Carry on luggage larger than rules for one leg

I am flying United to Boston, and the dimensions of my carry-on baggage is 9x14x24 inches. The maximally allowed dimensions for United flights are however only 9x14x22 inches. Will I have to check it, or do I have 2 inches of wiggle room for the wheels?

Going home, I will fly Virgin American, which allow carry-ons of 9x14x25 inches, so I will be fine.

Best Answer

As a general rule, the major airlines are pretty reasonable when it comes to carry-ons. If you are not trying to drag a steamer trunk into the cabin, they will usually let you slide, and if they do have to stop you, they will usually check your bag on a courtesy basis and not charge you.

This is not true of Spirit and some of the European budget airlines, who are looking for a reason to jack you up.

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Does it matter how big your carry-on bag is?

Though you might find an inch or two of a difference with various airlines, the standard domestic carry-on luggage size is 22" x 14" x 9", which includes the handle and the wheels. This size limit ensures your bag \u2014 and ideally everyone else's \u2014 will be able to be stored safely in the overhead bin for your flight.

What happens if my carry-on is too big?

In short, if your carry-on is too large, you'll have to pay to check it at the gate. You'll find the exact rules for a large selection of airlines below, including specific size and weight limits. Take note: any handles and wheels on your bags count toward airlines' size limits.

Can you fit everything in a carry-on bag?

According to IATA, an acceptable carry on baggage can be no larger than 56 cm (22\u201d) in length, 45 cm (18\u201d) in width and 25 cm (10\u201d) in depth, including all protrusions (wheels, handles, etc.). Of course, with so many carriers around, you can bet not all of them adhere to the same standard.

How big of a carry-on can I get away with?

The maximum dimensions cannot exceed any of the following measurements: 22 inches long by 14 inches wide by 9 inches tall or 115 centimeters (56 x 36 x 23 cm).\u201d

New guidelines proposed for size of carry-on luggage

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