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RS Euro Flight Bag as Personal Item on United Airlines

Traveling to/from Ireland on United Airlines in August. Have a carry-on bag that meets United’s 22x14x9 limits. Considering the RS Euro Flight Bag to carry as a personal item. But it measures 14x12x7 while United’s limits are 17x10x9. Inside on two dimensions but outside by 2 inches on one dimension. Has anyone recently flown United with this bag as a personal item? If so, any problems or issues?

[There’s a more general thread on personal item sizes back in September-November 2018, but I’m interested mainly in the RS Euro Flight Bag and more recent experiences with United as airlines seem to be tightening their rules in general.]

Thanks for any info you can provide.

Posted by
901 posts

Of course I cannot speak for United, but this was in the news back in early 2020 --

https://liveandletsfly.com/united-baggage-sizers/

https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-removes-bag-sizers/

https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/United-luggage-sizers-dimensions-bags-15045784.php

I travel with an Osprey Daylite Plus as my personal item with listed deminsions at 19in x 11in x 9.5in. It's my usual daybag with the items I carry daily. It's frameless, never full (a bit fuller coming home), easily compressed and I've never had a word or question about it in the last 10 years flying United.

Posted by
11970 posts

If packed to max capacity, you may have a problem getting past the gatekeeper.

1176 cu in volume for the RS bag; 1530 cu in volume for the UAL limit. As you would be well with the capacity parameter, in theory you should be OK.......

Not been on an UA flight in a long time, so no pertinent experience to draw on

Posted by
4 posts

Thanks for the helpful info. I plan to pack my personal item "light" so it's sure to compress to within each of United's limits.

Posted by
1531 posts

I have a love /hate relationship with that bag, especially the weird shoulder strap, but you should be able to meet the requirements of the sizer

Posted by
122 posts

I fly United several times a month, and in my experience, they aren't super strict about personal item size. As long as you can stuff the bag under the seat in front of you, you should be good to go!

Posted by
3 posts

I fly a lot on United with my Euro Flight Bag which I love. I’ve never had a problem even when packed fully…this includes both domestic and international.

Posted by
4 posts

Good info. I've gone ahead and ordered a RS Euro Flight bag while it's on sale for 20% off. Here's hoping it's a good companion for many years!

Posted by
3 posts

I think you’ll like it a lot. The trick to packing it is to put heavier items on the bottom.

Posted by
30 posts

We’ve now done two RS tours and to begin a third with the Euro Flight bag. I don’t use the shoulder straps but attach to the handle of the suitcase we travel with (also an RS bag). I’ve found them to easy to use, pack and keep track of items because of the way the bag is designed. I’m a visual learner so this bag is a plus. You can very readily keep an eye on all of the items in your personal item. Flown a variety of airlines to and from the US to international destinations with a myriad of rules and restrictions and haven’t had an issue with size of the bag….try to keep the bag ‘flexible’ by not overpacking so there could be room to ‘fit’ in a sizer.

Posted by
4 posts

Appreciate all the input. I've received my bag and tried a "practice pack" with the heavier items on the bottom. Looks like it's gonna work well.