How to tell if your backpack counts as a personal or carry-on item

The travel world was shocked last week when Southwest Airlines reversed its long-standing policy of allowing all travelers to check two bags on all flights, free of charge. At the time of writing, it still remains to be seen whether the Dallas-based carrier will add carry-on bag fees.

Regardless of which airline you fly, each one sets its own policies regarding checked baggage and carry-on luggage. Depending on the fare type, airlines generally permit travelers two carry-on items — one that fits underneath the seat in front of you, considered a personal item, and a second item that fits overhead. However, you must meet certain dimension thresholds, which vary by airline.

This guide outlines the current carry-on baggage policies for 10 major airlines, including restrictions on what constitutes a carry-on bag suitable for storage underneath the seat in front of you versus the overhead bin.

Domestic carry-on policies

A good rule of thumb is that if your carry-on bag fits under the seat in front of you, it’s considered a personal item. This includes small backpacks, purses, briefcases, laptop bags, etc. Larger bags, including suitcases, must fit in the overhead bin compartment, as determined by the dimensions outlined by airlines.

Southwest Airlines

Up until last week, Southwest stood out among carriers for allowing passengers two free carry-on bags and two free checked bags on all fare types. But as of May 28, most Southwest passengers will be required to pay to check bags.

However, the airline has not indicated that these changes will affect its carry-on baggage policy. As of March 13, carry-on items stored overhead must meet or be smaller than 24 by 16 by 10 inches. Personal items for under the seat — including purses, briefcases, cameras, food containers, laptops and backpacks — cannot be larger than 16 1/4 by 13 1/2 by 8 inches.

“Your personal item must be stored under the seat in front of you,” per Southwest. “If it doesn’t fit or if there’s no seat in front of you, we’ll ask you to place it in an overhead bin.”

Delta Air Lines

“Each passenger flying with Delta can bring 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item free of charge (such as a purse, laptop bag or item of similar size that will fit underneath the seat in front of you),” according to Delta. “If you plan to bring roll-aboard luggage or a large bag to store in the overhead bin,” note the below size restrictions.

Approved personal items include a purse, briefcase, small backpack, camera bag, diaper bag, laptop bag or other similarly sized item.

The combined length, width and height of carry-on baggage should be less than 45 inches. Individual items must be less than 22 by 14 by 9 inches.

All Delta fare types, including basic economy, allow both a full-size carry-on item and a personal item.

American Airlines

Basic economy passengers on American Airlines are also allowed one full-size carry-on and one personal item, such as a purse or backpack.

“Your personal item, like a purse or small handbag, must fit under the seat in front of you,” American states on its website, noting that the dimensions must be under 18 by 14 by 8 inches.

Unlike some other carriers, American does not count certain items carried on for babies — such as diaper bags — as one of your carry-on items.

“Diaper bags (1 per child), soft-sided cooler bags with breast milk, child safety seats, strollers and medical or mobility devices don’t count as your personal item or carry-on,” they say.

American considers an overhead bin item to be a bag, meaning it must be less than 22 by 14 by 9 inches (including handles and wheels) and fit in the sizer at the gate.

United Airlines

United’s basic economy fare is among the most restricted fare types. For most flights, basic economy passengers can only travel with one personal item that fits under the seat and measures 9 by 10 by 17 inches. That means if you brought a backpack on board with this fare type, it would be your one and only item allowed.

For basic economy, “Carry-on bags are not included unless you’re flying to Canada, South America, across the Atlantic or on an international flight across the Pacific,” notes United.

If you need to bring a second bag for the overhead bin, you’ll have to pay $60 round-trip to upgrade to economy. In economy class and above, carry-on bags, including handles and wheels, cannot exceed 9 by 14 by 22 inches.

JetBlue

Travelers flying JetBlue’s Blue Basic are only granted one personal item that can fit underneath the seat in front of you — specifically, an item measuring less than 17 by 13 by 8 inches, handles and wheels included. Again, this would include backpacks or comparable items that must suffice as your only piece of luggage.

Any Blue Basic traveler who brings a full-size carry-on bag to the gate will incur a $65 fee to check their first or second bag or $180 for their third bag.

Blue fare types and above allow carry-on luggage that fits in the overhead bin, specifically bags not exceeding 22 by 14 by 9 inches.

There are a few exceptions to JetBlue’s carry-on policy to allow certain customers in Blue Basic to carry on a full-size bag, including for Mosaic status holders, unaccompanied minors, active U.S. military members and customers traveling to and from London.

International carry-on policies

British Airways

Like JetBlue and United, British Airways’ basic economy fare only permits travelers to bring hand luggage up to 16 by 12 by 6 inches. Economy and premium economy fares afford passengers one full-size cabin bag measuring 22 by 18 by 10 inches. All bags must weigh less than 51 pounds.

“On busy flights, you may be asked to check in your larger cabin bag,” British Airways advises.

Emirates

Although Emirates also restricts economy passengers when it comes to carry-on baggage, you can bring one full-size bag, including one that can fit in the overhead bin, as long as it does not exceed 22 by 15 by 8 inches or weigh more than 15 pounds.

“All carry-on baggage must fit either under the seat in front of you or in one of the overhead lockers,” per Emirates. “Baggage may not be placed behind your legs, in the aisles, or in front of emergency exits.”

Singapore Airlines

Like Emirates, Singapore Airlines allows premium- and economy-class passengers one piece of luggage on board, under 15 pounds, with a combined length, width and height of up to 45 inches. This could be a backpack or a more traditional piece of luggage.

“In addition to the limitations stated here, you must also be able to stow your baggage securely in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you,” the airline explains.

Cathay Pacific

Unlike the other international carriers mentioned, Cathay Pacific allows all customers one piece of carry-on luggage and one additional smaller item, including handbags, laptop bags, small backpacks, camera bags and briefcases, according to its website.

This policy applies to all fare types, starting with Economy Light. It allows for one full-size item measuring 14 by 9 by 22 inches and a personal item with dimensions not exceeding 16 by 16 by 12 inches, both of which must weigh less than 15 pounds.

Virgin Atlantic

All people flying in economy classes on Virgin, which includes Light, Classic and Delight, and those flying in premium cabins may bring one carry-on item that can fit in the overhead bin as long as it weighs less than 22 pounds.

If you want to carry on a second bag, you need to book an Upper Class fare, which entitles you to two bags under 35 pounds combined.

“Whichever cabin you’re in, the size of your bag needs to be a maximum of 23 cm by 36 cm by 56cm (that’s around 9 by 14 by 22 inches),” as noted by Virgin Atlantic.

Bottom line

Whether you are entitled to both a full-size carry-on item suitable for the overhead bin and a personal item, such as a backpack, depends on the airline and fare type booked. Certain elite status holders may be granted additional carry-on leniency regardless of cabin class.

Although most domestic airlines do not have weight restrictions for carry-on bags, some do for specific routes, and all of the international carriers specify a weight requirement.

Airlines generally do not consider certain items carried on as part of luggage, such as a jacket, umbrella or food bought at the airport.

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