Laptop Backpack a Personal Item?
Aug 1, 2010, 1:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 25
Laptop Backpack a Personal Item?
I'm going to have a 22" carry-on and then I have a messenger style slim laptop bag which I was going to bring and from what I understand counts as a personal item. So, I can bring this along with the carry-on.
Now, I'm starting to think instead of bringing a messenger style laptop bag that I want to bring a laptop backpack instead the kind that look like school backpacks. The reason is since I'm planning on cycling when I arrive and it would be more convenient to have my laptop in that style of bag instead of cycling with a messenger type bag.
If I bring one of those backpacks for my laptop could that still count as a personal item? Even though it will look like a school backpack? Or do they just care about the contents? They will see there is a laptop and it will be ok?
Thanks
Now, I'm starting to think instead of bringing a messenger style laptop bag that I want to bring a laptop backpack instead the kind that look like school backpacks. The reason is since I'm planning on cycling when I arrive and it would be more convenient to have my laptop in that style of bag instead of cycling with a messenger type bag.
If I bring one of those backpacks for my laptop could that still count as a personal item? Even though it will look like a school backpack? Or do they just care about the contents? They will see there is a laptop and it will be ok?
Thanks
Aug 1, 2010, 3:49 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Berlin and Buggenhagen, Germany
Posts: 3,509
It's not about the content. it's about the size. It must be preferably less than 36 linear inches. Sometimes you can stretch it to 38. 40 is too much. It MUST fit under the seat in front of you to count as a personal item.
Till
Till
Aug 1, 2010, 5:19 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Toronto, NYC, somewhere on planet Earth
Programs: UA 1K, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 8,289
For longer trips, I usually have my 22" carry-on and my laptop backpack as my personal item. Never been questioned about my backpack, which sometimes is stuffed.
Aug 1, 2010, 5:50 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: GNV which is not where we would like to be :)
Programs: ABP, Mr. Mom without the kids, Signor Mucci, DL PM, HH & Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 4,526
Also check with your airline on what, if any, restrictions on size they may have. I remember years ago UA was very stringent on the size of carry-ons. We found that flying out of London, even though DL had checked our bags and issued our BPs, the fact that one carry-on was about 2 cm larger than the sizer we were not allowed to proceed to security.
Aug 5, 2010, 6:24 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: NYS
Programs: Days of Our Lives, General Hospital
Posts: 1,495
As noted, some airlines specify a maximum measurement (length + width + depth) of 36 inches. Of course has to be small enough in each dimension to fit under the seat.
Many laptop backpacks are larger than this, some by as little as 1/4 inch and some by 4 or 5 inches. FWIW, I like to use ebags.com to shop for laptop bags because their site can tell you whether a specific model of laptop computer will fit in a specific bag, or show you only bags into which it will fit.
Many laptop backpacks are larger than this, some by as little as 1/4 inch and some by 4 or 5 inches. FWIW, I like to use ebags.com to shop for laptop bags because their site can tell you whether a specific model of laptop computer will fit in a specific bag, or show you only bags into which it will fit.