A MAJOR airline is rolling out a baggage change in a matter of days and all passengers will be impacted.
The move comes five years after rival United Airlines made the same decision.
Passengers with American Airlines may notice a change at the gate from next week (stock)[/caption]
As of October 6, the airline will be scrapping baggage sizers at the gate (stock)[/caption]
From next week, American Airlines will begin removing a common feature from the boarding areas.
As of October 6, passengers with the airline will no longer see carry-on bag sizers at the gate.
These metal structures have been used for years to ensure the carry-on baggage of passengers boarding the plane fits the requirements.
But now, those will only remain at check-in counters and will not be present after going through security.
However, this does not mean you are able to go mad in duty free.
While the sizers themselves are being removed from the gates, the normal baggage restrictions are still in place.
But, staff with the airline may be less strict than before if your bag is slightly too big when you get to the gate.
In a memo sent to staff by the carrier, it told them that the move is to improve customer experience.
With this in mind, if the carry-on baggage is not wildly out of proportion with the sizing limits, staff are more likely to side with customers.
“As we continue to build on the success of our revamped boarding process to improve the experience for our customers, bag sizers for carry-on bags will be removed from all gates systemwide beginning Monday, Oct. 6,” the memo obtained by One Mile At A Time read.
“Rather than relying on the bag sizer, gate agents may use their judgement to determine whether a bag is clearly oversized and needs to be checked.
“If the bag appears slightly oversized, or if you’re not sure, err on the side of the customer.”
This leeway is only for small violations of the sizing policy such as wheels and small front pockets.
It will not account for “third items such as crossbody bags/purses,” the memo noted.
What isn’t changing about American Airlines carry-on policy:
- Carry-on bags should not exceed 45 linear inches.
- The carry-on bag policy (one carry-on bag, one personal item) remains the same. Any additional items (such as crossbody bags or purses) need to be consolidated to fit within the person’s carry-on or personal item.
- Whether in the lobby or at the gate, staff will use their judgement to identify clearly oversized bags while making allowances for minor overages, like small front pockets or wheels.
The airline hopes that this move not only puts its customers at ease, but also improves the overall boarding experience.
With sizers still in the check-in and lobby areas, oversized bags will be spotted and checked early before passengers reach the gate.
This means that as well as passengers being able to double-check the size of their own baggage, there will be more of a pressure on American Airlines staff to look out for carry-on that exceeds limits.
“We’re encouraging agents to proactively scan the area, identify oversized bags, guide customers to use the sizer and check bags when necessary,” the memo said.
United Airlines rolled out this change back in 2020, citing the need for a more customer-friendly boarding experience.
“We’re always looking for ways to simplify the boarding process, and this move delivers a more seamless travel experience for everyone,” United said at the time.
Meanwhile, American Airlines has rolled out a new seating change but flyers have said it’s “10 years too late”.
The move does not change the airline’s carry-on baggage restrictions (stock)[/caption]
