For airlines that fly from the US to locations in Europe, how strict are the carry-on luggage weights/sizes enforced, say on airlines like Delta, United, KLM etc? What about the personal i tem (which seems to vary a bit more but is mostly 16x14x9 inches for most airlines it seems.

I have a carry-on which is technically 23 inches long but that includes the wheels. I see in most places it says 21.5 inches including wheels but was wondering if anyone ran into problems if it was slightly over (bag is also 15 inches wide, versus 14 inches wide). I'd hate to have to pay extra for a checked bag when t he one I have is only slightly (literally by 1-2 inches) over the size (I've also seen some airlines at 22 inches versus 21.5 which is only a half inch more). I mean in most cases, the bag can be compressed a little but when I measured it it was 23x15x10 technically (exterior dimensions but including wheels and handles). In the continential US I have not really run into any problems except on regional jets which I would not be using or would not care if it was gate checked since those are usually smaller planes. My biggest concern with checked bags is most of my trips have one or more connections (most with the same airline) and I'd hate to check a bag for that reason and also to save time.

(Most planes that I've seen in my searches for flights so far appear to all be larger planes like 767 / 777 / 787 and some of the larger Airbus planes (A330/A340 etc, and possibly an A321neo). But on the whole, they are larger aircraft it seemed.

Thoughts / experiences?

They post the guidelines for a reason. Your 23" carry on probably will not fit properly in the overhead. Many airlines make you fit the case in their sample space or whatever it's called. Your personal item must fit under the seat.

Welcome to fodors sirhawkeye64.

Every airline is different. Some are very strict and some much less so. My '21 inch' rollaboard is actually closer to 23 inches all in. It fits in the overheads of any plane that flies transatlantic, but it has to be checked or gate checked on some budget European airlines.

Its called a sizer box.

A lot can also depend upon the mood of the gate agents and/or flight attendants on duty the day you fly. Some are stricter than others.

Actually, it is much easier and faster for the check in staff to eyeball the size while really weighing the bags since the scale is right there. The closest we ever came was with our carry on bags, mine being 100 grams under while the other was 300 grams under. The heavy stuff was in our personal items.

My daughter’s bag once got stuck in the sizer but was allowed since it was wedged out.

So we are more mindful of the rules.

I don’t like being delayed.

>> when I measured it it was 23x15x10

If you know the make and model of the luggage then you should be able to find out the dimensions. If the maker said it was carryon then it is probably 22x14x9.

I would not count on my own measurements for being precise when it is that close.

Maybe you kept the receipt or warranty ot use & care instructions or sumpin?

Or if you bought it online then look in your purchase history.

It varies a lot. Low cost carriers tend to be stricter since surprise baggage fees are a big part of their revenue model. However, I've seen some very lax enforcement on Ryanair flights. Counter-example: on a Jetstar flight in Australia they have a little scale on wheels and a hand held credit card machine if your carryon doesn't meet their strict requirements you need to pay up right then and there.

US carriers allow for larger carryon bags than European ones. And it's the airline you check in with that's going to enforce it. So you could check in with United in the USA and your bag would be fine, but on your return trip you might check in with Lufthansa and they'll make you check your bag.

Thanks. As an update, I ended up just booking a direct flight for the trip in question, and took one of the package deals they had which included a checked bag. It was a bit more (mostly because it was a direct flight versus one with a longer layover) but in the end, it removes any worry about an overweight or oversized carry-on bag (they allow regular checked bags up to 50 lbs which will be more than plenty for my needs).

The bag I'm will stil lbe using does fit the carry-on size restriction, it's more so the weight restriction as 26 lbs is not much considering a bag itself weighs about 5 lbs alone (empty). (I wanted to avoid checking a bag but considering it's a direct flight, I'm mostly OK with it -- it will just add some time when I arrive at the airport I guess).

In many years of travel I have run into trouble due to weight only once, on a flight from Bangkok to Yangon. I had to open my bags and transfer some items from the heavier bag to the other bag. I also had to send some items back to the us via the convenient post office right near the check in gates.

I think I am overweight on just about every flight I ever take.
It makes a TREMENDOUS difference if you manage to make a connection with the agent....for me that is the most important issue.......smile, speak their language if possible, make conversation if the agent seems willing......

One a few recent trips my bag was so heavy the agent had to ask for help lifting it onto the scale/belt thing.......I've been told many times I am overweight (my bag, not me but that's true as well!). But somehow , so far, I've been fortunate.....personal connection can make a difference..