Everything you need to know about carry-on luggage rules | What the airlines don't want you to know! 

First of all, don't ever apologize for your mess (even though it looks perfectly clean) we're not here for that. Second, that fanny pack hack was the real deal!! I'm definitely trying it my next flight and I can't wait to see what happens next.

A clear, concise explanation for the infrequent travelers, like me. Thanks!

It's worth remembering that airlines, including non budget ones, here in Europe have a weight limit on carry on and personal items as well as a size limit. The limits vary between airlines but carry on suitcases can be limited to between 8 and 10 kg with personal items around 2 kg. Those bags that you said were personal items would in fact be considered carry on luggage.

I usually have a carry on suitcase and a backpack as my personal item. There are luggage companies that maximize the size and carrying capacity of the personal item bag, trust me it is way bigger than most people think it can be.

A personal item is any type of luggage that fits underneath the plane seat in front of you. Most domestic airlines in the United States require a personal item to be 18” x 14” x 8” or smaller in size. Personal items can include a purse, briefcase, small backpack, laptop bag, weekender or small duffel bag.

This is EXACTLY what I needed to know. Thank you so much!

For most of the international travel you're allowed only 15lbs altogether whether one or two bags. But many times, the airline staffs close their eyes and let you go and some strictly weigh your cabin bags if over 15lbs, they make you pay. Sometimes, the airline may trick you with size and weight.

I haven't flown for a while, and am going to Florida shortly. I appreciate your advice; and like your personality. Thank you.

I wish they had a company that sold carry-on’s and personal item bags that you could choose a size specific to your airline lol. I am starting to fly to Europe again this winter and I’ve decided to start only doing carry-on. It is hard to find something with the exact dimensions, it’s either inches over or inches below where you’re losing valuable space. I often fly Air France and Lufthansa, so I got something that was the largest dimension for the airline with the smallest dimensions so I don’t have to buy more than one backpack, for now. What I learned also is you could book with Delta, have a connection with Air France, they have different carry-on allowances so Air France could force you to check it so I’ve been told. Before Covid I went for 3 months and checked two large suitcases which didn’t arrive until two days later. Not only did I not have any clothes to change into, I had to drive 45 minutes back to the airport and hunt it down with people who didn’t speak English. It was stressful for everyone involved and mea culpa I didn’t prepare for the language. My language phrase book was in my checked bag and I didn’t know about Google translate then 🤦🏼‍♀️ And then I only used about 1/4 of what I took anyway. This video was helpful Thank you. The other great tips I’ve gotten were, capsule wardrobes, don’t pack for the what-ifs other than a few bandaids, Tylenol etc., it’s cheaper to buy some things there than pay for a checked bag, or if your checked item is free, consider buying some things there anyway instead as your cost/upgrade of not having to wait for luggage. I’m also only packing a week’s worth of clothes because last time I essentially wore the same things on a rotation, but could be a problem for someone going to various climates. I’m not rich, but there is always places you can go to buy some cheap clothes, and an adventure, but it’s not for everyone. Also, the two large suitcases were nightmares on cobble stone streets and narrow steps. My carryon is a larger backpack, that way I can stuff it in as opposed to a rigid hard case. But I’m also not packing anything but clothes in there that needs protected. Currently on the hunt for a personal item that maximizes the dimensions for Lufthansa, someone needs to have that company! One stop shop listing which is for each airline and is perfect dimensions please!! 😂

This was a very helpful video and your voice came through fine.

Thanks for sharing very useful info that I was frantically searching for once I realized that Virgin which I am flying to LHR and onwards to JFK only allow 1 piece of carry on baggage free including laptop. Later I checked there baggage rules which states that laptop can be taken as long as that fits inside the carry on baggage, which is strange as most other international airlines allow a laptop bag separately. BUT the rules also specify that we can carry a small backpack/rucksack as personal item. Thats what you too clarified that personal item can be a reasonable size backpack which can hold a good amount of items, and we should not let this go waste. So thanks again. Any comments are welcome.

I'm glad I saw this video. The backpack & the small luggage are exactly what I have in mind for my 10 day trip to NYC (on Delta Airlines). Thanks🛩🎒 🧳

I only travel with one carry on bag, even smaller than your Star Wars bag. I am able to carry items to wear for a week or three in the bag. I have done Europe for a month in my bag. Thanks for your tip about the small waist bag being apparel, nice to know. I will be traveling soon using my carry and a small shoulder bag, wonder it it might be considered apparel, rules are often in flux and can be quite confusing.

I did not know that. There is so much to learn on a daily basis. Thank you.

Finally a straightforward answer!

😊thanks for the video the 2 free bags was what I was looking for! It really helps,,😀

I’m flying with American, basic economy, and they offer a free carry on and personal.

If you’re flying Virgin Australia, they will allow (in addition to your 7kg carry-on) a handbag or slimline satchel laptop bag but NOT backpacks or large laptop bags as a personal item. If you bring a blanket, coat, wrap or umbrella THAT counts as your personal item. We got slugged a fee and made to check a larger laptop bag coming back from Queensland once so check the requirements closely. Some airlines like Malaysia Airline and Air Asia count your personal item and carry on as a total of 7kg TOGETHER and yes they do weigh them 😭😭😭

Good tips for US travelling BUT those don't apply in Canada and in most european carriers... Air Canada and Air Transat in Canada are really strict and same goes for EasyJet, Ryanair, etc. in Europe.. Check the dimensions !

This is great to show how much you can bring on the plane with you. I am an overpacker and I know I can bring those 2 stacked items and it will be enough for 3 days plus extras I bring back home.

I’m flying Finnair, I have an economy light ticket, which allows one carry on (22’’ or less). I have a bag that is 24’’. It only looks slightly bigger.

My goal is to always fly with just carry-on. But I’m now dealing with four different airlines for an upcoming trip. And their carry on sizes are all different. British Airway has the most generous at 22x18x10. Vueling the smallest at 21.65x15.75x7.87. The other two fall in between, but with each having different dimensions. Very frustrating. Lesson learned always check for size and weight restrictions with each airline in advance before booking.

Thank you sooo much! Deff has been helpful. Because for my personal item I deff was going to take a little backpack less than half the size of yours 😂

My trip in next week thanks for sharing

Great information..Thank you so much..I'm off to ICELAND from Europe in March..super exited

Carry on bags can be 40 pounds but you havev o check first because the airline will wait until you checking in to say your bag is too heavy. If your carry on bag is one inch over the limit you will have to pay for an extra bag , which could be around 150 dollars. It happen to me.

Love your video. My son and I fly on Hawaiian Air in couple weeks. He has the R2D2 suitcase and one I’m using is slightly smaller. I was worried they would be to big to count as carry on til seeing your video. And I will be double checking about economy class and what our seats are each way. I wondered why there was additional costs on seats when picking.🤦🏻‍♀️ I know I have to pay $30 each way for checked. Haven’t flown since 2018 and I’m definitely an over packer. Even if my destination is a warm place. I’m reminding myself the costs and asking do I really need to bring 5 pair of shoes? Aloha.😊

Depends, These two looks bigger than 20/40/25 cm for Ryanair I have one very similar and was too big for my next trip I needed buy a new one with this dimensions, now 45 x 36 x 20 cm for EasyJet was okay I used the one like yours

Very useful information. Thanks!

Delta just told me my passport wallet around my neck and my travelon cross body were bags !!! Going to France from ATL.

I have not checked a bag in years. You can go for months with just a carry on.

I sewed my own personal item bag that is a garment bag that folds up to make a messenger bag similar to the Modoker duffel bags. The padding in the sides comes from the clothes in the garment bags section to protect my laptop or iPad. We fly for vacation and that’s all I take. Sticking with lightweight synthetic and linen clothes, and doing laundry a couple times I can travel indefinitely. I use Castile bar soap because I can wash, bath, and shave with it. A 2oz acidic conditioner for my hair, toothpaste, and aftershave balm are my only liquids. Everything fits into that personal item and it only weighs 15 pounds. I wear my long pants, button up shirt, sport jacket, and Clark’s shoes on the plane. If we’re going somewhere cooler, the walking shorts swap out for long pants and delete the swimming trunks. I also keep an umbrella and a warmer jacket outside the bag as they dont count toward my total allowance. My phone, power bank, wallet, passport, and headphones stay on my body when passing through security and the gate. I just buy a bottle of water and disposable cartridge razors after I’ve cleared security on the final leg of the flight. The razors are supposed to be TSA approved, but nobody has informed them of that. I can pack 5 days worth of clothes in that bag, or 2 suits. No matter what I’m doing, I rarely need a carry-on, and never need to check any bags. My softside carry-on is getting pretty warn, so I’m going to redo it with the same material I made my personal item from.

SUNWING - 1 checked bag free with package deal, 1 PERSONAL ITEM free, 1 carryon $25!!! So CHECK the carryon OR larger piece, and make your personal bag COUNT. (It's small on Sunwing - 9 x 11 x 5 inches) (Sept 2023 from Canada to Mexico)

Now for American you get 2 carry ons plus a personal and if first class 2 free checked bags .

Thank you for this video! I haven't traveled since 2019 and was appalled at how fliers are being nickeled and dimed for everything. Purchase JetBlue basic and that black Amazon bag is perfect for my needs. Smh

This is exactly what I want to do, instead of checking a bag. We have a 20-day trip with options to wash mid-way through the trip. Air France is one of our flights and their dimension for a personal bag is 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.8. Their other restriction for economy flights are that you cannot go over 26.4 lbs for both personal and carry-on item. Any suggestions, please and thank you?

Thanks for the info!!! Going on a last minute trip to Georgia so great to know!!

Thanks for the info. I will used this method

Wow!! Good stuff! Thank you!

Team carryon only 🤜🏼🤛🏼

Nice video. Thank you so much!

Awesome video 😁

can you make video about checked bags 50lbs and what suites to get for south west theres so many to choose from i want to bring as much stuff with me cuz im moving ty :)

This is thinking about the problem backwards: The question isn't how to maximise the amount of stuff that you can sneak aboard the plane ... but to minimise the amount of crap that you're taking in the first place.

Thank you for the video! Also, where is the teal backpack from?

I flew from Philadelphia to West Palm Beach FL on Frontier airlines this same time last year(late March 2022), but I don't recall seeing the "carry on bag sizer" that I've just seen in another RU-vid video from 5 months ago. The passengers in that video were forced to place their carry on bag and personal item into these "sizers" to determine if they were too large. When I flew down last March, I had decided not to check any bags. I had a mid sized hard shell suitcase, but I didn't know if it would be allowed because it's size seemed to be right at(or maybe over) the size limit. When I reached the gate, I saw quite a few other fellow PHL- PBI passengers who were _also_ carrying mid-sized luggage, so I felt better. The staff pretty much ignored our luggage, and allowed us to board, no problem. Are those bag sizers used by every airline now?

I got the basic economy from American Airlines and it says I can’t pay for checked luggage. I’m trying to figure out what to do instead 🥵

This is very good to know. I want to know if this works on international airlines like British Airways, though. I'm going to England to *live* for at least a year and a half for school. I don't want to have to ship most of my stuff over, so this is very useful.

You do actually get 1 free carry-on & 1 free personal item with basic economy on american airlines 5:19

THANK YOU🧳

Well done...

American Airlines counted my fanny pack as apparel last year!

I have a lot of medication which I have slways been allowed as well as my travel bags

At SeaTac in Seattle there has been triple digit incease in baggage thefts from baggage claim. No one is stationed there to check claim tickets. Seattle has defended the police and a revolving door for criminals especially if they are Africans. I use SeaTac often. I sure other airports have the same issue. Do be careful of over weight carry-on as many airlines have weight limits of 7kg/15 lbs and personal idems 16x9×4 inches.

great info thanks

Im always confused on the dimentions. American airlines says 22x14x9, but it seems almost ALL carry ons are .5 over on at least one part of the dimension.... Since you use that one I assume .5 isnt going to make or break the carry on restrictions?

For Swiss air this personal item would not be accepted. THe maximum is 10cm thickness so a laptop bag. Even a backpack is not accepted.

Does the personal item also count for the 7-10kg limit for carry-on? I heard some asian airlines weigh both and they can't be over 7kg.

Where did you get the backpack that you showed in this video?

Just realise how much more American airline allow people to bring.

does a duffel bag count as a carry on item? Great video!

Hey, i‘ll be flying to Bali in June. I‘m pretty minimalistic and am not at all worrying about only packing 6-8 kg in my backpack. But i am a curious, i will have to transfer planes two times each way and i know sometimes (if you switch airlines) you have to go through the safety check and the entire process again. How does it work with a single backpack? I will be switching airlines so i’ll probably have to switch terminals i thing? I’m not sure, this will be the second time in my life to get on a plane and the last time was ten years ago plus i wasn’t alone ^^’

Thank you so much.

I got a question, can you bring your purse with you? I have a medium, mini size backpack purse, on top of a carry on, and LoveVook Backpack…

Lets talk packing for Alaska (layers!!) AND Air Canada 21.5 max height WITH wheels!!!! Help!

Spirit airlines personal item dimensions are 18x14x8. Amazon lists the dimensions of your bigger bag as 20x13x9…. Do you just not fill it as much and smoosh it in the bag measuring container?

Thanks

Thank you

What about international flights I.e. British airways

Have you ever flown SAS with that personal item bag? I have something similarly sized but im worried it'll be too big.

Is it ok to get the carry on "plus" sizes most brands make a slightly larger carry on but not sure if i wanna buy something that will not be allowed on as a carry on. These are generally 1 inch bigger on all sides. Thank you!

Have one for frequent travelers. I need to know what the biggest and most efficient personal item is, and how to best carry it with a roller bag. Too much talking about the room and hair.

Anyone ever been to Italy and if so do you prefer a backpack or tote bag as your personal item and why?

Hi, I will be flying with Qatar Airways. Can I bring 1 backpack (act as my hand carry) and 1 hand bag (as my personal item)? I am not sure if both will be weighted or only the backpack.

Can I carry a laptop backpack as a personal item in Virgin Atlantic?

Can I have a carry on case also a back pack on a easyjet flight for free of charge? Thankyou

Not sure if you'll see this but im travelling on my own for the very first time. My bags dimensions are 5cm too big on 2 sides but is half empty and so easily squishes. Should i be ok or should i just get a smaller bag?

I can do a month in those

Sorry I don’t understand, if I bring a carry on and a personal item does my handbag count as a bag too and I have to pay for the handbag? Thank you!

she is talking about personal item not about hand lagguage (hbag)! pay attention pls!

I have one question, in my carry on luggage, can I bring some chocolates. I will travel to the Philippines and my relatives asking some candy bars like Hersheys, Cadbury, Toblerone… is that allowed in TSA?

with a carry-on and personal item, can I have my purse as well?

Hi, Amy. I’ll be flying iceland air in July and I’m kind of freaking out about the carry on. According to the website the carry on can only be 7.8 inches wide. What size was your carry on? Did they measure it?

Those 2 personal items that you showed wouldn’t pass Air Canada

Can we have a liquids bag in our personal bag and carry on?

I thought carry ons were included for basic economy

Emirates don’t allow a personal item

Will United international be okay with the first black bag?

Hi, so I'm flying America airlines for the first time and am interested in the star wars as a carry on. However, American says that the carry on should be 22x14x9. This bag is 21x14.75x9.5, do you feel that's a significant issue or I should be okay. Thx

I have a carry on bag that the measurements is 24”. Could I bring this for a carryon?

Can you link the photography back pack please

I am buying a new suitcase. I want one that I can take on any airline. Do you know what airline has the strictest size for wheeled carryon suitcase u s. Domestic? Is 22 inch tall including wheels and handle a safe size or 20 inch tall?

Um.... I've never paid to check my luggage except when I moved cross country this year. The people that are paying for those uber low flights.... well, you must be happy with no frills.

hello! is the 'light cabin item' the same as the 'carry on' ? thank you!

So volaris says 22lbs. Does that include the weight of the r2-d2 bag?

Im still confused. If it says one carry on only. Can i bring a backpack and a small luggage? Or just a luggage?

Do you have experience with Asiana Airlines? Would a backpack like yours will be allowed as personal item for economy class?

Of course they want you to pre measure

Do you know if iceland air and play weigh their carry ons?

What size is the suitcase?