Clarin

For United (international) specifically, I'm wondering what the specific limitations are for carry-on items. Of course your carry-on lugguage must be 45 linear inches, max; but what about that other "personal item" that you're permitted to bring: "purse, briefcase or laptop." I haven't been able to locate any size restrictions. I wonder because the Dec. issue of Town & Country has an article about saavy packing techniques, and the photo shows a woman deplaning w/a rolling carry-on suitcase AND an enormous tote, which appears to be larger than the suitcase. Hey, if you really could do that, I wouldn't check any bags either! So I've been trying to locate info on the restrictions for your "personal item" & I can't find anything on United's site or on the TSA site. So, who has this info?

kayd

One explanation I've heard is that the personal item should be able to fit under the seat in front of you; no more than one item per passenger in the overhead, so if your carry-on bag is up there, anything else must be at your feet.

In my experience, enforcement can be a bit looser on international travel because the larger planes have larger overhead bins. Also, road warriors who carry everything aboard seem to be a smaller percentage of total passengers on an international flight than on shorter domestic trips.

Just my observations, not anything official from an airline.

gracejoan3

Your best source, obviously, is the airline you are flying. They are not all the same. The linear measursement varies.

Give them a call.

Robert2533

A typical 21" wheeled, or smaller, hard-sided piece of luggage will fit in most overhead bins. Some of the larger planes, the A340, and the Boeing 767 & 777 have larger overhead bins in both cattle class and business/first class areas. Business and 1st class passengers can usually carry on a little more, and usually slightly larger bags, than the typical couch class passenger is allowed.

I have yet to see any of the airlines measure a bag, but I have seen bags removed from the plane because they were too large to fit in the overhead bin, and had to be placed into checked luggage. It happens more often when the flight is full and those boarding last end up without any place to store their luggage other than under the seat. If it doesn’t fit, it has to be checked.

BA, United and US Airways do limit the total number of carryon bags to two for everyone except their 1st/envoy/business class passengers. The means that a purse is considered a "personal" item, as is a laptop.

Travelnut

Our 'personal item' (though we don't use United) has been a fully-loaded backpack. This can fit under the sit, just barely.

ms_go

I've taken several hundred United flights over the last 8-10 years and am not aware that United has published size specifications for the "personal item."

For the last few years, my "personal item" (which I carry on in addition to one of my roll-aboards) is usually a computer bag/tote (roughly 18x14 and reasonably well stuffed; and sometimes it weighs more than the rolling bag).

I always assume that the personal item will need to fit under the seat and I certainly wouldn't take anything that exceeds (or is even as large as) the maximum dimensions for a rolling bag. There are some seats on the international planes that have less under-seat space due to the entertainment system box (seatguru may reference this). Although I haven't encountered this for any of my recent flights, I've read reports that some United gate agents are scrutinizing the size of carry-ons a bit more closely of late.

nytraveler

If you want to avoid potential problems your personal item should be the size of a computer bag or large purse - not a body bag.

If the plane is full and your personal item is huge you may find you have to gate check it - something you definitely don;t want.

Also - if you're flying within Europe you'll find rules are much more stringent.

Underhill

Oh my, yes! That makes life interesting when connecting from an American departure point with American carry-on rules.

StCirq

I have been flying United for decades. My personal item these days is usually an enormous tote bag that carries my laptop and a change of clothes plus my toiletries and a couple of books and my iPod Nano and cellphone and a load of other things that, all added up, make it about the size of my checked (or not checked - I have some weird ambivalence issues about checking luggage, depending on where I'm headed) 22" rollaboard.

I'd call them, but my experience has been that you can haul a huge thingie of any sort onboard United without them batting an eyelash.

Challiman

When I was planning a trip to Europe I read a thread on what to pack, and one suggestion was a travel vest which has many pockets and holds a lot of stuff, but doesn't count against you as a personal item or carry-on. I bought one, while functional it wasn't very snazzy, so bought another one, black, but it is also a jacket with zip-off sleeves. I will be trying that on my trip at Christmas. That sort of thing might be helpful in situations where size and weight are really restricted.

Christina

I think the idea that the personal item should be able to fit under the seat, if necessary, is the best guideline.