I have tried a lot of personal item bags over the years—backpacks, large totes, small totes and bags designed specifically to fit under an airplane seat. Some held far less than I expected, while others looked small but somehow fit everything I needed for a long flight.

I became particularly serious about finding the right personal item after a Delta flight to Jacksonville. The plane was small, and passengers were required to gate-check their rolling carry-ons. Mine contained my laptop, medications and other things I wasn’t willing to check, so I had to stand at the gate hurriedly stuffing everything into my purse.

Since then, I have paid much more attention to what I pack under the seat in front of me. My current favorite is my Fjällräven Kånken backpack. It looks small, but it holds my medications, electronics, food, water bottle, sweater, compression socks, laptop and iPad—with my passport tucked safely into the front pocket.

These are the personal item bags I have actually used, along with what each one holds, how comfortable it is to carry through an airport and who I think it works best for.

 

How I Chose the Best Personal Item Bags

As a travel journalist, I travel far more often than the average person. I take frequent flights for assignments as well as family trips, so my personal-item bags get a lot of real-world use. A bag that seems comfortable in my house can feel very different after carrying it through a large airport or trying to squeeze it beneath an airplane seat.

Every bag in this guide is one I have personally used for travel. I carried these bags through airports, packed them for real trips and learned which features actually mattered once they were full.

I compared how much each bag could hold, how easy it was to organize, whether I could reach important items during a flight and how comfortable it was to carry through an airport. I also considered whether the bag worked well on its own or was better when placed on top of a rolling suitcase. Some of these bags are excellent for a particular type of trip, but no single personal item is right for every traveler or every airline.

 

What Size Can a Personal Item Be?

Unfortunately, there is no single personal-item size that works for every airline. The bag must fit under the seat in front of you, but each airline sets its own rules—and some are much stricter than others.

For example:

• American Airlines allows a personal item measuring up to 18 x 14 x 8 inches.
• Frontier also uses an 18 x 14 x 8-inch limit, including the bag’s handles, wheels, and straps.
• Delta does not publish one universal measurement for personal items. Instead, it describes them as a purse, briefcase, small backpack, laptop bag, or similar item that fits beneath the seat.

That is why I never assume a bag qualifies simply because a company markets it as a personal-item bag. I check the measurements against the rules for the airline I am actually flying.

Soft-sided bags offer a little flexibility, but how much you pack matters. My Vera Bradley Large Original Duffel, for example, can work on certain airlines when it is lightly packed and able to compress. If I stuff it completely full, it is much less likely to fit in an airline’s bag sizer or slide easily beneath the seat.

The same caution applies to larger totes such as the Poppy & Peonies Multitasker. A bag might physically fit beneath some airplane seats while still exceeding an airline’s published personal-item dimensions.

Does It Count If It Fits Under the Seat?

Not necessarily. The airline’s stated size limit still applies, even if your soft-sided bag can be squeezed beneath the seat. This matters most on budget airlines, where personal items may be placed in a sizing bin at the gate and oversized bags can result in an additional fee.

Seat space can also vary by aircraft. On smaller regional planes, I have occasionally had a bag gate-checked even though it normally works on larger aircraft.

Before every trip, I check the airline’s current baggage rules—especially when I am flying personal-item-only. Policies can change, and confirming the measurements before leaving home is much easier than repacking or paying an unexpected fee at the gate.

 

Fjällräven Kånken Laptop Backpack: Best Overall

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Best for: Travelers who want a compact, lightweight personal item with separate storage for a laptop

The Fjällräven Kånken Laptop Backpack is the personal item I use most often. It looks surprisingly small, but I can fit nearly everything I want with me during a flight inside it.

The padded compartment keeps my laptop separate from the main section, and I can also fit my iPad, medications, electronics, food, water bottle, sweater and compression socks. I use the zippered front pocket for my passport so that it is secure but easy to reach.

The wide opening is another reason I like this backpack. I can see what is inside instead of reaching blindly into the bottom of the bag. I also pack a small removable pouch with the things I want during the flight. Once I sit down, I pull out the pouch rather than repeatedly dragging the entire backpack out from beneath the seat.

My one complaint is that the backpack does not come with a trolley sleeve. Because I travel so frequently and often carry it with a rolling suitcase, I eventually sewed a trolley sleeve onto the back myself. It keeps the backpack securely attached to my suitcase handle and makes it much easier to move through an airport.

Even with that missing feature, this bag gives me the best balance of size, organization and carrying comfort. It holds much more than it appears to, but it is still small enough to fit easily beneath an airplane seat. If I could choose only one personal item from this list for most of my trips, this would be it.

London Fog Underseat Roller: Best for Personal-Item-Only Travel

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Best for: Long weekends when you want to travel with only a personal item

When I want to travel with only a personal item, I reach for my London Fog underseat roller. It holds enough clothing and essentials for a long weekend while still fitting beneath the airplane seat.

The biggest advantage is that I can roll it through the airport instead of carrying the full weight on my shoulders. That makes a noticeable difference when I have packed everything for the trip into one small bag.

It also feels more like packing a small suitcase than packing a backpack. I can organize my clothing and travel essentials inside it without everything becoming jumbled together. For a two- or three-night trip, I can often bring what I need without paying for another bag or worrying about overhead-bin space.

This is the personal item I would choose when maximizing packing space is more important than having a bag I can carry on my back.

If you prefer luggage with wheels, see my guide to the best underseat luggage for more options designed to fit beneath an airplane seat.

Nomad Lane Bento Bag: Best for Organization

Best for: Travelers who want a highly organized personal item that can sit on top of a rolling suitcase

I love the Nomad Lane Bento Bag because it holds far more than an ordinary tote. I can fit enough inside it for a three-day weekend, making it a good option for short trips or for anyone who likes having plenty of organized storage within reach.

The structured design makes it easier to separate clothing, electronics and smaller travel essentials instead of piling everything into one large compartment. It feels more like a small suitcase than a traditional personal-item bag.

The biggest drawback is the weight. Once I have packed enough for several days, it becomes heavy to carry through an airport. I generally use it when I am also bringing a rolling suitcase so that I can slide the Bento Bag over the suitcase handle rather than carrying it on my shoulder.

Although it technically holds enough for a personal-item-only trip, I usually choose my London Fog roller instead when this will be my only bag. The Bento Bag is at its best when I want excellent organization and have another suitcase to support its weight.

Veegul Backpack: A Bag I Loved for Nearly a Decade

Best for: Travelers who can find one secondhand and want a durable, wide-opening backpack

I have used my Veegul backpack for nearly a decade, and I still love it. It is finally beginning to show its age, but considering how much travel it has been through, I think it has held up remarkably well.

My favorite feature is the wide, doctor-style opening. Instead of digging through a narrow opening to find something at the bottom, I can open the backpack and see almost everything inside. It makes packing easier and helps me keep the bag organized during a trip.

Unfortunately, this backpack no longer appears to be widely available. I occasionally see used versions for sale on resale sites, but I would not count on being able to find the exact model I own.

I am still including it because it is one of the personal-item bags I have used and loved the longest. Lasting nearly ten years of frequent travel is a strong recommendation. However, because it is difficult to purchase now, I would consider it a great secondhand find rather than one of my primary recommendations for most readers.

Away Latitude Tote: A Polished but Heavy Option

Best for: Travelers who find one secondhand and want a personal item that does not look like traditional luggage

The Away Latitude Tote is one of the most polished personal-item bags I have used. Its simple black leather design works as well at my destination as it does on the plane, so I don’t feel as though I am carrying an obvious piece of luggage everywhere I go.

The tote is roomy and holds my electronics, medications and other in-flight essentials without looking overstuffed. It was a perfectly good personal item, but it was never my favorite for long travel days.

I also recommend that if you carry this bag you buy a tall felt organizer, to keep things separate or you will be digging constantly.

My biggest complaint is the weight. The leather makes the bag fairly heavy before I put anything inside it. Once I add a laptop, electronics, water bottle and everything else I carry during a flight, it becomes uncomfortable to carry through a large airport. But it does have an awesome trolley strap.

The Latitude Tote no longer appears to be sold by Away, although used versions oftenappear on resale sites. It is a beautiful bag if you already own one or find one secondhand, but I would not seek it out specifically for air travel unless appearance matters more to you than weight.

Poppy & Peonies Multitasker: Best Organized Tote

Best for: Travelers who want the look of a tote without having to add a separate organizer

The Poppy & Peonies Multitasker is one of the most organized totes I have used. Most large tote bags become one enormous open compartment unless I add a felt organizer, but this bag has the organization built into it.

There is a padded compartment for a laptop up to 16 inches, designated spaces for water bottles, several smaller pockets and a trolley sleeve that slides over a suitcase handle. Everything has a place, so I don’t have to dig through the entire bag to find my phone, medication or charging cord.

At 20 x 12 x 9 inches, it is roomy enough to carry my flight essentials and more. However, those dimensions are larger than some airlines’ personal-item limits, so check your airline’s current rules before flying with it.

My biggest disappointment is the vegan leather. I have only traveled with my Multitasker three times, and it already has visible scratches. The organization is excellent, but I wish the exterior had held up better—especially for a bag at this price.

I still think it is a useful and attractive travel bag, particularly if organization is your top priority. Just be aware that the vegan leather may show wear more quickly than expected.

Best for maximizing your space: Vera Bradley Large Original Duffel

The Vera Bradley Large Original Duffel holds more than any of the other personal-item bags I use. Because it is soft-sided, I have successfully taken it as my personal item on certain airlines and tucked it beneath the seat.

Whether it works depends largely on how much I put inside it. If I pack it lightly, I can squish it down to fit into a smaller space. If I stuff it completely full, it becomes much too large to pass as a personal item on many airlines.

The bag’s listed dimensions are 22 x 11.5 x 11.5 inches, so I only use it when I know the airline has a more generous policy—and I resist the temptation to fill every inch of it.   Always check your airline’s current measurements before relying on this as your personal item.

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Item Bags

What is the difference between a carry-on and a personal item?

A carry-on is usually stored in the overhead bin, while a personal item must fit beneath the seat in front of you. A backpack, tote, laptop bag, purse, small duffel, or compact roller bag can all qualify as a personal item if they meet the airline’s size requirements.

What size bag fits under an airplane seat?

An 18 x 14 x 8-inch bag meets the personal-item limits used by several major U.S. airlines, but there is no universal size. Some airlines allow smaller bags, while others simply require the item to fit beneath the seat. Always check your airline’s current rules before flying.

Can a backpack be a personal item?

Yes. I use a backpack as my personal item more often than any other type of bag. It must fit within the airline’s size limit and be able to slide beneath the seat, even when packed.

Can a duffel bag be a personal item?

A small duffel bag can be a personal item if it meets the airline’s size requirements. My Vera Bradley Large Original Duffel works on only a few airlines, and how much I put inside it matters. When it is lightly packed, the soft sides can compress. When I fill it completely, it is usually too large.

Is a personal item free on airlines?

Most U.S. airlines include one personal item with the price of a ticket, even when a full-size carry-on costs extra. However, baggage policies can change, so confirm what is included with your specific fare before your trip.

Can I bring a purse and a personal item?

Usually, a purse counts as your personal item. If you want to bring both, the purse will generally need to fit inside your larger personal item before boarding. Airlines may have separate exceptions for items such as medical equipment and diaper bags.

Can I pack for a weekend in only a personal item?

Yes. I can fit enough for a three-day weekend in several of these bags, including my London Fog Underseat Roller and Nomad Lane Bento Bag. Packing light, planning outfits in advance, and using small packing cubes can make a surprising difference.

Is a personal item bag with wheels better than a backpack?

It depends on how you travel. A personal item bag with wheels keeps weight off your shoulders, which I appreciate when I am traveling with only one bag. A backpack leaves your hands free and is usually easier on stairs, public transportation, and uneven streets.

Does a personal item have to fit completely under the seat?

Yes. Your personal item should fit completely beneath the seat without blocking the aisle or limiting access to the row. If it does not fit, the airline may require you to place it in the overhead bin or check it, depending on available space and the airline’s policy.

Which Personal Item Bag Is Best?

After years of traveling as a travel journalist, I have learned that there is no single personal item bag that works best for every trip.

My Fjällräven Kånken Laptop Backpack is the bag I use most often because it is lightweight, opens wide, and carries everything I want during a flight. When I am traveling for a long weekend with only a personal item, I prefer my London Fog Underseat Roller because I can fit more without carrying all that weight on my shoulders.

The Nomad Lane Bento Bag and Poppy & Peonies Multitasker offer more built-in organization, while a soft duffel gives me greater flexibility when I need to squeeze in an extra outfit. Each has advantages, but each also has a few drawbacks.

Before choosing a bag, consider the airline’s size restrictions, how much the empty bag weighs, and whether you will have a roller suitcase underneath it. The best personal item bag is ultimately the one that holds what you need without making the airport more difficult.

Once you have chosen your bag, use my personal item packing list to decide what should go inside it—and what is better left in your carry-on.

Last update on 2026-09-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API