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A major airline is set to announce a huge policy change that could see many passengers turned away.
With the summer holiday season only a couple of months away, it won't be long until some travellers go slightly overboard packing and squeeze one too many things into their suitcase.
But what keeps us in check are the baggage restrictions at check-in.
However, American Airlines aims to revise its baggage policy and make travellers rethink their packing strategy.
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The potential move follows a wave of new European regulations that went into effect on September 1, 2024 in that EU carry-on standards have tightened what qualifies as an acceptable bag.
As a result, American Airlines, alongside other carriers, are tightening their standards for what qualifies as an acceptable carry-on bag.
However, concerns are rising that this policy might not just affect Europe but could crossover to the US as well. Plus, airlines may be pressured to streamline their rules with others to ensure consistency and avoid confusing passengers with differing regulations.
Airlines already have strict baggage size limits, but some airports are now enforcing them more aggressively.
The current American Airlines policy allows a carry-on bag to be 22 x 14 x 9 inches, including wheels and handles.
If your bag is slightly larger, it is usually checked into the cargo hold at no extra charge.
The problem is this policy depends on the size of the aircraft and the airport you are flying from. Some locations like Miami International Airport are known for strictly enforcing size limits and rejecting bags that barely exceed the rules.
Now American Airlines might be following suit.
It seems the popular airline could start turning away passengers who exceed the carry-on baggage limits, whatever margin that may be.
If this happens, travellers will need to triple-check their luggage dimensions to avoid risking a last-minute surprise at the airport.
One of the reasons behind the stricter policies could be to reduce delays.
When bags don't fit, flight attendants have to rearrange luggage or check-in oversized bags last minute which can cause delays and frustrate both onboard passengers and crew.
Furthermore, checked baggage fees bring in billions of dollars for airlines every year. According to Forbes, in 2024, airlines received $33 billion in revenue from bag fees, which is a 15% increase from the bag fees earned in 2022.
If more passengers are forced to check their carry-ons, airlines can continue to make a lot more money from baggage fees.
To avoid any pre-holiday headaches, make sure your bag fits the airline's requirements before going to the airport. The last thing you want is to be hit with an unexpected fee - or worse, be denied boarding altogether.
