The question about whether something—anything—can be a “personal item” comes down not to what it's called, then, but whether it will fit under the seat in front of you. So, yes, if your backpack is small enough that you can fit it under the seat in front of you, then it's a personal item.
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If you need a bit more space than what a small backpack offers but don't want to lug around a large pack, go for a medium size. These have a capacity of 25 to 40 liters, which is just enough room for a change of clothes, a laptop, and these must-have travel accessories for every destination.
A good rule of thumb is that if your carry-on bag fits under the seat in front of you, it's considered a personal item. This includes small backpacks, purses, briefcases, laptop bags, etc. Larger bags, including suitcases, must fit in the overhead bin compartment.
Domestic carry-on policies. A good rule of thumb is that if your carry-on bag fits under the seat in front of you, it's considered a personal item. This includes small backpacks, purses, briefcases, laptop bags, etc. Larger bags, including suitcases, must fit in the overhead bin compartment.
Personal Item Backpack (20L)We like this size travel bag because it will likely fit under the seat in front of you on a flight, which means no pesky carry-on fees or worrying about your bag getting lost, which is a big plus.
As a general rule of thumb, backpacks under 20L are allowed as free carry on baggage. Most airlines will charge extra to take larger backpacks on as carry on luggage. Can a 60L backpack be a carry on? Yes, a 60L backpack can be taken as a carry on.
Airlines may sometimes ask you to buy a new seat in order to fit your big item. Then, the additional fee will be significant. Even worse, if your personal item is too large or heavy, it is possible that you have to leave it or be denied entry.
American Airlines advises customers to travel with personal items that are no larger than 18 inches x 14 inches x 8 inches. If you are flying on Delta, be sure your personal item is 17 inches x 13 inches x 9 inches or smaller.
Likely such a bag would be 21 -22 inches long, and so be 3–4 inches too long. A maximum under seat bag would be about 18 x 14 x 8 inches, 2016 cubic inches. With 61 cubic inches per liter, maximum under seat size would be about 33 liters.
In general, travelers are permitted to bring into the plane one personal item and one carry-on bag with them on most flights. The personal item is often a small bag, such as a handbag or laptop bag, that is able to be stowed away beneath the seat that is directly in front of you.
Their dimensions also often fall under the maximum carry on requirements for peace of mind when traveling light. We recommend using a 30 liter backpack carry on as its often just the right size for airline bag requirements.
SMALL BACKPACKS (< 20L)Suitable for everyday carry, tech carry, day travel, tablets… While a capacity of <20L is considered a compact size for a backpack, don't let that fool you. If the backpack is built well and is fully utilized, you should still be able to fit lots of essentials into it.