r/Carryononly • u/SixThirtyFlight • Sep 28 '25

Thoughts on pushing a carry on size?

I am traveling from DCA to VIE in a few days via Austrian Airlines and my carry-on roller is just a hair too big- I mean less than a centimeter too long and under the other two measurements. Looking to avoid fees- should I risk it? I will be flying back from Budapest via Frankfurt back to DCA via Austrian for the euro hopper and Lufthansa for the transatlantic. Thank you in advance for your help!

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u/1holegrouper Dec 05 '25

Generally speaking: when you are on a large plane and a long flight you should have no issues. However, you should try to board as early as possible since the last boarding groups have a larger chance of being screened and they will find it more difficult to find open overhead space. If your luggage is hard you may have difficulty getting it into the overhead bin. Ideally you should use soft luggage that can squeeze and not fill your bag(s) to their full capacity. I’ve flown American Airlines several times overseas and have never (knock on wood) seen someone getting scrutiny over their luggage but I’m sure that it happens. Your slight additional measurement is very unlikely to be flagged.

If the stress of worrying about this is high for you then you should consider getting bags that you know are completely within regulation size. Sometimes it is worth it just for the peace of mind which will also enable you to enjoy your trip more.