personal item. What does this mean? Should you pony up and
pay extra for a larger carry-on or checked bag? Is it possible
to take a trip with only a small backpack or handbag?
Tips for Packing in Only a
Personal Item
I’m here to tell you that yes, it is possible. Although not ideal,
traveling with only a personal item can be a great way to take
a super cheap getaway for a few days. And if you’re into
the minimalist lifestyle, you can even stretch this out to
week-long trips or longer. More and more airlines are
selling super cheap flights that only include a personal
item with the hope that most passengers will pay extra
for bags and/or other ancillary fees. If you don’t want to
pay any more than that low fare you were attracted to,
use these tips to travel with only a personal item sized bag.
What is a Personal Item?
First of all, let’s be clear on what exactly a personal item
is. The exact dimensions vary by airline, but are usually a
maximum of around 18x14x8 inches and up to 22 lbs.
Each airline and individual employees will vary on how
strictly these limitations are adhered to. In general,
think small backpacks, large purses, or small wheeled
bags that will fit underneath the seat in front of you on
an airplane.
The growing number of airlines that only include a small
personal item in the lowest class base price include
carrier, WOW Air, that only includes a small personal
item in the initial price you see. Read on to learn how
to take advantage of these airlines’ cheap flights.
What to Bring When Packing in a
Personal Item Only
You’ll have to be extremely picky about what goes in
your bag if you’re going to travel with only a personal
item. There is no room to bring any items on a “just in
case” basis. A general rule of thumb is to bring along a
total of about three outfits, including what you decide
to wear while traveling. Of course, this varies depending
on how long your trip is and what other items might be
more important to you.
It’s usually best to leave your laptop behind on such trips
as the added weight may tip you over the scale and many
of your computing needs can be done with a smartphone
these days. A tablet or an e-reader can be a good
alternative if you prefer to have a larger screen. That
being said, it’s not very common for airlines to actually
weigh your personal item, though some will insist.
Below, I’ve included a list of what I usually bring with
me when packing just a personal item. This list is
obviously more geared towards male travelers, but
I’ve tried to include a few similar examples for female
travelers as well. The number of clothing items really
depends on how lightweight your clothes are and how
long you plan to travel. Remember to wear your bulkier
items and a few layers on the plane. Check out these
What to Pack in Your Personal Item Bag
Clothing:
Technology:
Toiletries / Personal items:
Make sure your liquids are TSA compliant.
Travel Documents & Money:
Miscellaneous Items:
The key to traveling with only a personal item is that
you should only bring one pair of shoes. For this
reason, you’ll have to choose wisely on which pair
to bring and make sure it is a versatile and comfortable
shoe that can be used for daily touring and also look
nice enough to wear for a night out on the town.
Of course, if you’re traveling for more than just a few
days, you’ll have to find somewhere to do laundry.
This is usually pretty cheap and the pocket laundry
wash works well if you need to wash something quickly.
If you need to travel for a formal event, wear your
formal attire on the flight to save space in your bag
and also so it does not wrinkle. You may even get
noticed for an upgraded seat if you’re looking spiffy
and the airline needs to upgrade any passengers in
order to open up oversold Economy seats.
How to Pack Your Personal Item
After setting aside a few layers of your bulkier items
to wear on the plane, it’s time to cram all other items
in your small personal item bag. To save as much
space as possible, roll your clothing and you can keep
things more organized by placing your clothes in a
drawstring bag or a reusable shopping bag before
placing in your personal item sized bag. Do the same
for your pair of sandals or flip flops so other items
don’t get dirty or if space is of the essence, you can
easily attach a pair of sandals to the outside of your
bag with carabiners. A bungee cord can also be
useful to strap bulkier items to your bag that you
don’t want to wear if it’s too hot while traveling.
Some items such as heavy coats won’t fit in a
personal item sized bag, so if you’re going to a
colder climate, you’ll need to wear or carry these
items on the plane outside of your bag. I also like
to bring a small plastic shopping bag with snacks
or purchase a to-go meal at the airport to bring
onboard. If space in your personal item is tight,
you can always place a few items in your snack
bag and you’ll likely never have any issue boarding
a plane this way.
Personal Item Bags to Fit
Everything You Need
Choosing the right personal item bag is paramount
to fit what you need for your trip. It’s a good idea to
check the airline’s size requirements for specific
limitations, though unless the bag looks overly large,
I don’t think many gate agents actually size up these
bags. There are plenty of options to choose from for
personal item bags. A small backpack is ideal for
organization as they usually include many different
compartments and also allow you to be hands-free
when traveling. If you prefer wheeled bags, there
are even a few small enough to fit underneath an
airplane seat. Another option is to go with a large
tote bag, which can usually fit the most items. Here
are a few bags I recommend.
For more bags that fit the personal item dimensions,
The added bonus of not lugging around extra bags
will also allow you to save once you arrive at your
destination. Public transportation options suddenly
don’t seem too bad when you’re only carrying one
small bag and you can put your extra money towards
tasting the local food or enjoying the attractions during
your trip.
Product images courtesy of Amazon.
