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    5 Best personal item bags from CabinZero for every occasion

    As convenient as it is, there is not much transportation that has the same level of regulations as planes. Usually, carry-on and checked baggage are more common terms that we are familiar with.

    "Personal item" is another story. It is difficult enough to understand the differences between airlines, let alone pick a suitable bag. 

    We are here to help! The first of the article will be about regulations on the flight, and then the 5 best personal item bags from CabinZero would be listed with thorough reviews.

    Of course, we hope you will like them. However, in case you don’t, we believe they are still good sources of reference.

    What Is Considered A Personal Item Bag? Plus Regulations You Need To Know

    With the right preparation, you can travel light and far with a positive mindset. Credit: @mbusyliving_esibitzky_

    Anything that fit beneath the seat in front of you are considered personal items. They can be a bag that stores valuables such as your passport, wallet, phone, and laptop.

    Most of the time, you are allowed one free personal item in addition to your carry-on. But flying low-cost carriers and coach seats means sometimes you have to make do with a personal item pack only. Generally, if your bags are within 18 x 14 x 8 inches, you are good to go. That translates to about 25-28L.

    Since the regulations might be confusing, we would try to include as many airlines as possible without making the article too boring. So, here is a little personal item size cheatsheet for your convenience:

    Airline

    Imperial (In)

    Metric (cm)

    Most suitable luggage

    Aer Lingus

    10 x 13 x 8

    25 x 33 x 20

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    Air France

    15.7 x 11.8 x 5.8

    40 x 30 x 15

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    AirAsia

    15.8 x 11.8 x 3.9

    40 x 30 x 10

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    American Airlines 

    18 x 14 x 8

    45 x 35 x 20

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    British Airways

    16 x 12 x 6

    40 x 30 x 15

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    EasyJet

    17.7 x 13.8 x 7.9

    45 x 36 x 20

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    Emirates

    *Only on Business & First Class

    17.7 x 13.8 x 7.9

    *Must be a briefcase or garment bag

    45 x 35 x 20

    *Must be a briefcase or garment bag

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    Japan Airlines (JAL)

    16 x 12 x 6

    40 x 30 x 15

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    Ryanair

    15.7 x 7.8 x  9.8

    40 x 20 x 25

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    Singapore Airlines

    15.8 x 11.8 x 3.9

    40 x 30 x 10

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    Turkish Airlines

    15.8 x 11.8 x 5.9

    40 x 30 x 15

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    Vueling Airlines

    15.8 x 7.9 x 11.8

    40 x 20 x 30

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    However, not all airlines give us a clear number. Instead, they will tell us that we can bring “a laptop, briefcase, handbag or purse” or items of similar sizes.

    Airline

    What are considered personal items

    Most suitable luggage

    AirChina

    • Handbag, briefcase, laptop bag, camera bag or other items of similar sizes or smaller

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    Alaska Airlines

    • A purse, briefcase, or laptop bag, and medically necessary items

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    All Nippon Airways (ANA)

    • A handbag, camera or umbrella

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    China Airlines

    • Handbag or wallet
    • Duty-free items
    • Umbrella
    • Infant's napkins, feeding bottle and food 
    • Reading material
    • Food for in-flight consumption

    *Please access the website for an extensive list.

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    Delta Air Lines

    • A purse, briefcase, small backpack, laptop bag, camera bag or diaper bag

    *Please access the website for a list of free items in additional to carry on.

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    Korean Air

    • Laptop, briefcase, and handbag is permitted for Economy Class.

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    Lufthansa

    • Laptop bags, shopping bags or handbags

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    Qatar

    • A lady’s handbag or one small briefcase
    • A coat, cape or blanket
    • An umbrella
    • A pair of crutches or a walking stick
    • An infant’s carrying basket
    • Duty-free items purchased on the day of your flight

    *Please access the website for an extensive list.

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    Virgin Atlantic

    • A handbag, small backpack/rucksack, pocketbook or purse
    • Standard 3.5mm headphones for onboard use
    • Laptops
    • Mobility aids and wheelchairs
    • Cigarettes and lighters.

    *Please access the website for an extensive list.

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    Is Yours Too Big?

    A personal item bag must fit the space underneath the seat in front.

    How strict are airlines about personal item size? If you are carrying something that is not specifically designed to be a personal item, the risk is there.

    Stick to a small purse, briefcase and laptop bag if you want to be safe. But what if you want to bring a pack or a duffle bag for more storage? As long as the bags can easily fit under the seat and are not unreasonably large (even to the naked eyes), the TSA will likely let you pass.

    It would be a great idea to bring the smallest one that you have if you don’t need to carry too many things. In addition, doing so helps you avoid overpacking.

    The best advice is to measure and compare your intended personal item bag with the airline’s restrictions. Normally, you can find this information in the “carry-on” section on their website. Contracting the customer support or an airport help desk is another strategy.

    What Features Make The Best Personal Items Bags?

    Obviously, size is an important factor when selecting a personal item bag. Wh