After not checking a bag for years, traveling with one checked bag and a normal size personal item, when connecting to British Airways at LHR they made me check my bag. They still allow a regular size carry on, but drastically reduced the permissible size of the personal item to one half of its previous size. If the personal item is over, the main carry on bag must be checked. The new limit is "up to 40cm x 30cm x 15cm, or 16in x 12in x 6in."

That's it. Six inches wide.

From all reports, they have been draconian about this. They now have two sizers at the gate; the regular old blue one for your carry on, and a new small red one for the personal item.

http://www.britishairways.com/en-us/...age-allowances

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/...-10433080.html

Does anybody know of a "personal item" bag that fits into their sizer that is more than a laptop carrying case?

I cannot find a single bag online that is small enough to fit this new size.