It's a tale as old as time: Traveler meets luggage. Traveler falls in love. Traveler buys luggage. Traveler causes a scene as flight attendant forces traveler to pay $75 for improperly-sized baggage. And if you've secretly been holding out hope that we might one day be able to put this bit of passenger pageantry behind us—too bad. It's about to get a whole lot worse.


George Hobica of Airefarewatcdog was taking a routine jaunt through airport security when he noticed something troubling. American Airlines had cut its carry-on restrictions to a max width of 14 inches, down from the former 15. Apparently, Delta and United have also followed suit.

Sure, an inch might not sound like much. But consider the fact that, for years, baggage companies have been making carry-on-compatible luggage at the very specific limit of 22 by 15 by 9 inches. A size that is now more or less obsolete.


Other airlines, such as JetBlue and Southwest, allow for a luxurious 24 inches by 16 inches by 10 inches, but who knows for how long, since the three biggest airlines (by a fairly huge margin) are done playing that game. Hobica goes on to recommend the following carry-ons that abide the new guidelines: Briggs and Riley U122CX Baseline, Travelpro Platinum Magna and CalPak Valley 20-Inch Carry-On Spinner.

As for your now outdated, soon-to-be-lost loves, it's time to send them to that big farm in the sky—the attic. They'll be happier there. [LA Times via Digg]