I plan to travel to Italy soon. My flight is on American Airlines. I plan to take a backpack (regular size) and a 22" wheeled luggage as a carryon. Does anyone know if a backpack is allowed as a second carryon?

Per AA website:
FAA security measures limit customers on all AA flights to one carry-on bag plus one personal item.

All carry-on pieces, including laptops, must fit either underneath the seat in front of you or in an overhead bin.

The one carry-on bag must fit in an overhead compartment or under the seat. It should not exceed 45 linear inches (length + width + height) or weigh more than 40 lbs/18 kgs.

Personal items include the following:
Purse

Briefcase

Laptop

Small book-bag style backpack

My 'regular size' backpack is what I use for camping and is larger than my 21" rolling suitcase.

Please elaborate what you mean by "regular size". One man's regular is another man's supersize.

I have not carried on AA but I have carried on Lufthansa, KLM, United and Jet Blue. I think I know what you mean by a regular size back pack and that should not be a problem as a second carryon.

You are planning to bring a day-pack sized backpack, right? That will be fine.

A day backpack is fine, but you said yours is larger than your 21" rolling suitcase? That sounds bigger than a daypack. You might have some trouble going through, but I've had a rolling suitcase as a carry on, plus a huge 24"x20"x4" tote stuffed with a blanket, clothers, etc as a personal item and the security ppl didn't mind.

Thanks to all for your advice. I feel much better about my carry ons.

There are rules and there is what actually happens. The latter depends on the airline, how full the plane is, the mood of the gate agent and the phases of the moon.

I have seen people carry-on items that are enormously larger than allowed. I have also seen people forced to check items that seemed to be to fall within the "personal item" category (one woman;s purse was too large). Usually personal item is a handbag, briefcase or computer bag - that fits easily under the seat.

IMHO it's may well be a problem to carry on two pieces that won;t fit under the seat (and it doesn;t sound like either of yours will). You may get away with it, or you may not. Be sure that anything you must have with you is packed in just one of the bags and keep that one with you if forced to surrender one for checking.