Can You Bring a Backpack and a Carry-On?
QUICK ANSWER
Yes, you can bring both a backpack and a carry-on, as long as the backpack fits under the seat as your personal item. A standard daypack qualifies as a personal item, while a large travel backpack that goes in the overhead bin counts as your carry-on instead.
Bringing a backpack and a carry-on is one of the most common packing setups, but whether it is allowed depends entirely on the backpack's size. Here is how a backpack is classified, whether you can bring one plus a carry-on, and what size backpack counts as a personal item.
Can you bring a backpack and a carry-on?
Yes, on most standard fares you can bring a backpack and a carry-on, provided the backpack is small enough to serve as your personal item and fit under the seat in front of you. The standard cabin allowance is one carry-on for the overhead bin plus one personal item stowed at your feet, so a normal backpack fills the personal-item slot and rides along with your carry-on suitcase at no extra charge. The catch is size: if your backpack is a large travel pack that will not fit under the seat, it counts as your carry-on rather than a personal item, so you could not also bring a separate carry-on for free.
Does a backpack count as a carry-on or personal item?
It depends on the backpack's size, since airlines classify bags by dimensions, not type. A small to medium backpack, like a daypack, school bag, or laptop backpack, that fits under the seat counts as a personal item. A large backpack, such as a 40-liter or bigger travel or hiking pack, is usually too big to fit under the seat and therefore counts as your carry-on, going in the overhead bin. Many popular travel backpacks are deliberately sized to meet carry-on limits and are meant to be your one carry-on. So the same item, a backpack, can be either category depending on how big it is.
What size backpack counts as a personal item?
To count as a personal item, a backpack generally needs to fit within about 18 by 14 by 8 inches, the common personal-item limit, and slide under the seat in front of you, though exact dimensions vary by airline. Everyday backpacks and most laptop backpacks fall within this, while bulky, expandable, or overpacked backpacks can exceed it. Note that a soft backpack's size depends on how full it is, so an overstuffed daypack might bulge past the under-seat limit. If you want your backpack to count as a personal item alongside a carry-on, keep it within your airline's stated size and avoid cramming it so full that it no longer fits underneath.
What are the rules for basic economy?
Basic economy is where this can change, so check your fare. Some airlines limit basic economy passengers to a single personal item only, meaning your backpack would be your one free bag and a separate carry-on would incur a fee, while other airlines still include a carry-on with basic economy. Policies differ by airline, so read the baggage terms for your specific fare before assuming you can bring both. If your basic economy fare allows only a personal item, a backpack that fits under the seat is often the smartest choice for that single bag, since it holds more than a purse while staying within the allowance.
Yes, you can bring a backpack and a carry-on if the backpack fits under the seat as your personal item, which a normal daypack does. A large travel backpack that goes in the overhead counts as your carry-on instead. Check basic economy fares, which sometimes allow only a single personal item.
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