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American Airways has achieved away with carry-on bag sizers on the gates, putting judgment within the palms of their gate brokers.
In keeping with a memo seen by View From The Wing, efficient October 6, 2025, American Airways will take away bag sizers on the gates, giving the brokers full authority to find out if luggage must be allowed as carry-on or gate checked.
Despite the fact that they urge gate brokers to present the shopper the good thing about the doubt, they nonetheless reminded them of the allowed bag dimensions and limitations. The memo even notes that gadgets corresponding to a crossbody/purse aren’t allowed as they’re thought-about to be a 3rd merchandise if one other private merchandise is being carried on board as nicely.
How you can assist this transformation:
Within the foyer: One of the crucial efficient methods to scale back gate-checks is by figuring out outsized luggage early — ideally within the foyer, earlier than prospects attain the gate. That’s why foyer bag sizers will stay in place, and we’re encouraging brokers to proactively scan the realm, establish outsized luggage, information prospects to make use of the sizer and verify luggage when mandatory.
Brokers may help keep away from delays by not sending outsized luggage to the gate.
On the gate: Fairly than counting on the bag sizer, gate brokers could use their judgment to find out whether or not a bag is clearly outsized and must be checked.
If the bag seems barely outsized, or when you’re unsure, err on the aspect of the shopper.
If the bag is clearly outsized, it’s time to verify it.
Our focus will stay on guaranteeing prospects are inside the journey allowance of just one carry-on bag and one private merchandise until they’ve authorised further gadgets (listed in Internet Ref). Keep in mind a crossbody/purse is a 3rd merchandise and must be consolidated earlier than boarding.
What isn’t altering:
Carry-on luggage shouldn’t exceed 45 linear inches.
Our carry-on bag coverage (one carry-on bag, one private merchandise) stays the identical. Any further gadgets (corresponding to crossbody luggage or purses) must be consolidated to suit inside the particular person’s carry-on or private merchandise.
Whether or not within the foyer or on the gate, use your judgment to establish clearly outsized luggage whereas making allowances for minor overages, like small entrance pockets or wheels. Third gadgets corresponding to crossbody luggage/purses have to be consolidated earlier than boarding.
Whether or not within the foyer or on the gate, use your judgment to establish clearly outsized luggage whereas making allowances for minor overages, like small entrance pockets or wheels. Third gadgets corresponding to crossbody luggage/purses have to be consolidated earlier than boarding.
Bag sizers will nonetheless be accessible on the verify in counters, and from the verbiage, it appears American needs their verify in brokers to be extra vigilant, looking for any luggage that won’t match their carry-on limits.
Is this transformation an excellent factor? The airline claims it needs to present brokers extra decision-making energy, with the power to scale back confrontation, however I believe this gained’t precisely go the way in which they hope it will.
This jogs my memory of these outdated tint legal guidelines the place the policemen might use their discretion to say whether or not tint was too darkish or not. It gained’t be stunning if we see some Frontier-styled tangles on the American gates within the close to future.
