Last Updated on August 13, 2022
What’s the carry-on weight limit on American Airlines?
Well… there isn’t a published weight limit.
Check the American Airlines website and you won’t see a number written.
Some inaccurate websites have said that the weight limit for carry-on bags on AA is 40 lbs.
That’s not true, but there is an unwritten weight limit in a sense.
Let me explain.
The Unwritten American Airlines Carry-On Weight Limits
The AA website only says that your carry on bag shouldn’t exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches including the handles and wheels and that it must fit in the sizer at the airport.
And that if it doesn’t fit in the overhead bin or under the seat then it will need to be checked.
A personal item like a briefcase or handbag shouldn’t be larger than 18 x 14 x 8 inches.
But, unlike with checked bags there is no PUBLISHED American Airlines carry-on weight limit in lbs for hand luggage.
But there is a “secret” weight limit that isn’t written down formally.
Check this out, Jason asked AA on Twitter if there was a weight limit for his carry-on bag:
American Airlines replied that “there is no weight limit for carry-on bags, but you do need to be able to lift the bag yourself and place it in the bin without help.”
So the weight limit for your carry-on bag on American Airlines depends how much you can lift. Work out much? Better hit the gym!
This rule might seem trivial, and you may think I am exaggerating, but not every traveler is capable of lifting a heavy suitcase above their head.
Young travelers or elderly travelers might have some difficulty.
And if you can’t lift your bag above your head then you can’t bring it as a carry-on.
Don’t assume that a flight attendant will help you lift your bag. They are not obliged to do it.
Bronwyn reported on this AA announcement:
If you can’t lift your bag into overhead bins then flight attendants will check it.
And even though she was 7 months pregnant AA wouldn’t help Jess lift her carry-on bag into the overhead bin:
And when Jo Ann who is elderly asked the stewardess for help to lift her laptop bag into the bin she was told ”the only bag I lift is my own”.
And a laptop bag isn’t even a full-size carry-on. That was only a personal item bag, a laptop, and Jo Ann needed help.
You might think that another passenger will help you lift your suitcase.
Maybe so, but don’t assume you will be sitting next to someone that wants to help.
And some people like Fernando even get annoyed when they see someone relying on other passengers to stow their carry-on luggage.
“If you can’t lift it, don’t bring it” moans Fernando. And American Airlines basically agree with him.
So if you are pregnant, elderly, or have your arm in a brace then your personal carry-on weight limit for AA is basically reduced. Don’t expect AA to help you lift your bag, it’s not their policy to help.
Alex witnessed an injured passenger being forced to check a carry-on because she couldn’t lift it.
The Verdict
The weight limit for carry-on luggage on American Airlines is determined by how much the passenger traveling with the bag can lift.
Each passenger is responsible for handling their own bag. You must be able to lift the bag above your head.
Flight attendants are not obliged to help you stow your bag. In fact, they might force you to check the bag if it is over the weight that you can lift.
So if you cannot safely lift the bag above your head then, in a sense, you have exceeded your own individual weight limit for American Airlines flights.
It’s ridiculous that this weight limitation is not even mentioned on the main page describing carry-on limits for American Airlines.
American Airlines should train stewards to stow luggage for passengers who are not capable of doing so.
Or at the very least, American Airlines should better publicise this unwritten weight limitation so that passengers can prepare to travel light or bring a friend with big muscles.