What bag can I carry-on Frontier for free?

What is Frontier Airlines' (F9) carry-on baggage policy? Frontier Airlines (F9) allows 1 personal item (purse, briefcase, laptop bag) per passenger fee free. Carry-on baggage is not included as fee free. You may pay for carry-on baggage fees at the time of booking.



On Frontier Airlines, the only bag you can carry on for free is a Personal Item, which must fit entirely within the dimensions of 14" H x 18" W x 8" D (35 x 45 x 20 cm). This includes items like a small backpack, purse, laptop bag, or tote. Frontier is known for strictly enforcing these limits; if your bag does not fit into the "sizers" at the gate (including wheels and handles), you will be charged a significant fee, often $99 or more, to gate-check it. Standard carry-on bags (the ones that go in the overhead bin) are not free and must be purchased separately. To save money, it is highly recommended to pay for your carry-on bag at the time of booking, as the price increases significantly as you get closer to your flight date. In 2026, Frontier continues to use this "unbundled" pricing model to keep base fares low while charging for any luggage beyond the basic personal item.

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Frontier Airlines (F9) allows 1 personal item (purse, briefcase, laptop bag) per passenger fee free. Carry-on baggage is not included as fee free. You may pay for carry-on baggage fees at the time of booking.

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How to avoid or reduce Frontier Airlines baggage fees
  1. Only pack a personal item. ...
  2. Pay for baggage during booking. ...
  3. Buy a specialty fare. ...
  4. Join the myFRONTIER loyalty program. ...
  5. Bring your military documentation. ...
  6. Get airline fee credits and other perks with a travel rewards card.


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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.

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Many airlines will allow you to bring a carry-on bag and personal item for free. However, some airlines may only allow a personal item that fits under your seat for free. Anything larger (e.g. a bag that's too big to fit under the seat but can fit into the overhead compartment) may require extra payment.

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While this can be confusing, most popular airlines allow you to bring a carry-on and personal item, such as a backpack or purse. 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.

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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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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.

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Most airlines allow passengers to bring on both a carry-on and a personal item like a backpack, laptop bag, purse, briefcase, shopping bag, etc. The general rule of thumb is that your personal item is smaller in dimension than your carry-on bag and it can fit underneath the seat in front of you.

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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.

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Typically in economy, you can bring one carry-on and one personal item. If you bring two bags, one must fit underneath your seat and the other can go into the overhead bin. If you're flying in an upgraded class like business or first, you may be allowed an additional carry-on bag.

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Carry-On Baggage: Carry-On Bags can be no larger than 24” tall, 10” wide, and 16” long (including handles, wheels, and straps) and no heavier than 35 pounds. Carry-on Bags may be placed in the overhead compartment or under the seat. Think large backpacks, small duffel bags and small suitcases/wheeled bags!

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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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To do this, measure the linear dimensions - the height, width and depth of the backpack, then multiply these three values. The result will be the volume of the backpack in cubic centimeters or meters (depends on the unit of measurement taken as the base).

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Weighing. If you have both checked and carry on luggage, usually both are going to be weighed at the check-in/luggage drop. If you only have a carry on and check-in online you have small chances to have your luggage weighed, however it might not be true if you apparently struggle with it.

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While some airlines specify size limitations for personal items, others simply require the item to be small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you. For personal items, here's the standard size on major airlines in the United States: American Airlines – 18” x 14” x 8”

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How strict are the airlines about luggage dimensions? Carryon dimensions are limited to the size of the overhead bin. In those cases dimensions are strict. Anything too big gets gate checked.

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American Airlines
According to airline policy, any personal items stowed beneath seats should not exceed 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches.

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