Ensure your carry-on bag is of a size permitted by your airline.
There's no doubt that flying with just carry-on baggage frees you up when you disembark from the aircraft. You don't have to stand around the carousel hoping your belongings were in the hold when you took off. Instead, you head straight through arrivals and continue your journey. However, make sure your carry-on bag is of a size permitted by your airline. Dimensions vary from airline to airline.
US Airways and Delta
These two legacy carriers allow each passenger one carry-on bag, and one personal item. In both cases, the carry-on bag must be no larger than 22 inches long, 14 inches wide and 9 inches high. US Airways also stipulates a maximum weight of 40 lbs. Delta says the carry-on bag must fit easily into its carry-on baggage gauges, located close to airport check-in desks. The gauges' dimensions are those of the largest permitted carry-on bag. Personal items allowed in addition to a carry-on bag include a briefcase, purse, laptop bag, camera bag or diaper bag. All items must fit into overhead lockers, or under the seat in front of you.
Spirit Air
Low cost airline, Spirit Air charges fees for bags which will not fit in the space beneath the seat in front of you. The maximum size possible is 16 inches by 14 inches by 12 inches. On Spirit Air, a charge is applied for bags being placed in the overhead lockers. The dimensions of these bags must not exceed 22 inches by 18 inches by 10 inches, and just one overhead locker bag is allowed per passenger. Online charges paid in advance for overhead locker bags are less than those paid at the airport before boarding. Other additional items allowed without charge are umbrellas, cameras, diaper bags, assistive devices, outer garments, food to be eaten in flight, books and magazines.
Southwest Airlines
Low cost carrier Southwest Airlines allows each passenger a carry-on bag no larger than 10 inches by 16 inches by 24 inches. Each passenger is also permitted to take on-board one other personal item. Examples of permissible items include purses, briefcases, cameras, food containers and laptops including the case.
Transatlantic Flights
If you are flying transatlantic with a non US airline, your carry-on baggage allowance may differ from those permitted on flights within the USA. For example, Ireland's national carrier Aer Lingus restricts carry-on baggage to one item measuring 22 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches. It must weigh no more than 22 lbs. One other small item, such as a purse, is permitted. UK carrier British Airways allows one carry-on bag measuring a maximum of 22 inches by 18 inches by 10 inches. It also allows a laptop bag or purse, measuring no more than 18 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches.
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