If you’re wondering if a purse counts as a carry-on, you’re not alone. Thousands of travelers ask this question daily. In this article, we will reveal all you need to know about whether you can have your purse as a carry-on.
The truth is that most airlines don’t consider a purse as a carry-on but as a personal item. To further understand this, let’s check out what carry-on luggage is and how it differs from a ‘’personal item’’.
Carry-On
A carry hand, often called hand luggage, is any luggage that a passenger takes in the passenger compartment of a vehicle or plane.
Carry-On is usually allowed to grant passengers easy access to valuable items they may need on their trip. For example, your carry-on can contain snacks, drugs, chargers, makeup, etc.
Personal Item
A personal item is any hand luggage that can fit completely underneath the seat in front of you. For example, personal items could include purses, laptop bags, small backpacks, and diaper bags.
Carry On Vs. Personal Item
To help us better understand why a purse doesn’t count as a carry-on, we know how carry-on luggage differs from a personal item.
The significant difference between a carry-on and a personal item is the size of the bag or purse. ‘’Personal items’’ are usually smaller than carry-ons.
Items in the carry-on category include hiking backpacks, cabin luggage, etc. On the other hand, personal items include things like laptop bags, card holders, purses, miniature backpacks, and other card holders.
When relating personal items and carry-on to flights, there are several criteria to differentiate them.
Personal items must be able to fit under your seat, while a carry-on must fit in the overhead compartment of the plane. Carry-ons are usually more prominent, with about 22x14x9 inches in dimensions.
On the other hand, personal items are usually smaller than carry-ons and usually 18x14x8 inches.
Personal items must meet the usual weight allowance limit of 33 liters. In contrast, the maximum volume for carry-on luggage is 45 liters.
All airlines permit some personal items, but you’ll need to pay for carry-on since it’s not usually added to the ticket cost.
Can You Bring a Purse and a Backpack On a Plane?
Passengers are allowed to bring a purse or backpack into a plane. Most airlines typically allow passengers to come on board with two items, a carry-on bag which may include a backpack, suitcase, etc., and a ‘’personal item’’. Personal items could include a purse, laptop bag, or anything that can fit under the seat in front of you.
If you are traveling with a small purse that’s convenient for you to carry, you don’t need to put it under the seat in front of you.
How Big of a Purse Can I Take on a Plane?
Airline authorities do not specify the size of personal items. However, the only criterion is that it must be able to fit under the seat in front of you since purses are classified as ‘’personal items’’.
Specification for personal items varies with different airlines. For example, in the United States, a purse must have the following dimensions- 17 x 10 x 9 inches, while in southwest regions, it doesn’t have any specific sizes for personal items.
The general rule for bringing a purse is to fit under the seat in front of you.
What Can I Carry in My Purse on a Plane?
What to carry on your plane purse depends entirely on you. You have nothing to worry about as long as the bag can fit under the seat in front of you. Your wallet can contain tablets, books, chocolate, and snacks.
Once you’ve passed security, you can rearrange your items. For example, after the security check, you can move your makeup or other liquid cream to your purse.
Should I Bring a Carry-On or a Personal Item?
Airline security doesn’t restrict bringing just a carry-on or personal item. You can carry one carry-on luggage and one ‘’personal item’’. However, if you’re using two bags, one must fit in the overhead compartment, and the other must fit behind your seat.
People can carry two carry-on bags to travel in business or first class. However, policies aren’t static, so they are subject to change. So you can confirm the present policies of the airline you’re using before deciding what to pack.
If the items you plan on traveling with are small, you can pack them in a small purse instead of a large carry-on bag. However, some airlines may not allow carry-ons, so you may have to bring personal items in situations like this. ‘’Personal items’’ are usually easier to monitor than carry-on luggage.
FAQs
Does a Purse Count as a Personal item on a Plane?
Airlines consider purses and other items like laptop bags and diaper bags as personal items.
Can I Bring Snacks in My Purse on a Plane?
You can bring a snack in your purse if the snack isn’t liquid or gel exceeding 3.4 ounces (100 ml). Carry only solid snacks to avoid the stress of explaining yourself at security.
You could pack snacks like crackers, biscuits, granola bars, etc.
Can I Carry Jewelry in My Purse on a Plane?
There’s no rule against putting jewelry in your purse. You can travel with your jewelry but pack the jewelry properly to take the jewelry out during security checks.
Conclusion
According to airline regulations, a purse isn’t a carry-on, but instead, it’s a personal item. A ‘’personal item’’ is smaller and easier to carry than a carry-on.