Can A Backpack Be a Personal Item Carryon?

[famsen]

We are flying Southwest. DH and I are each taking a small carryon bag within the required dimensions. I am taking my purse with camera, pills. passes etc.
I want to bring our laptop but I also have a large binder with all our travel documents and itineraries and reservation printouts that I want to bring.
The laptop and binder will fit into a rolling backpack we have. Can my husband use this backpack as his personal item?

 

[TagsMissy]

the general rule seems to be as long as it's withing the dimensions it's OK. Please be courteous though and if you bring on 2 items ensure one item fits under the seat in front of you and only stow 1 item in the overhead bins.

 

[clanmcculloch]

My kids always use their school bags for their carry-ons. In fact, they even fit under the seat in front of them. They're smaller than the suitcase style carry-ons that many people use. IMO, they're great! Just make sure that the backpack is under the carry-on size limit (I think unless they're the huge camping/hiking packs, they all are).

 

[Anal Annie]

We all travel with a carry-on size suitcase or duffle bag that goes into the overheads and then we each have a "personal item" that fits under the seat in front of us. DS brings a backpack, DH his laptop and I have either a large purse or our DVC totebag. You're good to go!!

 

[n2mm]

We are flying Southwest. DH and I are each taking a small carryon bag within the required dimensions. I am taking my purse with camera, pills. passes etc.
I want to bring our laptop but I also have a large binder with all our travel documents and itineraries and reservation printouts that I want to bring.
The laptop and binder will fit into a rolling backpack we have. Can my husband use this backpack as his personal item?

As long as that roll backpack can fit completely under the seat in front of him on the floor. If it doesn't fit, it could be gate checked.

 

[DisneyObsessive]

Everytime i travel, i do not check in luggage. I bring a backpack on me, and store it under my seat, and have a roll-on luggage i place above me. Never had a problem.

 

[famsen]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess my next question, since I haven't been on a plane since I was twelve years old, is just how much room is there under the plane seats? Is there a catch bin so the items don't bounce/roll around during turbulence?

 

[seashoreCM]

The "personal item" is supposed to be quite small although airlines have not been sticky about it recently. As a general rule the "personal item" should be small enough that two of them will fit side by side, end to end, or one atop the other and together they fit within the "carryon" maximum dimensions.

Some but not all of the spaces under seats will fit an item that is the maximum size permitted as a "carryon".

 

[TagsMissy]

Thanks for all the replies. I guess my next question, since I haven't been on a plane since I was twelve years old, is just how much room is there under the plane seats? Is there a catch bin so the items don't bounce/roll around during turbulence?

I would go to your airline's website to see the carryon allowance. The airlines I travel on give 2 different size allowances for the regular carry on and for the second smaller piece. Each having a weight restriction. Be cautious that carry on size limitations have been decreased on many airlines recently.

 

[Judyat]

I have always found that as long as the second item fits under the seat that it's fine. I fly Southwest alot and I have 2 carryons. One for the bins and one that fits under the seat in front of me. In most cases a backpack will easily fit under the seat in front of you.

 

[ParrotBill]

A wheeled backpack will fit under some seats but not others.

The window seats often have narrow spaces, and many planes have boxes installed in the under seat space for audio/video equipment at seats...

A soft bag without a rigid frame is safest for under seat.

 

[Pixiedust34]

My kids and dh always use backpacks as personal items. They easily slide under the seat in front of us during the flight.