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Basic economy and personal items: what size actually fits
Updated
On some basic fares you get no overhead bag, only a personal item that goes under the seat. Personal item limits are small, from 40 x 30 x 15 cm to 18 x 14 x 8 inches on the pages we read. Even the underseat roller on this site is bigger than all of them.
Who limits basic fares
- United: Basic Economy allows one personal item on most trips. A carry-on is allowed if you fly to South America, across the Atlantic or across the Pacific.
- Lufthansa: Economy Basic on short and medium-haul flights allows one personal item, 40 x 30 x 15 cm.
- Ryanair: every fare includes one small bag, 40 x 30 x 20 cm, that must fit under the seat. An overhead bag needs Priority.
- Air Canada and KLM also limit some basic fares. Details are in the table.
Personal item sizes, and the underseat pick
| Airline | Personal item size | Fare note | Travelpro Maxlite 5 Underseat (17.5 x 14.5 x 8.5 in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United | 17 x 10 x 9 in | Basic Economy: personal item only on most trips | No |
| American | 18 x 14 x 8 in | No basic fare rule in the section we read | No |
| Air Canada | 43 x 33 x 16 cm | Economy Basic bought on or after January 3, 2025: personal item only on some itineraries | No |
| Lufthansa | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | Economy Basic, short and medium-haul: personal item only | No |
| KLM | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | Economy Basic: no carry-on included | No |
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | Every fare includes the small bag. An overhead bag needs Priority | No |
American's page gives 18 x 14 x 8 inches for a personal item. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 Underseat is 17.5 x 14.5 x 8.5 with wheels, so it is half an inch too wide and half an inch too deep. Owners say it fits under plane seats, and it may. But the published limit is what staff can hold you to.
What does fit
At these sizes a soft backpack or tote that you can squash is safer than anything with a frame and wheels. Measure it packed. If you need a roller, buy a fare that includes a carry-on and use the underseat bag as your second item.
Delta, Southwest and Alaska
The pages we read for these three give examples of personal items but no size, so the checker cannot test them in personal item mode.
Check your own bag against your airlines with the carry-on size checker, or compare all seven picks on the roundup page.