Poll -is a backpack a carry-on or personal item when flying?

[Ashley&Scott]

I'm planning for an upcoming trip. This is our first time flying since we had our son, I'm trying to figure out what to check & what to carry on. We're flying Delta & each passenger is allowed 1 carry on & 1 personal item.

My question is, would an adult backpack like this be classified as carry-on luggage or a personal item?


I'm assuming a toddler backpack would be a personal item since it's so small, right? (my son has his own ticket & is allowed his own carry-on & personal item)

[gardengal]

IMO if I'm putting it under the seat, personal. Overhead bin, carry on

[audette]

The airlines have specific size dimensions (and weight, too) for carry-ons and personal items. You should be able to find that on the airline's website.

However, in reality, a backpack can be either, depending on how large/stuffed it happens to be. I routinely use a backpack as my carryon, but it's not small, and I stuff it to it's limits. When packed like that, it actually comes close to being larger than the defined carryon max size... I put my backpack up in the overhead space. Frankly, my backpack generally wouldn't fit under the seat in front of me... And then my purse/knitting bag (take your pick on the name) is my personal item, and it goes under the seat in front of me.

DH, on the other hand, puts barely a few things in his backpack - some snacks, a kindle, his laptop, and a couple charging cords... Maybe one or two other small things. His pack is the exact same as mine, except for the colour, but because he packs so little in it, it smooshes down to nothing. He puts it up overhead with mine if we're travelling together, or puts it under the seat in front of him if it looks like the overhead space could be better utilized by someone else.


So, uh, it depends. The photo looks like a small pack, so it probably can qualify as a personal item.

[Ashley&Scott]

Aug 4, 2015 14:48:29 GMT -5 gardengal said:

IMO if I'm putting it under the seat, personal. Overhead bin, carry on

Gotcha, the toddler backpack will definitely go under the seat.

My backpack would easily fit under the seat if I am allowed to also bring a carry-on bag like this:

[Ashley&Scott]

audette - Delta's website doesn't specifically mention backpacks.
(from their website)
Approved Personal Items
1 purse, briefcase, camera bag or diaper bag
or 1 laptop computer (computers cannot be checked)
or 1 item of a similar or smaller size to those listed above


If I'm allowed to bring the backpack & an additional carry-on then the backpack would be similar to the one you described for your DH. I'm just worried about packing that way & then finding out at check in that it's not allowed.

[audette]

Weird - you're right. Wacky Delta.

I'd call the backpack a personal item if you can pack it lightly enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Toss a small camera in there, and if anyone asks - it's a "camera bag", or a "purse", which is allowed as a personal item on their list. You really shouldn't run into problems if it's not stuffed to the gills.


I know I am a bit strange in my thinking that a backpack is a carryon (and not my personal item) - I've been yelled at by folks who think I am unfairly taking up overhead space for it before.

[mich1]

I regularly fly Delta and normally fly with my 22" carry on and my backpack. If you plan on carrying a purse, they will request that it go into the backpack so make sure your's does if you carry one too. The backpack easily fits under the seat.

[cheezer]

To me it's a personal item unless it's one of those giant ones that backpackers use.

[CrazyLucky]

We have the same dog bag, only it's a roller for DS. When I go for a trip that is short, I take my backpack and a rolling carry on. No one has ever questioned it.

[Ashley&Scott]

Aug 4, 2015 15:16:44 GMT -5 mich1 said:

I regularly fly Delta and normally fly with my 22" carry on and my backpack. If you plan on carrying a purse, they will request that it go into the backpack so make sure your's does if you carry one too. The backpack easily fits under the seat.

Not planning to take a purse on this trip. We're going to Disney World & I don't see myself needing it there. 

[aurora]

I've never had an airline object to the type of bag as long as its within their size dimensions.

[drloretta]

It really depends. We have been known to take a backpack and a purse (so the backpack is a carry-on) or a backpack and a roller carry-on (so the backpack is considered a personal item)

And really, I've found the rules to be fairly lax. Unless you're trying to bring on a full-sized suitcase, no one is going to call you on it.

[sfy]

I'm not a poll stickler, but the phrasing here is a bit confusing. Anyway, both a standard-sized adult backpack and a toddler backpack would count as personal items, not carry-ons.

We fly Delta often, and DS almost always takes an adult backpack as his personal item.

[imojoebunny]

We flew last week. We all took a full sized back pack that fits under the seat, and a carry on that fits in the overhead. It was Delta, and they did not make a big deal about carry on overhead size, but DH has been on some flights were they did, so all wheel carts I made sure fit the dimensions, and the backpacks could be squashed to do so. I left room in my back pack for my purse, but they didn't say anything.

[y4m]

The items pictured would be considered personal items on Delta.

[Deleted]

I use an adult back pack as my personal item all the time. As long as it fits under the seat it's fine.

[lightbulbsun]

As long as it fits under the seat, it's a personal item. H took a backpack along with his carry-on for a recent trip, and he had no problem.

[kershnic]

Airlines are sort of notorious for not calling passengers on abuses of their carry-on baggage policies, so unless you're flying one of the weird budget airlines with strange baggage rules I would not be concerned. If you look like you're reasonably trying to follow the rules you'll be fine, which absolutely includes a medium backpack for yourself as a personal item and a toddler backpack for your child as a personal item.

[megstoo]

Last time I flew for work I had a luggage carry on, laptop bag and my purse - that was considered 3 carryon's and I had to open my luggage to put my purse in or else I would have had to check my luggage. I tried to be all good about it and not draw attention to it but the flight attendent said something while I was in line to board the plane.