Well we finally figured out and bought new roll suitcases the exact dimensions for carry-on for the majority of the airlines for both national and international flights. This was allowed along with an additional smaller type bag-ex. a med. backpack. Now they say you can only bring 1 of these suitcases along with 1 "personal item". Does this mean a med. sized backpack or not?? Anyone have info. or experience with this? i don't want to check any luggage. Thanks.

No, I don't think a medium backpack is what they have in mind as a "personal item," The examples that are usually given are a woman's handbag, a briefcase, or a laptop computer.

Joanne is correct. A "personal item" specifically means a pocketbook, briefcase or laptop.

Am I wrong but I thought that laptops didn't qualify for carryon and that they had to be checked. Can anyone verify this?

I just flew twice last weekend within the US and people were allowed to carry on laptops on America West. They were allowed in the new FAA Oct regulations as a personal carryon item and always have been, as far as I know. I think it's possible some individual airline may count them as a carryon item (ie, it will use up your one allowance) but they do not have to be checked, in general.

Thanks Christina. I had wondered.

Was on Ammerican last week - people had their laptops. A sign at the security screening in Abq asked that laptops be removed from their carrying
case before being put through the screening machine.

Here's the link to the new FAA regulations, which discuss permitted items like laptops and disposable razors. Of course, individual airlines and airports can set up stricter rules, so you should check first.

http://www.faa.gov/apa/pr/pr.cfm?id=1435

The Q&A section of our local paper quoted an FAA rep as stating that a small backpack (like a student's bookbag) would be considered a "personal item." But I guess you'll be taking your chance with whoever's making the decision when you get there.

Not sure I understand why a laptop bag or briefcase would be OK, but not a small, personal backpack.

Brian, the original poster said a MEDIUM backpack, which I think is a lot bigger than a small one.

I have one of those roll-ons with a matching shoulder bag that slips over the handle, and sits atop the bag. It's kind of like the ones that the flight attendants and pilots take on with them. Maybe i'm being a little dense, but just to be certain, do those count as a personal item? It's about the size of a large laptop/briefcase combo. Has anyone seen someone on a flight with this type of set? Thanks.

I, too, need to hear from anyone about the matching shoulder bag that slips over the handle, and sits atop the roll bag, whether this can be considered a "personal item" or if they are too large now. Can anyone help??

You can probably get on United with the rolling suitcase and the slip-over briefcase/laptop bag. I traveled last weekend on United and had no trouble with that combo.

My boyfriend has also traveled to Portland, Seattle, New York, Denver and Las Vegas in the last few weeks with that combo-- it was never questioned.

I travel every week and bring a small suitcase (fits into the box at counter) and a breifcase. When I heard they were going to start being more strict with carryons, I thought they would begin the size limits.
I have seen nothing change. There are more random searches, and more random wanding of individuals. Still see big rollons, with the shoulder bag and a breif case.
I even notice that the flight crews bags would not fit in the box at the counter. I thought it would change, but it hasnt.

If you go on the individual airlines websites you will find the dimmensions of the bags you can bring onto the plane. Ironically these where the regulations ALWAYS. But no one enforced them. Because I hate to fly I hadnt been on a plane in awhile and I did my research and bought bags that conformed only to find out that no one even checked. This obviously was before 9-11.

SO HERE IS THE INFO
http://www.magellans.com/guides/airlines.html

Juli, that Magellan site looks like it hasn't been updated since 9/11, since some of the policies it describes are more generous than what's allowed under the FAA's October 8 memo. But it's a very handy source of links to the individual airlines, where passengers can probably get the latest official policies.

I fly a lot (8-10 flights per week), and it's been my experience that US airlines are miserable at enforcing their own regs, before and after the 11th, so here's what I've seen:

Most US airlines are allowing a small suitcase, another smaller bag (toiletrie bag/laptop/breifcase) and medium/small purse for travel within the US. The general rule is one bag in the overhead, and then stuff under your seat (purse & smaller bag). However, the airlines can deny any bag at any time.

So here's my policy - if I absolutely have to NOT check it, I make sure I can put it in my pocket. By this I mean I keep a small wallet in my purse with all cash, credit cards, travelers' checks, id, etc. I also keep a very small bag in my suitcase with persciptions. Both of these can fit in my pockets, and are easy to transfer if I have to check bags all of sudden.

Additionally, I have a lock on my laptop bag, even though I never plan to check it - it's also a well-padded bag so it can be checked, without fear of harming the contects.

I never bring any bag that can't be checked (shopping bag, etc). I've actually seen people miss flights (very rarely) because security was tightened and they wouldn't check a bag.