Travelling with your favourite carry-on is part of the charm of travelling (and travelling cheap for young people!). You take your stuff with you and you don’t have to wait in long lines to check in your baggage, or to pick it up once you arrive at the destination airport. This way, everything goes much faster and you don’t have to pay the expensive price of carrying a large suitcase. Now, American Airlines is ready to change its policies and with it, generate a change in the experience of millions of passengers.
Nothing is confirmed yet but there are already many questions among travellers. Below we tell you everything we know so far and how these possible changes will affect the way we understand the term “travel.”
Will the dimensions of the suitcases change?
Today, travel suitcases that do not exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches (including wheels and handles) and one personal item (a purse or a small backpack) are allowed. But it is now believed that these dimensions could be reduced to match stricter international regulations, meaning that the permitted size would be modified to “standardise” all airlines.
So why the change now?
There are several factors… and none of them are going to please us. This “generous” policy depends on the size of the plane we are going to board (and the airport we are flying from), the overhead bins quickly fill up when passengers carry bags that exceed the permitted limits, which makes everything a little more delayed and generates unnecessary tensions between passengers and staff.
And on the other hand, of course, there is a financial impact, obviously airlines earn billions of dollars by checking luggage, so it would not be strange to think that they do it to make money by “justifying” comfort on the trip (forcing travellers to pay for this service, of course)
The catch? This “generous” policy depends largely on the size of the plane and the airport from which you are flying. Some airports, including Miami, have earned a reputation for applying the regulations rigidly and rejecting bags that barely exceed the limits. Travellers report that gate fights over luggage have become almost as common as long TSA lines.
How do I know if my luggage will fit with the new measurements?
If you are one of those who do not part with your carry-on luggage, it may be time to take out the tape measure. As of 2025, if the rumours are confirmed, we still do not have a guaranteed size, but most likely we will have to say goodbye to our favourite suitcase if we do not want to pay to check it.
In addition, as if that were not enough, the TSA continues to complicate the lives of passengers with its prohibitions, which now include lithium batteries, large drones and even products such as pepper spray.
How do I prepare for the changes?
- Invest in a suitcase that complies with international measurements (and is lightweight) to save you problems in the future.
- Minimize what you need to take on your trip and choose only the essentials
- Check the TSA’s complete list of prohibited products so you don’t get any surprises when you board!
These changes are going to be a nuisance in every aspect, but if you don’t want to spend money on carrying a suitcase every time you want to travel cheaply… You’re going to have to buy a new suitcase. We leave you with this recommendation of a suitcase that has gone viral on social media and with which you can travel wherever you want!
Bon voyage!