American Airlines allows you to carry on one bag and one personal item as long as the carry-on bag does not exceed the following dimensions: 22 inches long by 14 inches wide by 9 inches tall or 114 cm (56 cm by 35 cm by 23 cm). Personal items include briefcases, small purses, laptop bags or similar bags that do not exceed the overall dimensions of 36 inches. Carry-on bags must fit in the overhead bin and personal items must fit under the seat in front of passengers. Other small items allowed include books or newspapers, pillows or blankets, outerwear such as coats/wraps/hats, small bags of food to eat on the plane, approved safety seats/umbrella stroller/diaper bags for lap or ticketed children, and assistive devices for passengers such as wheelchairs, walkers and CPAP machines.
Certain items fall under special rules, which vary according to the item in question. These include infant seats or child-restraint devices, audio/visual equipment, firearms/ammunition, musical instruments, military baggage, mobility devices, sports equipment and remains of a deceased. Some of these items fall under the checked baggage list, others fit the carry-on description, while others need to meet specific weight and height requirements. Passengers are charged extra if they want to transport items that exceed the maximum weight/height.
While American Americans allows a number of items on board its aircraft, it also forbids certain items brought on board regardless of the circumstance. These items include alcoholic beverages over 140 proof, batteries, defense sprays (tear gas, mace, pepper spray), explosives, flammable liquids or solids, household items (bleach, spray, starch, insecticides, drain cleaners and solvents), pressure containers (spray cans, butane, fuel, propane tanks, CO2 cartridges, self-inflating rafts) and self-inflating life jackets. Passengers who do not declare these items to the airlines can receive a maximum penalty of up to five years imprisonment and a significant fine ($250,000 as of 2010).
