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The Best Carry-On Luggage 2024, Tested and Reviewed by Travel Editors

Caroline Morse Teel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline .

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

The Handy Item I Always Pack : "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

Ultimate Bucket List Experience : Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel Motto : "Don't be boring."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat : "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."

E-mail her at [email protected] .

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Packing for a trip can be stressful, especially if you’re trying to fit everything you need into a carry-on bag. With increasingly strict airline baggage allowances and common occurrences of lost/mishandled checked bags, finding the right carry-on suitcase is key to avoiding expensive checked baggage fees and ensuring your stuff makes it to your destination. 

No one understands this struggle more than the SmarterTravel team. As travel editors, we travel a lot (and are firm carry-on only flyers.) We tested and reviewed the top carry-on luggage over hundreds of trips to help you find one perfectly suited for all your travels.

The carry-on bags we reviewed underwent rigorous testing to see how they held up to the realities of travel. We evaluated important factors like size and weight, wheeled performance, ease of packing, durability, and special features. Our testing process included packing each bag to capacity, carrying it through airports, stowing it in overhead bins, and taking it on planes, trains, and automobiles during real-world trips.

Ranging in price from affordable to splurge-worthy, the best carry-on suitcases earned top marks across all our tests for their optimal size, seamless maneuverability, handy organization, stylish looks, and resilience.

From a lightweight hard-sided spinner that fits easily in tiny overheads to a large carry-on that expands for over-packers, these are our travel editors’ picks for the best carry-on suitcases of 2024. 

Best Carry-On Suitcase Overall: Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On Suitcase

The Samsonite Outline Pro Carry-On Suitcase was our favorite of all the carry-on suitcases we tested. This smart and sleek suitcase is made from a durable polypropylene shell that helps contribute to its light weight of 6.4 lbs. Smooth spinner wheels and an adjustable handle make this bag easy to wheel even when fully packed.

The interior is just as nice, lined with a fabric made from 100 percent plastic bottles. There’s also a multi-functional panel divider that can compress clothes to create more space while providing pockets for organization. One of the pockets is water-resistant, so you can use it to separate swimsuits or wet clothing on the journey home.

Our favorite feature of the Samsonite Outline Pro is the antimicrobial handle technology used on the trolley grip and side handles, which helps keep us healthy while traveling. 

Dimensions: 15” x 10” x 23”

Weight: 6.4 lbs

Best Large Carry-On Suitcase: Roam Large Carry-On Suitcase

If you want to test the limits of an airline’s carry-on policy, we recommend the Roam Large Carry-On Suitcase as the best large carry-on suitcase. We’ve taken this suitcase on hundreds of flights and have only ever had to check it on very small puddle-jumper planes. This roomy carry-on can hold up to 42 liters, making it a great suitcase for chronic overpackers. 

This suitcase comes with two compression boards, which can be used to divide the two halves of the suitcase and help you fit even more in. The boards have large pockets perfect for packing cords and other small items. 

We also love that all Roam luggage can be customized to suit your style—you can choose the color of every part of this suitcase, right down to the wheels, to create a unique bag that definitely won’t get mixed up at baggage claim.

Dimensions:  9” x 16.25” x 22”

Weight: 7.7 lbs

Best Expandable Carry-On Suitcase: Delsey Rempart Carry-On Suitcase

An expandable suitcase is like having two bags in one—keep it small and compact for a short trip or open it up for a longer journey (or for the return trip when you buy lots of souvenirs to bring home). Delsey’s Rempart Carry-On Suitcase is our favorite expandable bag due to its patented Securitech Zipper that’s three times more resistant than a standard zipper (so you don’t have to worry about it ripping open, even when it’s expanded to its maximum capacity).

Other thoughtful features include an integrated TSA-combination lock, two packing compartments with compression straps, zippered pockets, and a lined divider. We also love that the interior lining can be removed and washed—an innovation you’ll appreciate if you’ve ever come home with a sandy suitcase after a beach trip.

Three carrying handles allow this bag to be carried in various ways. If you have other Delsey suitcases, the Rempart’s modular design allows it to stack on top for easy carrying and storage. 

Dimensions: 13.75” x 10.25” x 21.75”

Weight: 6.7 lbs

Best Soft-Sided Carry-On Suitcase: Travelpro Maxlite 5

The best soft-sided carry-on suitcase is also one of the lightest weight options on our list. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 lives up to its name, weighing just 5.4 lbs. This model is the brand’s latest and is a full half-pound lighter than the previous iteration, the Travelpro Maxlite 5. 

The suitcase has a unique tapered design that helps prevent it from tipping over when upright (a common problem with soft-sided suitcases). It also has a solid bottom tray design that helps increase the bag’s durability. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 can expand to 2 inches to provide extra space when needed. The interior is lined with a waterproof protectant that helps keep the bag dry. 

This suitcase comes with Travelpro’s limited lifetime warranty, which will cover the cost of repairs if it’s damaged for one year after purchase. 

Dimensions: 23” x 14.5” x 9” 

Weight: 5.4 lbs

Best Luggage Trackers

Best Small Carry-On Suitcase: Eagle Creek Gear Warrior XE 4-Wheel Carry-On Luggage

We love the Eagle Creek Gear Warrior XE 4-Wheel Carry-On because it’s deceptively spacious for its small size and light weight. It even expands slightly to give you a little bit of extra space when you need it. We’ve packed for week-long trips with just this bag and had no issues fitting everything in. Despite the diminutive size, this suitcase is packed with organizational features, like an exterior laptop sleeve and interior zippered pockets. 

Made from 100 percent recycled, water-resistant fabric, this carry-on-sized spinner bag is easy to wipe clean and great for rainy destinations. 

The Warrior is equipped with heavy-duty wheels that allow you to roll this bag over rough terrain—a perfect pick for navigating the cobblestone streets of Europe.

Dimensions: 21.65” x 14” x 10”

Weight: 8 lbs 12 oz

The Best Hardsided Carry-On Suitcase: Away The Carry-On

Away’s The Carry-On Suitcase has won many awards and is beloved by travelers, and for good reason—it’s smartly designed. The Carry-On is Away’s smallest suitcase and will fit in most overhead compartments and pass all but the strictest baggage sizers at the gate.

This durable carry-on suitcase is crafted from 100 percent polycarbonate for maximum impact resistance. It glides smoothly on premium 360-degree spinner wheels and features a telescoping trolley handle with two height settings for ergonomic maneuvering. The water-resistant shell safeguards your belongings, while convenient features like the TSA-approved lock, laundry bag, and color-matched luggage tag help streamline your packing routine. 

Thoughtfully designed, the suitcase maximizes storage with a double-buckle compression pad and extensive interior organization like three mesh pockets and a handy hanging pocket. Reverse coil zippers grant easy access to the wide opening, and an underside grab handle aids lifting. 

As a bonus, Away’s carry-on suitcase comes in a variety of beautiful colors, including glossy and matte options. 

Dimensions: 21.7″ x 14.4″ x 9″

Weight: 7.5 lbs

The Best Luxury Carry-On Suitcase: Tumi Continental Dual Access 4-Wheeled Carry-On

The Tumi Continental Dual Access 4-Wheeled Carry-On is an organized packer’s dream. The design of this suitcase keeps suits, shoes, clothes, and toiletries neatly separated and wrinkle-free. Convenient amenities like the built-in USB port and built-in TSA lock maximize functionality. 

This is a great suitcase choice for business travelers, as the interior features a removable garment sleeve and fiberglass rod that allows you to hang a suit or dress inside the case without getting crushed or wrinkled. 

The Continental Dual Access features Tumi’s signature smooth-rolling wheels and a 3-stage telescoping handle for easy maneuverability. Protective features like molded bumpers and side panels guard against impacts, while built-in tracers and TSA-approved locks keep valuables secured. With options for top, side, or bottom access via well-designed zippers, this suitcase optimizes packing efficiency for several days of travel. 

Dimensions: 22.0″ X 16.0″ X 9.0″

Weight: 11.1 lbs

The Best Carry-On Backpack: L.L. Bean Approach Travel Pack

A carry-on doesn’t have to be limited to a suitcase. For the ultimate in mobility, opt for a backpack as your carry-on. You won’t have to worry about climbing stairs or pulling a bag over rough sidewalks, and a backpack can fit under your seat on a full plane when necessary, avoiding the dreaded gate-check. 

Our favorite carry-on backpack is the L.L. Bean Approach Travel Pack . Use it on its own for a short trip, or combine it with a checked bag (put all the essentials in the backpack and carry it on the plane) for longer journeys.  

The Approach Travel Pack opens flat and can be packed like a suitcase, unlike a traditional backpack where you’ll have to shove everything in through the top and dig through the entire bag to find something buried at the bottom.

Dimensions: 20” x 12.5” x 10”

Weight: 3.3 lbs

5 Simple Ways to Make Travel Easier in 2024

How We Tested These Carry-Ons

These are the carry-on suitcases that the SmarterTravel team uses on their own trips. We’ve taken them on countless flights, train trips, road trips, and cruises to find out the pros and cons of each bag. 

When testing a carry-on, we consider the following factors:

• Size and weight
• Ease of transportation
• Organizational features

We’ve tested out numerous suitcases that didn’t make the cut, which helped us narrow the list to the best carry-ons worth investing in. 

What Size is a Carry-On Suitcase

The dimensions for a carry-on suitcase vary by airline and generally change depending on if it’s an international or domestic flight. For flights within the United States, the most common size limit for a carry-on suitcase is 22 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 9 inches high. 

The international carry-on suitcase size limit is usually 21.7 inches by 15.7 inches wide by 9 inches high, but this will vary by airline.

Note that airline carry-on size limits include all aspects of the suitcase, including the handles and the wheels, so be sure to check the total dimensions of your bag and not just the interior measurements. If your suitcase meets the size limit but the wheels don’t, it will not pass the carry-on sizer test.

Always check with your airline for the correct carry-on size for your trip, as it can change by destination. 

Is There a Weight Limit for Carry-Ons?

There usually isn’t a weight limit for carry-ons on domestic flights within the United States (unless you’re flying on a very small plane). However, you must be able to lift the suitcase into the overhead bin without assistance.

International flights are generally stricter with weight limits and will weigh your carry-on bag when you check-in. These weight restrictions vary quite a bit by airline but generally range from 15 to 35 lbs. 

What Can’t You Pack in a Carry-On Suitcase?

Remember, carry-on suitcases are subject to stricter security restrictions than checked bags. You can’t pack these items in carry-on suitcases, but you can pack them in your checked luggage:

• Liquids or gels bigger than 3.4 ounces
• Sharp objects (including knives, hiking poles, and large scissors) 
• Certain sporting goods (such as baseball bats and hockey sticks)
• Self-defense items (including pepper spray and brass knuckles)
• Weapons (including firearms) 

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We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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The Best Carry-On Luggage, Tested & Reviewed By Our Editors

By Madison Flager

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Carry-ons are arguably the piece of luggage travelers pull out most often, whether it's the only bag coming on a weekend trip or used in tandem with a checked suitcase. It also spends the most time with us in transit, which means the functionality is even more important: Are your belongings easy to get to if you need to retrieve something while waiting at your gate? Is there a space to stash whatever item you remember on your way out the door? These are a few of the things Traveler editors considered when sifting through the seemingly endless options on the market. We set out to find the best of the best—bags that are lightweight but still sturdy, have enough space to house clothes, shoes, toiletries, and accessories, and will hold up for many trips to come. After months of testing, these are the pieces we've deemed the best carry-on luggage of 2023.

What we considered:

When testing out carry-on luggage, we asked editors and contributors to consider several factors: How light a bag was on its own, how much it could fit, whether the design and organizational factors were helpful (and aesthetically pleasing), how well it held up in transit, how easy or difficult it is to roll and pick up, whether it's worth the price point, and if there are any unique features that set it apart from other carry-on suitcases or bags they've used.

This article is part of Condé Nast Traveler' s first-ever Luggage Week , for which dozens of suitcases, backpacks, and weekender bags were road-tested by our editors.

What size can a carry-on bag be?

It depends on which airline you're flying with, but typically, dimensions are limited to 22 inches long, 14 inches wide, and 9 inches high for domestic airlines (Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, and United Airlines adhere to these figures; American Airlines allows for an extra inch of height, while and Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines's max is 24" x 16" x 10" and Spirit Airlines's allotment is 22" x 18" x 10"). Some airlines provide a single number; dimensions must add up to that number or below to be considered compliant.

International airlines tend to have slightly different size requirements; 21.5" x 15.5" x 9" is typical, but here are some exact specifications by airline:

• Air Canada: 21.5" x 15.5" x 9"
• Air France: 21.6" x 13.7" x 9.8"
• British Airways: 22" x 18" x 10"
• Emirates: 21.6" x 15" x 8.6"
• Lufthansa: 21.6" x 15.7" x 9"
• Qatar Airways: 20" x 15" x 10"
• Singapore Airlines: 45 total inches

What can’t I take in my carry-on?

Liquids over 3.4 ounces (100mL) are not allowed in your carry-on. Additionally, firearms and other potentially hazardous items are prohibited. Check TSA's website for specific items you may have questions about.

Are carry-on bags free?

Again, it depends on which you're flying with and what kind of ticket you purchase. These airlines offer one free carry-on (and one personal item), regardless of what level ticket you bought:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines

While these airlines offer one free carry-on (and one personal item) to all travelers except those who purchased a base fare:

• United Airlines

Top recommendations:

• Best overall carry-on: Paravel The Aviator Carry-On
• Best lightweight carry-on: July Carry-On Light
• Best budget carry-on: Béis The Carry-On Roller
• Best expandable carry-on: Away Carry-On Flex
• Best softside carry-on: Travelpro Platinum Elite softside spinner

Weight: 8.2 lbs. Dimensions: 22" x 14" x 9"

Pros: Glides smoothly even when fully packed, unique look and feel Cons: No external phone charger included, could use an interior pocket along the length of the bag

Luggage brand Paravel has built a dedicated following thanks to its retro Wes Anderson–style designs and use of sustainable materials. The Aviator Carry-On is no different: Available in shades like scout tan, safari green, and scuba navy, it has a recycled polycarbonate shell, recycled zippers, and an interior lining made from 15 upcycled plastic water bottles. It's a favorite of senior editor Megan Spurrell : “This is one of two carry-on roller bags I have used regularly for nearly three years—we’ve traveled everywhere from Lisbon to Mexico City to Los Angeles together.” Spurrell has used it for weeklong trips, and notes that it's still in good shape after years of use: “It has definitely gotten scratched up from being thrown into the hull of planes (I have checked it before, even though it’s carry-on), but it has held up well otherwise—there are no cracks in the shell, zipper issues despite how much I have stuffed it, nor sticky wheels.” The one minor flaw: The top handle placement is a bit counterintuitive, placed on the side of the suitcase further from your body.

Weight: 8.36 lbs. Dimensions: 23" x 16" x 10"

Pros: Comfortable handle, fairly easy to clean Cons: Although the beige color is incredibly pretty, it gets dirty very quickly; I would recommend a darker color

With a pretty, ribbed design and thoughtful features like a cushioned silicone grip on the handle, you wouldn't guess this is one of the most affordable suitcases on our list. It's been tested by commerce producer Paris Wilson , who used it to pack for her and her boyfriend on a weeklong trip to the Florida Keys; with the help of the expandable zipper, it fit at least 14 outfits as well as four pairs of shoes and two purses. The wheels have stood up to bumpy roads—“We live in downtown Manhattan where cobblestone streets are a staple and we still managed to make it to the subway without any hangups”—and the included pouches come in handy for dirty clothes or even souvenirs. “I’m tempted to buy the remaining luggage to create a set; I would recommend this to anyone who's interested in building their luggage collection but might not know where to start.”

Weight: 7.9 lbs. Dimensions: 23" x 15" x 9.5"

Pros: Durable wheels, easy to lift, compression straps Cons: Because of its size, it may be checked on smaller planes or flagged to be checked on planes at full capacity

Away recently upgraded a few of its core suitcases, including The Bigger Carry-On. Updates include an additional zipper compartment, a color-matched interior made of recycled polyester, and an underside grab handle for easy overhead bin lifting. Tested by editorial assistant Jessica Chapel , who has taken it on a flight to New Mexico, a bus ride to New Jersey, and in cars on weekend trips from New York, it's one of the lighter bags on the list at under eight pounds. Compared to her previous suitcase, “It does wonders. Prior to this luggage I often traveled with a checked bag. I can fit almost as much in this suitcase, and it's way more practical—and feels more swift, given the 360-degree wheels.”

Weight: 3.9 lbs. Dimensions: 21" x 14" × 7.5"

Pros: I enjoy the ease with which you can move this piece of luggage around; it feels very zippy Cons: The telescopic handle sometimes sticks

July calls this the lightest double-wheel suitcase in the world, and it is the lightest we've tested here at Traveler at just under four pounds when empty. Research director Alexandra Sanidad has brought it on planes to Phoenix, Arizona, and Portland, Oregon, and on an Amtrak to Woodstock, New York; she says “it's very cute and fits nicely in tight spaces,” and is a “good price for a sturdy, colorful, functional suitcase.” As for what it fits, light packers can fit a week’s worth of clothing in here; if you’re bringing multiple day and night outfits, plan for a weekend’s worth.

Weight: 11.1 lbs. Dimensions: 22" x 16" x 9"

Pros: Extremely functional and stylish, glides smoothly even when full Cons : It’s a little large for a carry-on; I've had to check it twice so far

Tumi bags are an investment—at over $1,000, this is one of the priciest bags on our list of the best carry-on luggage—but for frequent business travelers or those looking for a lifelong investment piece, it might be the bag for you. It's gone with former Traveler editor Alex Erdekian on trips to Mexico, Italy and France, a bachelorette party at Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, and Boston. She calls it “the most beautiful suitcase I’ve owned,” and appreciates the “zipper expansion that drastically increases the depth of the suitcase,” as well as the “sneaky zipper around the front that allows you to pull out clothes quickly.” It is one of the heavier bags on the list, though, and Erdekian says she's had difficulty lifting it overhead when full. Also of note: It comes with a five-year warranty, and can be customized with a monogram or set of “pop of color” accessories.

Weight: 6.53 lbs. Dimensions: 21.5" x 15" x 9.5"

Pros: Budget-friendly, very lightweight Cons: Since its design is pretty plain, it's not the most aesthetically pleasing suitcase on our list

This hardside carry-on with spinner wheels and a built-in TSA lock has racked up rave reviews on Amazon, like this one: “It fit an odd amount of stuff in it. It's like a clown car. It has compartments and zippers that keep things separate and organized. It holds up well and is really good looking. It's absolutely worth every penny. I'm purchasing more for the rest of the family.” Traveler editor Meaghan Kenny agrees, calling it an overpacker's dream bag. The hardside spinner comes in black, navy, bright blue, and orange.

Weight: 8.1 lbs. Dimensions: 23" x 15" x 10.3"

Pros: The front zipper is such a plus, with lots of sections for organizing Cons: The color range isn’t huge—I wish they alternated in more shades

This Arlo Skye zipper-front suitcase has gone on many trips with Spurrell —she alternates between this and a Paravel carry-on, and this one has been to Peru, upstate New York, and Montauk: “I take it as a carry-on for most flights—from weekend trips to weeklong getaways—because it’s surprisingly roomy, with an organized front pocket that I can easily stow essentials like my laptop, book, and magazines in.” Sleek yet durable, it comes with a removable charger (boasting both USB C and USB A ports), two shoe bags, a laundry bag, and a cotton storage cover. The aesthetics are a plus, too: “I love the design of this bag—it feels like a reliable, sleek rolling bag, with design you’ll never get tired of.”

Weight: 7.8 lbs. Dimensions: 23.5" x 14.5" x 9"

Pros: Expandable design, multiple exterior pockets Cons: Some travelers may prefer a clamshell opening; may be too large for some international flights

Every inch counts—especially if you're traveling with just a carry-on—and softside luggage offers a little more give than hard-shell bags. This expandable pick has a telescopic handle, spinner wheels for easy gliding, and an external USB port for charging your devices. It's earned an “Amazon's Choice” distinction thanks to its consistently high reviews and competitive pricing (its larger size, which has many similar internal features, is a favorite of former Traveler editor Louis Cheslaw). The suitcase is available in several shades (including black, Bordeaux, and true navy) and three carry-on sizes (19-, 20-, and 21-inches).

Weight: 8.15 lbs. Dimensions: 21.7" x 13.7" x 9"

Pros: Expandable, easy to roll Cons: Scuffs easily, no exterior pockets

Go one step further, space-wise, with this expandable suitcase, which gives you an additional 2.25" of packing space when needed. Traveler 's global associate director of audience development Lara Kramer has used this bag for trips as long as a week (including a trip to London ), and noted how smoothly it rolled across almost any surface, thanks to its 360-degree spinner wheels. “The joy of this luggage is its simplicity,” she says. “It's a pretty straightforward design, but what it does, it does very well: glide smoothly and easily with its 360-degree spinner wheels and provide the luxury of expanding to add more room if needed. Between my husband and I, one of us is always snagging it as our main carry-on.” Kramer recommends choosing a unique color for your bag, or adding your favorite sticker to the outer hard shell to help it stand out, and notes the inevitable scuffs can look pretty jarring against the black colorway.

Weight: 12.5 lbs. Dimensions: 22" x 14" x 9"

Pros: Very easy to store, even in small places; soft handle grip Cons: Expandable mechanism can be tricky to lock into place

The designers at Béis knew what they were doing when they built this soft-sided expandable carry-on , a favorite of senior commerce editor Madison Flager . It's a big space saver for people with minimal closet or storage space, and yet still fits plenty when expanded—enough for a long weekend to five-day trips. An exterior front pocket holds a laptop sleeve, pocket to place a portable charger (and a small hole to slip the charging cord through), plus a key clip. Smooth-rolling wheels and a soft hand cushion on the underside of the handle are great touches, too.

Weight: 7.16 lbs. Dimensions: 21.5" x 14" x 9"

Pros: Responsive handle, very lightweight Cons: No exterior pockets for added storage

Lightweight with a rugged exterior, frequent traveler Patrick Thompson noted that this bag “seems like it would hold up to the hustle and bustle of an airport, getting jammed into an overhead compartment, and any excessive packing into the trunk of a car.” He's been using it regularly for over a year, bringing it on trips as long as two weeks (Argentina and Italy), as well as long weekend trips to Utah, Georgia, and Florida, and while it has gotten scuffed, it's still in good shape, and is a bag he'd recommend to other travelers. “I love the color and that it's very lightweight. I find it to be easily rollable when traveling.” While there is “a stealth pocket on the top corner that holds smaller items, which can be very useful and convenient while trudging through the airport,” he hasn't often utilized the front exterior zipper, which is meant for easy access to the main compartment, and would prefer another exterior pocket in place of it.

Weight: 10 lbs. Dimensions: 20" x 14" x 7.9"

Pros: Built-in garment folder, interior compression system, exterior pockets Cons: Doesn't roll as easily when full

Senior features editor Rebecca Misner calls this suitcase “a professional travelers’ dream carry-on: very sturdy, and full of bells and whistles that actually make packing easier.” Briggs & Riley's signature expansion system allows travelers to press a button and pull up on a lever in the main compartment to expand the suitcase sides vertically. “Once you’re packed and zipped, you just push down on the exterior sides to compress.” Other notable features include mesh interior pockets, a built-in garment folder with a foam roll bar that keeps clothes from wrinkling, and unassuming SpeedThu pocket pockets on the exterior made to fit a passport and boarding pass—with a bright orange lining that signals when the pocket is open (meaning your important docs are at risk).

Weight: 9.9 lbs. Dimensions: 14" x 22" x 9.5" Pros: Keeps dress clothes wrinkle-free, exterior pocket to hold documents or other small items Cons: May not be large enough to be your only suitcase on a trip

Heading to a wedding or business trip ? Kramer vouches for this compact Travelpro garment bag. “The lay-flat garment bag design is the real gem of this carry-on. It holds way more than you think—and arriving with all of your dresses and shirts wrinkle-free is a huge game changer.” The durable nylon fabric, made with a Duraguard coating, is a bonus, too.

Weight: 7.9 lbs. Dimensions: 22.8" x 9.4" x 15"

Pros: Smooth-rolling wheels, built-in phone charger, antimicrobial lining Cons: Scratched easily on first use

Tested by destinations editor Shannon McMahon , who prefers to travel with expandable hard-side spinners, this one stands out for “its super roomy packing capacity and its smooth-rolling wheels.” It's become her go-to carry-on after first using it for a four-day getaway last year with room to spare ( even after buying souvenirs ). Smart features of the utilitarian bag include a built-in phone charger, zippered laundry compartment, oversized mesh organizational pockets, and antimicrobial lining. The exterior scratched surprisingly easily on that first trip, but beyond that it hasn't seen much damage: “It's not a fight against scratches on the outside like I thought it would be, it seems like it was just a first-use thing.” The bag's biggest pros: Its packing power and its ultra-lightweight—“it's light as a feather when empty,” McMahon says.

Weight: 6.06 lbs. Dimensions: 22" x 14" x 9" Pros: Wheels smoothly, easy to carry around Cons: Laptop sleeve doesn't fit much else, so if not using it, feels like an unnecessary use of space

Frequent traveler Katie Thompson has been using this suitcase for over a year, bringing it to Italy, Argentina, Florida, upstate New York, and Savannah, and calls it “an organizer's dream.” The Samsonite carry-on is loaded with zip pockets and mesh nets to give every item its own place. Thompson says it “can comfortably fit a week's worth of clothing if you are a light packer, but is probably best for a weekend trip,” and notes it rolls easily and in all directions. Another perk: The hardshell exterior has built in patterns that help to hide any scratches, though it has gotten some scuffs with time. Overall, it is “sleek, unique, and compact,” though overall storage is on the smaller side: “The additional pockets on the top side make the inside smaller,” Thompson says. “It fits less than my previous carry-on, but I still managed 10 days in Italy with it.”

Weight: 8.25 lbs. Dimensions: 21" x 13.5" x 9.5" Pros: Front pocket for last-minute items, plenty of interior compartments Cons: Limited color options, no expansion

Hard-shell bags with a front pocket are few and far between, but this Calpak bag makes a strong case for it. Executive editor Erin Florio says she “actually [looks] forward to packing this thing;” while she was worried about its size at first glance, after traveling with it, she says smart packers could pack for up to 10 days with it. “The inner compartments make it really easy to organize all your items, from shoes to laundry to toiletries, which helps you fit in more,” she says. As for that exterior pocket, it can fit a laptop, hardcover book, and magazines.

Weight: 6.3 lbs. Dimensions: 23" H x 14.5" W x 9.5" D Pros: Lightweight and fits a lot of clothing including shoes Cons: Hard to lift when heavy. Also hard to clean/get scuffs out

Recommended by associate social media manager Kayla Brock , this expandable carry-on has a mesh zip compartment and zip-lock compartments inside, which make organizing clothes, accessories, and toiletries easy. She has brought it to North Dakota, Europe, New York, Zanzibar, Seattle, Jamaica, Chicago, Colorado, and the Cayman Islands, packing for as long as three weeks with it (though in winter time, it's better suited for weekend trips). “Although it originally looks like my clothes wouldn’t fit (I’m guilty of overpacking), the suitcase closed with ease,” Brock says. In the year-plus that she's been using it, it has gotten some scuffs and discoloration on certain parts of the body, and the zippers have bent a little; however, Brock still strongly recommends it: “Out of all the suitcases I have this is my absolute favorite and without a doubt the one that I take with me on a trip.”

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

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• At the airport

Carry-on bags

Special notice.

Customers flying Basic Economy are now allowed 1 free carry-on (in addition to a personal item) to all destinations.

Know what you can carry on

There are some items that can only travel in your carry-on bag (and some items that must be checked). Make sure you know where to pack these restricted items – and if you can carry them on.

Restricted items

• TSA restricted items Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines

1 personal item and 1 carry-on

Personal item.

Your personal item like a purse or small handbag must fit under the seat in front of you. Dimensions should not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm).

These don’t count as your personal item or carry-on:

• Diaper bags (1 per child)
• Breast pump
• Small, soft-sided cooler of breast milk
• Child safety seats, strollers and medical or mobility devices

Carry-on requirements

• Shouldn’t exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches / 56 x 36 x 23 centimeters (including handles and wheels)
• Must fit in the sizer at the airport

If your items don’t fit in the overhead bin or under the seat, they may need to be checked. There may be additional carry-on bag restrictions at certain airports or on certain airplanes.

We recommend labeling your carry-on the same way you do checked bags in case this happens.

Soft-sided garment bags up to 51 inches / 130 cm (length + width + height) can also be taken as your carry-on item.

Musical instruments are also considered a carry-on item and must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.

Special items and sports equipment

In addition, when traveling with a pet, the kennel or container counts as your carry-on and the carry-on pet fee also applies.

Traveling with pets

Regional flights on American Eagle ® planes have limited overhead bin space. If your carry-on is larger than the personal item dimensions, you must valet your bag before boarding.* We’ll tag and check your bag at the gate for you free of charge. When you arrive, you’ll receive your bag on the jetbridge after exiting the plane.

Remove any batteries, electronic cigarettes and other restricted items from checked bags.

*Embraer ERJ-175 planes allow carry-on bags and don’t offer valet service.

TSA allows certain duty-free liquids through security in your carry-on bag if they’re packaged in a security tamper-evident bag. If you’re traveling with liquids or are unsure about any item, please contact the TSA.

TSA liquids rule Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines

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• Oversize and overweight bags
• Traveling with children

Protect Your Trip »

Carry-on luggage size and weight limits (2024).

Just like checked bags, carry-on luggage size restrictions can vary by airline.

Carry-on Luggage Sizes by Airline

If you're traveling with carry-on luggage and/or a personal item, you'll need to adhere to size restrictions in the same way you do with checked bags . These rules include the dimensions of your carry-on bag and, in some scenarios, even the weight.

What size luggage is a carry-on?

While carry-on luggage sizes can vary by airline, several major carriers go by these dimensions.

Airlines calculate carry-on luggage size measurements using two methods:

• Height by width by depth:  Most – but not all – airlines measure bags by inches or centimeters using this formula: height by width by depth, such as 22 x 14 x 9 inches. (Note: The dimensions listed below, which are given according to that formula, may differ slightly from the way each individual airline formats its size requirements.)
• Linear inches:  A few airlines have linear inch restrictions for carry-on baggage, meaning the airline gives one number for the total of all three dimensions. As long as the combined height, width and depth don't exceed that number, you're in the clear.

Can a 24-inch bag be a carry-on?

Yes, a 24-inch bag can be used as a carry-on suitcase when flying with the following airlines: Frontier, Southwest and Sun Country . However, if you're shopping for new carry-on luggage , it's best to opt for something that meets the requirements for most major airlines (22 x 14 x 9 inches or smaller).

Is there a weight limit for carry-on bags?

Most major domestic airlines do not impose a weight limit on carry-on bags; however, several international airlines have weight restrictions for carry-on luggage and, in some cases, personal items.

Carry-on vs. personal item: What's the difference?

A carry-on bag is typically stored in a plane's overhead bin, while a personal item should fit under the seat in front of you. Most airlines allow economy passengers to bring one carry-on and one personal item – such as an underseat bag – at no extra cost.

Carry-on luggage sizes by airline

Click on the major domestic and international airlines below to see their carry-on luggage size restrictions in inches for economy passengers – and note that any handles and wheels on your bags count toward size limits as well.

Domestic Airlines

Alaska airlines, allegiant air, american airlines, delta air lines, frontier airlines, hawaiian airlines, southwest airlines, spirit airlines, sun country airlines, united airlines, international airlines, all nippon airways, british airways, cathay pacific, klm royal dutch airlines, qatar airways, scandinavian airlines, singapore airlines, turkish airlines, virgin atlantic.

See all Alaska Airlines carry-on policies.

The fee is often around $20 if you pay for your carry-on baggage at the time of booking; it costs a hefty $45 if you add a carry-on bag later – and up to $75 at the gate.

See all Allegiant Air carry-on policies.

The above rules also apply to basic economy tickets.

See all American Airlines carry-on policies.

Note that if you're flying to or from Beijing or Shanghai, there is a 22-pound weight limit for a carry-on; for Singapore, there is a 15-pound limit.

See all Delta Airlines carry-on policies.

There are two instances where the carry-on bag fee is waived:

• You're an elite member of the  FRONTIER Miles rewards program .
• You bought a specialty ticket like the WORKS bundle.

Also note that carry-on bag fees, which typically start at around $30, depend on your destination, and that prices are cheapest if you add baggage when you make your booking. You'll pay more to add it later, especially if you do so at the airport. Sometimes it's actually cheaper to purchase a checked bag instead of a carry-on.

See all Frontier Airlines carry-on policies.

See all Hawaiian Airlines carry-on policies.

If you booked a Blue Basic ticket, you're only permitted to bring a personal item that fits under the seat in front of you. If you bring a carry-on bag, you will have to pay $65 to check it at the gate (or up to $180 if you've already checked two other bags). However, select customers with Blue Basic fares can bring carry-on bags for free. These include:

• Active U.S. military personnel
• Unaccompanied minors
• Customers flying to London

If you purchase a higher-class seat or if you reach Mosaic status on JetBlue's TrueBlue rewards program , you can also bring a carry-on bag for free on a Blue Basic ticket.

See all JetBlue carry-on policies.

See all Southwest Airlines carry-on policies.

Spirit's carry-on bag fees vary between flights, but they tend to start at around $25 to $30 for U.S. domestic flights. If you need to bring carry-on luggage, it's always cheapest to pay for it when you first book your flight. It will cost you more to add a bag afterward – and at least double the initial fee if you do it at the airport.

See all Spirit Airlines carry-on policies.

The Sun Country Airlines fee for a carry-on bag is around $30 if you pay for it when booking, or more if you add it later.

See all Sun Country carry-on policies.

There's one notable exception for carry-on baggage with United: Passengers with a basic economy ticket can only   take one personal item on board – no carry-on bag. This policy applies to travelers flying basic economy domestically or between the U.S. and Canada. If you have a basic economy ticket and are going to Central or South America (including Mexico) or taking trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific flights, you can bring a full-size carry-on bag.

See all United Airlines carry-on policies.

Aer Lingus' carry-on policy depends on where you're flying. For trans-Atlantic flights, you can bring one carry-on bag within the dimensions above, plus a small personal item for free. If you're flying within Europe on Aer Lingus, the rules are a bit different: You'll have to pay a fee to bring a carry-on with you on board, starting at 5.99 euros. However, you can check that same bag for free.

If you're flying Aer Lingus Regional (a service with smaller planes, flying mostly around Ireland and the U.K.), a smaller carry-on limit applies: 18.5 x 13 x 8 inches, with a weight limit of 15 pounds.

See all Aer Lingus carry-on policies.

All Aeroméxico customers can bring a standard carry-on bag and a personal item on board. Be careful with the weight limit, though: For international flights or basic fare flights within Mexico, these two items combined cannot weigh more than 22 pounds. So, if your carry-on bag weighs 15 pounds, for example, your personal item cannot be more than 7 pounds.

See all Aeroméxico carry-on policies.

While there's no weight limit for carry-on luggage, Air Canada says your carry-on bag should be light enough that it can easily be lifted into the overhead bin. Also note that airport purchases (for example, larger duty-free items) count toward your baggage limit.

See all Air Canada carry-on policies.

Note that both your personal item and carry-on bag (referred to as "hand baggage") combined must not weigh more than 26 pounds if you're traveling economy. The weight limit is 40 pounds for premium economy and other higher-class cabins.

See all Air France carry-on policies.

A variety of personal items (think a handbag and umbrella) are permitted as long as they fit under the seat in front of you; this includes any items purchased at the airport.

See all All Nippon Airways carry-on policies.

If airline staff put a yellow tag on your bag, it should be stored under the seat in front of you.

See all British Airways carry-on policies.

Cathay Pacific has shifted from a weight allowance to a piece allowance, and this policy varies by itinerary. Passengers are generally permitted to bring one carry-on bag plus a small personal item (and assistive devices like a walking stick), but it's best to check your booking carefully to confirm the exact allowance. You're asked to check in any baggage that's too heavy to lift into the overhead compartment.

See all Cathay Pacific carry-on policies.

Since easyJet is a budget airline, standard fares only allow customers to bring one personal item (called a "small cabin bag") aboard for free. Fees for standard carry-on bags are between 5.99 and 32.99 British pounds, depending on your destination and when you add an extra bag to your reservation.

See all easyJet carry-on policies.

The above rules apply to all economy passengers except those traveling from Brazil, whose carry-on luggage can weigh up to 22 pounds. Emirates only allows economy passengers to bring one item on board; whether you bring a carry-on bag for the overhead bin or a personal item to tuck under the seat, this bag must comply with the size limits.

See all Emirates carry-on policies.

Be aware that the 22-pound weight limit applies to both your personal item and carry-on combined. If your flight was booked through Iberia but is operated by Vueling, similar rules apply, but the size limits for your carry-on bags are slightly smaller.

See all Iberia carry-on policies.

If you're traveling on the cheaper Light ticket, you may be asked to check your carry-on bag for no extra cost, if space is limited.

See all KLM Royal Dutch Airlines carry-on policies.

See all Lufthansa carry-on policies.

The above rules apply to LowFare+ customers. Passengers who fly LowFare (comparable to Basic Economy fare) can only bring a personal item (underseat bag) measuring 15 x 11.5 x 7.5 inches.

See all Norwegian carry-on policies.

Qantas 

Economy passengers can opt to bring a nonrigid garment bag measuring 45 x 24 x 4 inches (or 73 linear inches) instead of a standard 22 x 14 x 9-inch carry-on bag. The above rules apply to all economy tickets and vary for higher classes on international and domestic flights with Qantas.

See all Qantas carry-on luggage policies.

Qatar Airways allows passengers to bring multiple personal items provided they fit under the seat in front of you. Unlike with other airlines, laptops and laptop bags do not count as personal items and must fit within your main hand baggage allowance. For tickets issued in Brazil, the carry-on weight limit is 22 pounds.

Be careful: Qatar doesn't accept carry-ons longer than 20 inches, which is shorter than many other airlines.

See all Qatar Airways carry-on policies.

Ryanair is a low-cost carrier, so unless you pay extra, you can only bring one small bag that fits under the seat in front of you, per the personal item guidelines above. To bring a larger carry-on bag, travelers need to purchase Ryanair's Priority & 2 Cabin Bags option, which typically costs between 6 and 32 euros depending on your destination.

See all Ryanair carry-on policies.

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Travel tips, vacation ideas and more to make your next vacation stellar.

Most (but not all) Scandinavian Airlines fares allow you to bring one traditional carry-on bag, plus a personal item, which SAS calls an "underseat bag." There's one exception: Passengers traveling within Europe on the Go Light fare must pay for a larger carry-on bag. If you booked a Go Light ticket for intercontinental flights, a carry-on bag is included.

See all Scandinavian Airlines carry-on policies.

Singapore Airlines has an unusual method for measuring carry-on bags – the dimensions of the bag must not add up to more than 45 linear inches total. For example, a bag measuring 15 x 15 x 15 inches would be suitable. All passengers can bring one bag of this size, plus a smaller personal item. The personal item, whose dimensions are specified above, does not count toward the 15-pound carry-on limit.

See all Singapore Airlines carry-on policies.

See all Turkish Airlines carry-on policies.

Virgin Atlantic lets every passenger bring a carry-on bag, including children younger than age 2. You can bring a bag weighing no more than 13 pounds for your child, in addition to a collapsible stroller and/or car seat. Each passenger is also allowed to bring a handbag or small backpack, an umbrella, a walking stick and airport purchases. Take note: Laptops do not count as personal items on Virgin Atlantic and should fit into your main carry-on bag. There's no specific size limit on the other personal items, but bags or airport purchases should fit under the seat in front of you.

See all Virgin Atlantic carry-on policies.

Note that the above rules apply to passengers who book a TimeFlex or Premium Fare, as well as anyone traveling with a child under age 2 and/or requiring special assistance at the airport.

See all Vueling carry-on policies.

See all WestJet carry-on policies.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Amanda Norcross is a seasoned traveler who packs just one carry-on bag and a personal item – even when adventuring with her toddler . She used her personal experience and research skills to put together this guide, and notes that even if your carry-on bag meets size restrictions, you may still need to check it at the gate because of limited space in the overhead bin. Luckily, it's still free.

You might also be interested in:

• The Best Carry-on Backpacks
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What to Pack in a Carry-on Bag

• The Best Travel Insurance Companies

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Airline carry-on luggage size: Everything you need to know

One of the most stressful parts of flying can be the packing process, especially if you're trying to fit your items into one or two carry-on bags.

Regardless of whether you are flying a U.S. carrier or internationally, your flying with both a full-sized carry-on and personal item depends on the policy of the specific carrier. We've outlined many of those policies in this guide. Additionally, all airlines have size requirements, and some have weight restrictions.

Read on for all you need to know about traveling with carry-on bags.

What size is carry-on luggage?

As you've likely observed, most domestic airlines allow passengers one personal item that fits underneath the seat in front of them and one larger carry-on suitable for the overhead bin.

Some airlines specify size requirements for both items, while others only restrict the overhead baggage. Just remember that a carrier's policy for the larger carry-on accounts for the size of your entire bag, including your luggage's handles and wheels.

The standard size requirements across the board for most domestic airlines for your larger carry-on is around 22 by 14 by 9 inches, so that's a good rule of thumb to keep in mind.

Here are the carry-on policies broken down by U.S. airlines:

Carry-on items stored overhead must be 24 by 16 by 10 inches. Personal items for under the seat – including purses, briefcases, cameras, food containers, laptops and backpacks — cannot be larger than 16 1/4 by 13 1/2 by 8 inches.

The combined length, width and height of carry-on baggage should be less than 45 inches. Individual items must be less than 22 by 14 by 9 inches.

American Airlines passengers should heed the 18 by 14 by 8-inch limit for personal items and 22 by 14 by 9 inches (including handles and wheels) for overhead items, which also must fit in the sizer at the gate.

All under-seat personal items on United must measure within 9 by 10 by 17 inches, while larger items cannot exceed 22 by 14 by 9 inches, including handles and wheels.

Similar to the other domestic carriers on this list, JetBlue says that personal items must measure less than 17 by 13 by 8 inches, handles and wheels included, while overhead items shall be smaller than 22 by 14 by 9 inches.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines recently changed their carry-on bag size limit for overhead items to be within 22 by 14 by 9 inches, including the wheels and handles.

Hawaiian Airlines

Carry-on items aboard Hawaiian Airlines flights cannot exceed 22 by 14 by 9 inches.

The standard carry-on size for international carriers is slightly smaller than that of the U.S., measuring overall at 21.7 by 15.7 by 9 inches, including handles and wheels.

Here are the carry-on policies for economy passengers on major international carriers:

• Air Canada: 21.5 by 15 by 9 inches.
• British Airways: 22 by 18 by 10 inches.
• Emirates: 21 by 14 by 7 inches.
• Singapore Airlines: The sum of length, width and height of each piece should measure less than 45 inches.
• Cathay Pacific: 22 by 14 by 9 inches.
• Air New Zealand: The sum of length, width and height of each piece must measure less than 46.5 inches.
• Turkish Airlines: 21 by 15 by 9 inches.
• Virgin Atlantic: 22 by 14 by 9 inches.
• ANA: 22 by 16 by 9 inches.
• Korean Air: The total dimensions of the bag must be less than 45 inches (20 by 21 by 15 inches).
• Japan Airlines: 22 by 16 by 10 inches.
• La Compagnie: 21 ⅔ by 13 ¾ by 9 ⅚ inches.

Read more: Your essential guide to duty-free shopping at the airport

Is a carry-on considered a personal item?

As mentioned, all airlines differentiate between smaller personal items and larger carry-on items. If your carry-on bag fits under the seat in front of you, it's considered a personal item, which includes small backpacks, purses, briefcases and laptop bags.

Larger bags, including suitcases that fit in the overhead bin compartment, are labeled as larger carry-on items.

Most domestic airlines allow passengers two carry-on items, depending on their fare type. For example, Southwest stands out among carriers for allowing passengers two free carry-on bags and two checked bags, regardless of fare type. That's also the case for Delta, American, Alaska and Hawaiian passengers.

The cheapest fare types on both United (basic economy) and JetBlue (Blue Basic) restrict fliers to one personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you.

Among international carriers, your fare type also determines whether you are eligible to bring one or two carry-on items, so be sure to pay attention to baggage allotments when booking.

For carry-on guidelines for specific airlines, see our guide for the current carry-on baggage policies for 10 major U.S. and international carriers .

Carry-on luggage weight limits

Though airlines care about size, most domestic airlines do not have weight restrictions for carry-on bags, but some enforce weight limits for specific routes. For example, Delta restricts passengers flying to and from Beijing and Shanghai to a 22-pound carry-on, while bags are limited to 15 pounds to and from Singapore.

Low-cost airlines Frontier and Sun Country both have 35-pound limits, while Hawaiian Airlines limits their carry-on bags to 25 pounds.

Otherwise, you won't likely find a blanket weight policy for carry-on bags for domestic carriers.

Just make sure your bag does not weigh too much that it becomes oversized.

On the other hand, the majority of international carriers specify weight requirements for carry-on bags dependent on the fare type. For economy fares, carry-on weight limits vary among major carriers, including:

• Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand: 15 pounds.
• Turkish Airlines: 17 pounds.
• Virgin Atlantic, ANA, Korean Air, Japan Airlines: 22 pounds.
• La Compagnie: 39 pounds.
• British Airways: 51 pounds.

What is allowed in a carry-on bag?

The U.S. Transportation and Security Administration (TSA) monitors carry-on bags just as they do with checked luggage, prohibiting certain items, including firearms, lithium batteries and other potentially hazardous items outlined here .

Within those confines, you're further restricted to liquids less than 3.4 ounces per their 3-1-1 rule, limiting items like toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and lotion to 3.4 fluid ounces within a quart-sized bag. TSA recommends you pack full-sized liquids in your checked luggage.

In addition to liquids, your carry-on is the safest place for your most valuable items, such as your purse, electronics, passport, jewelry and medicines.

For inbound international flights to the U.S., you can carry on liquids exceeding 3.4 ounces if purchased duty-free and remain in their secure, tamper-evident bags. You'll also want to hold on to your original receipt to show the purchase was made within the preceding 48 hours, which TSA may request for screening.

Other international border agencies have similar rules prohibiting bringing certain items on airplanes, so be sure to check with your individual airline regarding those rules.

Bottom line

Depending on your fare type, most domestic airlines generally permit travelers to carry on two items — one that fits underneath the seat in front of you, generally labeled as a personal item, and a second item that fits overhead. However, you must meet certain dimension thresholds, which vary by airline.

Personal items include small backpacks, purses, briefcases and laptop bags, while larger bags, including suitcases that lie fit in the overhead bin compartment, are labeled as larger carry-on items.

Carry-on policies greatly vary by international carriers, depending on the fare type, which also determines weight requirements for carry-on bags. However, U.S. airlines generally do not have weight restrictions for carry-on items.

Related: Here's what to pack in a carry-on bag every time you travel

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Carry-On Luggage Size Chart for 64 Major Airlines [Dimensions, Sizes & More]

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Whether you’re flying domestically or internationally, every airline has its own carry-on luggage size restrictions. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so you need to check your airline’s specific policy before traveling to ensure your carry-on bag isn’t rejected with potential additional charges.

Below, you’ll find a helpful chart detailing the most popular airlines’ carry-on restrictions, including the size and weight of a standard carry-on, and whether this varies due to the cabin you’re traveling in. We’ve also covered checked luggage sizes and allowances , too.

Don’t forget that there are many ways to avoid paying for baggage fees such as carry-ons and that’s what we cover in our in-depth article.

In some cases, you’ll see that the airline has a rule about maximum linear dimensions. That means that, when you add the length, width, and depth of a piece of luggage together, the sum can’t exceed a certain number. For example, if you have a suitcase that’s 28 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 18 inches deep, the linear dimensions would total 66 inches, too big for many airlines.

Carry-On Luggage Size Chart for Major Airlines

Unless specified, the maximum weight allowance is across your standard carry-on luggage and personal item combined. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is considered carry-on luggage.

There’s no industry standard for sizes for carry-on luggage, with every airline assigning their own size and weight restrictions. If you want to purchase a carry-on bag that would be accepted by most airlines, then the most common maximum size would be 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), including handles and wheels.

Which carry-on luggage is best?

The best carry-on bag depends on your own requirements. For example, do you need a wheelie case or a backpack, or a bag with a laptop compartment or built-in security? We’ve rounded up what we consider the best carry-on luggage bags for any traveler , ranging from soft-sided and hardshell wheelies to convenient backpacks.

Is a backpack considered carry-on?

A backpack would be considered a carry-on item if it adheres to the maximum size restrictions of a specific airline. Most airlines have a larger size allowance for a standard carry-on piece and slightly smaller one for a personal item (where permitted).

What is not allowed in a carry-on bag?

For safety reasons, there are certain items that are prohibited to be stored in carry-on luggage. These include individual containers with liquids over 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or a combined amount of liquids over 1 quart (1 liter); sharp objects such as scissors, blades, or pen knives; firearms; sporting equipment such as baseball bats or hockey sticks; tools; and lighters, matches, or other flammable items.

Is there a weight limit for carry-on luggage?

As with size restrictions, there are no industry standards for maximum weight allowances for carry-on luggage. These are defined by each individual airline, with some airlines actually not publishing a specific weight restriction — just that you must be able to lift the bag into the overhead compartment yourself.

It’s also worth checking whether the airline’s stated weight allowance applies just to your carry-on piece or whether it applies to the combined weight of your carry-on and personal item.

What is the difference between a personal item and carry-on?

Many airlines allow passengers to bring a personal item in addition to a carry-on bag. A personal item is usually a smaller bag, such as handbag, briefcase, or laptop bag , that can be stored under the seat in front of you. Some airlines specify size and weight restrictions for personal items, while many don’t specify maximum sizes or weights.

What is hand baggage only?

If you’ve booked a “hand baggage only” fare (sometimes referred to as a basic fare), this means that you may only bring hand baggage that is within the airline’s restrictions. No checked baggage is included. Depending on your airline, hand baggage may include 1 standard carry-on bag and 1 smaller personal item. Each airline sets its own size and weight restrictions for carry-on, so check the table above for more information.

What does TSA allow for carry-on?

TSA allows passengers to pack certain items in their carry-on baggage and prohibits others. Liquids may be brought on board under the 3-1-1 rule: a maximum of 3.4 ounces per container up to a total of 1 quart, stored within a clear, zip-top bag, with 1 bag permitted per passenger. Exemptions to this rule are made for infant necessities or required medication. Items such as lighters, blades, and baseball bats are not permitted in your carry-on.

See more information in our guide to how to easily get through TSA airport security .

What is the standard size of a carry-on bag?

There are no universal standards for carry-on baggage, with each airline setting its own size and weight restrictions. If you want to purchase a bag that adheres to most airline standards, then look for a case that’s no larger than 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm), including all handles and wheels.

Can I take my phone charger in my carry-on?

General chargers for electronic devices can be packed as carry-on or into your checked baggage . If you’re using a portable power bank , then most airlines require you to pack this in your carry-on bag. This is because of the risk of lithium batteries catching fire in the hold.

Is a 24-inch suitcase a carry-on?

A 24-inch suitcase would be considered a carry-on by some airlines — but not all. Some airlines state maximum linear dimension only, so as long as your other 2 measurements are smaller to allow for the 24-inch length, then this would be fine. But generally, a suitcase measuring 22 x 14 x 9 inches would be the most widely accepted. This includes American Airlines and United Airlines .

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Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business, The New York Times, and more.

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A solid backpack is key to a successful trip. Think about it: You can use it as a carry-on, and if you pack light, it'll be the only piece of luggage you bring on a trip. It won't weigh you down as you rush to catch the inter-terminal train at the airport, and it'll look good on you as you stroll the streets of your destination. Find a good travel backpack, and it will serve you for years to come.

There’s a lot to consider when looking for a backpack to take you through all kinds of situations and environments. Waterproof, anti-theft, stylish, lightweight, wheels or no wheels—all things to keep in mind as you shop. To help you make the right choice, we tested 32 carry-on backpacks in our New York testing lab and in the real world. We tested for capacity, design, comfort, durability, and value.

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Best overall, cotopaxi allpa 35l travel pack.

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Lighter and more rugged than previous models

Nothing yet

Does the perfect travel backpack exist? We’re not sure, but we can’t think of one that comes closer than the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L. This second version of Cotopaxi’s best-selling backpack is rugged and comfy, has excellent organization capabilities, and is the perfect size to throw in an overhead bin, toss in a vehicle, and huff around from train to hostel.

The pack uses burly TPU-coated 1000-denier polyester and lightweight 840-denier ballistic nylon paneling. It has excellent weight distribution with comfy shoulder and sternum straps and hip belts, or stow the straps and carry the pack with side handles. The inside features multiple pockets of different sizes that we found perfect for separating clean and dirty clothes, electronics, and shoes. Bonus: It comes with a rainfly to protect it from the weather.

Capacity: 35 liters | Weight: 3 pounds, 8 ounces | Dimensions: 20 x 12 x 8 inches | Materials: TPU-coated 1000-denier polyester and 840-denier ballistic nylon

TripSavvy / Jhett Thompson

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Osprey fairview 40.

Quite spacious while remaining carry-on sized

Keeps belongings secure

Good padding and weight distribution

Osprey’s women-specific Fairview 40 pack impressed our tester with its size, space, and compartments. “This bag has a lot of compartments and a lot of straps to hold everything in place,” our tester reported. Despite the bag fitting a bit large, our tester said it was still very comfortable to wear. Osprey employs its proprietary Lightwire Frame Suspension, which helps spread the weight across the back panel and from the harness to the hip belt.

Despite being a 40-liter pack, it weighs just about 3 pounds, thanks to the lightweight nylon ripstop material and frame. “It did not hurt my back, and I like how most of the weight was shifted to my lower back,” our tester mentioned. Besides the fit, we also appreciated that all straps are stowable, making it easy in case you need to check the bag on a plane (which is possible on smaller planes with this larger-capacity pack). For the men’s version of the same pack, check out the Farpoint 40 .

Capacity: 38 liters (extra-small/small size) | Weight: 3 pounds, 1 ounce | Dimensions: 19.3 x 13.8 x 8 inches | Materials: 210-denier nylon mini hex diamond ripstop and 600-denier packcloth

Best Budget

Vancropak 40l travel backpack.

• Capacity 4 /5
• Design 3 /5
• Comfort 4 /5

Great for a short-to-medium-length trip

Could double as a business travel pack

Feature packed and user friendly

Lacks tech compartment

Cloth material could get dirty easily

This 40-liter pack checks all the boxes, including excellent value. Vancropak says it fits enough for trips between three and seven days, and we’d have to agree. “It fit everything even though I packed quickly and not thoughtfully or strategically,” our tester said. “It’s perfect for a weekend trip when you want to pack extra ‘just in case’ outfits or items. It even expands to provide more room. It has extra pockets, opens like a suitcase, has many different handles, and backpack straps that can be tucked and zipped away.” Compression straps also help shrink the bag back down after being packed.

And if you weren’t convinced yet of its value, it also includes packing cubes. “Its business-casual aesthetic makes it ideal for short business trips, too,” a tester added. One nitpick? There’s no laptop sleeve. But our testers thought the other features—and comfort—more than made up for that slight issue.

Capacity: 40 liters | Weight: 3.98 pounds | Dimensions: 20 x 13.7 x 6.2 inches | Materials: Water-resistant polyester

Asenlin 40L Travel Backpack

Functional straps

Multiple ways to carry

Not too weighty

Our tester didn’t love the style

If you didn’t dig the budget pack above, behold another excellent value travel pack. Like the Vancropak, the Asenlin Travel Backpack also includes three packing cubes. Our testers found they could easily fit everything needed for a weekend trip. They also liked the internal straps for organization and the external straps for compression. “It offers three different carrying methods, which is nice,” the testers reported. “It has a lot of different pockets and storage areas. The bottle holder on the side also unzips to expand, which is a thoughtful addition.”

Our testers liked how comfortable the bag was to wear and that it wasn’t overly heavy (the brand claims it weighs less than 3 pounds). We also believe this could double as a business travel bag.

Capacity: 40 liters | Weight: 2.7 pounds | Dimensions: 18.5 x 12.5 x 9.5 inches | Materials: Water-resistant polyester Oxford cloth

Best for Business Travel

Nomatic travel bag.

• Comfort 3 /5

Fits about a week’s worth of items

Loads of internal organization

Comes with an additional laundry bag

Uncomfortable to carry at times

Some scuff marks after tossing around

While we certainly love this bag's sleek and simplistic aesthetic, there’s a lot more to it than just looks. It’s durable and water-resistant and has multiple carry options (e.g., duffel and over the shoulders), a separate shoe compartment, lots of tech organization, and a TSA-ready laptop sleeve.

Our testers loved the capacity of this pack. “It easily fit everything on the list with plenty of room to spare,” one tester said. “I think everything you would need for up to a week away would fit easily.” The pronounced rectangular shape of the bag made it extra easy to pack and helped organize folded clothes. “The bag had two different shoe pockets, a laptop sleeve, and many other compartments for both smaller clothing items and even some work supplies,” a tester reported.

The one drawback of this pack was our testers didn’t find it the most comfortable. Specifically, the straps were stiff and dug into one tester’s neck. Overall, though, our testers were very pleased with the pack and thought it was worth the fit, especially for the design and ease of packing.

Capacity: 40 liters | Weight: 3.4 pounds | Dimensions: 19 x 21 x 14 inches | Materials: Not listed

Best Multi-use

Peak design travel backpack 45l.

• Value 4.5 /5

Excellent capacity

Easy to handle

Thoughtful storage solutions

This 45-liter travel pack from Peak Design debuted at the Outdoor Retailer Expo in 2018 and promptly won many awards. A few years later, it still holds up. Peak Design basically thought of everything when designing this pack. The outside features weatherproof recycled 400-denier nylon canvas and ultralight padded foam. It includes grab handles on each side, stowable hip belts, and a sternum strap. The inside has multiple pockets for organization and loads of room for trips of four days or longer.

Our testers loved the size and the zippers allowing access from four different sides of the bag. “It was super easy to pack, and there were just enough organization solutions to provide options for different packing strategies,” a tester said. “I also loved how many handles there were. A grab handle on all four main sides of the bag makes it super easy to maneuver, especially when putting it in the overhead compartment.”

Testers also liked the sheath built into the pack to stow the hip belt and the small pocket on the belt for stashing quick-grab items like lip balm, keys, or cards. They also enjoyed the water bottle pockets on both sides and the pack's comfort. Oh, and this pack is 100 percent carbon neutral. The only issue they saw was the price—it’s one of the most expensive on this list. But if you can look at this as an investment, the durability suggests it should last for many years. It's certainly carry-on luggage that any travel-savvy guy can appreciate.

Capacity: 45 liters | Weight: 4.5 pounds | Dimensions: 22 x 13 x 9.5 inches | Materials: Weatherproof 100 percent recycled 400-denier nylon canvas external shell and 900-denier waterproof bottom liner

TripSavvy / Conor Ralph

Most Comfortable

Topo designs global travel bag 40l.

Topo Designs

Excellent internal organization

Many different carrying options

Great for long travel days

Could be roomier

If your travel involves carrying your backpack for long periods, we recommend Topo Designs' Global Travel Bag. This super durable pack is also super comfortable with plush and padded shoulder straps and a hip belt. We also love that there are multiple ways to carry this pack with a comfy and padded sling. Its construction includes durable and recycled nylons with a canvas feel. And it meets Fair Wear certification standards, ensuring fair labor practices.

“There are a ton of compartments and pockets, so a lot of options for staying organized with small or loose items in the absence of packing cubes,” one tester said. “I could easily see places to stash cords, travel docs, electronics, water bottles, and more.”

While our testers liked a lot about this bag—including its durability—the comfort won them over. “All the features built into the bag suggest it's intended to create maximum comfort for someone who anticipates carrying the bag for a more extended period of time,” our tester concluded.

Capacity: 40 liters | Weight: 3 pounds, 10.4 ounces | Dimensions: 22.5 x 14 x 7.5 inches | Materials: 1000-denier recycled nylon, 400-denier recycled nylon, 210-denier recycled nylon, 1680-denier recycled ballistic nylon

Best Splurge

Bellroy transit backpack plus.

Flat opening made for easy packing

Comfortable to carry

Long lasting

Minimal internal organization

If you weren't convinced by our business travel pick above, consider this your alternative. This pack's sleek, durable, and comfortable design makes it ideal for business and formal travel. Our testers found it easy to fit enough items for up to three or four days away. Lighter packers could stretch this to five days. The inside is designed more like a typical carry-on pack with one large compartment.

“This bag felt super light on my back and was padded in all the right places,” a tester reported. “It has adjustable sternum and waist straps that you can tuck into the back of the pack when you don't want to use them, which is a genius feature.” Our testers were also impressed with the bag's durability, as it survived being tossed around our lab with zero marks or scuffs.

Capacity: 38 liters | Weight: 3.3 pounds | Dimensions: 21.7 x 15 x 9.4 inches | Materials: Recycled Dura nylon

Samsonite Silhouette 17 Backpack

• Design 4 /5
• Durability 4 /5

Suitcase-like opening allows easy access

Eco-friendly materials

Suitable for long travel days

Internal organization may be overcomplicated for some

Launched in 1958, Samsonite’s Silhouette collection is likely the oldest on our list. But those six decades of innovation have helped make this one of the best and most versatile bags out there—not to mention one with excellent style. You can also feel good about your purchase knowing that it features 100 percent post-consumer recycled PET bottles.

Our testers liked the size of the bag and the opening, similar to a suitcase, which made it easy to pack and access items. There were many—almost too many—pockets and compartments. And our testers loved how comfortable and supportive this bag was to carry, noting its excellent weight distribution. “I would recommend this bag to someone looking for a backpack they can use as a primary form of luggage,” a tester concluded. “It has enough room and compartments to fit all of the essentials and keep them organized. It's also comfortable, supportive, and easy to carry.”

Capacity: Not listed | Weight: 3.31 pounds | Dimensions: 20 x 12.5 x 7 inches | Materials: Polyester and Recyclex

Best for Techies

Thule subterra backpack 34l.

Functional and looks good

Bag included for dirty laundry

Portable charger

Not the most comfortable

We’ve been pleasantly surprised with Thule’s line of luggage. And that certainly includes the Subterra backpack. This rugged pack could also be a good commuter option as it has a magnetic rolling top closure, a padded laptop sleeve, and a PowerPocket for charging items on the go. We love that it has many access points and comes with a packing cube and garment bag for dirty clothes.

"I loved being able to put my normal packing cubes inside the big cube that comes with the bag, and I was able to use the bag as a day bag anytime I needed to carry extra, and it never felt super bulky,” a tester reported—however, they noted that the bag didn’t particularly help their already-sore back. Not surprisingly, considering its construction, the pack aced our durability tests.

Capacity: 34 liters | Weight: 2.75 pounds | Dimensions: 20.5 x 12.2 x 9.1 inches | Materials: 800-denier nylon

Best for Storage

Mystery ranch mission rover.

Mystery Ranch

Sturdy with grab handles around the pack

Well-designed internal storage

Different ways to carry

A bit heavy

If you’ve never heard of Mystery Ranch, let us introduce you to the Bozeman, Montana-based brand, which makes super rugged packs for backpacking, hunting, the military, and firefighters. This travel-focused pack is incredibly solid on the outside and has many excellent organization and design features inside.

Highlights include a stowable hip belt and shoulder straps, multiple carrying options, a dirty clothes compartment, three inner divided pockets, and lockable zippers.

Capacity: 30, 45, and 60 liters | Weight: 4.3 pounds | Dimensions: 21 x 13 x 12 inches | Materials: Plain spun nylon, 210-denier nylon

We recommend the Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack thanks to its incredibly durable polyester and nylon materials, well-designed internal storage, and included rainfly. Another great pick is the Vancropak Travel Backpack , which rings up at a fraction of the cost of some other options on the market.

We selected products to test based on the expertise of TripSavvy editors and writers and on internet research. Not surprisingly, TripSavvy editors and writers travel a lot. And they have many carry-on backpacks they like and don’t like.

To ensure we weren’t missing anything, we also researched what other prominent sites have featured and looked at top-rated and reviewed backpacks on sites like Amazon and REI. Once an initial list of products was selected, we narrowed it down to the final 28 for testing based on style, function, and price.

We tested the backpacks for capacity, design, comfort, durability, and value. In our New York City-based testing lab, we asked testers to pack each backpack with three shirts, two pants, one jacket, one pair of shoes, and a toiletry bag to test for capacity. We asked the testers to consider all aspects of the backpack’s construction, organizational capabilities, and any design innovations.

Testers then carried each backpack around using the different carrying styles. We asked the testers to rate how comfortable the bag felt fully packed. After the comfort test, we asked testers to toss and throw the bag several feet multiple times. We looked for damage on the outside of the bag and any damage to products inside the bag. Lastly, we asked testers to rate the bag for overall value after a price reveal.

We have since sent the backpacks to testers to continue testing as they travel. We will update this document accordingly as their insights are submitted.

Aer Travel Pack 3 : This pack was comfortable to wear thanks to its supportively firm and cushioned back, while its rugged fabric stood up well to rough handling. Our tester subtracted some points for capacity, as it was a squeeze to get everything on the list to fit, and for the more function-forward style.

Everlane The ReNew Transit Backpack : This bag is very nice to look at and proved quite durable. However, it's on the small side and the features aren't particularly travel-oriented—namely, the inflexible bottle holder and the magnetic flip top that is easily displaced when the pack is full.

Minaal Carry-on 3.0 Bag : Our tester appreciated the comfort of the straps and the practical capacity of this bag, though the price was on the higher end and the packing experience was a bit of a learning curve.

Monos Metro Backpack : Another looker, the design of this bag got high praise. We liked the 270-degree opening, the easy-release front pouch, and the comfortable straps. At 18 liters, this back is more of a complement piece to other luggage and could use a better weight distribution system.

Timbuk2 Never Check Expandable : The expansion feature was a hit once we figured out how to use it and the durability of this pack was undeniable. It was difficult to look past a faulty zipper design that got caught frequently when trying to close.

What to Look For in a Carry-on Backpack

Prices for carry-on backpacks vary widely, so consider what your greatest needs are. You can find a spacious travel backpack for under $100—often under $50—but if you plan on facing harsh outdoor environments , consider investing a bit more money for something waterproof. Leather backpacks can cost hundreds of dollars; keep this in mind if that material is important to you. Anti-theft travel backpacks can be a bit more expensive but are often essential in highly trafficked destinations.

There are so many styles out there you could spend days filtering through the different backpacks on the market. Keep it simple: How will you be using this backpack? If you’re interfacing with clients or business partners, look for something minimal and sleek that doesn’t showcase a million pockets. If you plan on living out of your backpack for most of your trip, pockets are more of a priority. You'll want a bag that zips open flat like a suitcase for easy packing and unloading (this also makes going through security easier).

If you are using your travel backpack for hiking, find something with a removable hip harness to distribute the weight of your pack better when you’re on the move. If you plan on wearing your travel backpack casually—only in the airport or to work—seek out a style with adjustable straps and a padded back. This will help ward off any back pain, especially if you carry a lot of weight. When you’re trying on backpacks, test out the shoulder straps and imagine how they would feel if the pack was filled to capacity. Is there ample padding? Will the material cut into your shoulders? Does the back of the backpack feel like it would be breathable?

The size of backpacks is generally measured in volume (liters) or dimensions (inches or centimeters). While it is essential to refer to the specific requirements of the airline you'll be flying, a good starting point for a carry-on when flying domestically is 22 x 14 x 9 inches or 45 total linear inches (115 centimeters) including all handles and wheels. This size comes out to a 43-liter pack, so anything smaller should easily meet any U.S. airline size restrictions. However, this is only the beginning, and several factors may increase or decrease your allowance, such as the size of the plane and flight class you book.

This will vary based on your backpack's materials. For nylon and other water-resistant fabrics, get a damp cloth and spot-clean your pack. A damp cloth will also do the trick if your bag has plastic or metal elements. For leather backpacks, you’ll want to purchase a special leather conditioner and cleaner to maintain the integrity of your backpack.

This is an excellent feature if you plan on hiking or spending long periods carrying your backpack. It will help distribute the weight of your pack better across your body, ultimately providing more comfort. Most backpacks that are focused on outdoor adventures will have this feature.

Many backpacks are marketed as anti-theft, meaning it’s tougher for someone else to get inside your pack. Some backpacks have zippers that allow you to open the main interior compartment while wearing it—so you don’t have to take it off and risk having someone else pick it up. Others are designed with webbing over the zipper openings, making it very hard for someone to locate and unzip the bag while you have it on.

No, this is not the norm when it comes to backpacks. Compression cords make packing easier and function the same way a compression strap or cord would work in a regular suitcase. Some travel-focused carry-on backpacks do have this built-in. But if you want to squeeze in more items, consider investing in some packing cubes . These will help organize your backpack, too.

Nathan Allen is TripSavvy’s Outdoor Gear Editor. He has traveled to five continents, including plane, train, and bus travel. For most travel scenarios, he prefers backpacks over spinners or roller suitcases because of their ruggedness and different carrying methods. He currently uses Cotopaxi’s Allpa 35L, Thule’s Subterra, and Topo Design’s Global Travel Pack the most. Each product recommended in this review was thoroughly researched and tested.

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The Best Underseat Luggage and Personal-Item Bags

Next to a good carry-on suitcase, the right personal-item bag—what the airlines call any purse, briefcase, or small backpack—is key to having a stress-free flight.

The carry-all at your feet is the best place for your necessities: books, headphones, your phone, a laptop.

Of course, just about any bag, as long as it fits under a seat, can be a personal item, but having a great one is especially important if you’re flying basic economy, which may limit you to a single underseat item.

There’s more to great underseat luggage than its size. In this guide, we go over the features you should look for, including excellent quality of construction, multiple ways to carry the bag, and internal organization options.

From there, we look at different types of personal-item bags that have all those features but are suited to different needs: Some bags are more protective, which is good if you’re traveling with expensive or breakable items. Others are easier to carry, which is helpful if you find larger carry-ons cumbersome. And still others provide more divided compartments and extra pockets for travel necessities. We also offer a few picks to fit different situations.

The research

Why you should trust us, what is a personal-item bag, what makes a good personal-item bag, decide what type of personal-item bag you need, a wheeled bag with reinforced sides: travelpro crew versapack rolling tote, a handsome shoulder bag: waterfield air porter carry-on bag, an adaptable carry-all: the away everywhere bag, a classic tote in nylon: longchamp le pliage tote, the competition.

I’ve covered bags and luggage for Wirecutter since 2014. In that time, I’ve assessed hundreds of bags, ranging from carry-on luggage to travel backpacks to duffle bags . I’ve talked to bag designers, luggage experts, and people who make a life (and sometimes a living) as world travelers. For this article, we also looked at underseat size regulations for the major domestic airlines.

At its most basic, a personal-item bag is a carry-on bag that you can stuff under the seat in front of you while on a flight—which is why it’s sometimes called underseat luggage. Although we wanted to find bags that maximize your available underseat space, airlines generally aren’t as forthcoming with their underseat dimensions as they are with their overhead-bin restrictions. And personal-item sizes, once you do find them, usually differ from one airline to another:

Air Canada : 17 by 13 by 6 inches Alaska : not specified Allegiant : 16 by 15 by 7 inches American : 18 by 14 by 8 inches Breeze : 17 by 13 by 8 inches Delta : 22 by 15 by 9 inches Frontier : 18 by 14 by 8 inches JetBlue : 17 by 13 by 8 inches Southwest : 16.25 by 13.5 by 8 inches Spirit : 18 by 14 by 8 inches United : 17 by 10 by 9 inches

After checking with 12 airlines, we found that the average size of a personal-item bag is roughly 18 by 14 by 8 inches. If your bag isn’t rigid and comes close to these measurements, you’re probably going to be okay stuffing it under the seat in front of you. If you really want to be sure your underseat luggage will fit, the best way is to call ahead and confirm the underseat dimensions for your flight.

Similar to carry-on luggage, underseat luggage is subject to size and shape requirements. However, unlike most of the things people fly with—nearly all of which are precisely designed for airplane use—almost any small bag (your favorite backpack or tote, for instance) can work as a personal item. That said, there are a few details that separate a great personal-item bag from an ordinary one. Beyond it being just the right size, we’ve found that a personal item should have a few key design details to really stand out.

• Durability: A personal-item bag will spend a bunch of time sitting on an airplane floor, an unappealing resting place of shoe grime, spilled liquids, and lost snacks. It’s important that a bag is made of material that’s both resistant to abrasion and easy to clean.
• Organization: As more airlines begin to introduce Basic Economy tickets, which often restrict travelers to personal items only, having a bag that can mimic some of the capacity and organization of a carry-on becomes increasingly important. We prefer a variety of pockets, ideally a separate laptop compartment, and some kind of water-bottle holder.
• Multiple carrying options: Some underseat luggage pieces designed with air travel in mind have sleeves that you can slide over the rails of carry-on luggage handles. But other carrying options, like backpack straps, shoulder straps, or side handles, can also facilitate easy maneuverability.

Lots of luggage manufacturers now sell bags specifically labeled “personal items,” and some of these have useful features that you might not find in your average backpack or tote bag (more on that later). Still, if you have a bag that already works for you, stick with it. If not, check out our picks below, but also look at the recommendations in our guides to laptop backpacks (most of which will fit under a seat), to duffles (ditto), and any of the picks in our guides to packable daypacks  and tote bags . One of those might work just as well for you as a made-for-the-purpose personal item.

For this guide, of those bags specifically designed to be personal items, we looked for models from reputable brands that we’ve recommended in the past, that meet the average underseat dimensions, and that have the traits to make it a great personal-item bag. Then we chose bags that offered different features to suit multiple types of travel scenarios and preferences.

We have a wheeled-bag pick for people who prefer to roll their bag behind them. We have picks that carry like totes. Some of the bags we chose have pass-through straps to loop over the handles of your carry-on luggage . Though this last feature can help you manage the load of a suitcase and a bag, several luggage designers I’ve talked to over the years have said that one of the most common ways to break a carry-on is to rest something too heavy across the telescoping handles. Though they’re able to pull a decent weight, these handles are not designed to support large or heavy loads across their narrow frames. With this in mind, we have options for travelers who prefer pass-through straps as well as those who don’t.

Travelpro Crew VersaPack Rolling Tote

A wheeled bag with reinforced sides.

Designed to fit under an airline seat, this diminutive version of our favorite carry-on luggage rolls along on wheels, has a long extending handle, and its reinforced sides mean it’s tougher than your average fabric tote or backpack.

Buying Options

Who it’s for: The Travelpro Crew VersaPack Rolling Tote’s small squat form sits on two wheels, which makes it a remarkably maneuverable case for anyone who doesn’t prefer (or is unable) to carry their personal item on their shoulder or back. The Crew Tote also mounts well to the handles of a carry-on suitcase with a pass-through strap that’s held tight with Velcro.

Why it’s great for travel: The compact Crew Tote is large enough to carry everything you need for an overnight trip but still falls within the average US airline underseat dimensions. However, if you catch a seat with an underseat power bank or any other kind of obstruction, you won’t be able to wedge this case into place like you might be able to do with a soft bag or backpack. That said, the internal frame, wrapped in nylon fabric similar to soft-sided carry-on luggage, should endure plenty of accidental kicks and scuffs. That reinforcement is particularly useful if you’re packing delicate items, such as cameras, extra computer equipment, or fragile gifts.

We’ve recommended Travelpro Platinum Elite luggage for years in our carry-on and checked suitcases guides because of its durability, dependability, and lifetime warranty (that also protects against airline damage for the first three years). Like those other Travelpro picks, the Crew Tote meets the same standards in materials, build quality, and guarantee.

Pockets and organization: The Crew Tote has one main compartment, as well as a front pocket for small papers and tickets. The main compartment of the Crew Tote is built and organized like a small piece of carry-on luggage, with rolling wheels and internal, zippered organizational compartments, combined with some aspects useful in a personal item, such as a padded sleeve (it holds up to a 14-inch laptop) and a pass-through sleeve. The tote is also compatible with Travelpro’s customizable packing-cube system (video) , which we discuss in the Competition section of our packing cubes guide.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: As with any rolling luggage, you lose a little packing space to the handle and wheel carriage. The rigid shape of the Crew Tote means there’s very little wiggle room if, for whatever reason, it doesn’t fit under the seat in front of you. Despite the inclusion of a small, exterior, flexible pocket—nominally for an umbrella or water bottle—we found that it was too small to be of much use for anything except a very narrow plastic water bottle.

Dimensions: 16.5 by 15.75 by 8.5 inches Weight: 6.7 pounds Capacity: 22.5 liters

Waterfield Air Porter Carry-On Bag

A shoulder bag to organize your tech.

The versatility and toughness of a canvas-and-leather briefcase, with the organization and capacity of a small daypack.

Who it’s for: The Waterfield Air Porter Carry-On Bag is a high-end personal item made for air travel. But the bag truly shines as a tech organizer that still has enough room to also hold a change of clothes. Plus, it’s good-looking enough to carry from the plane to the boardroom without raising an eyebrow.

Why it’s great for travel: The Waterfield Air Porter has a pass-through strap you can attach to a wheeled-suitcase handle, and like our other picks, the bag fits well under an airline seat. In addition to the waterproof waxed-canvas exterior, which makes the bag easy to wipe off if it comes out from under the seat looking dusty or spilled-on, Waterfield bags have waterproof exterior zippers and water-resistant interior lining. The Air Porter is built to look better with age, while also keeping your stuff safe from the elements and stress of travel. In addition to the pass-through strap, the bag has handles (so you can carry it like a briefcase) and a removable shoulder strap, which keeps it from getting caught on things while it’s stowed away.

Waterfield also makes an Air Caddy to hold your tablet and cables. If you don’t already have a tech organizer , I recommend it. The Air Caddy is as well built as the Air Porter, plus it fits nicely inside the bag and matches the overall look. (Unfortunately, Waterfield no longer offers a discount for bundling in an Air Caddy when you buy the Air Porter.)

Pockets and organization: The bag is split into two compartments. One half has a built-in padded sleeve for a 15-inch laptop and two pockets for tech accessories (including wires, headphones, and charging components), both of which are large enough to hold a battery pack for on-the-go charging. The other half is the larger compartment, with plenty of small interior pockets to assist you in organizing things like a few small pieces of clothing or a toiletry kit. The Air Porter also has a front expanding pocket, with magnets that keep the flap closed whether the pocket’s empty or full. It’s a great feature if you often travel with magazines and books. On either side, the Air Porter has two expanding sleeves for holding a travel umbrella and a water bottle.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: The Air Porter is our priciest pick, but considering the quality of the materials and craftsmanship, we think it’s worth the price—this bag will last a lifetime if cared for properly. We do wish it were a little larger so you could take full advantage of the space available at your feet. Waterfield has a 30-day return policy with no restocking fee, but you will have to cover return shipping costs. Additionally, Waterfield offers a lifetime warranty for any product defects.

Dimensions: 15 by 10.25 by 4.5 inches Weight: 2.4 pounds Capacity: 11.25 liters

Away The Everywhere Bag

A hold-all to attach to your carry-on.

This bag slides over the handles of your carry-on for easy transport. It’s made of durable nylon and has plenty of space for in-flight essentials.

Who it’s for: The Away Everywhere Bag feels aggressively designed to offend absolutely no one. It is the true neutral of all personal items, with plenty of carrying options and as many organization options as our other picks. If you want a personal item that’s both simple and well-organized and similar to a weekend duffle bag or large tote (with enough space for a spare outfit, toiletry bag, and a laptop), this is an excellent pick.

Why it’s great for travel: The Everywhere Bag is made of water- and abrasion-resistant nylon, which is perfect for the floor of an airplane. The bag also has a removable shoulder strap, and like most of our other picks, it includes a sleeve for slipping over the handles of a carry-on suitcase, which makes it convenient to carry atop your luggage.

Pockets and organization: The interior features six slim pockets and a sleeve large enough for a 15-inch laptop. At the base of the bag, there’s a zippered waterproof pocket for an umbrella. Outside the bag is a single slim pocket, well-shaped for tickets and important travel documents. Otherwise, the bag opens into a larger interior pocket, which is enough to hold a change of clothes, a toiletry kit, and a book or magazine. If you’re flying for just an overnight trip, this could easily be the only bag you need to carry. (The bag comes in two versions: Original, which has a main zipper that extends partway down the ends of the bag, and New, which has a main zipper that extends all the way down each end of the bag, providing a larger opening.)

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Without any interior separation, all your gear is mashed together along with your computer and tech. There isn’t a special pocket for a water bottle, which means if you carry one, it is dangerously close to everything else.

Dimensions: 16.3 by 7.3 by 10.2 inches Weight : 2.6 pounds Capacity: 20 liters

Longchamp Le Pliage Original L Tote Bag

A stylish, expandable tote.

This tote packs up small when not in use, and the tough nylon is perfect for the floor of an airplane: It’s easy to clean and protects its contents from most scuffs and kicks it might receive on a long flight.

Who it’s for: The Longchamp Le Pliage Tote is great if you need an adaptable personal item that can easily double as a purse or work bag as soon as you leave the plane. Unlike many bags made to be this tough, the Longchamp is handsome and looks good enough to easily transition from travel bag to daily carry.

Why it’s great for travel: The lightweight (especially compared with leather bags) Le Pliage Tote shines as a travel bag because of its simple, packable design and practical materials. The nylon construction wipes down easily if spilled on, and you can fold it down and pack it away if you want to consolidate down to one bag on any leg of your trip.

The Le Pliage’s shoulder strap is made of rolled leather, which our tester said kept the strap from biting into their shoulder as much as unrolled leather straps can. Its main compartment is large enough to hold a laptop, sweatshirt, water bottle, and other assorted travel items. It zips shut, so you won’t lose anything even as you stuff it underneath your seat. The understated shape and design of the bag also blends in nicely with both professional and casual outfits.

Pockets and organization: There is one modest pocket on top for your phone, wallet, and keys. However, we found that even this pocket felt a touch small.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: For a bag that’s great for taking right from the plane to the office, we wished for a laptop compartment, or some other way to separate items beyond the single top pocket. In our testing, we ended up organizing the tote ourselves with bag organizers . The Le Pliage lacks a pass-through strap or slot for attaching to the handles of your carry-on luggage.

Dimensions: 12.25 by 11.75 by 7.5 inches Weight: 0.7 pounds Capacity: 17 liters

Cotopaxi Nazca 24L Travel Pack: The clamshell design of this backpack, a former pick in this guide, was perfect for anyone who liked to separate their gear into individual pockets and compartments. The bag was well made, shaped to fit under just about any airline seat, and warrantied for a lifetime of travel. Sadly, it’s been discontinued.

This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.

Meet your guide

Kit Dillon is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter. He was previously an app developer, oil derrick inspector, public-radio archivist, and sandwich shop owner. He has written for Popular Science, The Awl, and the New York Observer, among others. When called on, he can still make a mean sandwich.

Further reading

The Best Duffle Bags

by Kit Dillon

After lugging 34 duffles through airports, to beaches, and on weekend trips, we chose seven bags that’ll carry what you need carried in a range of scenarios.

The Best Travel Strollers

by Elise Czajkowski

After testing seven travel strollers on various trips and excursions, we’re confident that the Uppababy Minu V2 is the one to get.

The Best Buy It for Life Backpack (Please Don’t Call It Tactical)

A buy-it-for-a-lifetime backpack should last you for years of heavy use. But as with all investments, you need to decide if it makes sense for you.

The Best Travel Backpack

by Geoffrey Morrison

For trips ranging from a week to multiple months, the Osprey Farpoint 55 and Fairview 55 carried everything we needed comfortably.

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Carry-On Baggage

Not sure whether to check your bag or carry it on? Take a few minutes to learn the can-do and no-can-do rules of carry-on baggage. If you don’t want to carry-on, it’s still easy to check your bag if you prefer.

1 Carry-On Bag

1 Personal Item

Each passenger flying with Delta can bring 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item free of charge (such as a purse, laptop bag or item of similar size that will fit underneath the seat in front of you). If you plan to bring roll-aboard luggage or a large bag to store in the overhead bin, you can find size information , Go to footer note below. Note: Carry-on bag exceptions apply for passengers traveling with an infant-in-arms and for passengers traveling with pets in the cabin .

When packing, please remember that flight attendants are unable to proactively assist customers placing carry-on baggage into overhead bins, with certain exceptions. In addition to keeping customers and crew members safe and healthy, this change also protects flight attendants by decreasing the likelihood of injury caused by repetitive lifting.

Review the following guidelines for approved personal items that you can bring, including items that are free to carry on like child safety seats.

Approved Personal Items

Bringing a personal item? Pick an item like this or of a similar size to store beneath the seat in front of you during your flight.

• 1 purse, briefcase, small backpack, camera bag or diaper bag
• 1 laptop bag (computers cannot be checked, unless directed to by security)
• 1 item of similar or smaller size to those listed

Free Items to Carry On

These items are free to carry on your flight, in addition to your usual carry-on items. Flight attendants can assist you with larger items, like strollers.

• A jacket and/or umbrella
• Food or drink purchased past the security checkpoint
• Duty-free merchandise
• Special items like strollers , wheelchairs , child safety seats or assistive devices , like crutches

Whether it’s a duffel for an overnight trip or a roll-aboard bag for a much longer stay, arrive knowing that you can easily store your bag in an overhead bin. The faster you can stow your bag, the faster your flight will be on its way.

Carry-On Size Restrictions

Make sure your bag fits this size or reference size check displays located at ticket counters and gates.

• Combined length + width + height of baggage must not exceed 45 linear inches (114 cm)
• Individual length, width and height measurements may not exceed 22” x 14” x 9” (56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm) respectively
• These measurements include any handles or wheels, but do not apply to small musical instruments that fit in the overhead or under-seat space

Carry-On Weight Restrictions

No maximum weight applies to carry-on baggage, except in the following locations.

• Singapore, Singapore – Changi International Airport ( SIN ) carry-on should not exceed 15 lbs (7 kg)
• Beijing, China – Beijing Capital International Airport ( PEK ) Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) requires that domestic hand carry bags should not exceed 10 kg. Individual carrier rules apply for international flights
• Shanghai, China – Pudong International Airport ( PVG ) carry-on should not exceed 22lbs (10 kg)
• If your bag doesn’t fit or an exceptionally-full flight is short on overhead bin space, a flight attendant or gate agent can assist you by checking your bags at the gate.
• Passengers traveling on Delta Connection flights, including flights with 50 seats or less, are only permitted to carry personal items on board the aircraft due to limited overhead space. Personal items must be able to fit securely under the seat in front of the passenger or overhead bins. Due to crowded flights, some carry-on bags may be gate checked, free of charge, during the boarding process and returned upon deplaning. Please ensure that a pink Gate Claim/Planeside tag is securely attached to the carry-on item. Assistive devices are not subject to this restriction.
• If you need information about potentially hazardous or irregular items, like knitting needles or razors, please consult the TSA for updated guidelines .
• Airline Partner Notice: Our SkyTeam and codeshare partners may have different guidelines and restrictions on certain flights, so be sure to check before you check in.

While many things are allowed in your carry-on and personal item when you travel, be sure to consider things that are limited for your safety. Most countries restrict the size of containers with liquids, gels, aerosols and pastes — even in partially empty containers during security. Pack ahead of time and place larger liquid items in your checked luggage.

• Limit liquids, gels, aerosols and pastes items to a maximum of 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters
• Place all items in one single quart-size, zip-top bag of clear plastic
• At security, remove your quart-size bag and place it in a bin

Liquids, gels, aerosols and pastes include anything like beverages, creams, hair gel, hair spray, shampoo, suntan lotions, toothpaste or any item of similar consistency. Special provisions are usually made by the TSA for necessary items such as medication, breast milk, and juice or formula for infants - which can receive a special screening for your convenience.

Review TSA Guidelines

Some countries have a program that lets you purchase duty-free items, which are placed in specially sealed bags by the vendor. You can then travel within that country or region with your item in your possession or in your carry-on.

If your travel takes you through a security check-in in a country that does not recognize the same program, you may or may not have the opportunity to place the item in your checked baggage. If you are unable to place the item in your checked baggage, it may be confiscated.

For specific guidelines, visit the U.S. Transportation Security Administration , the United Kingdom’s Department for Transport or the European Union’s European Commission .

How many bags may I carry on?

You may bring one carry-on item onboard the aircraft, plus one personal item. See our carry-on allowance for further information.

Passengers travelling on Delta Connection flights with 50 seats or less are permitted to carry personal items onboard the aircraft. Due to limited overhead and under seat space, larger items will be tagged with a pink Gate Claim/Planeside tag and loaded in the cargo bin. These bags will be returned to the passenger upon deplaning.

All carry-on items must meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and may not exceed 22" x 14" x 9". The FAA mandates that all carry-on items fit under a seat or in an enclosed storage compartment.

Our gate or flight personnel may need to further limit the amount of carry-on baggage for a particular flight, depending on the cabin storage capacity of the plane and the expected number of passengers.

Are carry-on items included in Delta's Baggage Liability?

We do not assume liability for unchecked items unless they are given to our personnel for storage during the flight or otherwise delivered into our custody for travel.

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Airline and TSA Carry-On Restrictions

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Table of Contents

Airline-specific carry-on luggage rules

Tsa liquid limits, how many ounces are allowed on a plane, additional tsa carry-on rules, final thoughts on tsa rules for carry-ons.

Whether you’re purposefully packing light or supplementing your checked luggage, it’s important to keep Transportation Security Administration (TSA) carry-on luggage size in mind when packing a bag and heading to the airport.

After all, not all airlines allow full-size carry-ons for free, and most have slightly different rules on carry-on bag size. Don’t get caught unaware at the gate; hefty baggage fees and inconvenience may await.

» Learn more: Want TSA Precheck for free?

Here’s what you need to know about airline and TSA carry-on size allowances.

Airline carry-on dimensions differ depending on the carrier. When purchasing your flight, you’ll be able to see your carry-on and personal item limits.

A personal item is typically a small backpack, purse, briefcase, diaper bag, camera bag or any item of a similar size that can fit underneath the seat in front of you. A carry-on bag could be anything from a large backpack to a small rolling suitcase. But it’s less shape than size that matters, so here are carry-on luggage size restrictions for each of the major domestic airlines:

Alaska Airlines

On an Alaska Airlines flight, you can bring a carry-on and a personal item for free.

Carry-on bags are limited to 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high including wheels and handles. All three measurements shouldn’t add up to more than 45 inches.

For personal items, Alaska offers examples of a purse, laptop or briefcase.

Alaska doesn't list weight limits, but it says that passengers should be able to lift items that go in an overhead bin.

» Learn more: Guide to Alaska Airlines baggage and other fees

American Airlines

For an American Airlines flight, passengers get one personal item and one carry-on, no matter what type of fare is bought (elite members included).

Carry-on bags shouldn’t be larger than 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high including handles and wheels.

Dimensions of personal items should not exceed 18 inches long, 14 inches wide and 8 inches high.

There are no weight restrictions for carry-on luggage.

» Learn more: American Airlines bag fees: How they work, how to avoid them

Delta Air Lines

Delta flyers are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item.

Including wheels and handles, measurements may not exceed 22 inches long, 14 inches width and 9 inches high. The total length plus width plus height of baggage must not exceed 45 linear inches.

For personal items, Delta says size examples are purses, small backpacks and laptops.

Three places have weight limits: Singapore (7 kg, about 15.4 pounds), Beijing (10 kg, about 22 pounds) and Shanghai (10 kg, about 22 pounds).

» Learn more: Delta Air Lines baggage fees: How they work, how to avoid them

Frontier charges for both checked luggage and carry-on bags, and the price depends on the route you fly. It also varies depending on if you buy the bags before via the web or mobile app, at the ticket desk, or the boarding gate.

Carry-on bags must weigh less than 35 pounds and must not exceed 10 inches deep, 16 inches wide and 24 inches high. Bags must fit in the overhead bins.

Checked bags must be no longer than 62 linear inches (length + width + depth) and must weigh under 40 pounds. Bags weighing more than 40 pounds will incur additional charges per bag per direction. Bags weighing 41-50 pounds will cost you $50 more and bags weighing 51-100 pounds will cost $100 more.

Personal items cannot exceed 8 inches deep, 18 inches wide and 14 inches high.

» Learn more: Frontier baggage fees: How they work

Not all JetBlue passengers are allowed the same carry-on items. Passengers who bought Basic Blue fares get one personal item (except Mosaic customers who always get a carry-on). Blue, Extra Blue, Blue Plus and Mint fares allow one carry-on and one personal item.

Including wheels and handles, length, width and height measurements may not exceed 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high.

Personal items can be no more than 17 inches long, 13 inches wide and 9 inches high or smaller to fit under the seat in front of you.

There are no weight limits for carry-on luggage on JetBlue.

» Learn more: Guide to JetBlue baggage, cancellation and other fees

Southwest Airlines

Southwest is known for having a generous free checked luggage allowance, but carry-on restrictions are similar to most other airlines — one personal item and one carry-on per traveler.

Carry-on measurements should not exceed 24 inches long, 16 inches wide and 10 inches high.

Personal items are limited to 18.5 inches long, 8.5 inches wide and 13.5 inches high.

Southwest doesn't list weight limits for carry-on items.

» Learn more: The guide to Southwest baggage and other fees

United Airlines

Most travelers flying with United can bring one carry-on and one personal item, but if you’re traveling on a basic economy fare, you’re allowed one personal item only (unless you’re a MileagePlus Premier Member, are traveling internationally or have a MileagePlus credit card, like the United℠ Business Card ).

Including handles and wheels, the maximum dimensions for a carry-on are 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high.

Personal items are limited to 17 inches long, 10 inches wide and 9 inches high.

United doesn't publish weight limits for carry-ons.

» Learn more: What you need to know about United Airlines baggage and other fees

Depending on the airline you fly with as well as how long you’re traveling for, you might wonder whether you’re better off traveling with a checked bag rather than a carry-on . This can be especially relevant if you’ve got some liquids with you that exceed the TSA carry-on liquid limits.

WANT TSA PRECHECK FOR FREE?

A number of popular travel credit cards reimburse you for the application fee for trusted traveler programs like TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. Among them:

on Bank of America's website

on Chase's website

$0 intro for the first year, then $95

Statement credit of up to $100 as reimbursement when you charge the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry to the card. Available once every 4 years.

Statement credit of up to $100 as reimbursement when you charge the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS to the card. Available once every 4 years.

If your credit card offers reimbursement for the application fee for programs like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, you must pay the fee with the card. You cannot submit a claim for reimbursement if you paid with some other method. Reimbursement will usually appear as a statement credit in your account within two months.

Cards typically offer reimbursement of only one fee once every four to five years. Check the terms and conditions of your card for the specific rules that apply. Note also that these cards only reimburse the application fee for a trusted traveler program. They don't automatically enroll you in the program or guarantee that you'll be accepted by the program. You still have to apply and go through the required screening, which in the case of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry includes an in-person appointment.

Aeroplan® Credit Card .

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card .

Chase Sapphire Reserve® .

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® .

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card .

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card .

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card .

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card .

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card .

The Platinum Card® from American Express .

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card .

United Club℠ Infinite Card .

United℠ Explorer Card .

United Quest℠ Card .

U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card .

Terms apply.

» SEE the best credit cards that pay for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

Before you even make it to your departure gate, you have to clear a TSA checkpoint. This means you must adhere to the TSA liquid limit in order to make it through security.

Containers that are 3.4 ounces or less are allowed, but there are other rules to keep in mind as well.

Carry-on liquid limit

The TSA liquid rule — also known as the 3-1-1 rule (3 ounces, 1 bag per 1 person) — is straightforward: "You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item." Any liquids in larger containers will have to go into checked baggage (and are subject to overweight fees).

A basic clear, zip-top container qualifies as an eligible quart-size bag for passing through security.

The easiest way to manage the amount of fluids in your carry-on is to start with containers that are no larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters and your quart-sized bag.

The maximum carry-on liquid size and amount will depend on how much you can fit into your single quart-sized bag.

3-1-1 liquids rule exemptions

The 3-1-1 liquid rule has several exceptions if you're traveling with certain liquid medicines or baby food.

TSA allows larger amounts of certain medically necessary liquids, gels and aerosols in "reasonable quantities" for your trip. The amount allowed is not stated.

The only catch? You must declare the medication to TSA officers at the checkpoint for inspection, alongside any accessories associated with your medicine, such as freezer packs or syringes.

Labeling your medical items can help facilitate the screening process.

Formula and breast milk are considered medically necessary liquids, and thus exempt from the carry-on liquid limit. Water and juice for babies is also allowed in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters.

These child and infant nourishment items are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag. You may also bring teethers that are gel- or liquid-filled and canned/jarred/processed baby food in your carry-on baggage.

» Learn more: 7 ways to avoid paying bag fees

Duty-free liquids

The final exemption to TSA liquid limits apply to duty-free liquids purchased during inbound international flights. It's important that these bags are secure and temper evident and stored in a transparent bag.

Be sure to keep the item's original receipt handy in case a TSA officer asks to see it.

» Learn more: Can you bring food through TSA?

The only flammables allowed in a carry-on are cigars, cigarettes, disposable and Zippo lighters, and dry batteries (like AAs or AAAs).

Camping and sports equipment

You can carry-on an air mattress with a built-in pump (by following special instructions), antlers, basketballs, footballs, baseballs, soccer balls, bike chains and bike pumps. Bicycle allowances vary by airline, but baseball bats, bear spray and bear bangers are never allowed — nor is aerosol insecticide.

Other items

There are some banned items, including knives, firearms and box cutters. A full list of which can be found on TSA’s website .

Still not sure if something you plan to carry-on is restricted? Send a photo to AskTSA on Twitter or Facebook Messenger to find out.

» Learn more: What foods you can bring on a plane

No matter which airline you fly with, first make sure you know what size carry-on you’re allowed to bring onboard and are familiar with (and prepared for) TSA’s carry-on restrictions, too. Then, you can expect a smoother and less stressful airport and airliner experience.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

What’s the Best Personal Item Bag for Flying?

Between finding a carry-on that will fit in most overhead compartments, a toiletry bag or Dopp kit for your tiny bottles of shampoo, and an under-the-seat personal item to hold everything you’ll need for in-flight comfort and entertainment, solving the packing equation isn’t easy. To make things even more complicated, there aren’t even standard regulations for what counts as a “personal item” — as my fellow writer Rachael Griffiths explains here , each airline has its own particular requirements. If you’ve purchased a basic fare on a no-frills carrier like Frontier or Spirit, you’ll generally want to stick with a bag measuring 8 x 18 x 14 inches or smaller (and if you’re not sure how to fit everything into that, I’ve written a minimalist packing guide to help). On most other airlines, there’s a lot more you can get away with. Below, find advice from stylish frequent fliers (and Strategist staffers) about the totes, duffels, and backpacks they slip over the handles of their suitcases.

The best personal-item tote bags

Yolo Journal ’s Yolanda Edwards likes travel bags that don’t look like travel bags and can therefore be used for everyday sightseeing and shopping upon reaching your destination. Parker Thatch’s roomy totes fit the bill, and while they don’t have a luggage sleeve, Edwards has no problem slipping the handles of this one over her Rimowa suitcase. “And it’s great for going to the farmers’ market once I arrive where I’m going,” she adds.

“I look for a bag that can sit on top of my carry-on, fit a lot of items, and be easily stored when not in use,” says Daniela Velasco, the creative director of Drift magazine. That bag, for her, is Longchamp’s forever classic Le Pliage tote, which flattens and folds up for storage. Strategist senior editor Hilary Reid owns one in orange and is also “always surprised by how much fits inside.”

Is there a more quintessential carry-all than the L.L.Bean Boat and Tote? Writer and influencer Harry Hill doesn’t think so. “As someone who is usually drawn to more uppity travel bags, this trusty tote is a delight because of how unfussy it is,” Hill tells us. “It fits a ton, it’s super-lightweight, and I don’t have to worry about spilling coffee on the vachetta or putting it on the ground.” Hill suggests monogramming your name — or a crude joke, depending on personal preference. For additional customization, “the colorways are constantly changing, so keep an eye out if you have a specific vision for your tote.” While Hill adds that it’s impossible to go wrong, because any L.L.Bean “will make you look like a Kennedy skipping town,” the zip-up version of the bag will give more peace of mind at the airport.

Sewn in California from leftover sailing canvas, Pacific Tote Company’s bags are similar to L.L. Bean boat totes, except more brightly colored. The company is co-owned by director Roman Coppola (brother to Sofia, who carries Pacific Tote bags on set ) and beloved by bi-coastal film industry insiders. If you work in film and fly between L.A. and New York every other week, you carry your laptop in this pleasingly sturdy bag . Strategist columnist Chris Black is also a fan .

When she’s not traveling with her Parker Thatch bag, Edwards also likes to use Kule’s roomy totes as personal items. Saturday Night Live ’s Chloe Fineman travels with one of these too, and says it fits both a laptop and extra outfit inside. She adds that the “Oy Vey” design is “a little cheeky and a little funny,” as well as a nice reminder of home when she’s on the road.

Here’s another professional-looking, multi-purpose travel tote, as recommended by Strategist writer Lauren Ro. She says it makes a great carry-on personal item because it’s lightweight and custom-designed for air travel, with a luggage sleeve and exterior pockets for stashing chargers and tidbits, as well as a removable crossbody strap.

At least two friends that I know of ended up immediately purchasing a Baggu Cloud Carry-on after I flaunted mine at a destination wedding this past May. Made from weightless but durable nylon, the airplane-friendly version of the brand’s original Cloud Bag can hold a lot of stuff, and the bright colorways stand out in a sea of boring navy duffels at the airport. Puffy shoulder straps make standing in line at security a bit more tolerable, and generous external pockets are handy for stashing a book or water bottle. This bag’s dimensions are actually rather large (14 × 20 × 8 inches) for a personal item, but its bulkiness really depends on how much stuff you pack inside. I’ve taken mine on a personal-item-only Spirit flight with no issues at all, and on longer trips I have also slipped it over the handle of a Samsonite carry-on suitcase using the attached luggage sleeve.

The best personal-item duffel bags

Former Strategist associate editor Louis Cheslaw calls this Patagonia duffel his “ secret second suitcase ,” because its unassuming-yet-roomy interior lets him pack heavy without checking a bag. The Black Hole’s 30-liter capacity is about as large as a bag can be while still qualifying as the “personal item” you can bring onboard with your main carry-on suitcase and slide under the seat in front of you, Cheslaw notes. “Within that capacity, I can easily fit two pairs of shoes as well as a week’s worth of underwear, socks, and thin shirts, relieving a ton of pressure on my suitcase.”

This new-school garment bag, which made our Travel 100 list of the best products to take on the road, can keep a suit or gown unwrinkled while also cleverly storing several other outfits. It’s ideal for destination weddings, and Moonflower wine bar co-owner Rebecca Johnson even took hers all the way to Tasmania for a romantic antipodean getaway with her husband. Going ’s travel spokesperson, Katy Nastro, told me that it’s very popular among her exceedingly well-traveled colleagues.

For both carry-on backpacks and duffels, former Paper fashion editor Mario Abad turns to Dagne Dover’s neoprene travel bags. “They’re the best,” he says. “They’re really lightweight, and they’re made of this scuba material that looks sleek and modern and is nice to the touch.” The bags aren’t just aesthetically pleasing, though. “You can fit a lot of stuff inside — it’s a minimal aesthetic, no busy details or anything, just all the compartments you need.” Jessica Morrobel of  Traveling With Jessica agrees that the Landon is an “absolute lifesaver,” and  Going ’s travel spokesperson, Katy Nastro, is also a fan, especially for quick overnights. The duffel comes in five sizes, but medium is the best option if you know you’ll be flying on budget carriers with strict rules.

The best personal-item backpacks

This is my current personal item backpack of choice. It is designed to slip over the handles of a carry-on suitcase, but over Christmas I took it as my only luggage on a weeklong train trip across Turkey and Georgia and it fit everything I needed, including an extra pair of shoes. The neutral design is as appropriate for day hiking and office commuting as it is flying. But the capacity is the biggest drawcard. Creator Jessica Wright of Bon Traveler is a longtime user and says she is “shocked” by how much it can hold. Great for packers who like to compartmentalize, the interior is separated into various sleeves and sections for a laptop, clothing, and tech items. But you can also remove these compartments and just use it as a black hole bag if needed.

My fellow Strategist travel writer Rachael Griffiths prefers this sleek Timbuk2 backpack with even more sleeves and compartments for organizing items on the move. It, too, can store “a week away’s worth of clothes and a fat beach read if you’re strategic,” she says. Which is ideal if you’re traveling personal-item-only.

The “clown car of personal items” is what writer and film wrangler Maggie Slepian calls this top-loading backpack from hiker-beloved brand Gregory. When she used it as her only luggage item for a four-day trip to the East Coast last fall, it fit a laptop, notebook, sandals, running shoes, rain jacket, jumpsuit, two pairs of leggings, two pairs of shorts, several shirts, toiletries, socks, undergarments, five pairs of headphones (over-ear, noise-canceling earbuds, white-noise only, corded for the plane, and AirPods for Zoom calls), and snacks. Her water bottle was stashed in the stretchy side pocket.

Patagonia’s Ultralight Black Hole Tote Pack is “a really good bag,” as Strategist contributing writer Molly Dektar observes . Popular among globe-trotting art world types, it can be carried as either a tote or a backpack, depending on the situation, and it folds into its own internal pocket, for easy storage. It is practical without sacrificing style: “Though it is crafted of black ripstop, it does not scream, ‘I hike!’ and though it has a large number of pockets and adjustable straps, it does not scream, ‘I code!’”

Strategist senior editor Simone Kitchens is a fan of Patagonia’s Black Hole bags too — but she uses this more traditional-looking one. “ There are one zillion separate little pockets and perfectly sized compartments for things like chargers and night guards and passports and AirPods,” she explains, “as well as slim sleeves for a laptop and magazines.” The bag opens at the top, which means things won’t come tumbling out when you need to grab something. And while there’s a high level of organization happening on the inside, the bag has a smooth exterior: “ I quite like that the outside doesn’t look all that tricked out. ”

Despite fears of looking like a Scandinavian school child or 2012-era hipster, Strategist writer Dominique Pariso is loyal to her Kanken — and she’s not alone among our staff . “This backpack is so light, so compact, and so durable it really is ideal for stuffing under tiny airplane seats,” she explains. “Plus, you can fit way more stuff inside than seems humanly possible given its petite size.”

The best personal-item cross-bodies and fanny packs

Crescent-shaped bags have been everywhere over the past couple of years, but here’s one that’ll stand out from the crowd. Writer and artist Ludwig Hurtado says it’s big enough to fit your phone, headphones, passport, sunglasses, snacks, and even a book or two. And the cross-body strap makes it ideal for travel: “In theory, I love the look of a large tote bag, but when I’m running around the city or the airport, they tend to fall off my shoulder way too easily.” He took his to Paris Fashion Week as well as on a quick trip to Berlin, where it successfully helped him gain entry to Berghain.

On the more affordable side of things, Baggu’s take on the crescent trend is excellent for travel. I’ve had mine for a couple of years now and would be lost without it at the airport. It’s comfortable to wear, with a highly adjustable strap and two zippered internal pockets for securing your phone, passport, and wallet. The capacity is huge: I can fit a book and water bottle inside and still have room left over for other items. I’ve machine washed it several times with no issue. And while the bag looks smart, especially in the black colorway, it’s also low-key enough to avoid the attention of pickpockets. Hairstylist Teddi Cranford, who has visited Marrakech five times , says that it’s “essential for the souk,” because you can “just easily grab stuff out and zip it back up.”

Less sporty-looking than the ubiquitous Lululemon belt bag, and constructed from stretchy neoprene fabric that lets you stuff it full if you need to, our favorite fanny pack is perfect for the plane. As Strategist editor Maxine Builder explains, it’s made of “forgiving, easy-to-clean” neoprene, and “it expands a fair bit” so she can stuff more into it.

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Liquids Rule

You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. Placing these items in the small bag and separating from your carry-on baggage facilitates the screening process. Pack items that are in containers larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in checked baggage.

Any liquid, aerosol, gel, cream or paste that alarms during screening will require additional screening.

• Medications
• Infant and child nourishments

Inbound International Flights

You may carry duty free liquids in secure, tamper–evident bags, more than 3.4 oz or 100 ml in your carry-on bag if:

• The duty free liquids were purchased internationally and you are traveling to the United States with a connecting flight.
• The liquids are packed in a transparent, secure, tamper-evident bag by the retailer and do not show signs of tampering when presented to TSA for screening.
• The original receipt for the liquids is present and the purchase was made within 48 hours.

The items inside the secure, tamper-evident bags must be screened and cleared. Any item that alarms or is unable to be screened will not be permitted in your carry-on bag. We recommend packing all liquids, gels, and aerosols that are over 3.4 oz or 100 ml in your checked baggage, even if they are in a secure, tamper-evident bag.

I will fight for overhead space on a plane, but I shouldn't have to | Cruising Altitude

I’ll admit it. I will elbow you out of the way to get on the plane 30 seconds sooner and secure overhead bin space. I’m not proud of it, but I'll probably never see you again, and I really don’t want to have to check a bag on most flights.

I’m part of the problem, but I’m not alone. The bag wars just keep heating up. 

“We travel a couple times a year, about four times a year, and we’re noticing that we don’t have any overhead space for our bags. When people are getting on the plane, they’re taking the first (space) available,” Elaine DiCresce, a retiree from Minneapolis, told me. “The last few times, we actually checked our bags at the gate. It’s just frustrating.”

So how did we get here? Why is overhead bin space at such a premium, and what can be done about it? Here’s what I learned.

Who sets carry-on bag rules?

Most flights have a 1 + 1 rule: one carry-on bag that goes in the overhead bin and one personal item that fits under the seat in front in economy and on most domestic flights. But these guidelines are flexible and not set in stone.

“The airlines make the rules,” Loulu Lima, founder of the Texas-based travel agency Book Here Give Here , told me. “This is real simple, and every airline has a different rule.” 

That is to say, there’s no overarching regulation about what carry-on bags have to be, just that most airlines use similar equipment and set standards more or less the same way.

“Sometimes you’ll hear an agent blame the FAA, but that’s not true,” said Brett Snyder, author of the blog Cranky Flier and owner of the travel agency Cranky Concierge.

But whenever you fly, it’s a good idea to check the details of your carry-on allowance.

Lima said each airline has slightly different dimensions for allowable carry-on bags, and different tickets have different rules. Some basic economy tickets might not allow for overhead bin baggage, and ultra-low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier may charge an extra fee for carry-on bags.

What are the best ways to secure overhead bin space?

Unfortunately, there’s no great strategy here. The best way to access a bin on most airlines is to be in an early boarding group, which usually means having a more premium ticket, having frequent flyer status with the airline, holding the right credit card, or paying for access.

“I hate to say it, but sometimes I would join a credit card that gets you earlier boarding or buy that early boarding space. It really depends on the airline," Lima said. 

How can overhead bin space be less competitive?

First, a brief detour to look at why bin space is so sought-after in the first place:

“We initially got there when checked bags were still free, but people were primarily concerned that their checked bag would be lost,” Snyder said. “When (airlines) started charging for checked bags, then it became even more important for people, because people don’t want to pay for it.” 

Lima agreed that passengers mistrusting airlines is a big part of why so many passengers rely solely on carry-ons on their trips.

“We’ve all become control freaks to a certain extent,” she said. “There’s no trust that the bag is actually going to make it. Why do you think the AirTags and the Tiles and all of these other things are so popular these days?” 

Airlines are aware that access to bins is competitive and frequently tout improvements that mean more space for rollaboards. In fact, just on Tuesday, United Airlines announced it was installing larger bins on its Embraer E175 regional jets, operated by Skywest. Regional jets, which typically fly short routes, are notoriously tight on carry-on space.

Beyond physical improvements to overhead bins, airlines can’t do much to help with the competition, though. 

Snyder said airlines can encourage or require passengers to gate-check their bags but acknowledged that sometimes backfires, especially if they start forcing checks before the overhead bins are full.

And, of course, airlines can charge for overhead bin access, which is unpopular with passengers, but it does smooth things along at the boarding door.

“You have airlines like Spirit and Frontier, they charge you more to carry-on than to check a bag,” Snyder said. “You don’t see the same kind of mad dash that you see on other airlines to get on board just so you can claim your bin space.”

Yet, the efficacy of such practices is somewhat limited. 

For DiCresce and her husband, Clifford, they’re left wondering why airlines don’t assign slots in the overhead bin like seats, and to be honest, I think it’s a fair question to which I don’t have an answer.

Expert packing tips

Until new innovations or some sort of sorcery make overhead bin space unlimited, we’re stuck duking it out with fellow passengers for whatever we can get.

Lima said that she usually travels with carry-on bags only and that you can minimize the space you need by being strategic about how and what you pack.

“I’ve gone to China and to Finland for three weeks and I’ve had different temperature changes,” she said. “I’m all about rolling and, as a plus-sized woman, my clothes are bigger than most, so if I can do it, everyone else can do it, too.”

For Snyder, the best way to avoid the stress is to just determine not to rely on the bins at all. 

“When you travel without a carry-on bag, it is remarkably freeing. You, all of a sudden, don’t care when you board if you have an assigned seat,” he said.

And I’ve seen for myself that the checked-bag system is increasingly reliable. I’ll still fight you for that overhead bin space for now, but I may be coming around to Snyder’s view.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected]

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American Airlines relaxes pet, carry-on luggage policy

Pet owners' large carry-on bags previously needed to be checked for $35.

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American Airlines is relaxing part of its pet policy to let owners bring their companion and a full-size carry-on bag into the cabin.

Until this week, people who carried a pet into the cabin — which involves paying a $150 fee — could only have one other small item that fit under the seat.

Anything bigger, like a carry-on bag with wheels, needed to be checked — for a $35 fee. Or they could put the pet in the cargo hold.

PASSENGERS SUFFER FLIGHT DELAYS AFTER DELTA PLANES CLIP WINGS AT MINNEAPOLIS AIRPORT

Now American is letting passengers bring a pet in the cabin and also bring a regular carry-on bag or a personal item — just not both bags.

FILE - An American Airlines grounds crew unloads a dog from the cargo area of an arriving flight, Aug. 1, 2012, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. American Airlines is relaxing part of its pet policy to let owners bring their companion and a full-size carry-on bag into the cabin. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

The old policy struck some pet owners as unfair, since they were already paying a pet fee.

Gary Leff, a travel blogger who first wrote about the change, recalled traveling years ago with a Yorkshire terrier.

"It was always frustrating that the dog counted as the carry-on even though I was paying the extra (pet) fee that was sometimes more than the ticket for me," he said Friday.

Leff said he thinks American's change will reduce the urge for travelers to falsely claim that their pet is a service animal that flies for free.

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An American spokeswoman confirmed that the rules change took effect Thursday. She couldn't explain the reason because the airline's corporate offices were closed for Good Friday, and decision-makers were not available.

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The Carry-On-Baggage Bubble Is About to Pop

A man grunts and sighs in the crowded aisle next to you. His backpack swats your shoulder. “If an overhead bin is shut, that means it is full,” a flight attendant announces over the intercom. A passenger in yoga pants backtracks through the throng with a carry-on the size of a steamer trunk—“Sorry, sorry,” she mutters; the bag will need to be checked to her final destination. Travelers squish aside to make way for her, pressing against one another inappropriately in the process. Nobody is happy.

Among the many things to hate about air travel, the processing of cabin luggage is ascendant. Planes are packed, and everyone seems to have more and bigger stuff than the aircraft can accommodate. The rabble holding cheap tickets who board last are most affected, but even jet-setters with elite status seem to worry about bag space; they hover in front of gates hoping to board as soon as possible—“ gate lice ,” they’re sometimes called. Travelers are rightly infuriated by the situation: a crisis of carry-ons that someone must be responsible for, and for which someone must pay.

I’m a traveler who believes that someone must pay, and on a recent flight to Fort Lauderdale, I came across a suspect. The idea popped into my brain, and then got stuck. My theory was a simple one. We know that airlines overbook their seats, then count on no-shows and rebookings to make the system work. This helps ensure that each flight will be as full as possible, but it also leads to situations where passengers must be paid to take a different flight. What if the airlines are doing the same thing with overhead bins and “allowing” more carry-on luggage than a plane can even hold? What if they’re overbooking those compartments in the hopes or expectation that some passengers won’t bother with a Rollaboard and will simply check their bags instead?

If that’s the case, then the aisle pandemonium can’t be chalked up to passengers’ misbehavior or to honest confusion at the gate. No, it would mean that all this hassle is a natural outcome of the airlines’ cabin-stowage arbitrage. It would indicate inconvenience by design .

As I tried to settle in my seat, ducking under other people’s arms, a sense of outrage began to tingle in my fingers and my toes. When I looked around the cabin, I now saw a scene of mass betrayal. No matter how hard we try, I thought, we’ll never squeeze our bags into these bins. Gate checks are inevitable. The fix is in.

Could overbooking luggage be the root of the carry-on crisis? I needed to investigate. On a subsequent flight to Phoenix in an American Airlines Boeing 737-800 , I began to gather evidence. As soon as the seat-belt sign had extinguished, I got up to count the seats and bins. There were 26 six-seat rows in economy, and four rows of four seats in first class, for a total capacity of 172 luggage-encumbered souls. Hanging above those seats were 28 large overhead bins, plus two smaller ones at the front. Boeing later told me that the large bins are made to hold up to six standard-size carry-on bags each. Six times 28 is 168, so if we assume that each of the smaller bins can hold at least another pair of bags, there would be space enough for every passenger on a full flight to stow something overhead. It seemed my theory was debunked.

Sort of. The large bins, which were of a relatively new, swing-down design that Boeing calls “Space Bins,” must be loaded in a certain way to reach their maximum capacity. That means inserting the bags sideways and upright, so that they slide like books onto a shelf. The bags loaded like books also must conform to expected size. U.S. airline standards limit the dimensions of carry-on bags to 22-by-14-by-9 inches, but (shocker) many people bring on bags that are much larger, or are oddly shaped. Some bring two. If the margin for error in the bins is very small—as appeared to be the case for my flight to Arizona—then how likely is it that every piece of luggage on a full flight will end up stowed away?

The tenuous conditions of my trip to Phoenix turn out to represent something like a best-case scenario. Not every plane is as well-equipped as the aircraft that happened to be flying me that day. Boeing’s Space Bins are optional for airplane buyers, an upgrade over smaller models that are meant to hold just four bags each. An American Airlines spokesperson told me that 80 percent of its mainline fleet has the larger bins; the rest have compartments built for the luggage habits of our forebears.

Even with the larger bins installed, a given plane’s capacity for holding people could still exceed its theoretical space for those people’s suitcases. That’s because Boeing’s bins are stock equipment, a spokesperson told me, while each customer—i.e., each airline—designs its own seats, and specifies the distance between them. That space allowance, called “pitch” in the business, has been contracting over the years so that more seats can be crammed in. Naturally, all of those extra passengers end up sharing the same number (and volume) of overhead bins.

[ Read: Jeffrey Goldberg on the many prohibited items in his carry-on bag ]

At the same time, travelers have been given new incentives to engage in the aisle scrum for bin space. “Back in the day, we used to buy an airline ticket and many things were included,” Laurie Garrow, a civil-engineering professor at Georgia Institute of Technology who specializes in aviation-travel behavior, told me. “And then, after the 2008 financial crisis, that’s when the de-bundling started.” Under pressure from rising fuel costs, competition from low-cost carriers, and other factors, airlines separated standard perks such as free checked bags into individual services, which travelers could buy or forgo. To dodge those added costs, more people chose to carry on.

Those fees are not the only factor. Southwest Airlines passengers, who can check two bags for free, still seem to fight over limited space in bins. And business travelers, whose ticket class or airline status often comes with free checked bags, still like to store their stuff overhead. That’s because they value their time and don’t want to stand around a baggage carousel. Nor are they willing to accept the hassle of potential mix-ups with checked luggage.

The bags themselves have also changed. Today’s hard-shell cases don’t compress to fit as soft-shell bags do, which may erase whatever latitude remains in a bin-to-passenger ratio that is already way too low. The luxurious Space Bins on my flight to Phoenix just barely seemed to satisfy the airline’s implied promise to its passengers, and I hadn’t bothered to consider other complications. Passengers in bulkhead rows may not have under-seat storage and thus send their personal items up top too. And some bin space might be reserved for defibrillators or other safety equipment. Perhaps this isn’t quite the scam I had initially imagined, but the entire carry-on situation is dangled over a precipice, ready to tumble into the void at any moment.

Precarity of stowage leads to mayhem. The number of carry-ons being carried on has been rising since the great de-bundling , and more passengers are flying too. In the hellscape that results, passengers squeeze past one another as they roam in both directions down the aisles, in an often fruitless search for empty bins. By 2011, boarding times had already doubled compared with the 1970s, and they’ve crept up even further in the past five years. Based on my experience, the gate-lice epidemic is also getting worse.

Solving the carry-on crisis is difficult: The variables are many, and the incentives to change them are in conflict. The global airline industry now makes almost $30 billion a year from baggage fees. With rising fuel costs, increasing salaries for pilots, and the usual Wall Street pressures for quarterly performance, airlines aren’t likely to give up that income anytime soon. And yet, airlines also have an incentive to reduce the time it takes to load and unload planes, because doing so would allow them to turn flights around faster. If passengers had fewer carry-ons, airline schedules could be more efficient.

Boeing has researched and defined the maximum volume that a carry-on bag might reasonably occupy, given current consumer preferences and trends in luggage manufacturing. Teague, the firm that has designed all of Boeing’s aircraft interiors since 1946 (when overhead bins were nothing more than hat racks), incorporates that figure into its holistic vision of an aircraft’s interior: windows, lavatories, galleys, and, yes, overhead bins. Innovations in the latter tend to go in one direction only: “It’s like an arms race between Airbus and Boeing over who has the biggest bins,” David Young, a Teague principal industrial designer who has worked on cabin features for 20 years, told me.

The design process is intricate. Overhead bins must be designed such that they never, ever open accidentally and also so they can be closed with little effort by passengers and flight attendants of various sizes and strengths. The bins must be easy to reach without getting in the way of passengers’ bodies during boarding and deplaning. Young and his colleagues also must ensure that baggage doesn’t shift around so much inside a bin that it falls out when a passenger goes to retrieve it. That task is made more difficult by the slippery, injection-molded plastic luggage that is now in vogue, which has a greater tendency to slide around in-bin.

I was impressed by Young’s account of the attention that goes into every detail of the bins’ design, but the whole affair felt like it might be accelerating the problem—in the way that adding lanes to a freeway can create more traffic than it alleviates . If the cabin designers are always trying to expand overhead bins to accommodate larger and more numerous carry-on bags, then surely passengers will respond by choosing and bringing ever bigger bags.

So what, then—should Boeing shrink the bins just to reverse the trend? Young and Garrow proposed another way: “Just check your bag,” they both suggested, as if this Buddhist avian manner could easily be put into practice. Garrow told me that she’s started packing less and using hotel laundry and dry-cleaning services, just so that her carry-on is smaller. Young said he brings only a bag that fits underneath the seat in front of him.

Fine ideas, I suppose. But the carry-on crisis won’t be solved by asking passengers to behave more sensibly. For the moment, we can’t even seem to figure out how to use the newer, more capacious bins the way we’re meant to. On my flight back home, passengers loaded them haphazardly, with some bags laid flat instead of on their side. As a result, those bins carried four bags at most, not six. When I asked my flight attendant how passengers respond to her instruction to stow each bag “like a book,” she shrugged. “I don’t know; sometimes I stack books flat on my shelves.”

One passenger on my flight expressed her perplexity aloud: “Like a book?” She sounded confused but also, in a way, concerned—as if her suitcase might not feel so comfortable on its side. I found this endearing. Roller bags are a little bit like pets, skittering across the floor, low to the ground, always by our side. Maybe people like to bring their bag on board because they want to have it close, as if the suitcase were a friend with whom they might share the loneliness of travel.

When I floated this idea to Young, he worried that I might be flying too much, and brought me back to Earth with a much more practical concern. Overhead-bin design has reached its limit, he said; the cabin luggage compartments won’t be getting any bigger: “I’d say we’re at a breaking point. We’ve hit as big as we can go.” That means some other solution to the carry-on crisis must be found. Some other, far more radical solution.

“Maybe we don’t need carry-ons at all,” Young went on. He was whispering, almost, as if his secret made him sound bananas, which it somewhat did. “Someone needs to step out and say, ‘We’re not doing this anymore. This isn’t the right experience for air travel.’” What if the overhead were instead restored to its original purpose, as a modest rack for hats, coats, shoulder bags, and briefcases? Already planning for this possible, if still unthinkable, future, Teague has started designing all of its interiors to include an option without any overhead bins at all. Imagine how light you’d feel up at cruising altitude with no bags encumbering you, and a stretch of empty space above your head.

“But where would the bags go?” I asked, not yet ready to loosen the grip on my Rollaboard. Maybe you’d drop them off early, at the AirTrain station, he explained, or later at the gate. Or maybe you’d board the plane with them, as you always have, but then you could lower them down into the hold from the cabin floor. Who knows? Young’s point is: Nobody has even tried to imagine an alternative. Travelers ought to dream of a future without carry-on luggage, rather than one that expands endlessly to contain it.

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The Best Underseat Luggage To Make Your Next Flight Hassle-Free

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From long-haul flights to hour-long trips, having your travel essentials (think: snacks, books and headphones) right at your feet is a major convenience. Beyond that, your onboard personal item can even hold a few days’ worth of clothes, potentially eliminating your need for a carry-on. The best underseat luggage easily slides into tight spaces, while still fitting all of the demands of modern air travel. For instance, our top pick, the Thule Subterra Boarding Bag , is designed with helpful features like a laptop compartment and a trolley sleeve for attaching to your rolling luggage.

The best underseat luggage is compact and thoughtfully designed, sliding into tight spaces without ... [+] sacrificing storage space.

When it comes to underseat luggage, functionality and durability are the two most important qualities to prioritize. Look for bags with rip-resistant fabrics (or crack-resistant shells), strategically placed pockets and, with certain styles, comfy shoulder straps. During our research, we consulted with Forbes Vetted’s senior travel editor and globetrotter Astrid Taran to select the best underseat luggage available right now, from travel backpacks to duffel bags and beyond.

• Best Underseat Luggage Overall: Thule Subterra 23L Boarding Bag
• Best Underseat Luggage With Wheels: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Underseat Bag
• Best Underseat Duffel Bag: Troubadour Embark Compact Duffel
• Best Underseat Tote Bag: Cuyana System 13-Inch Tote
• Best Underseat Backpack: Troubadour Compact Apex Backpack
• Best Underseat Hardshell Luggage: Calpak Hue Mini Carry-On Luggage
• Most Spacious Underseat Luggage: Briggs and Riley Underseat Duffle
• Best Underseat Luggage For Business Travel : Dagne Dover Berlin Travel Brief

Best Underseat Luggage Overall

The winner on all fronts, thule subterra 23l boarding bag.

Dimensions (LxWxH): 12.2 x 7.9 x 17.3 inches | Weight: 2.1 pounds | Colors: 2 total, including Black and Ember

There’s a lot to like about the Thule Subterra 23L boarding bag. It has a clean, functional design and comes in two dark color options (great for hiding stains). The best part? It’s wrapped in a durable, 800D nylon that will undoubtedly stand up to underseat air travel. The Subterra’s roomy interior has enough space for necessary tech essentials plus extraneous gear to get through a layover or a longer direct flight. It also has designated storage for a 15-inch laptop, as well as a trolley sleeve for attaching to rolling luggage. Beyond that, Thule bags are simply built tough—you can count on them to last for years.

The 2024 Forbes Vetted Best Product Awards are here: Explore our 150 top-recommended items across categories after extensive research and testing.

Best Underseat Luggage With Wheels

Easily movable with true durability, travelpro maxlite 5 underseat bag.

Dimensions (LxWxH): 17.5 x 8.5 x 14.5 inches | Weight: 5.5 pounds | Available colors: 9 total, including Midnight Blue and Orchid Pink Purple

You’ve probably seen pilot and flight attendant luggage donned with the Travelpro brand—and that’s because the company makes solid, sturdy bags air travel professionals can rely on. They also happen to be a brand of choice for professional frequent flyers. Inside, the bag has one main storage area and a lining made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. Travelers can rely on a well-built set of wheels and a cemented handle that can maneuver around tight spaces on-plane with ease. Outside, a stain- and water-resistant fabric makes this a definite winner. 

Best Underseat Duffel Bag

For a more athletic-focused traveler.

Saks Fifth Avenue

Troubadour Embark Compact Duffel

Dimensions (LxWxH): 18 x 7.5 x 11 inches | Weight: 2.9 pounds | Colors: 2 total, including Black and Navy

For the traveler who needs just as much style as function in their underseat luggage, this bag from Troubador is a great choice. The dedicated shoe pocket (with air circulation) is a nice touch, especially for overnights where a second pair is required. In the main pocket, there’s tidy essential storage, with varied pocket sizes for all of your necessary gear. Plus, it’s a handsome bag draped in a recycled polyester fabric and vegan leather trim that adds a touch of class to a workhorse piece. 

Best Underseat Tote Bag

Customizable and chic, cuyana system 13-inch tote.

Dimensions (HxWxD): 10 x 13.25 x 5 inches | Weight: 1.9 pounds | Colors: 6 total, including Caramel and Stone

If you’re already bringing a carry-on or checked bag on your trip, you may prefer to carry a simple tote bag onto your flight in lieu of more traditional luggage. This 13-inch leather bag from Cuyana earned the top spot on our list of the best travel totes ; it has a designated laptop sleeve and an internal pouch for smaller items like your wallet, passport and phone. It comes in versatile neutral hues that complement any outfit, so you can head straight from the airport to your dinner reservation with ease. There’s also the option to add gold foil monogramming for a personalized touch.

Best Underseat Backpack

Tidy, subtle and classic, troubadour compact apex backpack.

Dimensions (HxWxD): 16 x 11.5 x 5.5 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Colors: 3 total, including Navy and Obsidian Green

Troubadour makes the list a second time for this well-suited backpack that’s ideal for the business traveler. The front zipper opening offers easy access to smaller items when you’re crammed into a middle seat along with additional integration inside the bag for those who need more tech space. Outside, a sleeve strap means you can stow this on top of your rolling bag while sprinting through the airport between layovers. The recycled polyester exterior will hold its own for any unplanned spills.

Best Underseat Hardshell Luggage

A fine mix of fashion and function, calpak hue mini carry-on luggage.

Dimensions (HxWxD): 16 x 14 x 8.5 inches | Weight: 6.4 pounds | Colors: 6 total, including Hazel and Mauve

True to its name, the Hue Mini is one of the smaller pieces in Calpak’s range, but there’s still plenty of versatility to go around. With 31 liters of total space, there’s enough for an overnight stay and some change. The luxury of a symmetrical shape is that it very easily tucks into the underseat area of an airplane or that last bit of available overhead space. Plus, it’s fun and bright, ensuring it will stand out if you ever need to check it.

Most Spacious Underseat Luggage

For those who need to cram in as much as possible.

Briggs and Riley

Briggs and Riley Underseat Duffle

Dimensions (HxWxD): 10.5 x 16.5 x 11.5 inches | Weight: 2.8 pounds

There are a number of bold features built into this bag that make it an excellent candidate for underseat travel. Primarily, the number and functionality of its pockets means you can fit quite a lot into a soft frame that leaves a little space underneath your seat. The separate water bottle storage is also a nice touch, especially when you want to remove the risk of your beverage leaking on your precious tech items. Lastly, it has ample interior access, should you need to remove something to get through security at the last possible moment. 

Best Underseat Luggage For Business Travel

A sleek look for important meetings.

Dagne Dover

Dagne Dover Berlin Travel Brief

Dimensions (LxWxH): 16 x 4.5 x 12.5 inches | Weight: 2.1 pounds | Colors: 3 total, including Ash and Onyx

Dagne Dover’s Berlin Travel Brief is ideal for those who need to tote around a lot of tech—it offers space for two 16-inch laptops and two phones. In addition, padded slip pockets provide extra space for smaller work essentials such as a notebook or writing utensils, while a neoprene pouch accommodates your water bottle. A luggage sleeve allows you to slip the bag onto your rolling suitcase as you make your way to your final destination. The padded crossbody strap is removable, giving you the option to hold the bag like a traditional briefcase.

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The 10 best hotels in athens, why trust forbes vetted.

• In addition to writing, researching and publishing dozens of luggage stories across the board, the Forbes Vetted team has spent many hours on the road and in the sky with carry-on luggage , weekender bags and travel backpacks of every kind.
• Product selections are overseen by senior travel editor Astrid Taran , a seasoned globetrotter who has visited 35 countries throughout the course of her career.
• This article is regularly updated to ensure all product selections still meet the criteria for their respective categories. In its most recent March 2024 update, travel writer Claire Epting reevaluated our picks and introduced the Thule Subterra Boarding Bag , the Cuyana System Tote and the Dagne Dover Berlin Travel Brief to the list.

What To Consider When Selecting Underseat Luggage

There are a few key factors you should keep in mind when picking an underseat bag. Below, we’ve broken down each one to better inform your purchasing decision.

The biggest factor when considering underseat luggage is size. If the bag doesn’t fit underneath the seat, then you’ll be asked to place it above you in the overhead bin. It’s also important to make sure you don’t push the outer limits of the dimension maximums, since you also need a place to rest your feet. In our experience, it’s better to give up 2 to 3 inches of space so you don’t end up more crammed in the seat than you already are.

It’s almost a sure bet that your underseat bag will get stained, kicked around and generally pushed into the framing of the seat in front of you, so it’s crucial that it can stand up to all of that wear. Hardshell bags fare a bit better, but soft-sided bags and backpacks can move more to give your feet a bit more space. In either case, you want to find a strong nylon, polyester or leather bag that can bend, flex and fold to the demands of commercial air travel.

Additional Features

When comparing different pieces of underseat luggage, consider which features are most important to you. For those who frequently go on trips for work, a bag with a built-in laptop compartment will prove useful. Meanwhile, those who hate carrying bags on their shoulders will benefit from one with rolling wheels. If you’re traveling with additional luggage, look for a bag with a trolley sleeve—this design feature allows you to slip your bag over the handle of your wheeled suitcase.

What Is The Best Size For Underseat Luggage?

Every domestic airline has a different standard for underseat carry-on sizing. To give a good example of the range you should expect to find on your flights, American Airlines has a dimension maximum of 18 inches long, 14 inches wide and 8 inches high, while United Airlines has underseat dimensions of 17 inches long, 10 inches wide and 9 inches high.

These dimensions (and associated weight limits) are subject to regular change, so it’s critical to check with your airline before you head to the airport. Of course, international airlines will have a whole other set of dimensions and regulations to consider for underseat bags. Roomy first-class seats may have a few extra inches to spare, and the main cabin middle seat might have more room than its neighbors.

Is An Underseat Bag The Same As A Carry-On Bag?

While both carry-ons and underseat bags accompany you aboard the airplane, they fall into two separate categories of luggage. Underseat luggage is typically classified as your “personal item,” which is expected to fit underneath the seat in front of you. Carry-on luggage is larger in size and stored in the overhead bin for the duration of your flight. All U.S. airlines allow for one personal item per passenger free of charge, but some require an extra fee for carry-on bags.

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United Airlines bag policy: What you can carry on and how much it costs to check luggage

Following the lead of American Airlines , United Airlines has raised the cost of checking bags.

Under the updated United Airlines baggage policy , the cost to check a bag is now $40 for the first bag ($35 if paid online at least 24 hours before the flight) and $50 for the second bag ($45 if prepaid online) for flights within the U.S.

United's checked bag fees were previously $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second.

The cost of checking bags for international travel depends on the destination. For example, it also costs $40 for the first bag and $50 for the second bag for travel to and from Canada and Mexico.

Here's what to know about United Airlines' baggage policy.

How much does United charge for checked bags?

For domestic travel, United Airlines charges $40 for the first checked bag and $50 for the second checked bag. The fees are $35 for the first bag and $45 for the second bag if you pay online at least 24 hours before your flight.

The fees are the same for international destinations in the Americas such as Canada and Mexico, as well as the Caribbean. However, The Arizona Republic found there was no discount to prepay for checked bags for flights to and from Canada when we used United's Bag Fee Calculator to price the cost of checking luggage for Phoenix-Toronto and Phoenix-Calgary itineraries.

Does United Economy include a checked bag?

United Economy fares do not include a checked bag.

Can I bring a carry-on with United Economy?

United's Economy and Economy Plus fares include one free carry-on that can go in the overhead bin plus a personal item. United Basic Economy fares permit one personal item that fits under the seat. Carry-on sized bags must be checked.

Are prepaid baggage fees refundable on United?

Passengers may be able to get refunds for checked luggage if they prepay for more bags than they check, or if their flight is cancelled, according to United.

How can I get a free checked bag on United Airlines?

Certain fare classes and loyalty program tiers include free checked bags on United.

Members of United's MileagePlus rewards program who have MileagePlus Premier status can check at least one bag for free, and the number of free bags depends on their tier. To reach the minimum Premier level, Premier Silver (one free checked bag), passengers must either take 12 qualifying flights and earn 4,000 qualifying points or earn 5,000 qualifying points in a calendar year.

United Explorer Card credit card holders, plus a companion, get one free checked bag when they purchase their plane tickets with that card. The credit card has an introductory annual fee of $0, which increases to $95 annually after the first year.

Active U.S. military members with ID and their dependents can check up to two bags free for personal travel and up to five bags free when traveling on military orders, according to United.

What is United Airlines' baggage allowance?

The baggage weight allowance on United depends on a passenger's fare class and MileagePlus status. For economy and premium economy passengers, checked bags must weigh 50 pounds or less. Fees for overweight bags start at $200.

First class passengers, business class passengers and MileagePlus Premier members can check bags that weigh up to 70 pounds.

Assistive devices such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes and crutches are free to check regardless of size and weight.

How many bags does United Airlines allow for free?

United Airlines passengers may board with one carry-on bag and one personal item for free.

What is the carry-on size restriction for United?

Carry-on bags can measure no more than 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high, including handles and wheels.

What is the personal item size restriction for United?

The size limit for personal items, which include purses, small handbags, backpacks and laptop bags, is 17 inches long, 10 inches wide and 9 inches high.

Does United allow a backpack and carry-on?

If you have a carry-on bag, you can also bring a backpack as long as it meets the size limit for a personal item, which is 17 inches long, 10 inches wide and 9 inches high. Passengers may not bring two carry-on size bags.

Is there a weight limit for carry-on bags?

No weight limits for carry-on bags are noted in United's carry-on bag policies. Carry-on bags and personal items within the size limits can fly regardless of weight as long as the carry-on can fit in the overhead bin and the personal item can fit under the seat.

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Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at  [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:  @salerno_phx .

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BAGSMART Hardside Expandable Luggage With Spinner Wheels, PC Lightweight Carry-On Luggage Airline Approved With TSA Lock, Durable Women Travel Suitcase Carry On 20 Inch, Beige

Purchase options and add-ons

• Airline Approved Luggage: The BAGSMART carry on luggage meet most carry-on baggage size restrictions for airline. Overall size: 21.6" x 14.5" x 9" (including wheels and handle height), volume: 35 Liters, weighs only 6.83 lbs.
• Effortless Expandable, Extra 20% Room: Unlock new possibilities with our expandable suitcase, offering an additional 2 inches of packing space, unleashing the potential of hard shell luggage with an extra 20% packing space, Volume 35L to 42L—say goodbye to cramped travel and hello to comfort.
• Effortless 360° Spinning Wheels - Embrace stability and ease with 8 smooth-rolling silent wheels of our women travel luggage. Glide effortlessly through bustling airports, effortlessly maneuvering through crowded streets and busy terminals.
• TSA-approved Locks: From busy airports to picturesque destinations, our rolling suitcase with TSA-certified lock provides unbeatable theft prevention. Travel with confidence, knowing your belongings are well-protected.
• 100% Polycarbonate, Lightweight Fortress: Crafted with 100% thicker polycarbonate, our hard shell carry-on luggage for women is exceptionally lightweight yet highly resilient and durable. In the event of an accidental fall, Bagsmart hard shell suitcase provides protection and security that is better than praying to God!
• Premium Service And Warranty: BAGSMART will back each piece of tsa-approved carry-on luggage with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty. Before shipment, hard sided luggage with spinner wheels undergoes thousands of rigorous tests to ensure that our carry on suitcase meets strict standards and can withstand any journey. If there is any quality problem, please feel free to contact us. Professional and patient customer service will reply to your satisfaction in time.

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Is the carry-on luggage compliant with airline personal item requirements?

Absolutely! Our carry-on luggage is like the trusty travel companion who knows all the airline regulations by heart. It's designed to meet the size and weight restrictions set by major airlines.

How sturdy and durable is the hard shell luggage?

Our luggage is a tough traveler, tested to endure the bumps of adventure, ensuring it stands strong by your side.

Are the carry on luggage with wheels smooth and easy to maneuver?

Yes! The travel luggage glides effortlessly like a seasoned dancer, making travel a graceful experience.

Can the caryy on suitcase handle rough handling during air travel?

Definitely! With reinforced corners and a sturdy frame, it's your reliable protector through any journey.

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Watch CBS News

American Airlines revises its policy for bringing pets and bags on flights

Updated on: March 29, 2024 / 7:11 PM EDT / CBS/AP

American Airlines is relaxing part of its pet policy to let owners bring their animal companion and a full-size carry-on bag into the cabin.

Until this week, people who carried a pet into the cabin, which involves paying a $150 fee, could only have one other small item that fit under the seat. Anything bigger, like a carry-on bag with wheels, needed to be checked for a $35 fee. Or they could put the pet in the cargo hold.

Now American is letting passengers bring a pet in the cabin and also bring either a regular carry-on bag or a personal item — just not both bags. The old policy struck some pet owners as unfair, since they were already paying a pet fee. Passengers must still pay a fee, but their pet no longer counts as a carry-on.

An American spokeswoman confirmed that the rules change took effect Thursday. She couldn't explain the reason because the airline's corporate offices were closed for Good Friday, and decision-makers were not available. 

Gary Leff, a travel blogger who first wrote about the change, recalled traveling years ago with a Yorkshire terrier.

"It was always frustrating that the dog counted as the carry-on even though I was paying the extra (pet) fee that was sometimes more than the ticket for me," he said Friday.

Leff said he thinks American Airlines' new policy will reduce the urge for travelers to falsely claim that their pet is a service animal that flies for free, enabling them to bring a carry-on as well.

Even with the new policy, however, traveling with a pet takes a lot of planning and research ahead of time, and there are many factors that could prohibit Fido or Felix from being allow into the cabin. For one thing, there is a maximum total number of pets allowed per cabin, which varies depending on the type of aircraft.

On United, the total maximum of four pets is allowed in Economy class on the Airbus 319, while Economy on the Airbus 319 allows a total maximum of six pets. In all instances, individual passengers are allowed to bring a maximum of pets in one single carrier. 

Other U.S. airlines that allow pets on board include Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska and Frontier. On most, pet carriers count as carry-ons, according to the American Kennel Club.

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