Is a Duffel Bag a Personal Item?

While most airlines allow you to take at least one piece of cabin baggage onboard, every airline has its own policy.

America’s most generous airlines permit you to take one personal item and one carry-on bag, but others restrict passengers to one personal item and charge for any additional pieces.

So, where does this leave your duffle bag?

In the majority of cases, a duffel bag won't be considered a personal item, as they usually exceed the typical maximum size of 18 x 14 x 8 inches or 45 x 35 x 29 cm.

However, they will often be classed as a carry-on bag, if they are within the average limit of 22 x 14 x 9 inches or 56 x 36 x 23 cm.

As with many things, this varies per airline, so read on to get more information on specifics + links to each airline's website:

How To Make The Most of Your Free Personal Item

So if your duffel bag is too big, what personal item can you bring? Here are some ideas:

• Small duffle bags, backpacks, laptop bags, briefcases, and handbags typically fall within the ‘Personal Item’ category, so you can use any bag that fits the size and weight dimensions listed.
• Typically, if your personal item fits comfortably under the seat in front of you, the airline will allow you to carry it onboard free of charge.
• Airlines have different policies when it comes to personal items, so check the size and weight allowance before you head to the airport to avoid costly fees.
• Smaller duffle bags are ideal for air travel, and most airlines will let you carry them onboard as your free personal item. Just make sure you can squash it under the seat in front of you.
• You’ll get more in a duffle bag than a laptop bag or handbag, so you should consider a soft-sided duffle when flying with a low-cost carrier. It could save you a fortune on checked baggage fees.

What are the Rules for Personal Items?

In an ideal world, all airlines would use the same rules for carry-on baggage, but sadly, this is not the case.

You should check the airline’s website for its latest baggage policy before you pack.

Low-cost carriers are typically very strict on imposing size and weight restrictions, and a few extra pounds could cost you more than your flight ticket.

Personal Item Size Dimensions

To help you decide if your duffel bag meets personal item requirements, we have listed the size policies for America’s leading airlines below.

United Airlines Personal Item Policy

If traveling with United Airlines, your duffle bag, handbag, or briefcase must be no larger than 9 in x 10 in x 17 in (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm) to be considered a personal item. It must fit underneath the seat in front of you.

American Airlines Personal Item Policy

The personal item policy of American Airlines is slightly more generous. Your purse or duffle bag can measure 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) providing it fits under the seat in front of you.

JetBlue Airlines Personal Item Policy

All JetBlue fares include one personal item, but it must fit under the seat in front of you. Your personal item could be a purse, laptop bag, backpack, duffle bag, or approved pet carrier.

Southwest Airlines Personal Item Policy

Of course, Southwest Airlines has a different personal item policy from all other airlines. Your purse, briefcase, laptop bag, duffle bag, or camera bag must not exceed 16.25 x 13.5 x 8 inches (41 x 34.29 x 20cm) in dimensions, and you must store it under the seat in front of you.

Spirit Airlines Personal Item Policy

To comply with Spirit Airlines’ personal item policy, your backpack, purse, duffle, or laptop bag must measure 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm) or less, including wheels and handles.

Frontier Airlines Personal Item Policy

If you want to use Frontier Airlines’ free baggage allowance, your personal item must not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (46 x 35.5 x 20 cm). Your purse, tote, duffle bag, briefcase, diaper bag, or laptop bag must also fit within the airline’s bag sizer at the check-in counter, so don’t risk an oversize bag with this airline!

Allegiant Airline Personal Item Policy

The personal item policy of Allegiant Airlines is simple. Your duffle, purse, or backpack must not exceed 7 x 15 x 16 inches (17.8 x 38.1 x 40.6 cm), and you must store it underneath the seat in front of you.

Here are the websites of popular airlines to check the up to date information:

• American Airlines
• Southwest
• JetBlue
• United
• Spirit
• Delta
• Frontier

Best Bags Meeting Personal Item Size Limits 2024

Here are our top picks for personal items 2024:

What is Considered a Personal Item?

With no clear TSA definition of a ‘Personal Item’, airlines can make their own rules. However, all agree that personal items must fit under the seat in front of you and not in the overhead bin.

If you have traveled with a low-cost carrier recently, you’ll understand just how small the space is under the seat in front of you, so bear this in mind when choosing a duffle or backpack as your personal item.

Here are some examples used by domestic and international airlines to describe their definition of a personal item:

• According to American Airlines, your personal item could be a purse, briefcase, or laptop bag.
• Delta Airlines uses the same definition, listing a personal item as one purse, briefcase, or laptop bag per person.
• In the UAE, Emirates Airlines describes its personal item as a briefcase, handbag, or garment bag.
• The Personal Item policy of Cathay Pacific Airways is one small item, such as a handbag, laptop bag, camera bag, briefcase, or small backpack that fits under the seat in front.
• United Airlines describes a personal item as a shoulder bag, laptop, purse, or other small item.
• Australian airline Qantas is slightly more generous with its personal item policy. You can carry a handbag, slim laptop bag, small camera, overcoat, a small amount of duty-free (where permitted), and “a reasonable amount” of reading materials onboard.

Ultimately, your personal item must be smaller than a carry-on bag (which comes with a whole new set of rules) and should fit snugly under the seat in front of you without blocking the aisle.

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What You Can Carry in Addition to Your Personal Item

As any savvy traveler will know, you can bring other items onboard an aircraft, in addition to your free personal item, without paying for the privilege.

Airlines typically list these as ‘free’ or ‘ancillary’ items on their websites, so if you are short on space, check the list and pack accordingly.

To give you some examples of ‘free items’, United Airlines lists the following under their ‘Traveler Pro Tips’ section:

• Jacket
• Umbrella
• Reading materials
• Food and drinks purchased at the airport
• Mobility devices, including wheelchairs, canes, and crutches
• A car seat or stroller
• A diaper bag and breast pump
• Camera

Free items with American Airlines include:

• Diaper bags
• Breast pumps
• Small cooler bag of breast milk
• Child safety seats and strollers
• Medical or mobility devices

What Are Duffel Bags?

Duffel bags are hugely popular for domestic and international travel, but what are they, and why do you need one?

Allow us to explain.

A duffel bag is soft-sided luggage, typically made from leather, canvas, or a synthetic material such as nylon.

They are cylindrical with carry handles and sometimes have a removable shoulder strap for supporting heavy loads.

Most duffle bags have a spacious main compartment and side pockets for your tech and travel essentials.

They are ideal for weekend breaks, and thanks to their flexible sides, you can pack them in small spaces and areas where a hardshell case will not fit.

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Using a Duffel Bag as a Personal Item

Duffel bags are lightweight, spacious, and versatile, making them ideal for domestic and international travel.

Thanks to their soft-sided design, they compress easily under seats, in overhead bins, and in small aircraft holds, but if you want to take on onboard as your free personal item, you need to buy a small duffle bag that meets the airline’s size restrictions.

Pack wisely, and your duffel bag could save you a fortune on carry-on fees, and you can easily pack for a weekend with the right size bag.

Do Airlines Count Duffle Bags as Personal Items?

If it falls within their size restrictions, then yes, the airline will count your duffel bag as a personal item.

Measuring a duffel bag is not as easy as measuring a hardshell case, so try packing it first and then using a tape measure to gauge the Width, Length, and Height.

Low-cost carriers often have bag sizers at the check-in desk, so do not overpack your duffel bag.

You may need to be able to squeeze it into the sizer for it to pass as a personal item. If it does not fit, the airline could charge you to take it onboard.

What to Pack in Your Duffel Bag Personal Item

Duffel bags are incredibly spacious and ideal for carrying the overflow from your carry-on.

As you need to store your personal item under the seat in front of you, pack your duffel with in-flight essentials, such as:

• Headphones
• Smartphone chargers
• Prescription medicines
• Toiletries
• Snacks
• A sweater, jacket, or extra layer of clothing for chilly long-haul flights
• Reading materials

With everything you need at your feet, you won’t need to access overhead bins during the flight or disturb fellow travelers if you are sitting in a window seat.

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International Airline Policies on Personal Items

Overseas airlines such as British Airways, KLM, Air Canada, and Qatar Airways also allow you to take a personal item onboard free of charge. For guidance, here are a few examples:

British Airways Personal Item Policy: BA has one of the most generous personal item policies of all international airlines. Your duffel or handbag can measure 16 x 12 x 6 inches or 40 x 30 x 15 cm and weigh up to 23kg – that’s 51lb!! They also state: “You can bring a small bag for essentials like medication, mobile phones, other electronic devices, and passports. This is guaranteed to travel with you in the cabin as part of your British Airways baggage allowance.”

Air Canada Personal Item Policy: Your personal item must not exceed 13 x 17 x 6 inches or 33 x 43 x 16 cm with no weight restrictions. As long as you can lift it into the overhead bin unassisted, Air Canada will let you take it onboard.

Qatar Airways Personal Item Policy: All economy tickets include one piece of carry-on baggage measuring 20 x 15 x 10 inches or 50 x 37 x 25 cm and weighing up to 7kg (15lb). You can also carry the following personal items, a handbag, small briefcase, coat, blanket, umbrella, camera, binoculars, reading materials, and duty-free items purchased at the airport.

Personal Item Weight & Size Restrictions

While you can use most smaller duffel bags as your personal item, some airlines, especially low-cost carriers, impose strict size and weight restrictions.

For instance, some airlines specify that your personal item must be rectangular, so a cylindrical duffel will not meet their criteria.

Others impose weight restrictions as low as 7kg or 15lbs, and while the chances of someone weighing your bag are low, if they do and you are overweight, you will likely have to pay a fee.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our article on is a duffel bag a personal item.

If you have any questions or comments, contact us at info@vonbaer.com, or leave them in the comments.

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