Can you fit a backpack under an airplane seat?

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.



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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.

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? Flight Approved Carry on Backpack: Size of travel backpack: 20.47 x 12.99 x 8.66 . Capacity: 35L. This luggage backpack is meet the allowed maximum size of most IATA flights and also fits in the overhead compartment and the underseat in flight.

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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.

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

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40L is perfectly within the size limits for carry on as long as it has the correct dimensions. Many bags, even 40L bags, don't however.

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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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The short answer: Yes, a backpack is generally considered a personal item if it fits under the seat in front of you.

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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.

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Priority & 2 Cabin Bags: This allows you to carry a small personal bag (40x20x25cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you and a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm) onboard, to be stored in the overhead locker.

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I've only expanded it to 45L for trips longer than a week or so. In either mode, it won't fit under the seat in front of you on a flight, but it will fit in the overhead compartment.

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If the dimensions of your backpack do not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm), then it would fit underneath the seat.

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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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You don't say what airline you're flying, but most US airlines allow one small suitcase and one other personal item, which is usually taken to mean a much smaller item, such as a purse or a laptop. If your backpack is a big travelpack, you probably will have to check one or the other.

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Most airlines allow backpacks as carry-ons, but size and weight restrictions vary depending on the carrier. Typically, the bag must be within the cabin baggage dimensions of around 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 22 cm), commonly considered the standard size for carry-on.

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Anything around the 40-45 liter mark should still be carry-on compliant depending on the dimensions and the airline. They make for great travel bags where you don't want to check in luggage. Even if you're a heavy packer, you should be able to take a 45L pack away for a weekend.

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Ryanair's policy is that you are allowed to bring one small bag on board, plus one larger item. Anything larger than this will need to be checked in as hold luggage. The small bag must fit into the sizer at the airport and should not weigh more than 10kg.

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We check cabin bag sizes before you board. If your cabin bag is bigger than the maximum size allowed or if you bring a large cabin bag to the departure gate without the correct seat selection or without one pre-booked for your flight, it won't be able to go in the cabin.

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