Best Personal Item Bag for Planes for Less Than $35

After testing this backpack out across 7+ airlines visiting 7+ countries I’m officially naming it the best personal item bag.

If you’ve ever wondered how to travel with just a personal item, or simply how to make your personal item backpack fit more then you’re going to want to keep reading (or, watch my video review down below!).

This bag is so spacious that I once brought only this with me on a 2-week trip to Oaxaca City and Mexico City. Read on to learn more about the features that set this bag apart, packing tips to maximize its spaciousness and a couple cons to consider before you buy.

Already know this is the bag for you? Click here to get yours!

What is a personal item on a plane?

A personal item is a small bag, typically like a purse or laptop bag, that can fit under the seat in front of you on an airplane. It’s usually where you’d keep valuables or essentials that you might need frequent access to like your wallet, your phone, any medications etc.

If you choose to carry a backpack as your personal item then be prepared to also use that backpack as your purse, at least when boarding, as airlines typically only allow one personal item per passenger.

I make sure to leave space so I can tuck my purse, or a smaller purse-like bag, into my personal item backpack during boarding.

Detailed close-up of the top corner of a black Lubardy backpack showing two interlocking zippers and sturdy fabric texture. The focus is on the quality of the zippers and stitching.

Personal item vs carry on

On average, airlines allow personal items on board with the dimensions 18x14x8 inches. It’s important to note this can vary greatly by airline or country, but it’s a common size for allowed personal items.

Carry-on items, on the other hand, are larger with average dimensions of 22x14x9 inches. These get stowed in the overhead compartments on board. For reference, you can compare my go-to carry-on suitcase with my personal item bag.

What to look for in a personal item bag

Once you’ve decided you want something bigger than just your purse or laptop bag to serve as your personal item bag, you’ll want to consider 3 main things:

Dimensions

Every airline has its own rules on personal item bag sizes, so my recommendation is to aim for close to the average of 18x14x8 inches.

The personal item bag discussed in this post, which I’ve been using since early 2023 is 20.47×13.38×7.87 inches.

While it doesn’t perfectly align with the average dimensions, it’s close enough and I’ve successfully used it as a personal item bag on the following airlines so far: American, United, Spirit, Delta, Avianca, Volaris, TAP Air Portugal.

Material

It’s also important to consider the material of your personal item bag. I generally prefer soft-side, or fabric luggage even for my carry-on bag. But it becomes especially important to choose something malleable when it comes to a personal item.

Being able to squish it down when you’ve packed less (and to get by airlines with smaller size allowances) or to be able to push it under the seat in front of you is important. So, opt for a sturdy fabric vs a more rigid hard-side

Features

With so many bags on the market, you get to be choosy. Think about the features that matter most to you – how a bag opens, how many pockets it has, what compartments are a must, what’s the weight distribution like, etc.

I share more about the features that have me recommending this as the best personal item bag, next.

Why this is the best and biggest personal item bag

In addition to being super spacious, these are some additional pros of the bag I love after having traveled with it on multiple airlines and through multiple countries:

Open view of an empty black Lubardy backpack with interior cross straps and branded lining, shown lying flat on a wooden floor. The image reveals the spacious interior and mesh pocket on the lid.

Opens like a suitcase

I’m obsessed with the fact that I can open this backpack up completely to easily pack it and access all my belongings. It definitely beats having to push and place things by reaching in to a typical backpack top-down!

Comfortable straps

You know what sucks? Having skimpy bag straps digging into your sensitive shoulder/neck area as you head off for an adventure. I’m grateful for the thick straps on this backpack.

That’s not to say this bag never hurts, since I tend to pack it until it’s pretty heavy! But I’ll take pressure over digging in any day.

The back of this backpack is also designed to reduce heat, and has a spongy fabric to cushion your back while you carry it.

Thoughtful compartments

The laptop compartment unzips low on each side and it’s depth means you can easily tuck your cords in at the top. The water bottle holder is deep as well, so no bottles slipping out as you go along your way.

While the entire backpack is made of a waterproof material, the top front compartment specifically is a wet pouch where you can store wet clothes or toiletries.

There’s a strap on the top and along one side making it easy to lift with two hands when needed.

Basically a second carry-on bag

This can be your one-and-only bag for a trip, especially if you master the art of the travel capsule wardrobe. But even when used as a personal item alongside additional luggage the amount of space you get is wild.

As someone who often travels for 3+ weeks at a time it feels like a luxury to have this Mary Poppins-like backpack by my side (or on my back).

Get the Lubardy personal item bag in your favorite color

Close-up of hands unzipping the front flap of a black Lubardy backpack laid flat on a dark wooden surface. The image highlights the backpack's side release buckles and front zip pocket.

Potential downsides of the Lubardy backpack

Since it’s a personal item bag, sometimes flight attendants won’t let you stow it in overhead compartments on the plane.

In those cases, you’d need to be prepared to place it under the seat in front of you, which means it would take up a good portion of your legroom.

Also, since the bag fits so much it can be easy to overpack it and make it really heavy. Be sure to test out carrying it once packed to ensure it’s manageable for you.

On some flights, for example Ryanair in Europe, you may need to count this as a carry-on (and pay for it accordingly) rather than as a personal item bag.

Sometimes you may be able to get away with it as a personal item bag, if you don’t pack it to the brim and if it doesn’t go over the weight limit certain airlines impose.

But in other cases you should be prepared to potentially pay a bit. This has been a rare occurrence for me though over the last few years.

What can I put in my personal item bag?

Your personal item bag should carry anything you know you’ll want easy access to during your flight. This can include everything from medications and snacks to your wallet and a book.

More importantly, be mindful of what not to pack in your personal item bag (or your carry-on!).

This includes any liquids exceeding 3.4 ounces, sharp objects like a nail file, or anything on the standard list of what’s not allowed in a carry on (airlines typically show you this information while you’re in the process of booking a flight).

Packing light tips

If you’re considering traveling with only this personal item bag here are some packing light tips to set you up for success.

Use compression packing cubes – game-changer!
Wear your bulkiest stuff instead of packing it
Plan itinerary, then outfits accordingly to avoid just-in-case excess
Make cuts – once you’ve planned what to pack, do a couple rounds of revision. What’s non-essential?
Curate your own minimalist travel capsule wardrobe, learn how

So, what do you think – is this the right bag for your travels? If yes, get it here!

Read next: 50 Must-Haves for International Travel