With the past few years, as airlines have started charging for checked (and sometimes even overhead carry on) bags, underseat luggage has become increasingly important. With the right underseat luggage for your family, you’ll be able to have your essentials right in front of you on a flight, and you’ll be able to save money. Here’s our guide to underseat luggage for your next flight – for better convenience and cost savings.
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Save Money on Your Next Flight With These Underseat Luggage Tips
What is underseat luggage?
Per FAA regulations, you’ll be able to bring two items on the plane with you – a carry on bag and a personal item that can fit under the seat in front of you. Almost every seat on the plane has that underseat space, except for bulkhead seats (where you’ll have to put your personal item in the overhead bins for takeoff and landing).
The space under the seat in front of you isn’t very big, but there are lots of different underseat luggage options that will fit in that area. Depending upon your preferences and your needs, you’ll be able to choose the best option for you.
The airlines do call these bags “personal items”, and they are typically referenced as purses, backpacks, diaper bags, or computer bags. However, there are some additional bag types that fit in that space.
Is underseat luggage free to bring on?
While some airlines, including Frontier and Spirit, do charge for carry-ons, these personal items are still free. I once saw a whole family at the airport avoid baggage fees by traveling with backpacks, and was so impressed (and intrigued).
You will want to ensure that your underseat bag meets the size requirements of the airline you are flying with. This article can provide you with more information about personal item size restrictions; however, it is always recommended to check directly with your airline if you are unsure. You’ll want to ensure you have the correct information so that you don’t arrive at the airport with a bag that is too large.
What should I look for when choosing underseat luggage?
It’s essential to consider how you’ll utilize your bag both in the air and during your vacation. Rolling underseat bags are more useful for travel, but probably won’t be used at your destination. However, something like a backpack or diaper bag will be useful both during your flight and before, during, and after your trip.
If you’re bringing a laptop, you’ll probably want a bag that can accommodate it in a padded laptop compartment. I like having a bag with a sleeve on the back that I can slip over my roller bag. Or, I’ll use a backpack that I can put on my back while rolling my other bag.
I typically like to have an underseat carry-on bag with a top closure. Popular purses like the Louis Vuitton Neverfull are a great size for travel, but your items may fall out without a bag closure on top. This is also important when going through security – an open bag may result in items falling out on the floor or the conveyor belt.
I typically bring a water bottle with me on vacation and the plane, so it’s nice to have a bag with a slot for a bottle. I also prefer to have zipper compartments to add some of my smaller items (like my AirPods).
Wheeled underseat bags can be very convenient, especially if you don’t want to carry your bag. If you are also bringing along a regular wheeled carry-on, ensure the smaller one has a sleeve so you can attach it to the top of the larger one.
What should I put in my underseat carry-on luggage?
I like having my airplane essentials, like my Kindle, headphones, and tablet easily accessible for me to quickly grab I never really want to have to go into the overheads during my flight. Because of that, I try to be strategic when packing my underseat bags for quick access to my essentials.
You may want to consider including the following in that bag, keeping in mind that sometimes travelers are required to check their carry-ons and won’t have access to them. I once had an airline lose my carry-on that I was forced to check. My expensive retainers were in that bag, and luckily, it was returned to me two days later.
- Valuables that you want to keep by you
- Medications and medical devices, including eyeglasses, retainers, EpiPens
- Fragile items like laptops
- Items you’ll want in flight, including books, headphones, tablets, etc.
- Water bottle and snacks
- Do Diapering essentials and a change of clothes if you are traveling with young kids
- Wallet and keys
- Chargers, including portable chargers (portable chargers can no longer be placed in checked bags).
How Big Can An Underseat Bag Be?
It can vary, but in general, expect to have room for a bag that’s approximately 18x14x8 inches. This site has a great guide with current regulations.
What is the best underseat luggage to purchase?
Nomad Lane Bento Bag
This bag is my new favorite. It features a trolley sleeve to cover your rolling suitcase, a crossbody strap, a laptop pocket, and two separate compartments for clothes and accessories. This bag holds a lot, yet it can still be placed under most airline seats.
This bag can get heavy, so you may want to place it on top of a separate rolling suitcase. It is a great way to save money on checked-bag fees.
You can find the Nomad Lane Bento Bag in several colors on Amazon.com. Check out the video below to see how I pack it.
Away Travel Everywhere Bag
This is more of a duffle-style bag, so you won’t necessarily use it at your destination. But, it’s available in both leather and nylon, at two different price points.
The Everywhere Bag features a laptop sleeve, a zip pocket, and several other pockets. There’s also a zip pouch on the bottom that can fit an umbrella. Like the other totes, it has a sleeve that slides over the handle of a wheeled bag.
You can $20 off your purchase here.
Beis Mini Weekender
Beis, the travel company founded by Pretty Little Liars star Shay Mitchell, offers a great underseat bag. The mini Weekender, the smallest version of her Weekender duffle line, can be used as a personal item on most planes. The bag comes with a separate shoe container at the bottom, and on the convertible version of the bag, this container can completely zip off.
The Mini Weekender opens wide at the top, making it easy to pack. There’s also a laptop pouch and a zip pocket on the exterior. It has a trolley sleeve that can slide over the handle of your rolling suitcase.
Get $15 off your first purchase here.
Calpak Terra Backpack
The Calpack Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack, which comes in a variety of fun colors, is a great travel bag. It includes several different pockets, as well as a laptop sleeve. Additionally, it can be carried and packed like a backpack or a piece of luggage, and it comes with a long cross-body strap.
You can save $25 towards your next $125 purchase with our referral link.
Lo & Sons O.G. 2
Lo & Sons offers several different carry-on bag styles that fit as underseat luggage, including the O.G. 2. I have the original version, the O.G., and it’s a great combination of functionality and style.
The O.G. has lots of pockets, including a separate section at the bottom for shoes, a front zipper pocket, and a laptop sleeve. It’s also a great gym bag, especially with the shoe pouch. It comes with shoulder straps and a crossbody strap, as well as a sleeve on the back for sliding on the handles of your wheeled bag.
Rolling Carry-On Luggage
If you don’t want to have to carry your underseat luggage, a rolling carry-on bag may be useful. I have the TPRC Smart Under-Seat Carry-On Luggage from Amazon, and it’s an excellent option for a roller bag.
This bag includes a USB port for charging. You’ll have to supply your portable charging bank and cord, but it’s easy to charge right through the bag.
There are also multiple zipped pockets through the bag, and you’ll be able to fit enough for at least an overnight in the bag. It also has a strap on the back that you can use to attach it to your larger carry-on bag.
You can buy it here.
What is your favorite underseat luggage?
More Packing Tips Resources: Looking for more packing tips and recommendations? Here are all of our posts including packing lists, product recommendations, and ideas for specific trips.
