No, a 28-inch duffel bag is generally too large to be used as a carry-on for major commercial airlines. Most domestic and international carriers (such as Delta, United, and American) enforce a strict carry-on size limit of approximately 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm). A 28-inch bag exceeds the length limit by 6 inches and would not fit in the overhead bin of a standard narrow-body aircraft. If you attempt to bring a bag of this size to the gate, you will likely be forced to gate-check it, which often incurs a checked bag fee. However, if you are traveling by Amtrak, the rules are more generous; they allow up to two carry-on items that can be as large as 28 x 22 x 14 inches. For air travel in 2026, it is better to use a 20-inch or 22-inch "carry-on sized" duffel bag made of compressible material like ballistic nylon. This ensures that even if the bag is slightly overstuffed, it can be squished into the sizer or the overhead bin, allowing you to avoid the baggage carousel entirely.