A personal item fits under the seat in front of you and is free on every US airline here. A carry-on goes in the overhead bin, and Frontier, Allegiant, Sun Country, Breeze and Avelo charge for one on their lowest fare.
Bag type
Your bag against each airline
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Where each one goes
The personal item is the smaller bag: a purse, a laptop bag or a small backpack. It rides under the seat in front of you. The carry-on is the bigger one, usually a small wheeled suitcase, and it goes in the overhead bin above your row.
Carry-onoverhead bin
Personal item: under the seat
If it has to fit under the seat in front of you, it’s your personal item. The bag for the bin overhead is your carry-on.
Personal item limits run from 17 x 10 x 9 in on United to 18 x 14 x 8 in on American, Frontier and Allegiant. Carry-on limits start at 22 x 14 x 9 inches, and Southwest, Frontier, Allegiant and Sun Country allow more.
Which one you pay for
Every US airline here lets you bring one personal item at no charge. On American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue and Hawaiian, the lowest fare includes a carry-on too.
United, Basic Economy: 1 personal item only; a carry-on bag must be checked for a fee, except on flights to South America, across the Atlantic or across the Pacific, and for Premier members, Star Alliance Gold members and qualifying cardmembers.
Frontier, Fare with no bundle: 1 personal item only; a carry-on bag and checked bags cost extra.
Allegiant, every fare: 1 personal item; a carry-on bag and checked bags can be bought.
Sun Country, every fare: 1 under-seat item; a carry-on bag and checked bags are bag options you pay for.
Breeze, No Flex Fare: 1 personal item; everything else is added.
Avelo, every fare: 1 personal item; a carry-on bag and checked bags cost extra.
A bag small enough for the personal item limit can also go as your carry-on, as long as the airline allows one. On an American Eagle regional flight, American valet checks a carry-on bigger than the personal item size at the gate, except on Embraer 175 planes.
Common questions
Can I bring a personal item and a carry-on?
Yes, American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue and Hawaiian include both on their lowest fare. On the others, the carry-on is added or comes with a higher fare.
Does a jacket count as a personal item?
No on Delta and United, which list a jacket or coat among the things you can bring on top of your bags.
Personal item and carry-on limits and fares come from each airline’s own baggage pages, read in October 2026. Checked against published data from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue (plus 7 more).
See all 28 sources
American Airlines, Carry-on bags (aa.com)
American Airlines, Checked bag policy (aa.com)
American Airlines, Basic Economy (aa.com)
Delta Air Lines, Carry-On Baggage (delta.com)
Delta Air Lines, Baggage Policy and Fees (delta.com)
Delta Air Lines, Delta Main Basic (Basic Economy) (delta.com)
United Airlines, Carry-on bags (united.com)
United Airlines, Checked bags (united.com)
Southwest Airlines, Carryon and Personal Item Policy (support.southwest.com)
Hawaiian Airlines, Checked baggage fees and policies (hawaiianairlines.com)
Avelo Airlines, Carry-on bags (aveloair.com)
Avelo Airlines, Optional services (aveloair.com)
General guidance from airline, TSA and FAA rules, checked on the date shown. Rules change, and the airline and security officers decide on the day: check your airline before you fly.
