Is a Backpack a Personal Item?

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At Tortuga, our mission is to make travel easier. Our advice and recommendations are based on years of travel experience. We only recommend products that we use on our own travels.
Airlines allow you to bring one
Most airline publish strict size and weight requirements for your
Airlines’ rules for personal items are not nearly as clear as their rules for
Without clear and consistent explicit rules, travelers abuse the implicit rules.
We’re here to help you maximize your packing while still traveling light and being a good fellow traveler. In this article, we’ll clarify:
- What you can bring on a plane as a personal item
- How big your personal item can be
We’ll cover what’s generally acceptable since rules vary.
- Personal-item-sized
- Fits under the seat
- Comfortable to carry
- Built to last
What is a Personal Item?
Let’s start with some definitions.
A personal item is not checked luggage. Checked luggage goes in the cargo hold of the plane.
You’ll bring your personal item onto the plane with you. A personal item is a type of
A carry on bag is your larger, primary bag, which you’ll stow in the overhead bin. A backpack can be your carry on if it meets your airline’s carry on size limits.
A personal item is a smaller, secondary bag, which you’ll stow under the seat in front of you.
Read Carry Ons vs. Personal Items for more on the differences between the two.
The TSA does not publish a definition for personal items. Personal item requirements are up to the airlines.
While every airline has a different list of acceptable bags, the intention is the same. Here are example personal items from a handful of airlines:
- Air Asia: “[O]ne (1) piece of laptop bag, handbag, backpack or any other small bag which must not exceed 40cm x 30cm x 10cm. This item must be able to fit under the seat in front of you.”
- American Airlines: “Your personal item like a purse or small handbag must fit under the seat in front of you. Dimensions should not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm).”
- Delta: “[O]ne personal item free of charge, such as a purse or laptop bag or item of similar size
- Lufthansa: “Another small item of baggage (max. x=30 cm y=40 cm z=10 cm, e.g. handbag, laptop bag).”
The guiding principle is that a personal item should be a small bag like a laptop bag, purse, or handbag. A backpack, duffle bag, camera bag, or tote will also work. Do not attempt to put a suitcase, regardless of its size, under the seat in front of you.
For your personal item, think bag, not luggage.
What Else Can You Carry On the Plane?
Most airlines will allow certain small items in addition to your
- Coat, jacket, or hat
- Umbrella
- Pillow or blanket
- Book or newspaper
- Food or drinks purchased after clearing security
- FAA-approved safety seat, stroller, and diaper bag for lap or ticketed child
- Medical or mobility devices for passengers such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, braces, portable oxygen concentrators, and CPAP machines
- Duty-free merchandise
- A foot rug for use during prayer
- Pet carrier
In most cases, the above items do not count as a
Personal Item Sizes
The sizes of personal items allowed on your flight vary even more than the rules for the type of bag allowed.
The rule of thumb is: your personal item should fit under the seat in front of you.
The personal item allowance is not an excuse to bring a second
I’ve seen people do this and take up two spots in the overhead bin. Don’t be a jerk. Share the overhead bin space with your fellow travelers. The bin is for larger,
The “under the seat” guideline seems simple enough. But, how much space is under that seat? As a tall person with big feet, the space feels pretty small to me.
Not all airlines provide size guidelines for personal items. The ones that do all have different rules.
Carry on luggage rules can vary but are far more consistent. In the US, most airlines allow carry ons up to 45 linear inches (22 x 14 x 9″). International airlines, especially those in Europe, allow carry ons up to 55 x 35 x 20 cm.
Unfortunately, no such consensus exists for the size of personal items.
Using the same airlines as we did above, we can see that Air Asia and Lufthansa allow personal items up to 40 x 30 x 10 cm. American Airlines, however, allows under seat luggage all the way up to 45 x 35 x 20 cm. That’s a 5-10 cm difference in each dimension. American allows a personal item of double the depth of the other two airlines. You’re allowed a personal item on American Airlines that’s 2.5x the size of your personal item on Air Asia or Lufthansa.
Major airlines in North America, including Aeromexico, Alaska, and Delta don’t publish personal item size requirements. Neither do most airlines in Asia.
The rules, when they even exist, are wildly inconsistent. Our Personal Item Size Cheat Sheet includes measurements for most airlines, but always check your airline’s guidance before flying.
As with
Personal Items in Basic Economy
Between 2012 and 2018, most major airlines in America added a basic economy class. Basic economy fares are cheaper than normal economy fares but come with a few added restrictions.
Most importantly, on a basic economy ticket, you are only allowed a personal item, not a
If you’re flying basic economy, your personal item goes from being your secondary bag to your only bag.
A basic economy ticket can be a great way to save money, especially on shorter trips where you won’t need as much luggage. A last-minute weekend trip is the perfect time to choose basic economy, save a few bucks, and travel with only a personal item as your luggage.

Does a Backpack Count as a Personal Item?
Yes, a backpack counts as a personal item.
A backpack makes for a great personal item, because it’s small and on your back. When paired with a suitcase or duffel bag as your
If you want to carry a backpack as a personal item, use a daypack or a laptop backpack.
Store your personal item under the seat in front of you or on top of your
As always, your best bet is to pack as light as possible. Don’t give your airline a reason to single you out.
The Best Personal Item Backpacks
When shopping for a personal item backpack, consider two questions:
- Is it small enough to fit under the seat in front of you?
- Will you be carrying a laptop?
The first question will rule out hiking bags and travel backpacks that can be used for carry ons but are too big to use as personal items.
The second question will help you decide which type of personal item backpack you need.
If your personal item will be your main bag for carrying your laptop—alongside a duffel bag or suitcase as your
If you don’t usually carry a laptop, or will be carrying your laptop in your
Protect your laptop when you fly.
- Personal-item-sized
- Easy to pack
- Comfortable to carry
- Built to last
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The short answer is yes, a backpack is a personal item. The caveat is that it must be the right backpack. A small backpack that fits under the seat in front of you.
The airlines’ personal item rules vary so much that it’s impossible to follow them without owning multiple bags or buying one so small that it’s useless to carry.
Instead, follow the spirit of the rules by carrying a small bag as your personal item and avoid drawing attention to your luggage.