What Is a "Personal Item," Really?
A personal item is a smaller bag — a purse, laptop bag, small backpack, or diaper bag — that must fit under the seat in front of you, separate from your overhead-bin carry-on allowance. Nearly every airline includes one free on standard fares, but the maximum size varies more than people expect: from a tight 13 x 17 x 6in on Air Canada to a roomier 18 x 14 x 8in on American and Spirit.
Why the size varies so much
Under-seat clearance genuinely differs by aircraft, and airlines set their personal-item maximum to what physically fits under most of their fleet's seats — which is why a bag that slides easily under a domestic U.S. narrowbody seat can be tight on a different carrier's configuration. Always check your specific airline's number in the size table rather than assuming one universal figure.
When the personal item is your only free bag
On Air Canada's Basic fare (since January 2025), Ryanair, and easyJet's base fares, the personal item is the only free cabin bag — any additional carry-on-sized bag requires a paid upgrade. Know this before you book the cheapest fare tier if you're planning to bring a full carry-on.
This page reports published airline policy facts as of the date above, not a guarantee for your specific flight or gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any smaller bag that fits under the seat in front of you, separate from your overhead-bin carry-on allowance — typically a purse, laptop bag, small backpack, briefcase, or diaper bag. Most airlines let you bring one carry-on plus one personal item at no extra charge on standard fares.
It varies significantly by airline — American and Spirit cap at 18x14x8in, United at 9x10x17in, Air Canada at 13x17x6in (33x43x16cm), British Airways at 16x12x6in (40x30x15cm), and Ryanair/easyJet's free under-seat bag at roughly 40x30x20cm. See the exact figure per airline in the Carry-On Size Table.
Yes, as long as it fits within that airline's stated personal-item dimensions and slides under the seat in front of you — most standard daypacks and laptop backpacks qualify, but an expanded hiking-style backpack often doesn't.
Yes, on several fare types: Air Canada's Basic fare (since January 2025) includes only a personal item, no carry-on. Ryanair and easyJet's base fares include only the small under-seat personal item free, with any larger cabin bag requiring a paid upgrade.
No, on most airlines it's a separate allowance from checked bags entirely. The one notable exception in our table is ANA, which combines carry-on plus personal item into a single 22 lb (10kg) cap rather than treating them as fully separate allowances.