Carry-on v. personal item

[Lulu76]

OK, this might sound like a dumb question, but I need to know if anyone has any thoughts, ideas, etc.

Generally when I travel to St. John or to Florida, I take my roller bag as my carry-on and carry my beach bag as a personal item. My old beach bag was about the size of a book bag, but it was not water-resistant and after the Great Soggy Dollar incident of 2007, I thought I should opt for something water-resistant. However, my new beach bag is kind of huge, and I'm worried they won't let me count it as a personal item, since the whole personal item description is vague. It'll fit under my seat, and it's smaller than my carry-on. It's probably smaller than my old laptop case. I'd say it's probably the size of diaper bags or a little bigger than those jumbo purses some women carry.

Do you think it'll be OK? I guess I can just check my roller bag if it's not, but what a hassle. I know people take backpacks, and it's not as big as a back pack, I don't think.

[California Girl]

Lulu - The last 2 flights I've taken, I carried on a huge canvas tote bag from Disney World. I had my purse in that, along with my jacket, magazines, book, etc. Then I also carried on my rolly bag. No one said a word. Not a single word. My roller bag fit in the overhead and my tote fit under the seat in front of me... leaving me no foot room to speak of, but it fit!

[Lulu76]

Woohoo, you are now my travel hero!

I've never had a problem before, but I keep looking at this bag (and filling it fuller and fuller with crap) and thinking: are they really going to let me take both of these?

The way the packing is shaping up, it would probably fit in my roller bag if pushed, so I guess it'll all be OK.

I just don't want to pay to check luggage. And on the way back, I need to use my luggage allowance for booze because, well, because I have a problem! The problem is that I have been out of Cruzan Light for weeks, and I might have a shot of mango and raspberry. Plus I can't find Clipper here!

[cptnkirk]

We bring two good size backpacks. One for each of us as a personal item.They don't leave any room for me to stretch my feet out but they fit under the seat they have never said a thing about them. If it can be stuffed under the seat you should be good to go. Have fun

[loria]

I usually have a huge canvas tote with food and stuff, then my (large) purse or a back pack and a foldable beach chair that fits in the overhead--never had a problem (though i imagine they might come gunning for me soon)

[wontongirl]

Hey LuLu,
I was thinking about your glow bracelets and wondering if you need to put them in your ziploc or if TSA will seize them. It seems stupid for them to take but after hearing about the frozen gel pack deals not going through security it might be something to think about.

[Xislandgirl]

We will have the same dilemma next year. I normally carry on a large tote and my roller bag, but a coworker was recently told that her large tote was not considered a personal item and that she would have to check one of her bags. This was on Delta, which we are flying. I think I may need to check luggage

[flip-flop]

My husband's backpack is bigger than my 6 year old and he's never had a problem taking it on. It might be because they take pity on us

[Chickadee]

I always carry on my rolling bag which fits overhead and pack a bag that fits under the seat in front of me.

That bag is usually my snorkel gear bag packed with basically anything I need to access during my travel day, especially on the plane (so I don't have to open the rolling bag for anything). I often put in there too the fanny pack or sling bag that I use as a purse while on STJ.

I think that as long as it fits under the seat they have very little argument that it's not a personal item.

[Ksea]

My overstuffed laptop back pack fits great under the seat, so I think your diaper-bag size bag will be just fine.

[Steve S]

Our mid sized backpacks as personal items barely fit under the "seat in front of me" and we've had no problems.

Make sure that roller fits end first in the overhead... I'm sure there's not a lot of tolerance these days for the folks that bring on oversize units that will only fit side-ways.

[Lulu76]

My roller bag meets the guidelines listed on Spirit's web site, so it'll have to fit. I'm not paying to check it.

I think my bag will be fine too. I am also worried about the glow bracelets. My little one-quart bag is full, so if they give me trouble then the TSA folks at Hartsfield Airport will be partying with glow sticks and I'll be out three bucks.

[loria]

Lulu,
are you flying the spirit flight from FLL to STT?

when you return can you tell me your general impression with Spirit and how that flight was?

thanks.

[Lulu76]

Yep, that is what I am doing. I can tell you how it goes. I have flown on other "no-frills" carriers, so I am sure it will be fine.

[Connie]

Lulu, you'll be fine. As long as you can fit it underneath the front seat, or in the overhead, there should be no problem.

I've been traveling with a bag even bigger than yours and no one has ever stopped me.