Luggage Size for Under the Seat

When you go on an airplane, there are generally three different classifications of luggage that you can bring along.

First, you have checked luggage that is checked and stored in the luggage compartment under the cabin of the airplane.

Second, you have overhead items that are stored in the overhead bins above the seats. 

Third, you can then also bring along luggage for under the seat in front of you. Now, of course, there is not that much space under the seat in front of you, so there are some restrictions in terms of the size of that under-seat luggage that you can bring along.

Today, we want to take a closer look at the size restrictions related to luggage size for under the seat.

What is Luggage for Under the Seat?

There seems to be a bit of confusion in terms of what luggage for under the seat is. First and foremost, when your airline baggage requirements tell you that you’re allowed to bring along a personal item, this is exactly what it is. Your personal item is the same as the one for under the seat. 

This luggage is stowed under the seat in front of you. This is the case unless you’re sitting in one of the emergency exit rows. If you do happen to be sitting in an emergency exit row, even that luggage is going to need to be stowed in the overhead bins. 

Exactly what you can bring along as luggage for under the seat does differ by various airlines. However, for the most part, things such as briefcases, laptop bags, duffel bags, messenger bags, small backpacks, handbags, tote bags, and small-wheeled suitcases will all be allowed. 

In most cases, security will check to see if your item is small enough to actually fit under the seat in front of you. Once again, keep in mind that there’s absolutely no difference between luggage for under the seat and a personal item.

Luggage Size for Under the Seat: General Restrictions 

Generally speaking, size restrictions for most airlines are going to be somewhere around 16 by 12 by 6 inches. Of course, some airlines will allow you to bring larger under-seat items than others. 

However, if you want to be safe, and if you want to ensure that your luggage will fit under all airline seats, you do want to max it out at 16 by 12 inches at the very most. 

With that being said, if you do get a piece of under-seat luggage that is made out of flexible fabric, you should be able to jam it under that seat without much problem.

Luggage Size Restrictions by Airline

Like we said above, the size of the luggage that you can fit under the seat in front of you is going to differ depending on the airline in question. Therefore, let’s take a look at some of the biggest and most popular airlines to see exactly what size of under-seat luggage you can bring along.

Delta Airlines

While delta airlines does not specifically state how large the luggage for under the seat has to be, they do have several airplanes in their fleet. For instance, smallest of the airplanes can hold luggage up to 17 by 16 by 7.8 inches under the seat.

American Airlines

American Airlines says that items stored under the seat in front of you should be no larger than 18 by 14 by 8 inches.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest airline says that items to fit under the seat in front of you should not be larger than 18.5 by 13.5 by 8.5 inches.

United Airlines

As stated by United Airlines, under-seat items should not be larger than 17 by 10 by 9 inches.

Air Canada

Air Canada states had all under-seat luggage items should be no larger than 17 by 13 by 6 inches.

Jet Blue

JetBlue states that all items to be stored under the seat in front of you should not exceed 17 by 13 by 8 inches.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines states that any items that could be stored under the seat in front of you should not exceed 18 by 14 by 8 inches.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa states that all luggage to be stored under the seat in front of you should not be larger than 15.7 by 11.8 by 3.9 inches.

Luggage Size for Under the Seat

As you can see, you do have quite a few different options in terms of the type of luggage that you can bring to fit under the seat in front of you on an airplane. With that being said, if you want to be as safe as can be, and you want to make sure that that luggage will fit under most airline seats, and then you want to keep it under 16 by 12 by 6 inches at the most.