How much can you pack in an underseat bag?

Are you sure you have Spirit’s carry-on dimensions right? Even Icelandair allows a bit more than what you’re quoting…their limit for transatlantic flights is 55x35x25 cm. The direct answer to your question is to pack small and light. Anytime of year and for any destination, I can pack up to two-weeks worth of travelling gear (everything I’ll need) into a single messenger bag a bit smaller than 55x40x20 cm that can easily fit under the seat with room to spare or in the overhead bin. The whole thing, including clothing, toiletries, guidebooks, a day bag and camera, comes in at just under 13 lbs. This may be too small for some, but it works for me and is quite doable.

"That's pretty darn small."

Really? 16X14X12 is 2688 cu in. The Rick Steves convertible carryon is 22x14x9, which is 2772 cu in. The difference in volume is 3% or about a 4.4" cube. If you can find one, it's about the same size. Shouldn't be a problem.

The real problem is that no one makes a 16 x 14 x 12 carryon bag (I'll bet Spirit knew that).

Is that really their size limit? That seems small.

Michael, it's not small. It's just a different shape.

You’re right on the math, Lee. The dimensions just looked small at first glance. Still, I would be surprised if those dimensions are accurate. I just can’t recall seeing limits that tight on a domestic carrier before.

Jaye, The only way we (the passengers) will win this, is to refuse to use carriers such as Spirit. It is bag enought that airlines have gotten away with charging to check a bag, but this is not something that we should let pass. I guess you could pack one change of clothes in the smaller bag and plan on washing underware everynight- not something I want to do, though.

Guys, keep in mind that Jaye is talking about a bag to go under the seat, not in the overhead bin. The personal item is what is subject to the 16x14x12 sizing requirement.

Spirit's website says "Carry-on bag dimensions for overhead bin space may not exceed 24 inches by 16 inches by 12 inches (61cm x 40.6cm x 30.5cm)." However, you get to pay a nice $20-45 surcharge for that extra 10 inches.

@Jaye - you get what you pay for. If your ultimate goal is the cheapest fare possible, then accept that you have to pay the piper in other ways. If you feel nickle and dimed, take your business elsewhere. It just depends on what is most important to you.

Spirit plays these games because they know consumers will bite. At the moment, they are the only airline to do so (excluding European budget carriers). If this attempt falls flat, as the soda charging did some years back, no other airline will adopt it. If people 'grin and bear' the fee, the other airlines will probably follow suit.

" .. ultimate goal is the cheapest fare possible"

I'm sorry. The ultimate goal is to make it appear as the cheapest fare possible, then tack on additional charges that they expect you not to notice.

But really now, this is how the "free market operates", a total lie making you think you are getting more for your money while actually charging you more for what you get.

The 16X14X12 measurement is about the size of a small daybag. The airline web site says this is the max size that will fit under a seat. It is considered a free personal item (like a purse, briefcase, laptop bag) and there is no charge for it. You can still take a 22" carry-on to put in the overhead bin but you have to pay $20-$30 in advance or at the gate.

Thanks for your responses. However I may not have expressed my question correctly. I am more interested in whether anyone has packed that small a bag for a trip of several days.

Jaye--no, I have not. i went away for a weekend once with a bag that small--as a practice trip for our upcoming europe trip--and my husband and i were ok for two days; i'm thinking if i can be ok for two days (and that was one bag between the two of us), i can be ok for twenty (but there will be sink washing going on!). I don't know what your budget is, but here's an idea I'm actually considering: I stupidly read the 'shopping' chapter in one of my lonely planet city guides, and i'm thinking i want to be able to buy things whilst on my trip (this is not, in any way, the goal of my trip, but i think it might happen anyway!) we're going to europe for four weeks with one backpack each. my actual thought--and i VERY well may do this--is to take my kindle, my laptop, some underwear, and one change of clothing. i will then buy clothing there, and check my bag when i come home (as it will be filled to the brim at that point, i imagine.) this seems like a not bad idea, especially given that i was going to buy 'travel clothes' anyway--and this would give me the ability to kill two birds with one stone--souvenirs and wardrobe all at once. well, really three birds will 'die', if you consider the ease with which i shall carry on my empty soft-sided backpack. this may be very ill advised, but it is a thought.

Hello Jaye. I could travel with a bag that small (16 inches X 14 inches X 12 inches) for several days, if I do not put bulky warm clothes and hat for winter in the bag. In the famous book "Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door", in its chapter entitled "Pack Light Pack Light Pack Light: he said : "The measure of a good traveler is how light she travels". The word "light" means of low weight and small size.
For my next trip to Europe or England, I will not bring any travel guide book. The total volume (size) of my supplies for personal grooming and hygene will be small. (I will buy some of those things over there). And, in Europe or England I will not carry a day bag. (I put my camera and water flask in pockets of my jacket). Some seasoned travellers bring old socks and underwear, and when they are in Europe, after they wear those socks and underwear, they toss some of it into a trash can in Europe. That creates space in a travel bag for Post cards and small wall calendar and souvenirs that are acquired in Europe.

@Lee - I agree with you and I don't like Spirit's tactics. But if Jaye or someone else can get a ticket on Spirit that is cheaper than all of the other airlines (after adding all the fees, etc.) then it's still the ultimate cheap fare. It's a pain in the behind to figure it all out, but some people are willing to do that.

@Jaye, I have packed in a bag that size or smaller for a few days' trip but it wasn't on a plane. If you only take one pair of pants, two shirts, a change or two of underwear, and your quart-size baggie of toiletries, you can do it. It's all a matter of being extremely selective and being willing to a)wash and b)wear the same thing over and over and over again.

As for bringing goodies home, I like to take something like RS' pocket duffel bag. It takes up very little space on the way over, and can hold an amazing amount of stuff on the way back (I check the bag with my dirty laundry and liquids).

"I am more interested in whether anyone has packed that small a bag for a trip of several days."

Jayne, OK, maybe I didn't make myself clear.

Yes, I have!

My first five trip to Europe were made with an almost filled, ETBD convertible bag (22x14x9 = 2772 cu in). That was only 3% less potential volume than the Spirit allowance. My last three trips have been made with a 21x13x9 = 2457 cu in Essential Carryon bag which is smaller, volume-wise, than the 16x14x12 Spirit allowance. And, I did this on a 14 day trip.

Like Jaye, the size to fit under your seat seemed really small until, like Lee, I did the math and discovered it's almost the size of my convertible carry-on.

My carry-on is soft sided and never filled to capacity, I think I would have no problem fitting it under the seat - even though the advertised dimensions aren't the same.

The dimensions sound similar to the hand carry rectangular "duffel" bags.

I've traveled better than a week with only a large daypack (1 1/2 changes of clothes - 2 shirts, 1 pants, 1 shoes, 2 pair socks, 2 underwear and a light sweater) and what I was wearing. That worked out fine.

In Europe, the limit that comes into play is the weight limit of your carry-on.

Jaye: I didn’t realize Spirit allowed any carry-on bag at all without a fee. Now that I’m with the program regarding Spirit’s rules specific to a free “personal” bag under the seat, I’ll suggest that you can do it with no issue whatsoever if you pack small and light enough. You may have to do a little laundry…maybe not for just one week out. Please see my previous reply…this is how I pack for all personal domestic and international travel. My messenger-style bag is just slightly larger than the dimensions you noted, but I could do it with the size you described. OK, it’s hard to fit a suit in a small bag, so there are certainly exceptions for business travel. No, I wouldn’t pay any airline for the privilege of placing a bag in the overhead bin. If you have other airline options and the fare is only $20-$45 more than Spirit, you should select another airline based on principle alone. Happy travels!

Simple answer: Just take as little as possible and buy what you need there. Underwear, deoderant, etc. Might as well spend $20 on new stuff than $20 to bring stuff you already bought.

I can confirm RS's Appenzell bag will fit under the seat. I boarded late on a SEA-Newark flight one time and had to fit both that and my purse under the seat. Was a little uncomfortable for my feet since I have long legs but it worked fine.

I decided not to go with Spirit. After adding in cab/train fares and layover times, it just really wasn't that big a savings in money or convenience. I realized that I can just use that carry-on charge to mail the gift I was going to take. And ... I can get everything I need for two weeks in Rick's Appenzell Day Pack which is only a couple of inches longer (18X13X6) and it might even fit under a seat if I don't pack it too tightly. Thanks for all of your input.

"How much can you pack in an underseat bag?"

More than I need in, or have ever, taken to, Europe.

*Except for the time I packed a bike helmet and some other gear along with my other stuff. It's the only time I ever checked a bag.

That includes my honeymoon (apprx 1800 c. in.) and a five-week trip (approx 2100 c. in.)

At no time did I say, Gee, I wish I'd brought more stuff.

The only way I found is to pack a small duffel bag that will fit in the 16X14X12 container at the airport. One time I cut down a cardboard box and taped it. Had to turn over the box that they use to determine that the size fits.

Although the volume of the 16x14x12 bag is as much as our current carryons, the sneaky thing here is that no one sells at 16x14x12 bag (I think they're counting on that). Actually, that is 2688 cu in. My stuff fits in about 1400 cu in. Anyway, Spirit, I think, only flies to central America. I won't be flying them anytime soon. Can you imagine a 16x14x12 rollaboard?

I really like this question because when I go to Venice I have to pack lighter than ever since I'll be going on and off water taxi's or whatever. Also, I'm very short and have a hard time reaching overhead and don't like to ask for help from a fellow passenger. However, many offer to help me. But a small bag under the seat seems so much easier to handle. For only a 10 day trip I don't need much anyway. I'm just taking one pair of jeans and 3 shirts in my bag and will wear something that looks good but yet comfortable on the plane. Like what another poster said, you can always buy things you need when you get there. Even though this may be an extra cost to do that, at least you don't have the hassles lugging a heavy bag!
Good luck Jaye and Happy Travels!!!

Yes, I have a 16x14x9 rollaboard, Delcy, purchased quite a few years ago. It also has a shoulder strap. It is my carry on suitcase. Love it. When I used backpacks I used to pack my wheels! I, personally now, do not like to schlep (sp). Although I just purchased a larger carryon because my daughter is getting married so I need a few more clothes. Still, it's only 40" but won't fit under the seat this time.

Disclaimer: This reply is not meant to be productive but humorous. (But as I think about it, it probably does some real application.) As I read through all the answers, a comic I saw a few years ago, after the stricter enforcement of carry-on restrictions began, came to mind. The comic showed a large (think really OBESE) man getting on a plane, with a tiny carry-on bag. Then a panel or two later, it showed him getting off the plane (at journey's end), and he was super skinny. Off to the side was a pile of clothing he had taken off. The productive part of the post is that (unless it is really hot when you go) you can wear double shirts (t-shirt under regular shirt), jacket, hat, etc. on board. Layer it on to the point you don't feel ridiculous. Wear the clothing on board that takes up the most space, and leave the t-shirts, shorts, etc. to your precious real estate in the little carry-on. Let us know how it goes, and if you wear double underwear on board.....LOL.

The Scott evest clothes fit the last post's description. They sell several coats, pants, vests, etc. with lots and lots of hidden pockets. The idea is to shift a bunch of your stuff to the clothes you wear. I own a couple of coats but don't use them much. I like and heavily use some of the pants, though. I just wish they made them in a fabric that lent itself to sink washing and overnight room drying.

Ha, ha, Margaret! My son did that very thing when he was going away for a year. Sounded like a good idea at the time to wear a lot of clothing, however, he was really hot on the plane and wondered if the people sitting beside him minded. sniff, sniff.

Another problem with wearing multiple layers in order to bring a smaller bag...you would have to continue to wear multiple layers because your bag would be too small to hold them after arrival!!

While it is possible Lee is right and the evil folks at Sprint specifically choose dimensions that are not currently readily available as a bag size, I tend to think the that the real reason is that is the dimensions of the area under a Sprint airline seat. I think if this becomes a trend, bag maker will start selling bags that size. Being that is actually enough space to pack, just the dimensions are weird. You might want to consider making your own bag. I am not much of a sewer, I would never dream of making my own clothing, in fact sewing a hem (and getting it even) or taking in or taking out a pair of pants is beyond my skill set. The only things I can sew is repair a lost button or make my own square shaped bag. Really it is pretty easy.

It's not THAT tough to make your bag conform to that size--choose an unstructured, unpadded soft-sided bag that is larger & just cinch down the sides with a belt so that it no larger than the maximum allowed. If only one dimension is larger than the Spirit size, it's that much easier! Spirit doesn't go to any of the places I visit, so it's moot to me.

This is an old topic, but has a lot of new responses. Honestly, just use a backpack. Not a backpacker's backpack, but a school sized backpack. I most recently used it for five days in Turkey in November. I wore one pair of pants, packed another. I wore a sweater, wool jacket and boots on the plane. I packed four other shirts (enough to have a new shirt every day, though of course you could get away with wearing something twice.) I packed one other pair of shoes. Just enough toiletries and such. It's not easy, but definitely possible to pack a week's worth of clothing in an underseat bag.

My answer: it is impossible - at least for me -. I can't possible stay one week out with a carry-on bag! Not in a lifetime. Once I accepted I'm not meant for ultra-light packing, I stopped stressing with the fees and else. I'm a 30 y.o. healthy male, but I can't possible be out without AT LEAST 40 pounds worth of stuff (assuming notebook with charger + camera are excluded!). Once I did a test: I weighed the all stuff I must take with me, excluding any clothe or shoes, and including every charge, device, gadget, box. It weighed 26 pounds. I can reduce a bit that taking my netbook instead of my all-powerful notebook, but I still have to carry electric shaver, dryer, eye drops + spare contact lenses + cleaning solution, electric toothbrush, camera, power adapter and power chargers for them!

Jaye-I went to Stockholm and Helsinki for 7 days in March and took a slightly larger than normal bookbag. I managed to stuff an extra pair of jeans in it, 4 shirts, pajamas and toiletries. I did buy stuff that didn't fit, but was able to carry on; Ryanair wasn't as strict back then. I wore jeans, shirt and the one sweater I took, wore that every day pretty much but...made it easy to get dressed in the AM. Could have left 1 shirt at home. It can be done, you just have to be careful as to what you buy, or mail it home.