, which is easy to spot. Of course I’m only one person but the majority of people trying to carry on use appropriate bags that may be slightly overstuffed but still fit. I think this is a change that will have no tangible impact.
It seems that carry-on number limits let alone size limits are not enforced. More that once, I've seen someone board a Delta Embraer with three . . . count 'em, three . . . duffle bags, who then tries to force fit them into the right overhead. (We won't get crazy and say the left overhead.)
Maybe AA is thinking that people associate bag sizers with low cost airlines who try to nickel and dime the customer. They want to be perceived as more premium, so someone may have thought that eliminating the bag sizers at gates would give a more premium impression (or less LLC impression). That's my thoughts process anyway
American and United are going neck-and-neck to see who can be the most innovative to usurp Delta's place as the Bestest Premium Golden Airline Anywhere Ever in the History of the World.
But it's too late. Delta has that title until the Rapture.
Dude, the Rapture already occurred....
I meant the REAL one Jack…
They want to enforce sizing at the kiosk, where they can still collect the $30 to check it. If a bag is gate-checked, they don’t collect any money.
Bingo
Ah, a difference from LCCs in Europe, who very definitely do collect money at the gate.