9 Big Under-Seat Bags to Take on Your Next Plane Trip

These superstar personal-item bags fit under an airplane seat yet still have room for your travel essentials

(From left) Three styles of big bags that still fit under most airline seats: the Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port in Black, Briggs & Riley’s Underseat Duffle in Olive and Osprey’s Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6 in Tumbleweed Yellow/Tunnel Vision.

AARP (Samsonite, Briggs & Riley, Osprey, Getty Images, Shutterstock)

Berit Thorkelson,

AARP

Published August 29, 2025

In this story

Backpacks | Wheeled bags | Duffels | FAQs

Over the years, I’ve become a pro at packing everything into my personal-item bag when flying. This is largely because airlines have forced my hand. I regularly fly on the cheap, opting for low-cost carriers and full-service carriers’ budget category, both of which often charge for a carry-on.

On the low end, on average, that’s $35 per leg, and when you multiply that by four family members, that’s $280, at minimum — money I’d rather spend at my destination or keep in my bank account. My teenage kids have even taken to packing light, if only because they might experience the savings as a splurge vacation meal or destination swag. If we must, we’ll spring for one carry-on for us all.

While the money piece is important, especially to anyone on a fixed budget, there’s more to love about traveling light. I never miss the stress of lifting heavy suitcases, wrangling space in an overhead bin or waiting at the baggage carousel. Neither would anyone with mobility issues, which is by far the greatest travel accommodation needed for travelers over 50 who need them, according to AARP’s 2025 Travel Trends survey. Plus, it’s satisfying to successfully edit items down to just my favorite hardworking basics.

Choosing the right under-seat luggage makes all the difference, though “right” is a personal thing. Maybe you prefer wheels for streamlined airport mobility, an accessible exterior stash-spot for important medications or a color scheme that matches your go-to travel outfit. The following well-reviewed bags collectively check all these boxes, and more, with one thing in common: They’re designed to act as a personal item that maximizes the space under the seat in front of you.

Note: Airlines’ under-seat dimensions vary. (See FAQ below.) Check the specifications of any you use regularly before investing in a personal-item bag.

Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6 in Tumbleweed Yellow/Tunnel Vision

AARP (Osprey, 3)

Backpacks

I love backpack-style luggage because it leaves your hands free and there’s nothing to navigate. The drawback: You must be comfortable bearing the weight of your belongings.

Baboon to the Moon Go-Bag Mini (32L)

This eye-catching duffel-backpack hybrid ($119 for core colors) is my current workhorse, and it has inspired multiple purchases among my over-50 traveling friends. I love that I can carry it like a backpack and how it opens clamshell-style, like a suitcase, with a roomy interior compartment offering three pockets. The exterior is a super-durable and cleanable PVC, and the color options are vast — mine is a sunshiny yellow, while one friend picked the color of her alma mater. One drawback: It can fit a tablet, but there’s no protected spot for a laptop. 9.5 x 18.5 x 12 inches; 3.2 pounds

Osprey Daylite Expandable Travel Pack 26+6

Weighing in at under 2 pounds, this travel pack ($100) is the lightest bag on the list. It carries like a backpack but has a clamshell-style opening with an internal tie-down strap and mesh pocket, like a suitcase. Perks include a laptop compartment that runs along the back of the pack, expandable water bottle pockets and a zipper that hides two additional inches of backpack — that’s six more liters of main-compartment space. Unload it at your destination for use as a daypack. 17 x 13 x 6 inches; 1.85 pounds

Baggallini Modern Convertible Travel Backpack

This bag ($185) is in the “backpack” category since that’s its core form. But add the crossbody strap and it’s a duffel, and it opens like a suitcase, too. Handy zipper pockets abound, inside and out, including an open-flat compartment for a laptop and reading material and an easy-access phone stash spot. Another zipper unlocks an additional 1.5 inches of packing space. 17.7 x 11.8 x 7 inches; 2.7 pounds

a split image of the exterior and interior of a suitcase

Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port in Black

AARP (Samsonite, 2)

Wheeled bags

These bags are easy for travelers to maneuver; no heavy lifting required. However, wheels and handles leave less room for clothes, and they’re not meant for steps or uneven terrain.

Travelpro Crew Classic Rolling UnderSeat Carry-On

Respected luggage brand Travelpro says that it created this well-thought-out bag ($195) with aviation professionals in mind. Its two low-profile wheels allow for easy airport transport in a small package. Built-in organization helps offset the fact that the interior is a tad smaller than the other bags featured. It includes a padded laptop pouch, a removable water-resistant hanging organizer and zip-flat exterior pockets big enough to hold a water bottle. 17 x 14 x 8.75 inches; 5.8 pounds

Calpak Hue Mini Carry-On Luggage

This one’s for those who prefer hard-sided four-wheeled luggage, either because they’re agile and extra-protective of contents or because they look cool. The Hue ($185) doesn’t disappoint on any of those counts, thanks in part to multiple colorways and a built-in TSA-friendly lock. That prized rigidity makes it less flexible when it comes to fitting under the seat in front of you, though, so it’s especially important to check your airline’s dimensions ahead of time. 15.75 x 13.75 x 8.75 inches; 6.1 pounds

Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port

Spinners are great in general, with their 360-degree maneuvering ease, not to mention all the other ways this bag ($112) aims to make life on the road easier. The roomy interior has a laptop pocket and a USB port that allows you to attach your own battery pack inside, then charge items outside your pack. Two exterior compartments keep travel docs, medications, snacks and other necessities handy. 16.5 x 13.8 x 9 inches; 5.6 pounds

(From left) They’re all duffels that work as personal items on most airlines, but each serves a different style of traveler: the Briggs & Riley Underseat Duffle in Olive, TOBIQ’s 30L Duffel and The North Face Base Camp Duffel (XS).

AARP (Briggs & Riley, TOBIQ, The North Face)

Duffels

Duffels are a classic and versatile luggage choice known for keeping all contents readily accessible. As with a backpack, you need to be comfortable bearing the weight of your belongings.

TOBIQ 30L Duffel

Four uniform compartments define this unique tote ($199). They’re roomy and outfitted with bungee and zip pockets — use them to corral like items, such as toiletries, tech, airport necessities and clothes. Zip-away add-ons include a water bottle holder, as well as tote and backpack straps for multiple carrying options. There’s a padded laptop compartment, too. 17 x 13 x 8 inches; 2 pounds

Briggs & Riley Underseat Duffle

This duffel ($299) is a standout among Briggs & Riley’s many under-seat options for its luxurious details: more than 31 liters of space and multiple use-specific exterior pockets, including those for a tablet, a water bottle and a passport. Monogramming is optional and complimentary. Sure, the brand tends toward expensive, but keep in mind its reputable lifetime warranty. It even covers airline damage. 10.5 x 16.5 x 11.5 inches; 2.8 pounds

The North Face Base Camp Duffel (XS)

This classic minimalist duffel ($99) was initially created in the 1980s to endure Himalayan expeditions, so being lugged through the airport and shoved under an airplane seat is nothing. It has a roomy open main compartment with 31 liters of packing space, a few well-placed zip pockets, attached haul handles and removable backpack straps. 18 x 11 x 11 inches; 2.1 pounds

Personal-item bag FAQs

Q: How big can under-seat luggage be?

A: It varies by airline, though the general requirement is that it must fit under the seat in front of you, wheels and handles included. Check an airline’s policy before flying. It’s also smart to check the requirements of the airlines you use frequently before purchasing a bag to use as a personal item.

The following are the maximum under-seat specs for the 10 biggest airlines:

Alaska Airlines: No dimensions specified

Allegiant Air: 18 x 14 x 8 inches

American Airlines: 18 x 14 x 8 inches

Delta Air Lines: No specific dimensions

Frontier Airlines: 14 x 18 x 8 inches

Hawaiian Airlines: No dimensions specified

JetBlue: 17 x 13 x 8 inches

Southwest Airlines: 10 x 16 x 24 inches

Spirit Airlines: 18 x 14 x 8 inches

United Airlines: 17 x 10 x 9 inches

Q: What items are exempt from carry-on restrictions?

A: This, too, varies by airline. Some common exemptions:

Child-related items, including a diaper bag, breast pump and stroller
Mobility and medical devices, including CPAP machines
Neck pillow
Food for the flight, in disposable packaging
Jacket
Umbrella
A reasonable amount of in-flight reading material

Check with your airline before flying.

Q: How can I maximize packing space in my under-seat luggage?

A: Select items carefully. All must be able to mix and match to earn a place within such limited space. Rolling clothing items, singly, as outfits or within categories, helps, too. And compression packing cubes are your friend. Always wear your bulkiest clothes on the plane.

I also find it helpful to start packing early. I lay out the items I plan to pack, then edit them leading up to the trip. I always seem to take an item or two that I don’t end up using, which tells me it’s usually possible to further streamline.

%{postComment}%

Berit Thorkelson is a travel writer and editor for aarp.org. She has also written for publications such as National Geographic Traveler, Better Homes & Gardens and The Minnesota Star-Tribune's travel section.