Can a personal item be a backpack?

In general, a backpack is considered a personal item if it fits under the seat in front of you. This means that the backpack must be no larger than 22 inches in length, 14 inches in width, and 9 inches in height. If the backpack is larger than this, it will be considered luggage and must be checked.



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As a general rule of thumb, anything smaller than the dimensions of a carry-on can be considered a personal item. However, every airline has different restrictions for size. In most cases, your backpack should be no more than 18 x 14 x 8 inches.

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A personal item is any type of luggage that fits underneath the plane seat in front of you. Most domestic airlines in the United States require a personal item to be 18” x 14” x 8” or smaller in size. Personal items can include a purse, briefcase, small backpack, laptop bag, weekender or small duffel bag.

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While personal item size restrictions vary across airlines, most airlines consider a small backpack, purse, briefcase, or laptop bag to be a personal item. These must always fit under the seat in front of you. Many airlines restrict passengers to one personal item and one carry on bag.

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If your backpack doesn't fit, you may be asked to check it at the gate.

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If your carry-on is too big, you will either have to pay penalty fees or check your luggage. Checking your luggage means that your carry-on won't be traveling with you but will instead be sent to the airplane cargo, and you will be able to claim it once the plane lands.

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Airline rules allow for one carry on bag and one personal item, unless you're flying on a basic economy fare. But we've all seen people selfishly putting two bags in the overhead bin or carrying on more luggage than could possibly be allowed. You don't want to be like them. But you also might not be a one bagger.

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Usually, many airlines won't check every carry-on but will instead go for ones that look oversized. If your luggage does not fit in the sizer, you might have to pay a checked bag fee along with the gate checking fee and have your bag transferred to the airplane's cargo.

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Firearms, ammunition, and fireworks are prohibited, as are all knives and safety razors (including pocket knives and Swiss Army knives). Straight razors and replacement blades for straight razors are also not allowed. Most tools also cannot be packed in carry-on luggage, as they have the potential to cause harm.

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Certainly, you can pack clothes in your personal items or carry-on bag. But for a better experience, we recommend packing most of your clothes in your carry on and leaving extra space in your personal items.

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The official answer is the fanny pack is considered a personal item (at least according to Frontier and Delta), but usually, it is not. Most flight attendants won't care about enforcing it, unless you're traveling on a very strict airline. It's only a problem if the person you're encountering deems it as a problem.

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Backpacks, totes, and crossbody bags are typically considered personal items too. The key to remember is it must be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you. A carry-on is a type of hand luggage that you bring into the plane cabin with you and is larger than a personal item.

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The size restrictions for underseat luggage vary greatly between different airlines. It can range anywhere from 13 x 10 x 8 inches to 18 x 14 x 10 inches. But in general, if your underseat luggage is under 16 x 12 x 6 inches, it should be allowed on most airlines.

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Generally, you're allowed one carry on and one personal item, such as a purse, suit bag, briefcase. As long as your backpacks conform to the airline size specifications for hand luggage, it's not a problem that both your carry-ons are backpacks.

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Some items such as heavy coats won't fit in a personal item sized bag, so if you're going to a colder climate, you'll need to wear or carry these items on the plane outside of your bag. I also like to bring a small plastic shopping bag with snacks or purchase a to-go meal at the airport to bring onboard.

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Most Airlines Don't Care if Your Carry-On Is 1 Inch Too Big. Carry-ons are measured at the airport before boarding the plane. It's done with metal measuring boxes just in the right size for the allowed carry-on dimensions. If your bag is too large and it isn't flexible, you won't be able to fit it inside.

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Summing Up: Traveling With Oversized Carry-Ons
If your carry-on is 1-2 inches over the size limit, don't stress about it too much. Most likely, you'll be allowed to pass through without anyone saying anything.

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The short answer: Yes, a backpack is generally considered a personal item if it fits under the seat in front of you. Most airlines offer a few examples of things that fit into the “personal item” category, such as a purse, laptop bag, or a briefcase, but they don't usually include “backpack” on those lists.

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Most airlines will base their size limits on the total size of your bag, not just the weight in pounds like checked bags. Some airlines only give a guidance on “linear inches,” i.e. the sum of the length + width + depth of your bag. A limit of 40 linear inches could also be expressed as 18 x 14 x 8 inches.

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The Top Carry-on Backpacks for 2023
  • Best Overall: Cotopaxi Allpa 35L.
  • Best Budget: ZOMAKE Lightweight Packable Backpack 30L.
  • Best Lightweight: Osprey Farpoint 40.
  • Best for Business: Aer Travel Pack 3.
  • Best for International Travel: Solgaard Lifepack Endeavor (with closet) – Large.


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