What is a carry-on bag vs personal item?

Most airlines let you bring a carry-on bag and a personal item. In most cases, your handbag, briefcase, or small backpack must fit beneath the seat in front of you and within the airline's size restrictions. In contrast, a carry-on bag is typically larger and is stored in the overhead compartment.



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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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Can You Bring A Personal Item And A Carry-On? Most airlines let you bring a carry-on bag and a personal item. In most cases, your handbag, briefcase, or small backpack must fit beneath the seat in front of you and within the airline's size restrictions.

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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.

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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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In the majority of cases, a duffel bag won't be considered a personal item, as they usually exceed the typical maximum size of 18 x 14 x 8 inches or 45 x 35 x 29 cm. However, they will often be classed as a carry-on bag, if they are within the average limit of 22 x 14 x 9 inches or 56 x 36 x 23 cm.

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Depending on the airline and airfare type you purchase, a carry-on duffel bag will count as your one carry-on item and a backpack or purse will be your allotted personal item. If you purchase the most basic fare of some airlines like United or JetBlue, you may have to pay extra for a carry-on item.

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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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Most airlines allow passengers to bring one personal item and one carry-on bag. However, some airlines, such as Southwest and Delta, permit passengers to bring a second carry-on bag that is smaller in size and can be stored in the overhead bin.

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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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In most cases, backpacks are considered personal items as long as they fit under the seat in front of you. For example, if you use a backpack as a personal item and put it under the seat in front of you, you can then use a duffel as a carry-on bag as long as it's under the airline's size requirements.

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A personal item is any bag that fits under the airplane seat in front of you, though the precise dimensions of these bags vary by carrier. You can use pretty much any bag ranging from duffels and weekenders to backpacks and sling bags, but for the most part, they should be under 18 x 14 x 8 inches.

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Carry-on bags must weigh less than 35 pounds and must not exceed 10 inches deep, 16 inches wide and 24 inches high. Bags must fit in the overhead bins. Checked bags must be no longer than 62 linear inches (length + width + depth) and must weigh under 40 pounds.

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Items subject to the 3-1-1 rule include liquid and aerosol deodorant, cologne, perfume, shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, lotion, sunscreen and toothpaste. Outside of your clear quart-sized bag, you can pack your solid deodorant, toothbrush (manual and electronic), tweezers and mirrors.

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While it may vary from airline to airline, the maximum duffel bag carry-on size is typically 22 x 14 x 9 inches for flights within the U.S. Bag size limitations on international flights can vary, so always check ahead of time on the airline's website.

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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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Toothpaste is considered a liquid by the TSA (Transport Security Agency), even though it's technically a paste. In fact, all pastes, gels, waxes, and lotions are also classified as liquids. And even today, these substances are still restricted by the 3-1-1 rule in hand luggage due to safety threats.

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Because the TSA considers the nut spread a liquid, plane passengers must limit the amount they bring in their carry-ons. Like all other liquids, passengers are limited to 3.4 oz or less of peanut butter in their carry-on bag, but can also put the snack in their checked baggage.

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Is toothpaste considered a liquid by the TSA? Yes, toothpaste must adhere to the 3-1-1 rule for liquids and gels. Toothpaste can be brought through TSA security in your carry-on as long as it is 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less and placed in a 1-quart bag.

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In general, a neck pillow is considered a personal item on an airplane , and passengers are typically allowed to bring it on board in addition to their carry-on overhead luggage and a personal item like a backpack or purse.

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Blankets are considered a personal item by most airlines and will be treated much in the same way as a jacket would. It is best if your blanket is compact and can fit into your carry on bag for storage if not in use. Plus, if your blanket can fit in your carry on bag it will not count as a personal item.

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