A backpack can be your carry on if it meets your airline's carry on size limits. A personal item is a smaller, secondary bag, which you'll stow under the seat in front of you. Read Carry Ons vs. Personal Items for more on the differences between the two.
While this can be confusing, most popular airlines allow you to bring a carry-on and personal item, such as a backpack or purse. In general, your personal item should be smaller than your carry-on and under the specific airline's carry-on dimensions, allowing it to fit under the seat in front of you.
Most airlines allow backpacks as carry-ons, but size and weight restrictions vary depending on the carrier. Typically, the bag must be within the cabin baggage dimensions of around 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 22 cm), commonly considered the standard size for carry-on.
In summary, backpacks can be used as personal items, but they must fit in the plane's cabin. In addition, when airlines publish size limitations, your rucksack must be less than those limits. Otherwise, you will be charged additional costs or have things abandoned at the airport.
The short answer: Yes, a backpack is generally considered a personal item if it fits under the seat in front of you. Most airlines offer a few examples of things that fit into the “personal item” category, such as a purse, laptop bag, or a briefcase, but they don't usually include “backpack” on those lists.
Personal items cannot exceed 8 inches deep, 18 inches wide and 14 inches high.
Make sure one of your bags qualifies as a carry on and the other as a personal item. Then you can travel with two bags and zero worries.
What you can bring for free: One piece of hand luggage weighing up to 10kg and measuring no more than 55x40x20cm. If you have a handbag or laptop bag, this will need to be able to fit into your larger bag.
The 40L will max out carry on dimensions on most airlines so you never have to check a bag. For stricter airlines, like RyanAir, 30L will be a better choice.
In most cases, your handbag, briefcase, or small backpack must fit beneath the seat in front of you and within the airline's size restrictions. In contrast, a carry-on bag is typically larger and is stored in the overhead compartment.
A personal item is a smaller bag that typically fits under the seat in front of you, such as a purse, briefcase or small backpack. A carry-on item is a larger bag that can be stowed in the overhead bin, like a suitcase or duffel bag. Airlines define each based on specific size requirements, which vary by carrier.
Blankets. Business and first-class flights offer comfort items like blankets during the flight. You must leave them on board when you're leaving the plane as they can be reused. “Paying more to travel in a better class does not entitle passengers to take items offered for the journey,” says Webber.
Backpacks can be used as checked-in luggage, but you need to check with the airlines what size is allowed. You also need to be careful when packing it, making sure you secure all straps and even wrapping it with plastic. It might seem like a big deal, but there is a reason for all the extra precautions.
Each passenger is allowed one piece of carry-on baggage with a maximum total dimension of 56cm x 36cm x 23cm (22in x 14in x 9in) and maximum weight of 7 kgs. (15 lbs).
American Airlines
According to airline policy, any personal items stowed beneath seats should not exceed 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches.
Otherwise, you might get charged either a checked baggage fee, overweight bag fee, or both. Thankfully, most of the major airlines out there have made it easy by coming up with a standard carry-on size limit: 22” x 14” x 9” (56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm), with the sum of all three measurements being 45 inches or less.
However, most 40-litre backpacks will be 1.5-2.5kg when empty.
There is a 7kg limit per passenger for carry-on baggage, which must be stored in the overhead locker on Aer Lingus Regional flights (operated by Emerald Airlines), subject to availability. A small personal item (handbag or laptop bag) is also included and must be stowed under the seat in front of you.
Starter fare includes a baggage allowance of two carry-on items weighing up to a combined 7kg. Your two items might be 1 main item + 1 small item. Your small item includes items such as a handbag or thin laptop bag and must fit under your seat.
Passengers are permitted to bring one personal item and one carry-on bag, in addition to a second carry-on bag, as long as the dimensions of that bag do not exceed 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches ". This supplementary luggage may take the form of a carry-on suitcase, a duffel bag, or a backpack.
Backpacks, totes, and crossbody bags are typically considered personal items too. The key to remember is it must be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you. A carry-on is a type of hand luggage that you bring into the plane cabin with you and is larger than a personal item.
Check your airline's carry on weight limits before you fly. Most likely, you'll be able to carry 15-22 lb. Choose a travel backpack that weighs 20% or less of that limit so that you'll have 80% of the limit for your stuff. When you start packing, remember to wear your heaviest stuff or put it in your personal item.
The majority of airlines allow one piece per passenger plus a smaller piece (i.e. a handbag or laptop bag). However some budget airlines count a handbag as a piece of hand luggage so if you want to take both, you will need to pack your handbag or laptop bag inside until you have boarded.