So now that you have booked your flight, what bags can you take?

So now that I put you on to the budget airlines that exist, hopefully you have purchased your tickets and are preparing to go be a wilderness explorer. To be clear, I do not like that why we have to pay for luggage on budget carriers, however I understand financially why these carriers do it. But their pockets mean nothing to me and my trip, and honestly these bag requirements are ridiculous. They think they slick, since you can't "technically" bring a carry on sized luggage, for free, only a personal sized item like a small backpack, has to work. However, I am an adult and my clothing needs a little more space, so I had to find me roomier bag options that fit the requirements. I truly can not stress how much I dislike paying extra for frivolous stuff. I do not care what service you provide, you won't get more of my hard earned money than necessary. So now that I have the bag tricks slightly mastered, and I believe in each one teach one, I am going to give you some bags that meet both the strict requirements and your luggage needs. I will be using Spirit airlines personal bag requirements, as I know that this tends to be the airline where people come into the most issues. And if it can fit Spirit's rules, it can more than likely fit the other airlines (please double check). Hopefully one of the bags mentioned in this blog will fit your travel need. I am here to save you from being embarrassed at the airport, so you do not become one of the people on the internet crying that you had to pay for a bag because you did not follow instructions.

What’s the Difference Between a Personal Item and a Carry-On?

I am sorry, if you think this question is redundant. I have seen this question too many times to

assume everyone knows the answer. So here we go. Generally speaking, a personal item bag

must fit in front of the seat in front of you, whereas a carry-on can go in the bin above your head.

Spirit Airlines’ personal item bag must not exceed 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 cm), and unfortunately it's always that one person at the gate who takes this TOO serious. So to make that over eager employee look foolish when they pull you out and make you place you bag in the sizer, check out some of the bags below. Purchase any of the bags through *https://www.amazon.com/shop/breeelaine.

1- Take-OFF Luggage (A black owned brand !)

I could honestly start and stop here. This is the only luggage you will need. The Take OFF Luggage bag measures 20"H x 14"W x 8"D inches and comes with four removable 360° spinner wheels, allowing it to fit under most seats, making it perfect for Spirit. Don't believe me head on over to Amazon or their website to see videos of people testing the luggage in the personal item sizer. The bag comes with removable wheels that converts the suitcase from a carry-on into a personal item, in a matter of minutes. To remove the wheels, simply press the two yellow tabs on each wheel and the wheel comes off to reduce the length of the bag from 20" to 18". This hard-shell luggage is double sided, allowing you to pack 3-5 days worth of clothing, plus shoes and toiletries with ease. (If you need packing tips check out my how to pack in a carry-on blog).

If you want to buy directly from Takeoffluggage.com: use code: BreeLeaves for an extra 10% off.

Also on Amazon for $119, Expandable $140.

2- Large Travel Backpack(s)/ Nurse Bags

These large capacity backpacks have a main pocket a laptop compartment (perfect for a 13” tablet and 14” laptop) and many other pockets making it the perfect on the go bag. They usually have a wet bag made of high density water resistant material that can help you to separate dry items and wet items, They also come with a separate shoe compartment can help you carry and keep your shoes better in your travel bag. With a built-in charging port and a zipper pocket on the back of the bag you can keep your phone safe and accessible.

I stumbled across baby diaper bags when I went to Ireland, in 2019, and I swear by them. Now they have tweaked the designed, removed the baby bottle slots from the front and converted them to large backpack purses. The main compartment comes with a large open design that is easy to organize and access quickly. Well made for work backpack as a practical gift, they also come with a USB charging port.

3- Underseater luggage

- Similar to TakeOff luggage, underseat bags are made to fit into the personal size bin, wheels included. The largest underseaters are usually 17(H)x13(W)x7.5(D). Perfect for those quick weekend trips where you do not need a lot of stuff but you do not want the weight of carrying a backpack.

4- Weekender Duffels.

Now these are tricky because while they can fit in the underseat space, when they are filled to the brim, they are sometimes larger than the requirement. Luckily they are fabric and fabric can be manipulated.

Hopefully one of these bags fits your needs and allows you the ability to get up and go without the hassle of baggage fees. If you want to check out these bags and many of the other bag I like check out my Amazon link*: https://www.amazon.com/shop/breeelaine.

*Please note that commission is earned from any items purchased through the associated Amazon link. While my blogs are not sponsored ads, any purchases made are greatly appreciated.