If you’ve ever held your breath while sliding your carry-on into one of those metal sizers at the gate, there’s good news: those days might be numbered.
In October 2025, American Airlines is saying goodbye to those dreaded metal bag sizers at boarding gates.
Instead, gate agents will now rely on visual judgment to decide if a carry-on looks too big.
Here’s the interesting part: they’ve been instructed to err on the side of the traveler if they’re unsure.
That means: no more stressful moments of shoving your suitcase into a too-small frame while everyone watches…hopefully.
Let me explain everything you need to know, and at the end of the article I’ve shared my favorite carry-on luggage I’ve personally tested on American Airlines, so you can get passed the gate agent no problem!
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What’s Actually Changing
Let’s be clear:
Carry-on size limits are not changing.
American’s official dimensions still stand at:
- 22 x 14 x 9 inches for carry-on suitcases (including handles and wheels)
- 18 x 14 x 8 inches for personal items like backpacks and totes
What’s changing is how those rules are enforced. Instead of forcing travelers to “prove” their bag fits, gate agents will now do a quick visual check, only asking passengers to gate-check bags that are obviously too large to fit overhead.
Why American Airlines Is Doing This
This isn’t about being “nice.” It’s about efficiency.
The boarding process has long been slowed down by those last-minute sizer showdowns — the arguments, the measuring, the re-tagging, the delays.
Removing the sizers means faster boarding and fewer bottlenecks.
It also shifts the responsibility to you (the traveler) to know your bag’s size and follow the rules before you even arrive at the gate.
In short: the airline is trading punishment for proactive planning.
A Sign of Industry Change
This move signals a broader industry trend: airlines realizing that less stress = faster boarding.
It’s a shift away from the “gotcha” moments at the gate toward a smoother, more passenger-friendly process.
For the well-prepared traveler, that’s great news…as long as you still do your homework.
Why This Matters for Travelers
- Fewer surprises: You’re less likely to be pulled aside for a sizer test.
- More consistency: Agents will make judgment calls instead of following rigid frames.
- Potential trade-off: Flexibility could mean fuller bins and more gate checks overall.
It’s not a free pass to bring bigger bags — it’s just a smarter way to handle boarding.
A Quick Throwback: The Era of the Sizer
Bag sizers started showing up in airports around 2014, when airlines began cracking down on carry-on compliance.
For travelers, they quickly became a symbol of frustration — especially since every airline seems to have different size restrictions and policies.
Meanwhile, airlines have profited enormously from baggage fees, and some carriers even reward staff for catching oversized bags.
Ryanair, for instance, reportedly pays gate agents about €2.50 for every oversized bag they intercept.
So while removing sizers might sound like a small change, it’s actually a big shift away from that old, punitive system.
The Bigger Picture
Travelers have long struggled with inconsistent size rules across airlines, both in dimensions and in enforcement.
American’s new policy could set a precedent for others to follow, especially if it leads to smoother operations and happier passengers.
For those of us who pack carry-on only, this is a promising sign that airlines might finally be moving toward a little more common sense.
✈️ My Thoughts: The Best Carry-Ons for American Airlines
These are the bags I’ve personally tested that fit American’s 22 x 14 x 9-inch limit (and actually fit in real life).
Travelpro Bags
These are one of the most trusted and used brands among the aviation industry, and as long as you have some version of what’s listed as a carry-on size, it will fit no problem.
I personally love the Travelpro Maxlite 5 bags here!
Away Carry-Ons
Both the hard and soft versions are currently some of my favorite 22x14x9 carry-ons in terms of size, quality and features.
Just be sure to use only the standard carry-on, not the bigger carry-on.
Fun tip 👉 Chris and I recently took our Away Carry-ons to Japan, traveled with them all over the country for 3 weeks, and even checked them on the flight home and they’ve held up great!
Check out the Away Carry-on collection here!
Bric’s
The X-Travel Spinner from Bric’s is another favorite – it’s ultra light, top opening, and I’ve also tested this on multiple European airlines.
So if you need a world-traveler bag, I would choose this bag.