Carryon Plus Personal Item

[codimouse]

We are flying SWA. This time each of us is bringing a carry on bag rather than checking bags.
What size can the personal item be?
I need to take my 9 year olds iPad, activity books and headphones. But her backpack seems it might be a large item rather than "personal".
Any input is appreciated.

Sandi; sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[goofy4tink]

I generally pack my regular stuff in a full sized carryon...it's at the size limit and fits perfectly in the overhead bin. Then, I have a Vera Bradley backpack that I put my travel stuff in. That goes on the floor, under the seat at my feet.
My dd has always used her school back as her personal item when flying...never had an issue. You should be fine.

 

[Whitegloves]

If you check the website for your airline there are specific sizes listed for both the carry on and personal item. We just flew Airtran and our luggage was smaller then the listed carry on size and the tote I had the computer in was smaller then the size allowed.
Smiles!

 

[Whitegloves]

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/carryon-bags-pol.html

Airtran actually lists the personal item size but I didn't see that info on the SWA site.


http://www.airtran.com/policies/carry-on_checked.aspx

 

[codimouse]

If you check the website for your airline there are specific sizes listed for both the carry on and personal item. We just flew Airtran and our luggage was smaller then the listed carry on size and the tote I had the computer in was smaller then the size allowed.
Smiles!

Doesn't list size for SWA

Sandi; sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[codimouse]

I generally pack my regular stuff in a full sized carryon...it's at the size limit and fits perfectly in the overhead bin. Then, I have a Vera Bradley backpack that I put my travel stuff in. That goes on the floor, under the seat at my feet.
My dd has always used her school back as her personal item when flying...never had an issue. You should be fine.

Thanks! I'll go with the smallest backpack she can use.

Sandi; sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[sam_gordon]

Carryon items are limited to one bag plus one smaller, personal-type item.

So the "personal type item" needs to be smaller than the carry on.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's always surprising to me how big a carry-on size bag actually is.

The personal item just needs to fit under the seat, and I've found that to be rather generous as well (though some planes and some seats on the planes have a smaller space than others).

So I wouldn't worry TOO much about the size of backpack. Just make sure parts of it are relatively squishable in case it's too tall, when resting on its back, and needs to be squashed down a little. The things you want her to have in her personal item aren't anything to worry about *at all*. In my opinion.

 

[codimouse]

Thanks!!!

Sandi; sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[goofy4tink]

http://www.southwest.com/html/custo...ex.html?int=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-BAGGAGE-POLICIES

While this doesn't actually address what fits underneath the seat, at your feet, you are pretty safe using just about any backpack. Mine is really fairly large.....
12x16x6.5 It fits perfectly under that seat.

 

[lylone]

I take a carryon suitcase and then a Vera Bradley laptop bag. One fits above in the bins, and the other fits under the seat. Boyfriend brings a backpack.
Just don't forget the 3-1-1 liquid rule.

We hardly ever check bags anymore and don't have problems with lost/damaged luggage!!

 

[bellanotte10]

I flew to Iowa last month, and had a large snowboarding backpack, a birthday present bag, and a tiny purse. Had no problems getting there, and I'm glad I brought a backpack because they were gate checking a lot of roller bags due to a combo if small planes/ full flights. But since the backpack is squish able, they had no problems leaving it in the overheads.

 

[disfan07]

I basically always travel SW and I travel with:

Jansport backpack (has snacks, books, dvds, purse, etc)
Laptop bag (this is my "personal item")

I also travel with a medical bag that carries my nebulizer and medications but it is not counted towards my baggage allowance.

What they usually mean is that your personal item should be able to fit under the seat. One person should not take up two luggage spots in the overhead bin. So if you have 2 bags, 1 goes in the overhead and 1 goes under the seat.

I am always able to fit both my backpack and my laptop under the seat and my medical bag goes in the overhead (I just take out all my epi pens, benadryl, xanax and inhalers and stick them in my backpack)