Size of Personal Items on Planes

[aubriee]

Airline sites clearly spell out the maximum sizes allowed for checked bags and carry on bags. Fine, I have no problem with those, but how about personal items. I always carry tiny purses. For my Jan Air Tran flight, I'd like to carry a much bigger bag as a personal item however. I have found a Samsonite Tote that is 25"x15"x9", another tote that is 19"x15"x6", a duffle bag that is 19"x11"x9", and a Vera Bradley Tote that's 21"x14"x9", and still another tote that is 20"x12.5"x8". Are these too big to be allowed as personal items? They are all soft and squishy, if that matters.

FIY: the carry on duffel that I am looking at, to go along with my personal item is a duffel that is 23"x11"x12".

 

[tjmw2727]

If you bring two items, a carry on and a personal item one must fit in under the seat in front of you. For us, our carryon goes in the overhead (wheels first) and the personal item goes under the seat. So a larger purse or smaller backpack would be fine as well as a smaller duffle as long as it fits under the seat.

TJ

 

[anonymousegirl]

Also, be aware that the carry-on dimensions you mentioned are larger than usually allowed. Most carry on bags must be no more than 45'' total and you listed 46. You might have mis-measured but if you pack that duffle fully or overpack it so it bulges, it may not fit in the overhead or AirTran people may think it won't and insist you check it.

 

[dudspizza]

IMO, you are pushing it. The personal item is a regular sized purse, laptop bag, or other small item that can fit below the seat. You are basically wanting to take 2 carry on sized item on the plane. You could be given some grief. I personally wouldn't push it.

Duds

 

[justplaingoofy]

When measuring suitcases....

Be sure to stand them up (wheels on ground) and measure for the floor to the top. Sometimes people forget to measure the wheels which could add an inch or two.

 

[cbrfan]

From AirTran's site:

Dimensions. No carry-on item may exceed overall dimensions of 55 inches (length + width + height). All carry-on items must fit under the seat or in the overhead bin. Any heavy item must be placed underneath the customer's seat. Any item with inflexible surfaces must be placed underneath the customer's seat or flat on the floor of an overhead bin.


So any of the bags you mention will be allowed. Just be sure that one of your bags fits under the seat in front of you.

 

[DebbieB]

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

Carry On
For carry-on baggage, all customers traveling on AirTran Airways will be restricted to one carry-on item and one personal item. Personal items include handbags, umbrellas, walking sticks, coats, cameras, reading matter, infant food, briefcases, and laptop computers.

I think the items you mentioned are too large for a "personal item". You could give it a try, they may make you gate check it and pay any applicable fees.

 

[shocker]

Just double bag your small purse. Put it in its entirety inside a backpack (used this for vacation in Aug.) or a laptop tote (female version of a briefcase that I use on all business trips).

 

[aubriee]

Just double bag your small purse. Put it in its entirety inside a backpack (used this for vacation in Aug.) or a laptop tote (female version of a briefcase that I use on all business trips).

oops, sorry my post wasn't clear. What I meant to say is that I would like to carry a big tote instead of a small purse. I don't even own a big purse, as I usually carry something tiny, just big enough for a wallet, so I went looking for big totes and found the sizes I mentioned. I just wanted to know if one of them would work for a personal item on Air Tran.

Thanks for the responses. I guess it's back to the drawing board. I'd really like to use just carry on for my January cruise, but can't see that happening right now.

 

[n2mm]

As long as your personal item fits under the seat in front of you completely you'll be OK. I always carry a small Jansport backpack (which is generally half empty) and it always fits under the seat with room for my feet. As mentioned, all airlines have different sizes for their carryon. I fly four different ones throughout the year and am constantly having to reference back to the size. SW and Airtran accept a 55/56 inc bag, while United is 45 inches. JB I believe is 50. I never use to carry on, but with the new limits I now do so refer back to the rules regularly.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Thanks for the responses. I guess it's back to the drawing board. I'd really like to use just carry on for my January cruise, but can't see that happening right now.

Sure you can My dh and I can do up to 10 days in a carry on.
Linens n' things sell those travel containers for liquids which help, ALOT! http://www.lnt.com/product/index.js...avel+containers&origkw=travel+containers&sr=1 Its perfect for up to 10 days. Then by the end of our trip the liquids are pretty much used up so we don't have to put them back into the zip lock. The thing I found that take up the most room are shoes. So I usually wear my sneakers, but flip flops in the front of my suitcase, and one pair of strappy sandals for nighttime. I found that by packing only one pair either brown or black then planning my outfits around that helps. Also, I try to keep most of my clothes in the same color family so I can mix & match.

I'm leaving for Mexico on Thursday and just finished packing. We're only going for 5 days this time (Me and one of my friends) and I'm not kidding, but 1/2 of my suitcase is still empty! and its a carry on

try it!

 

[goofy4tink]

oops, sorry my post wasn't clear. What I meant to say is that I would like to carry a big tote instead of a small purse. I don't even own a big purse, as I usually carry something tiny, just big enough for a wallet, so I went looking for big totes and found the sizes I mentioned. I just wanted to know if one of them would work for a personal item on Air Tran.

Thanks for the responses. I guess it's back to the drawing board. I'd really like to use just carry on for my January cruise, but can't see that happening right now.

I generally have a tote bag as my 'personal' item..and it has posed no problems to date. In Sept I flew SW, with a full sized carryon duffle..just made it within the posted size, and a largish tote bag. Now, that tote bag wasn't part of a luggage set or anything. It was a regular Vera Bradley totebag, so it can be a purse as well....albeit a large purse, but a purse none the less!

 

[aubriee]

Thanks, for the responses. I may have to do some practice packing. How much room is actually under the seats in Air Tran? What size am I looking at for the biggest personal item that would definitely be allowed? My Vera Bradley tote is one of those Miller bags, if you are familiar with them.

 

[jodifla]

Thanks, for the responses. I may have to do some practice packing. How much room is actually under the seats in Air Tran? What size am I looking at for the biggest personal item that would definitely be allowed? My Vera Bradley tote is one of those Miller bags, if you are familiar with them.

Under seats size varies a bit. I do what you are suggesting all the time, actually.

I use a big tote bag that's squarish....I slide my purse into it and slide it under the seat. I put my rollaboard in the space on top.

 

[prncess674]

Thanks, for the responses. I may have to do some practice packing. How much room is actually under the seats in Air Tran? What size am I looking at for the biggest personal item that would definitely be allowed? My Vera Bradley tote is one of those Miller bags, if you are familiar with them.

That is a really large bag as a personal item. Per verabradley.com 24" x 13½" x 8. Are you trying to carry a Miller bag and a rolling suitcase? Airlines are cracking down on how much you carry on board and you may be asked to check your rolling suitcase.