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Most airlines allow you to bring one “personal item” in addition to a carry-on bag. A purse, laptop bag, or small backpack all qualify as personal items. Here are some tips on how to choose the best in-flight travel purse!
Travel Purse: Using it as a Personal Item
Size
Size is a big consideration when choosing which travel purse to use as a personal item to add to your travel capsule wardrobe Some airlines limit the size of personal items and may be strict about enforcement.
With that being said, it’s also crucial that your purse has sufficient space for all of your items. Be sure to do a test run before departing on your trip.
I use the Rebecca Minkoff Julian purse backpack, which is spacious enough to fit my 11” Macbook Air, daily essentials, a small water bottle, wallet, passport, sleeping bag liner, neck pillow, in-flight socks, phone, and other small items.
Find out how I traveled one week luggage free using only this backpack!
Closure
A zipper is another important feature when choosing a travel purse as a personal item. While many of our favorite purses have a single button or clasp, we recommend you opt for a purse with a zipper.
It’s likely that you’ll have your most important items in your purse, so the last thing you want is everything falling out when you store it under the seat.
Tip: We absolutely don’t recommend that you put any valuables like cash, credit cards, or passports into your carryon, which is stowed in the overhead compartments. While not common, in-flight theft has been reported. Learn more about how to keep your passport safe while traveling!
Organization
If your travel purse has organizational compartments, this is a major plus. It’s important to have your passport and boarding pass easily accessible.
You may want to use small packing organizers to keep everything in place. With limited space on economy flights, it’s best to be as organized as possible so you’re not fumbling around, looking for items, during your flight.
I use this small clear organizer for my daily essentials! Packing cubes also make great organizers.
Weight
Some airlines, but not many, weigh your carry-on items. While this is more prevalent with strict budget airlines, you may want to keep it in mind before stuffing your travel purse to the brim.
On the other hand, you can use a personal item to your advantage by distributing weight from your main carryon bag. This is particularly important if you’re struggling to meet baggage weight restrictions.
Find out how you can pack for a strict 7kg baggage allowance!
Tory Burch Packable Nylon Tote
Fabric
Because your travel purse will be stored on the floor of the plane under the seat in front of you, avoid material that gets dirty easily and is difficult to clean. Leather and nylon are travel-friendly materials.
Since planes only get a deep clean once a month, you may want to bring along antibacterial wipes like these to clean your tray and seat belt buckle–two of the most germy places on a plane.
Tip: Don’t forget to bring noise canceling headphones in your purse to enjoy in-flight entertainment and avoid fees.
What are your tips when choosing a travel purse as a personal item? Comment below!
For more carryon tips, please read:
- The Best Travel Shoulder Bags for Women
- Anti-theft Travel Bags for Women
- 12 Cute Backpacks for Travel (They’re really purses)
- 10 Step Guide for Carryon Travel
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I try to avoid leather bags because they are too heavy. I prefer lighter faux leather bags with many pockets. One of my favorite is from Matt and Nat and I have also one from Love and Lore that is very useful, but a little smaller, for shorter flights, for example, when I do not carry food.
Just discovered this site and LOVE all your reviews and suggestions. Hope to see an update to your travel-purse selections, soon!
Hi Lisa, thank you so much!! So pleased you are enjoying the blog ❤️
I have used a Samantha Brown carry on set the last few trips and have loved them.
Hi Sharon, thank you for sharing your recommendation with us!! 🙂
I found a Hynes Victory tassel backpack in black synthetic leather that looks very similar to the Minkoff backpack and it is much less! My daughter used it on a 10-day trip to DC and NYC and loved it. It is on Amazon now for $24.99.
Hi Sharon, what a great find!! Thanks for sharing! Hope your daughter had a fantastic trip! 🙂
Look what I just found! It’s a lot like the Rebecca Minkoff but a bit more affordable.
from Nine West retails for C$120 but is currently on sale at The Bay for C$90.
Thanks for sharing Alexa!
love the backpack!! but do you really feel safe with that zipper???? I’m so tempted
Couple ideas – I once used a huge toiletries bag as my purse. Way too huge to be practical for its intended purpose but perfect for my personal purse in flight. Pockets, zipper, easy to clean etc. Even got compliments from seat mate. I packed a small actual purse for daily destination use. Another time, my friend gave me her unused diaper bag (I wasn’t traveling with kids) & I packed in that for trip home. Wow! Light weight, zipper, pockets, the best! Highly recommend.
Those are some great ideas Nina!
That toiletries bag idea is a pretty good one. Brilliant.
Great article! Do you know which purse is in the photo? Or is it a stock photo? Thanks!
It is a stock, sorry Teresa! There are some great bags in the post tho! Love the Rebecca Minkoff bag!
Thank you for the tips! My mum was just telling me that she found out the bad way about the zipper tip, and I love the Tumi option you give. I’ve been struggling to find the right combination of personal item/purse/day pack as I don’t want to pack 3 different bags for each trip but always end up filling my crossbody to the brim and my shoulders hurt, so I might just give up and try a niceer looking backpack like the ones you propose 🙂
I’m glad you found them useful 🙂 Hopefully you’ll find the right bag for you!
I have my heart set on the Rebecca Minkoff, but I’m definitely going to check out the other options!
Love that bag so much! Thanks for reading Janice!
I love the reminder about the zipper! I hate it when things in my carryon fall out under the seat ahead of me!
Good to hear from you Karen! We totally agree, always have to double check that! Happy travels!
I have not had that happen to me but it sounds bad ?
Such a useful article – thanks! Last time I was in NYC, I found the JETSETTER CONVERTIBLE CANVAS BACKPACKat Henri Bendel (which I originally read about here) and I am hooked!
Thanks for reading Jen! Glad you could find a backpack that worked for you! Safe travels!
Love your site. Great tips for traveling anywhere.
Thanks for reading Donna! Glad I could help!
My favorite is the Nordstrom Anniversary Longchamp expandable tote. You can only get this at Nordies during their Anniversary Sale it starts our as large tote but can expand if needed. Much smaller than the Longchamp expandable duffel which is HUGE and could no way count as a personal item.
Thanks for sharing this 🙂 Great choice!
I’m always looking for the best travel purse/carry on bag. Thanks for the post.
Glad you found it useful!
Awesome. I love your site, and your lists are so helpful!
Thank you!
AnnMarie
Yay 🙂 Glad you find it useful!
All good things to remember as I may start traveling for work!
Glad you found it useful!
For my last trip to Europe (Vienna, Prague, and Budapest), I used a Rick Steves Veloce shoulder bag that converts to a backpack and a 21″ extra large Ever Moda Moroccan print bag from Amazon, together less than $65 on sale. Also packed was a Scarleton shoulder bag for $16 on Amazon that I had for day trips. As the shoulder bag holds a lot, I will use it on the next trip with either the Veloce bag or the large tote bag as a personal item for carry on only travel.
Glad you found what works for you Melissa 🙂 Good work!
Great ideas!
Thanks 🙂
Love these suggestions!
Glad you like them Terra 🙂
I love my Rebecca Minkoff Julian bag. I used it as my “purse” for a recent trip to Las Vegas for my brother’s wedding. The bag was perfect for trekking the strip with 2 kids. I bought the bag for travel, but it has become my go to bag for everyday use. It is roomy and stylish. I always get tons of compliments whenever I use the Julian.
I Love it too 🙂 It sounds like you’re getting so much use out of it!
I love bringing my fold up ikea backpack and putting my small day to day handbag in that alongside my sucky sweets, entertainment for the flight and camera case – especially handy when when i also have a carry on case and they only allow a case and a personal item!
Great ideas 🙂
I really love that Tumi bag you featured! I didn’t want to spend quite that much and also wanted something that could serve as a fun beach/pool bag (going to Hawaii in a few months) so I purchased the Longchamp tote in a fun pink color. Hopefully it works out well!
Ooo that sounds cute 🙂 Nice work!
I also like to bring my favorite teabags. They are small, light weight and ultimately disposable.
Great idea 😉