Airline vs airline · Checked October 29, 2026

American vs Southwest: baggage rules compared

Carry-on, personal item, checked bag and check-in deadlines for American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, from each airline's own website.

The short version

Southwest's carry-on limit is roomier (24 x 16 x 10 in) than American's (22 x 14 x 9 in), about 35% more space.

	American	Southwest
Carry-on size	22 x 14 x 9 in / 56 x 36 x 23 cm	24 x 16 x 10 in / about 61 x 41 x 25 cm
Carry-on weight	No published limit	No published limit
Carry-on on the cheapest fare	Included	Included
Personal item	18 x 14 x 8 in / 45 x 35 x 20 cm	No size published, must fit under the seat
Checked bag size	158 cm (62 in) in total	62 in (157 cm) in total
Checked bag weight	23 kg (50 lb) per bag in economy, 45 kg (100 lb) max for any bag	23 kg (50 lb) per bag in economy, 45 kg (100 lb) max for any bag
Online check-in opens	24 hours before	24 hours before
Bag drop closes	45 min before (domestic / short-haul), 60 min before (international / long-haul)	45 min before (domestic / short-haul), 60 min before (international / long-haul)
At the gate by	15 min before	10 min before
Power banks	Standard 100 Wh / 160 Wh rules	1 (up to 100 Wh); in-flight use: allowed if kept visible; no recharging it on board

Carry-on that fits both

22 x 14.2 x 9.1 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm)

The smallest limit on each side

Personal item that fits both

Under the seat

One airline doesn't publish a size

Flying both on one trip? The trip checker shows which airline sets each limit, and the gate card keeps the rules on your phone.

Measure with wheels, handles and pockets included. The order of the sides doesn't matter.

Is the American carry-on bigger than Southwest?

Southwest's carry-on limit is roomier (24 x 16 x 10 in) than American's (22 x 14 x 9 in), about 35% more space.

What carry-on size fits both American and Southwest?

A bag no bigger than 22 x 14.2 x 9.1 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) fits both carry-on limits. Check weight limits too.