What exactly counts as a personal item?

A personal item is a bag small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. The standard underseat space on most narrowbody aircraft (Boeing 737, Airbus A320 family) is approximately 45×33×20 cm, but airlines publish their own maximum dimensions which vary. Accepted types include small backpacks, laptop bags, handbags, tote bags, duffel bags, and briefcases — the shape matters less than whether it fits the underseat space.

Does Southwest Airlines have a personal item size limit?

Southwest does not publish a specific size limit for personal items. The airline's policy states that the item must fit under the seat in front of you. In practice, Southwest is the most permissive major US carrier for personal item size. Oversized items that cannot physically fit under the seat will need to go in the overhead bin, which Southwest also allows freely.

Do airlines weigh personal items?

Almost never. Weight limits for personal items are specified in some carriers' conditions of carriage, but airport staff almost never weigh them in practice. The item is checked visually — primarily whether it fits under the seat. This makes the personal item a useful place to transfer heavy items (laptop, books, water bottle, shoes) when your carry-on is approaching the weight limit at check-in.

Can I use a tote bag as a personal item?

Yes. A tote bag qualifies as a personal item on every airline as long as it fits under the seat. A large structured tote (38×30×15 cm) typically works well. Unstructured totes that can be compressed to fit are even more flexible. Avoid extra-large shoppers or beach totes that exceed 45 cm in any dimension — they may be asked to go in the overhead bin.

What is the best bag for a personal item on Ryanair?

Ryanair does not offer a separate personal item slot — their free small bag allowance (40×20×25 cm) is the only bag permitted without a cabin bag fee. The best bag for this allowance is a slim 20–25 litre daypack or a small structured laptop bag that fits exactly within 40×20×25 cm. Bags with rigid frames are risky as they are less flexible than the sizer box allows.

Personal Item Guide: Size Rules, Best Bags, and Airline Policies

A personal item is the second bag you are allowed to bring on a flight — the one that goes under the seat in front of you, as distinct from the carry-on that goes in the overhead bin. Airline policies on personal items vary enormously, from strict published dimensions to effectively no limit. Understanding the rules means you can pack smarter and avoid fees.

What Is a Personal Item?

A personal item is any bag that fits in the underseat space — the gap between your seat and the seat in front of you. The physical space on most narrowbody aircraft (Boeing 737, Airbus A320 family) is approximately 45×33×20 cm, though the exact dimensions depend on the seat configuration and airline.

Accepted bag types:

Small backpack or daypack (up to approximately 20 litres)
Laptop bag or slim briefcase
Handbag or structured tote
Small soft duffel bag
Camera bag or sling bag

Shape matters less than total dimensions. A soft bag that compresses to fit is often more practical than a rigid bag at the limit.

Personal Item Size Limits by Airline

Airline	Personal item size limit	Notes
American Airlines	46×35×20 cm (18×14×8 in)	Fits under most seats
Delta	46×35×20 cm	Same as American
United Airlines	43×25×23 cm (17×10×9 in)	Slightly smaller
Southwest Airlines	No published size limit	Must fit under seat
JetBlue	43×33×20 cm	Standard personal item
Spirit Airlines	45×35×20 cm (18×14×8 in)	Strict enforcement
Frontier Airlines	35×20×20 cm (14×18×8 in)	Smaller than US average
Ryanair	40×20×25 cm	Free bag — no separate personal item
easyJet	45×36×20 cm	Free underseat bag (no carry-on fee)
Wizz Air	40×30×20 cm	Small bag allowance
British Airways	40×30×15 cm (personal item)	Plus carry-on in overhead
Lufthansa	40×30×10 cm	Small personal item

Ryanair and easyJet note: These two airlines structure their allowances differently from US carriers. Ryanair's free bag is 40×20×25 cm — this is the only free bag, with no separate personal item slot. easyJet's free underseat bag (45×36×20 cm) is similarly the single free item for non-Plus customers.

How Airlines Enforce Personal Item Rules

Size: Airport staff occasionally check personal items against the bag sizer at the gate, particularly on Spirit and Frontier in the US, and on Ryanair and Wizz Air in Europe. Soft bags that flex to fit typically pass even when near the limit.

Weight: Personal item weight limits exist in some conditions of carriage but are almost never enforced at the gate. Airlines focus on the overhead bin bags for weight enforcement on carriers that weigh cabin bags.

At boarding: Most personal items pass without any check. Enforcement is inconsistent and varies by gate agent, route, and how full the flight is.

Maximising Your Personal Item

The personal item is useful beyond just carrying an extra bag. Use it strategically:

Transfer heavy items to beat weight checks: If your carry-on is close to the weight limit, move your laptop, camera, and heavy shoes into your personal item before check-in. The weight in the personal item rarely gets checked.

Put valuables here, not in the overhead bin: Your personal item stays within reach under the seat in front of you for the entire flight. Laptops, passports, medications, and valuables are safer here than in the overhead bin, which is stowed away at boarding and not accessible during taxi or initial climb.

Pack the personal item last: Fill your carry-on first, then use the personal item for overflow and flight essentials.

Best Bags for Personal Items

US Airlines (46×35×20 cm standard)

Osprey Farpoint 40 — has a removable daypack that fits within personal item dimensions
Peak Design Everyday Sling 10L — 10-litre sling that fits under any seat, well-organized
Tropicfeel Shell — designed specifically as a personal item, expandable

European Budget Airlines (40×20×25 cm Ryanair / 40×30×20 cm Wizz Air)

Cabin Zero 28L — slim profile, fits Ryanair dimensions
Tortuga Setout Laptop Bag — designed for the Ryanair small bag footprint
Standard laptop bag (up to 15 inch) — a well-made laptop bag usually fits within 40×20×25 cm

Universal (works across most airlines)

A 15–20 litre structured daypack at approximately 42×28×18 cm fits under the seat on virtually every airline, including the more restrictive European carriers. This is the safest universal choice if you fly multiple carriers.

Personal Item vs Carry-On: Which Gets the Bin?

Your carry-on goes in the overhead bin. Your personal item goes under the seat. This arrangement is fixed on most airlines — some passengers put their personal item in the overhead bin to get more legroom, but this is against policy on airlines that have assigned overhead bin space. On Southwest and some other carriers it is more loosely enforced.

If overhead bins are full when you board, gate agents will ask to check bags — they target carry-ons, not personal items. Your personal item stays with you.