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?
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 ♂️
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?
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.