(Guide) Personal Items on Airplanes: All You Need to Know

Some people have very different definitions of what a personal item is. Which bags can be used as personal items? Where do you stow them and what are the size limits? Let’s go over what airlines have to say about the topic and how it affects you as a flyer. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about personal items on airplanes.

What Is a Personal Item?

Airlines consider a personal item to be a small bag, purse, backpack, or a similar item that fits under the passenger’s front seat. You’re free to bring one personal item to most airlines without any additional fees. Other airlines may call it hand luggage, a personal article, or a personal bag, but they’re all essentially the same thing.

Usually, personal items will need to fit in these measurements:

Width: 6-9 inches;

Height: 10-14 inches;

Length: 17-18.5 inches;

Note: Rules vary from airline to airline, so make sure to check your specific airline before boarding. We’ve covered Southwest, Delta, United, American Airlines, and Canada Air further on in this article.

What Is the Difference Between a Personal Item and a Carry-On?

What’s the point of having a carry-on and a personal item with you? Well, in most cases, travelers like to carry a purse or maybe a diaper bag separately from their carry-on. In many instances, some people won’t even check baggage and have only their carry-on with them so being able to bring a personal item is important.

There is an important distinction made when it comes to size, though. Carry-ons are slightly larger than personal items and have different size and weight restrictions. While carry-ons need to fit in the overhead compartment, personal items need to be small enough to fit under the passenger’s front seat. For instance, on Southwest Airlines, a personal item shouldn’t exceed 18.5 x 13.5 x 8.5 inches, while carry-ons can be up to 24 x 16 x 10 inches.

Generally, you should put all items that you’d need in hand’s reach during the flight in your personal item, and other items that aren’t that important to you in your carry-on. You won’t be able to access your carry-on during take-off, landing, and if the seatbelt sign is turned on.

Can a Backpack Be Used as a Personal Item?

Yes, a backpack can be used as a personal item but only if it complies with the specific airline you’re using and can fit under a seat. Some airlines, like Southwest and American Airlines, don’t have official information on their websites that backpacks can be used as personal items. This is incredibly frustrating for flyers.

By digging around, I found out that the majority of the time, most people didn’t have any problems with bringing on backpacks. This means that you’ll be allowed to use a backpack as a personal item on both airlines. I’ve always used my laptop backpack as my personal item, even with the strict European airlines. I’ve never had any incidents or difficulties with this. Just make sure to use a backpack that fits under the seat in front of you and that it isn’t packed too full.

Things That Can Be Used as Personal Items

Shoulder bags
Purses
Laptop bags
Briefcases
Backpacks (I use the Matein laptop backpack.)
Cameras
Food containers
Handbags
Totes
Suitcases (Just make sure to get something small, like the Travelon wheeled under-seat carry-on.)
Duffels (Although a bit large, the Travelpro Maxlite 5 under seat duffel is pretty good.)
Garment bags
Pet carriers
Musical instruments
Sports instruments, like tennis, squash or badminton racquets

Generally, you can take almost anything that’s within the personal item size limit and allowed onboard. For any weird, uncommon objects, it’s better to call up the airline first and ask. You don’t want to show up to the airport with, say, a live python, and expect to be able to bring it on as a personal item!

What’s the Best Item to Use as a Personal Item?

My top pick for a personal item would be a backpack. Lately, they’ve been rolling out more capable backpacks that include things like laptop sleeves, charging ports, and organizational compartments. Many will have anti-theft qualities, waterproofing, and other durability characteristics that come in handy while you’re traveling. Backpacks will also free up your hands to carry other luggage and items along the way.

Can You Bring Two Personal Items on a Plane?

Not all airlines have the same rules, but most of them don’t allow bringing multiple personal items. When it comes to personal items like books and food containers or neck pillows, though, you can easily get away with having several of these with you on your journey. If you can clip items to your carry-on or can stow it away overhead, they likely won’t care. The general rule of thumb when it comes to personal items is that you are only allowed one small suitcase and one personal item, such as a tote, backpack, purse, etc.

Things That You Can Take for Free in Addition to Personal Items

Some items are not counted as carry-ons or personal items. You’ll be able to bring them on board in addition to your personal item, free of charge.

Here are the most common items that airlines don’t count as personal items or carry-ons:

Assistive devices for the disabled
Jackets
Umbrellas
Diapers
Other wearable clothes
Walking canes
Food in disposable containers meant to consume on the airplane
Child restraint seats
Strollers
Duty-free items
Reading materials
Cameras (some airlines consider cameras as personal items, while others don’t.)
Pet carriers (Some airlines consider pet carriers as personal items, while others don’t.)

Note: These vary between airlines, so make sure to check with the airline first. But in general, assistive devices, duty-free items, clothing, and umbrellas are always free to carry in addition to your carry-on and personal items.

Personal Item Rules on Different Airlines

I’ve personally experienced a situation where the person in front of me was arguing with an airline staff member whether a small wheeled suitcase should be considered a personal item. He had two-wheeled suitcases, and one was within the personal item limits. In the end, the airline made him check the larger bag in, and counted the smaller bag as a carry-on because that’s their policy.

That’s why you should always learn the airline’s personal items rules before boarding the flight. Keep reading to find my summary of the five most popular airlines in North America.

Southwest Airlines Personal Item Rules

Counted as personal items: Purses, briefcases, laptop bags, pet carriers, cameras, food containers. Backpacks aren’t officially included, but most people have said that they’ll also accept backpacks within the size limits.

Size requirements: 18.5 x 13.5 x 8.5 inches

Delta Airlines Personal Item Rules

Counted as personal items: Purses, briefcases, camera bags, diaper bags, laptop bags, and all other items that fit under the front seat.

Size requirements: Not mentioned but should fit under the front seat.

United Airlines Personal Item Rules

Counted as personal items: Shoulder bags, purses, laptop bags, and all other items within the size limits.

Size requirements: 9 x 10 x 17 inches

American Airlines Personal Item Rules

Counted as personal items: Purses, small handbags. Although backpacks and other items aren’t officially mentioned on their site, most people have successfully used backpacks, totes, and smaller suitcases within the size restrictions as personal items.

Size requirements: 18 x 14 x 8 inches

Air Canada Personal Item Rules

Counted as personal items: Suitcases, roller bags, backpacks, briefcases, laptops, pet containers, duty-free items, sports racquets, musical instruments, cameras, diplomatic bags, garment bags.

Size requirements: 6 x 13 x 17 inches

What Should You Pack Inside of a Personal Item?

If you’re allowed to bring a carry-on and a personal item, your carry-on will be in the overhead compartment, and your personal item under the front seat. So you should pack all the necessities inside of your personal item, instead of the carry-on, because it’s more accessible.

Here’s precisely what you should be packing:

Documents. Pack your passport, visa, boarding passes, tickets, reservations, wallet, etc.
Items for in-flight entertainment. Pack whatever will make your flight more bearable: books, an e-reader, Bluetooth headphones, a tablet, a laptop, a power bank, etc. Don’t forget your chargers!
Things that will help you stay relaxed. Bring those comfy socks, pajamas, a head mask, a neck pillow, etc.
Snacks. Some people don’t know this but you can freely pack snacks inside your on-flight bags. Sweets, sandwiches, cookies, fruits, etc. This way you can also save some money by avoiding expensive airline meals. (You should finish perishables and organics before you arrive because you likely won’t be allowed to clear the customs with them.)
Valuable or fragile items. These can get broken or stolen inside your checked luggage, so it’s advised to keep them next to you at all times. Also, make sure to pack your fragile items correctly, so they don’t get broken.
Toiletries and medicine. It would be a good idea to pack some pain-killers, napkins, eye drops, and other medication that you might need urgently.

Avoid packing these items in your personal bag:

Knives and other sharp objects. Instead, pack them in your checked luggage.
Liquids over 100ml / 3.4 oz
Alcoholic beverages
Firearms (This one is pretty obvious but I’ll leave it here anyway.)

If you need more packing tips, make sure to read our 80 packing tips for international travel.

Can a Personal Item Have Wheels?

On most airlines, suitcases can be used as personal items if they fit under the front seat, regardless of if they have wheels or not. However, I’ve personally experienced a situation where an airline denied using a rolling suitcase as a personal item. I dug around the internet and found out I’m not the only one.

While some people have used them as personal items numerous times, some have been denied. On Delta, American Airlines, and Canada Air, you should be safe to use rolling bags as personal items, but on other airlines, you might be denied. It’s a good idea to call ahead!

Do Personal Items Have Weight Limits?

Most of the time, personal items don’t have any weight restrictions. However, some airlines do a combination of requirements. For instance, your carry-on and personal item can’t weigh more than 22 lbs combined. Most domestic flights won’t have any weight limits for carry-ons and personal items, but international ones will. So make sure to check with your airline before international flights. As a rule of thumb, your personal item shouldn’t be too heavy, and definitely lighter than your carry-on.

Other Tips to Consider

If you’ll be hiking, consider taking a backpack as your personal item. You wouldn’t want to go hiking with a tote, right? If you use a backpack as your personal item, you can later use it for hiking and as your day-pack when walking around the city.
If you’re going on a business trip, use an under-seat rolling bag as a personal item. For those that are frequently going on two-day business trips, it’s worth it to invest in a rolling under-seat suitcase and skip the carry-on altogether. We’ve found the Travelpro Crew 11 rolling tote to be the best one.
Does your personal item stack on top of your carry-on? If you’re getting a bag to use as a personal item, make sure that it has a rear strap that goes around the retractable handle of your suitcase. This way, it’ll be easier to pull both of them together.
Small duffels are pretty good for weekend getaways. If you’re casually visiting your family for a few days, a smaller duffel is often the best choice for a personal item.