Smaller duffle bags are ideal for air travel, and most airlines will let you carry them onboard as your free personal item. Just make sure you can squash it under the seat in front of you.
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According to airline policy, any personal items stowed beneath seats should not exceed 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches.
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.
Duffel bags are less secure than hardshell luggage, which provides a protective barrier for packed items. Duffel bags can also be awkward to carry when packed with heavy items. Last, duffel bags (vs. suitcases) are not as easy to keep organized unless you use packing cubes and other accessories.
Most major airlines allow you to bring one carry on and one personal item in the cabin with you. For every airline, your personal item must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. You can use a duffle bag as a personal item on top of a carry on item.
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.
Carry-on bags shouldn't be larger than 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high including handles and wheels. Dimensions of personal items should not exceed 18 inches long, 14 inches wide and 8 inches high.
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.
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.
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.
Many airlines do not actually put a size limit on your personal item, only that it must fit underneath the seat in front of you. In fact, even the airlines that do have size limits say the same thing, your personal item always has to fit under the seat in front of you.
Unless your carry-on is extremely large, the airline employees at the gate most likely won't ask to measure it. If they'd ask each passenger to measure their carry-on, the boarding would take too long. This could cause delayed flights, which airlines don't want.
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.
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.
Storage CapacityThere are extra pockets on the inside and outside of most suitcases as well, allowing for even more storage space. Unlike duffel bags, suitcases will not fit well in smaller spaces like under a bed, in a shared room or inside lockers.
Duffel bags are roomy and flexible, so you are able to pack a lot more things in there than a regular suitcase. There are also more organizational options in terms of more side and inner pockets for you to store your stuff in.