I'm flying with my family & young kids. We will be checking a carseat (free) and probably one bag.
When I fly with family I usually use my Ebags Motherlode Convertible:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/front...onal-item.html in backpack mode (without the waist strap). It's 22x14x9, but a backpack. Am I going to have any luck avoiding the carry on fee?
We aren't flying F9 for the return, so i'm juggling baggage requirements.
Also, I vaguely remember seeing food excluded from the personal item definition? If we buy food at the airport is that using up one of our personal items?