Whether a duffle bag is considered a personal item or carry on item depends on its size.
On average, personal items have a size restriction of 17 inches long, 10 inches wide and 9 inches high, and must also be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you.
If your duffle bag meets this criteria, then it will be considered a personal item.
However, airlines have different personal item size restrictions, so we need to take a closer look at each airline’s policy.
What Airlines Consider a Duffle Bag a Personal Item?
To know what airlines consider a duffle bag to be a personal item, we need to refer to the size restrictions they enforce when deciding whether an item is a personal item or carry on.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines consider a duffle bag to be a personal item as long as it fits under the seat in front of you.
Allegiant
Allegiant consider a duffle bag to be a personal item if it measures no larger than 7” x 15” x 16”.
American Airlines
American Airlines consider a duffle bag to be a personal item if it is no larger than 18” x 14” x 8”.
Delta
Delta consider a duffle bag to be a personal item as long as it fits under the seat in front of you.
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines consider a duffle bag to be a personal item if it is no larger than 18” x 14” x 8”.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines consider a duffle bag to be a personal item as long as it fits under the seat in front of you.
JetBlue
JetBlue consider a duffle bag to be a personal item if it is no larger than 17” x 13” x 8″.
Southwest
Southwest consider a duffle bag to be a personal item if it is no larger than 18.5” x 8.5” x 13.5”.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit consider a duffle bag to be a personal item if it is no larger than 18” x 14” x 8”.
United
United consider a duffle bag to be a personal item if it is no larger than 17” x 10” x 9”.
As you can see, some airlines are stricter than others, with some enforcing a specific size restriction, while others are more relaxed by simply stating that if it fits under the seat in front of you, it’s okay.
Duffle Bag Airline Weight Limits
Most airlines generally won’t enforce a weight limit for personal items, including duffle bags, because personal items are by their nature small and therefore likely to be lightweight.
If an airline does enforce a weight limit for a personal item, it would typically be 15-22 lbs.
When a Duffle Bag is Considered a Carry on Item
A duffle bag is considered a carry on item if it exceeds an airline’s size restrictions for personal items, whether that be exceeding specific dimensions or not being able to fit under the seat in front of you.
What Will Happen if Your Duffle Bag Doesn’t Fit Under the Seat
If your duffle bag doesn’t fit under the seat in front of you, you will be asked to place it in an overhead bin.
If at no point you were stopped and queried about the size of your duffle bag, and only find out that it won’t fit under the seat once you get on the plane, you don’t have to be worry about being charged a fee for flying with an additional carry on item.
Flying Domestically vs. Internationally
Whether you fly with a duffle bag domestically or internationally makes no difference, as airlines generally enforce the same size restrictions for personal items.
What Does a Backpack Count As?
Again, whether a backpack counts as a carry on or personal item depends on its size, generally with backpacks that are larger than 17 inches long, 10 inches wide and 9 inches high being considered a carry on.
You Can Bring Two Personal Items on a Plane
Most major airlines will allow you to bring one carry on and one personal item on a plane, though this can depend on the ticket you bought.
Ella Dunham, a Freelance Travel Journalist and Marketing Manager, boasts an impressive career spanning eight years in the travel and tourism sectors.
Honored as one of "30 Under 30" by TTG Media (the world’s very first weekly travel trade newspaper), a "Tour Operator Travel Guru" and "Legend Award" winner, Ella is also a Fellow of the Institute of Travel, a Member of the Association of Women Travel Executives, has completed over 250 travel modules, and hosts travel-focused segments on national radio shows where she provides insights on travel regulations and destinations.
Ella has visited over 40 countries (with 10 more planned this year).
