Carry-On Confusion

[sallysue66]

I don't fly often, last time was five years ago. A while back I got a small suitcase that was tagged carry-on approved. It's 21X15X10. I'm sure it was 9" deep when I bought it but I have stretched it out a bit by overstuffing. I will be flying US Air next month and I see that their carry on limit is 22X14X9. I've looked around just to compare mine to new carry-on's and they are mostly 15" wide like mine. Will I have a problem with my bag?

 

[sam_gordon]

I would say PROBABLY not. BUT, if the flight is crowded, and a FA wanted to be a stickler for the rules, they could make you check it (you MIGHT be able to ask to gate check it, which means you pick it up when you get off the plane).

 

[DebbieB]

I would say PROBABLY not. BUT, if the flight is crowded, and a FA wanted to be a stickler for the rules, they could make you check it (you MIGHT be able to ask to gate check it, which means you pick it up when you get off the plane).

It depends on the type of plane. If it's a regular mainline jet, they send gate checked luggage to baggage claim.

 

[goofy4tink]

When you check the US Air site, they will tell you you are allowed up to 45'' for a bag...that can be just about any configuration since all bags are not built the same way. Your bag measurements add up to 45'', so you should be fine.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

When you check the US Air site, they will tell you you are allowed up to 45'' for a bag...that can be just about any configuration since all bags are not built the same way. Your bag measurements add up to 45'', so you should be fine.

Not so. It doesn't matter what the overall measurements are for a carry-on if the length is too long or the depth is too deep to fit in the overhead bin. You really need to be under the allowed measurements for height, depth and length to make sure your bag will fit.

you MIGHT be able to ask to gate check it, which means you pick it up when you get off the plane).

I wish people would stop posting this. When you gate check a bag, your bag is picked up at the regular baggage claim, unless you are flying a small regional jet where no large bags fit in the overhead bins. Only then do you pick up your bag plane side.

OP - You need a smaller bag to be safe.

 

[seashoreCM]

For some airlines the cumulative measurement such as 45" is meaningless because they also specify the individual width etc. maximum dimensions that add up to the same number.

If the suitcase acquired a permanent bulge it never had before, it could now be oversized.

Airline luggage dimension limits have changed slightly or noticeably (depending on tthe airline) over the years. Fourteen and nine are quite common numbers nowadays. So your "carry-on approved:" suitcase could well have been okay then but not now.