Can you bring both a carry-on and a personal item on most flights?

Yes, most full-service airlines allow one carry-on bag for the overhead bin plus one personal item that fits under the seat in front of you. However, budget carriers like Spirit, Frontier, Ryanair, and Wizz Air restrict this — they let you carry one small bag for free but charge extra for an overhead bin bag.

What qualifies as a personal item on a plane?

A personal item is any bag small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Common examples include purses, small backpacks, laptop bags, briefcases, camera bags, and small tote bags. The key requirement is that it must fit in the under-seat space, typically around 18x14x8 inches or smaller depending on the airline.

What is the difference between a carry-on and a personal item?

A carry-on is a larger bag that goes in the overhead bin, typically up to 22x14x9 inches. A personal item is a smaller bag that must fit under the seat in front of you, usually around 18x14x8 inches or less. Both are separate allowances — most full-service airlines let you bring one of each.

Does Spirit Airlines allow a carry-on and a personal item?

Spirit allows one personal item (18x14x8 inches) for free on every ticket. However, a carry-on bag that goes in the overhead bin is not free on Spirit — it costs $45 to over $100 depending on when and how you purchase it. If you want to avoid fees on Spirit, pack everything into your personal item.

Can a backpack count as a personal item?

Yes, a small to medium backpack can count as your personal item as long as it fits under the seat in front of you. Most airline personal item allowances are around 18x14x8 inches, so a daypack or slim travel backpack typically qualifies. A large hiking backpack or full-size travel backpack would not fit and would need to be checked or used as your carry-on.

Can You Bring a Carry-On and a Personal Item?

The Short Answer

Yes — most airlines allow you to bring both a carry-on bag and a personal item on the same flight at no extra charge. The carry-on goes in the overhead bin, and the personal item slides under the seat in front of you.

But not all airlines play by the same rules. Budget carriers like Spirit, Frontier, Ryanair, and Wizz Air only include one small bag for free. If you want to bring anything larger — including a standard carry-on — you pay extra. Understanding the difference can save you a significant amount of money.

What Counts as a Personal Item?

A personal item is the smaller of your two allowed bags. It must fit under the seat in front of you — that's the defining rule across virtually every airline.

Common personal items include:

Purses and handbags — even large ones, as long as they fit under the seat
Small backpacks and daypacks — the most popular choice for travelers
Laptop bags and messenger bags
Briefcases
Camera bags
Small tote bags
Diaper bags (often allowed in addition to your regular personal item for passengers traveling with infants)

The practical test: if you can slide it under the seat without forcing it or blocking your legroom, it counts as a personal item.

Personal Item Size Limits by Airline

Airlines publish maximum dimensions for personal items, though enforcement varies. Below are the published limits for major carriers:

Airline	Personal Item Size Limit	Notes
American Airlines	18 x 14 x 8 in	Must fit under seat
United Airlines	17 x 10 x 9 in	Published limit, enforcement varies
Delta Air Lines	Approx. 18 x 14 x 8 in	No exact published limit; must fit under seat
Southwest Airlines	No published limit	Must fit under seat in front of you
Spirit Airlines	18 x 14 x 8 in	Free; carry-on is NOT included
Frontier Airlines	18 x 14 x 8 in	Free; carry-on requires paid add-on
JetBlue	17 x 13 x 8 in	Must fit under seat
Alaska Airlines	17 x 13 x 6 in	Must fit under seat
Ryanair	40 x 20 x 25 cm (16 x 8 x 10 in)	Free small bag; overhead requires Priority
Wizz Air	40 x 30 x 20 cm (16 x 12 x 8 in)	Free cabin bag; overhead bag costs extra
easyJet	45 x 36 x 20 cm	Free under-seat bag

Tip: Dimensions listed are typically length x width x height (L x W x H) and include handles and wheels. A bag that measures right at the limit may still be rejected if it looks obviously overstuffed.

Airlines That Charge for Carry-Ons (Not Personal Items)

This is where travelers get caught off guard. Several airlines advertise "free bags" but the free bag is only the personal item — the overhead bin bag costs extra.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit includes one personal item (up to 18 x 14 x 8 inches) for free with every ticket. A carry-on bag for the overhead bin is not included and costs $45 to over $100 depending on when you buy it — prices are lowest when added during booking and highest at the gate.

Frontier Airlines

Similar to Spirit: your personal item is free, but overhead bin access requires purchasing a carry-on add-on starting around $30–$99 depending on route and timing. Frontier's "WORKS" bundle includes bags and other perks for a flat fee.

Ryanair

Ryanair includes one small bag (40 x 20 x 25 cm) under the seat for free. To bring a larger carry-on in the overhead bin, you need to add Priority Boarding, which typically costs €6–€30 per flight and includes overhead bin access plus a 10 kg carry-on.

Wizz Air

Wizz Air includes one small cabin bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm) for free. A larger carry-on for the overhead bin costs extra — either purchased as a carry-on add-on or included with WIZZ Priority. Prices typically start around €8–€16 per flight.

What to Pack in Your Personal Item

Since your personal item stays accessible during the flight (unlike a checked bag or overhead bin bag you may not be able to reach), use it strategically.

Pack your personal item with:

Laptop or tablet and chargers
Medications and anything you might need quickly
Passport, boarding pass, travel documents
Headphones and in-flight entertainment
A change of clothes (in case checked bags are delayed)
Snacks and a refillable water bottle (empty through security)
Wallet, keys, and valuables
Anything you need during the flight itself

Save bulkier items — clothing, shoes, toiletries — for your carry-on or checked bag.

Tips for Maximizing Your Personal Item Allowance

Use a soft-sided bag. Soft fabric bags compress and flex to fit under the seat much more easily than rigid-sided luggage. A semi-structured backpack or packable tote can hold significantly more than its dimensions suggest.

Pack your personal item last, with in-flight items on top. You want your essentials immediately accessible at your seat without digging through the bag.

Choose a backpack over a rigid case. Backpacks distribute weight better, are easier to carry through airports, and can be squeezed into tighter spaces under the seat than structured briefcases.

Know the under-seat dimensions on your specific aircraft. Under-seat space varies by aircraft type and seat row. Bulkhead seats (first row of a cabin section) often have no under-seat storage — in that case, your personal item has to go in the overhead bin.

Don't overstuff. A visibly bulging personal item may be flagged even if it technically fits the published dimensions. Keep it tidy.

The Bottom Line

Most major full-service airlines (Delta, United, American, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska, Emirates, British Airways) allow one carry-on plus one personal item with standard tickets. Budget airlines (Spirit, Frontier, Ryanair, Wizz Air) include only one small bag for free — a personal item that goes under the seat. If you want overhead bin access on a budget carrier, expect to pay.

Before you fly, check the specific policy for your airline and ticket class. Basic Economy tickets on full-service carriers sometimes reduce your allowance to personal item only, matching what budget airlines charge extra for.