United Airlines (UA) allows 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item (purse, briefcase, laptop bag) per passenger fee free. Carry-on should not exceed the following size and weight restrictions: 45 linear inches (22 x 14 x 9 in) or 115 centimeters (56 x 36 x 23 cm) including handles and wheels.
A carry on bag is your larger, primary bag, which you'll stow in the overhead bin. A backpack can be your carry on if it meets your airline's carry on size limits. A personal item is a smaller, secondary bag, which you'll stow under the seat in front of you.
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.
What is considered a personal item bag varies from airline to airline, but a small purse, briefcase and laptop bag are always considered personal items. 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.
Personal items can not be larger than 9 inches X 10 inches X 17 inches (22 cm X 25 cm X 43 cm). As with carry-on luggage, United's carry-on rules for personal items do not consider weight.
No Full-Size Carry-on Bags in Basic EconomyBasic economy allowance: Basic Economy passengers will be limited to a single personal item only such as a purse or laptop or backpack or a very small bag that must fit under the seat (this is similar to Spirit's policy).
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. This designation becomes especially important when you're flying on a low-cost carrier or have booked a basic economy ticket on a larger airline.
United Express Carry-On Rules. United Express flights are operated by regional airline partners, who typically use smaller aircraft with less overhead space than United's regular aircraft. Often larger carry-on bags and roller bags will not fit in the overhead bins of Express aircraft.
In general, your personal item should be smaller than your carry-on and under the specific airline's carry-on dimensions, allowing it to fit under the seat in front of you. In most cases, backpacks are considered personal items as long as they fit under the seat in front of you.
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.
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.
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.
Most airlines allow carry-on luggage that measures up to a maximum of 22 x 14 x 9 inches. In terms of volume, backpacks that are 40-45 liters are good as a carry-on. Anything bigger than that might require you to have it checked in instead.
Generally, for carry-on luggage, passengers are allowed to take one bag and one personal item with them onto their flight. Personal items usually include a laptop bag, handbag or briefcase that easily fits under the cabin seat.
If your carry-on is oversized (and doesn't physically fit inside the overhead compartments) or you encounter a strict airline employee, they will ask you to check it in at the gate.
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)