There’s nothing like going on a quick weekend trip to explore other cities or taking the time to visit friends and family you haven’t seen in a while. However, the costs of flying are skyrocketing, suitcases are getting lost, and airlines are charging a pretty penny for carry-on luggage and checked bags. The hunt for cheap flights and convenient travel is an ongoing challenge. One way to keep travel costs as low as possible: utilizing the personal-item carry-on bag. The personal-item bag is a must when you fly a no-frills airline such as Frontier or Spirit Airlines or buy a basic economy seat for domestic travel, since it’s the only bag you can bring that’s free of extra costs. These functional bags also make long-haul flights easier with convenient access to all your necessities.
What Qualifies as a Personal-Item Bag?
A personal-item bag can be a functional backpack, a stylish tote bag, a spacious diaper bag, a laptop or work bag, or anything small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you. Each airline has different qualifications on sizes and proportions, so we’ve listed a few common ones below:
- United: 9″ depth x 10″ width x 17″ height
- Allegiant: 7″ depth x 15″ width x 16″ height
- Spirit: 8″ depth x 14″ width x 18″ height
- Delta: 9″ depth x 13″ width x 17″ height
- Southwest: 8.5″ depth x 13.5″ width x 18.5″ height
- JetBlue: 8″ depth x 13″ width x 17″ height
- Frontier: 8″ depth x 18″ width x 14″ height
A quality personal-item bag has enough room for all your travel essentials and necessities while being compact enough to fit the airline guidelines. Going on a quick weekend getaway? Your go-to personal-item bag should fit all your vacation must haves, including a few outfits, an extra pair of shoes, makeup, skin care, and toiletries, necessary chargers and cords, and maybe even a flat iron and a reusable water bottle. There are several stylish and quality personal-item bags on the market that take all this into consideration, so you can travel smarter. Ahead, we curated the best personal-item carry-on bags for flying, including tried and tested picks from our editors like the Béis Mini Weekender Bag.
Ready to hit “buy” on a new one for yourself? Ahead, a selection of the best personal carry-on bags for flying.
The Best Personal-Item Carry-On Bag
The Béis The Mini Weekender is the smaller version of the bestselling Weekender Bag, which is also an editor favorite. It can be used as an everyday tote, but it’s also perfect for overnight trips or as a personal item on flights. “It is ideal for any traveler, whether you’re a frequent flyer or someone who goes on the occasional vacation. . . . The bag fits the right amount of clothing and necessities for a three-day trip, including a few extra outfits if you pack smart,” our editor says.
It has a padded, built-in laptop sleeve; a bottom compartment for shoes, hair tools, and toiletries; and a trolley pass-through sleeve. Plus, the inside has a large zip pocket and two small slip pockets. Our editor points out, “another clever feature is the expandable, clamshell-like zip-top opening of the top compartment. The bag opens up quite wide, so you can easily see and access your stuff and take out your electronics . . . for security.” It has a top handle and a padded longer strap. It comes in eight colors, including beige, black, navy, gray, and pink. Read our in-depth
Dimensions: 16″ height x 16″ width x 8″ depth
Best Eco-Friendly Personal-Item Carry-On Bag
Paravel Weekender Bag ($295)
The Paravel Weekender Bag is an editor-backed pick, with her stating that “even though the bag itself appears compact, it actually has a ton of space inside. I can fit electronics, multiple cosmetic bags, and any other extras I want readily available with plenty of space to spare.” It can fit around two days worth of clothes (three if you’re smart about packing), toiletries, and a 15-inch laptop. Paravel’s Weekender Bag has a wide shoulder strap that lets you carry it with ease and a trolley sleeve that lets you carry it on top of your rolling luggage. It has a secure zip-top closure and several slip and zippered pockets on the inside.
The eco-friendly weekender is made out of 60 percent recycled materials, including recycled vegan leather. Plus, it’s made with an ecocraft canvas that is spill proof and durable. You can personalize it with a monogram, and it comes in two colors. Read our in-depth
Dimensions: 15″ height x 15″ width x 8″ depth
Best Stylish Personal-Item Carry-On Bag With Wheels
Calpak Ambeur Mini Carry-On Luggage ($165)
If you’re in the market for something durable, sleek, and glam, Calpak’s Ambeur Mini Carry-On Luggage is designed to fit underneath most airplane seats. One of our editors says, “it’s quite literally a mini version of a carry-on bag; it has all the convenience of a stylish and functional suitcase, just sliced in half. . . . Although it may look small, it can fit a good amount of stuff for a three or four-day weekend.”
The best part of this bag is that it’s equipped with 360-degree spinner wheels and a collapsable luggage handle, so you can get through security and to your gate without having to carry the actual weight of your bag. This mini carry-on bag is a dream for organization; it opens upright and has a divider with multiple pockets. It comes in gold, rose gold, silver, and black.
Dimensions: 14″ height x 16″ width x 9″ depth
Best Durable Personal-Item Carry-On Bag
Lululemon Go Getter Padded Weekender Bag ($198)
If you want something sleek, modern, and durable, you can’t go wrong with Lululemon’s Go Getter Padded Weekender Bag. It’s designed for those always on the go, whether it’s catching red-eye flights or going on an excursion. It’s made from a thick, water-repellent fabric that can handle all the scuffs and mishaps of traveling.
There are exterior pockets, perfect for your phone, wallet, and passport, plus a separate document sleeve for important papers. This bag also has a padded laptop pocket on the outside, so you can easily access it when in security or while waiting at the gate. It also has plenty of interior pockets to keep your things organized and secure. Don’t want to carry it? The back of this bag has a hidden trolley strap that will help it sit securely on a carry-on suitcase.
Dimensions: 13.8″ height x 21.3″ width x 9.5″ depth
Best Leather Personal-Item Carry-On Bag
Cuyana Leather Weekender ($548)
Cuyana’s Leather Weekender is perfect for those who need to keep things compartmentalized. It’s equipped with three compartments, including two external zip compartments that can fit up to a 16-inch laptop. The main compartment has two large slip pockets that are great for storing shoes, hair tools, and other necessities. The bag even has a trolley sleeve, so you can easily secure it to your carry-on bag. Carry this in your hand, over your shoulder, or as a crossbody with its adjustable removable strap. It comes in a neutral brown shade and black.
Looking for something smaller? You can get the Overnight Bag, which is the same silhouette with a 5.5-inch depth, a 19-inch width, and a 13-inch height.
Besides its functionalities, this gorgeous weekender bag is crafted from Italian leather, making it a stylish and investment-worthy piece that screams quiet luxury. You can also get this in a durable recycled plastic material for $298-$348.
Dimensions: 14.5″ height x 22.5″ width x 7″ depth
Best Personal-Item Carry-On Bag For Easy Access
Best Personal-Item Carry-On Bag For Easy Access
Away The Medium Everywhere Bag ($225)
Away’s The Medium Everywhere Bag is a water-resistant, durable, sleek option that’s perfect for fitting a few outfits, toiletries, and your tech. It has a 15-inch laptop pocket, several interior and exterior pockets to help you stay organized, and a useful trolley sleeve. It has an easy-access clamshell opening and a detachable shoulder strap as well. It comes in five colors, and you even can personalize it.
Dimensions: 11″ height x 18″ width x 7″ depth
You can also consider getting the The Large Everywhere Bag ($245) if you need more space; however, its dimensions may exceed some airline’s requirements. The larger option has a 9.4-inch depth, 20.9-inch width, and 11.8-inch height
By Anvita Reddy