Garments bags are usually considered as hand luggage rather than a personal item. However, please check the baggage allowance for the airline you are flying with as this will vary between airlines. Airlines will allow you to bring a suit and store it in the overhead lockers or under the seat.
Garment Bags Count as Your CARRY-ON Bag
American Airlines states "Soft-sided garment bags up to 51 inches / 130 cm (length + width + height) can also be taken as your carry-on item."
You have two choices for storing a hanging bag on a plane: Ideally, you can hang it up in one of the closets, which are typically in the First Class and Business Class sections. However, closet space on a plane is limited and might only be available for passengers sitting in those sections.
If you have a big-enough bag:
Put your dress shirt and suit jacket on the same piece and pull the shirt sleeves through the jacket sleeves. Place your suit inside a garment bag. Fold it in half. Lay it on top of the pile inside your suitcase.
The best way to travel with a suit is by using a garment bag<>, which keeps clothes hanging while packed — no fancy folds necessary. Go a step further with a rolling carry-on garment bag with lots of built-in compartments for ultra-organized packing.
A lot of people travel with garment bags, since it's often the best way to transport a suit without it getting totally wrinkled. This is especially practical if you're flying first class on an airline with a closet, since you can hang it up.
Airlines accept carry-ons that are under 55 inches - just about the size of a medium suitcase. However, a small- to mid-size garment bag can easily be taller with only a few inches' thickness worth of clothing. To avoid last-minute checking, stick with a carry-on bag.
Rolling your clothes in your suitcase will generally save space. This is because it squeezes air from between folds and means the most of available space is used. If done correctly, rolling can also ensure less wrinkles in your clothes.
A garment bag or suit bag is a container of flexible material, usually used to ease transporting suits, jackets or clothing in general, and also to protect clothes from dust by hanging them inside with their hangers and then in the closet bar.
As the name suggests, a soft-sided garment bag has sides that are made of fabric, rather than a harder plastic. They are typically made from nylon, polyester, muslin, or cotton. A soft-sided garment bag won't have any hard features. You should be able to fold it up for travel, if necessary.
Carry-on requirements
We recommend labeling your carry-on the same way you do checked bags in case this happens. Soft-sided garment bags up to 51 inches / 130 cm (length + width + height) can also be taken as your carry-on item.
The method is called Ranger Rolling. To properly roll your clothes, lay the item of clothing out flat. Then fold the bottom two inches of the item inside out so it creates a type of pocket along one side of the clothing. From the opposite end, roll the item tightly until you get to the pocket you've created.
Choose heavy-duty packaging to help protect delicate items from vigorous shipping conditions. Pack clothing items in plastic or garment bags to help prevent them from potentially getting dirty or wet.
Once your suit is clean and prepped for the war against hungry critters, store it upright in a breathable garment bag. That's non-negotiable to keep the natural fibers looking their best. Also, and this can't be stressed enough, avoid plastic garment bags—they're breeding ground for mold and mildew.
A garment bag serves four primary purposes: protecting clothing from damage; preventing delicate items from getting wrinkled during transport; making travel with suits and dresses more convenient; and organizing closets and storage space.
The Garment Bag can fit two suits or three full-length garments, and features an exterior zip pocket for easy access to travel essentials as well as interior zip pockets for shoes and accessories.
Traveling with a suit can be a challenge. There are a lot of different pieces to worry about and having something folded in your bag for an extended amount of time can cause wrinkles. If you're not sure if you'll have an iron or aren't comfortable with one, you risk wrinkling your clothes before you need to wear them.
When traveling, clothing tends to get super compressed, and even slightly damp from the changes in moisture when flying. It's best to pack to minimize this wrinkling, and we feeling rolling does the best job on that aspect. Rolling your clothing is also generally preferred by most frequent fliers.
It is stated that one carry-on bag and one personal item are allowed per passenger. The dimensions of the under-seat compartment are 18 x 14 x 8 inches, which applies to all cabin and flight configuration.
Carry-on bags shouldn't be larger than 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high including handles and wheels. Dimensions of personal items should not exceed 18 inches long, 14 inches wide and 8 inches high. There are no weight restrictions for carry-on luggage.