With baggage fees and carry on fees increasing, it’s smart to take full advantage of the free personal item that pretty much every airline lets you bring on board with you. I do a lot of long weekend trips, and I very frequently travel with just a personal item. It saves me money on baggage fees, and it saves me time at the airport too since I don’t have to wait at baggage claim. Plus, since I’ll have my bag on me at all times, I don’t have to worry as much about my bag getting lost or stolen.
Two notes, some airlines call them “personal items” some call them “under seat bags.” The terms can be used pretty much interchangeably. Make sure you check with the airline you’ll be flying with on the dimensions allowed. If your bag won’t fit under the seat, you could end up having to check it. Simply googling “name of airline” and “baggage policy” should get you the dimensions. There generally is not a maximum weight on personal items, but again, check with your airline. Under seat bags, as the name implies, have to fit under the seat in front of you, so they have to pretty small. Think like a small duffle or a backpack. Ok, now that we have that out of the way, lets talk about the bags I use!
This duffle bag is my favorite of all my personal items. I’ve had it for 3 years now with no damage. It can hold a TON of stuff. I’ve actually gone back and bought it in several other colors since I got the first one. And at around $25 or so, it’s budget friendly too. (Price varies based on the print you pick). It also has convenient side and front pockets for holding your little things or things you might want access to during the flight.
Now that I’m a mom, I’ve been wanting to go a little more hands free with my personal item. After all, I need all the hands I can get for toddler wrangling! This backpack has been great. It has a water bottle pocket, and a pocket for my laptop. It held a lot of stuff, thought admittedly not as much as the duffle bag. Still, if you want to go hands free, this backpack is a great choice!
If you want an under seat bag on wheels, then something like this is a great choice! Some people can’t or don’t want to carry a bag through the airport, which can make small bags like this Samsonite a good option. Just a note though, be extra vigilant about the dimensions if you go this route. A duffle bag or a backpack lends themselves to a bit of “squishing” if needed to get the bag under the seat. A bag like this, because of the way it’s constructed, generally can’t be “squished” to fit if you’re just a little over.
One final tip before I let you go! Even though you will have the bag with you at all times, I still suggest putting a luggage tag on your personal item. Just in case you do end up needing to check it for some reason, or needing to stick it in the over head bin. A luggage tag might also come in handy if you need to leave your bag at luggage services at your hotel before your flight home. I’ve had this set for 4 years and they have held up just fine!
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