I was standing in airplane aisle trying to figure out what I could possibly do with all my bags. I had a medium-sized wheeled red carry-on that did technically pass a carry-on, but it was still simply too heavy for someone my size, with my small frame to lift into the overhead bin. I also had a small green backpack with all my in-flight items that I deemed necessary for my return voyage west across the Atlantic. While I was standing in the aisle struggling with my rollable carry-on and backpack a nice, tall gentlemen in his mid-forties offered to lift my suitcase into the overhead compartment.
Phew! (I thought to myself.)
I really didn’t want to figure out how to get my suitcase in the overhead bin without dropping it! Mind you, I was a more experienced traveler than when I had left, but I had also spent 11 months abroad and had full to bursting bags stuffed with funky flea market clothing, letters, earrings, shot glasses, journals filled with pressed flowers… only God knew what else was inside those suitcases and bags.
Between the amount of time I spent abroad and my choice of luggage, I simply was simply loaded down, literally! At the time, I was a 25-year old girl becoming a woman and was still trying to figure out the way of the world and also the way to travel internationally. Although I passed the rest of the time on the plane rather undisturbed, I still had to deal with getting my bag down from the overhead bin on the other side of the ocean, once again.
What could I have done to avoid at least some of my trouble?
(Besides packing fewer shirts?)
It would have been fabulous had I purchased different luggage the first time around, perhaps including an under the seat luggage bag to go alongside my personal item of choice. At a minimum, an underseat bag could have saved me some of the grief and hassle of being embarrassed when I couldn’t get my bag into the overhead bin!
Our Underseat Review Guide will be able to assist you, the regular business traveler, international volunteer, world wanderer, or busy Mom get to where you’re going with the least amount of trouble possible! What’s next, right? Start by checking out our quick buying process guide and then review our #1 recommendation!
Here’s Our Quick Buying Process Guide:
1. Know what type of bag and features you are looking for before you start searching. Does color matter? How big or small does it need to be? Ask yourself: Will this be my only bag or do I plan to check a bag under the plane too? What’s my budget?
2. Next step. Do some quick research for bags with the size, color, and price you like.
3. Make a list of your favorite bags and read the customer reviews for those bags online. Feel free to read our detailed reviews too later on in the article!
4. Time to make a decision! Take everything into account including reviews and go for it!
Our Favorite Under Seat Luggage: Samsonite Wheeled Underseater
The Samsonite Wheeled Underseater is our recommendation, but feel free to do your own research! You have to find what works for you.
If you’re still with us, check out our full product review below of 14 different under the seat carry-on bags! Good luck!
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The Samsonite Wheeler Underseater is our favorite pick for an underseat airplane bag due to its sturdy, durable, and unique design, as well as its ability to be used as carry-on on almost all international airlines. The Samsonite Wheeled Underseater, comes in two sizes, is made of 100% poly/nylon blend with a nylon lining. It was designed specifically to fit under your airplane seat so that you can have quick and easy access to your bag without wasting time or fighting with other passengers for overhead storage space! In our professional opinion, Samsonite hit the nail on the head with their design and smart-thinking!
Customers have reported, that the small-sized underseater will fit in all overhead bins without any problem, but the large wheeled underseater may or may not fit in the overhead compartment. Since the design of the bag was specifically designed to go under the seat, we are not too worried about it fitting in overhead bins. A word to the wise: customers have also noted that if you overpack this bag you may not leave so much room for your own feet. Although it was designed to go under your seat if you overfill this bag you will not have space for your feet!
Additional features include a well-sealed zipper closure, push button locking handle, smooth gliding wheels, and ample internal packing compartments. This underseater luggage item also features a wetpack pocket which is a separate zippered section designed for you to specifically pack damp or dirty laundry away from the rest of your belongings. According to Amazon.com the item measures 16x13x7.5 inches and has a shipping weight of 7.2 pounds. Overall, we are thrilled with the design, the ample packing space, the ability to be stored under your plane seat, and even the wetpack pocket.
Pros
Cons
See the Samsonite Wheeled Underseater live in action with this video:
Briggs & Riley produces an incredible carry-on cabin bag with the ability to expand to almost twice its original size. It’s thoroughly planned design and high-quality, however, also reflects the price. It also comes with a lifetime warranty that covers even airline damage. You won’t find a lifetime warranty with most cabin baggage items that you are considering.
The bag itself was made to last and was designed and produced with nylon outer fabric that is resistant to wear, water, dirt, and abrasion. This expandable cabin bag features three compartments which makes it perfect for even the most organized business traveler. It is 11 inches high, with a 4-inch expansion option. The large main packing section includes a garment securing panel to minimize wrinkling of your garments. A smaller pocket enables you to organize all your personal, travel, and or business documents and books.
Briggs & Riley truly thought of everything when designing this bag from its document space to elastic pockets for undergarments, to a front zipper pocket to conceal keys or other small personal items. You can also choose to carry the bag by its handle or through the use of the shoulder strap. This bag functions excellently as a laptop bag as well and can fit in both overhead compartments or under your seat, which is why customers love this underseat cabin bag.
Pros
Cons
See the Expandable Cabin Bag live in action with this video:
The Delsey Rolling Tote is an excellent carry-on bag that was designed to fit under your airline seat and in most overhead airline bins. Not only is the Delsey Rolling Tote effective and efficient, it is also stylish, and features a quilted exterior with a well-made lining. This tote is made from 1800 denier polyester, has ample pockets for personal items, and also includes a front organizer for important documents, tickets, your passport, and more! The Delsey Rolling Tote holds several changes of clothing and a pair of shoes.
As we reviewed and researched the Delsey Rolling Tote, which measures 9 x 14.5 x 14 inches, weighs approximately 7 pounds, and has a handle, but no shoulder strap. If you are planning to roll or carry this bag you shouldn’t have any problems unless you overstuff this bag! Although it was not designed as a laptop bag, you can easily put a laptop in this bag as well. It is usually purchased as a carry-on for shoes, clothing, toiletries, and other personal items. The handle pops up and down without any issue as well.
Additionally, we also love this bag for its color options. Many small-sized carry-on and or garments bags are well-designed and business-like, but frankly, not very fun or funky! This bag can be purchased in black, navy, or teal. We do recommend that you thoroughly review your preferred airline’s luggage requirements before clicking the purchase button, as we have seen that this bag may or may not be accepted as a carry-on with airlines such as Spirit. We find that this is a very competitively priced bag, with superb storage ability, good color options, and is approved by most airlines as a carry-on. It will certainly get the job done if you’re looking to keep it simple and be able to fit your carry-on under your seat!
Pros
Cons
4. The LUCAS
You can purchase the Lucas Wheeled Underseat Bag, which features a main compartment with a zippered flap that folds down and allows you to have easy access to your belongings. The Lucas underseat bag comes in black, blue, and red, has a generously long handle (23.5 inches), and a push button release mechanism so that you can close the handle or expand the handle with just one hand. It weighs approximately 5.5 pounds, measures 9.8x15.7x5.7 inches, and features a very spacious main compartment.
Within your main compartment you can carry as much as your tablet, one-two changes of clothes maximum, toiletries, and a pair of travel slippers. This bag was designed for shorter trips, weekend travel, or to be used in comparison with another bag that could be checked under the plane.
If you order the Lucas bag you will also receive a passport/ticket holder, toiletry satchel, and slippers for easy and fast travel through airport security. The Lucas bag is made of polyester and also includes a front zippered clear pocket, and a side pocket, although some customers report that the plastic clear zipper pocket is not durable. The Lucas wheeled underseat bag may or may not have issues fitting vertically in an overhead bin, but can be laid on its back. In general, we find that the Lucas wheeled underseat option is a great choice for a carry-on bag with competitive pricing, that will fit under your airline seat, and will certainly complete your goal of finding an affordable carry-on bag.
Pros
Cons
The Rockland Melrose Wheeled Underseat Carry-On is a polyester, large-sized carry-on underseat airplane bag and all-purpose tote that is 15” high and 14” wide. The Rockland Melrose Underseat Carry-On will fit under most airline seats and in overhead compartments. It includes side mesh pockets for water bottles, 2 zipped interior pockets, 2 slip pockets, and a large main compartment.
Customers love the Rockland Melrose Carry-On due to its versatility, unique quilt design, roomy compartment, and the price too! This wheeled carry-on features a retractable handle and a sloped design that makes it easier for you to fit it under your seat on your flight. Save yourself some trouble with checking a bag by using this bag for your weekend getaway!
Roll it, or carry it by its soft handles on to the plane or wherever you are headed! Rockland Melrose reports that you will have enough space in the large compartment to take clothes, shoes, cosmetics, medicine, and other small personal items. It measures 15x14x9 inches and includes a strap that makes it possible for you to attach this bag to another wheeled bag. Customers have reported that it is difficult to fit a 15” laptop within this bag and that it may fit, but it may not be highly convenient to stow a large size laptop in this carry-on. Regardless, with the price of $49.99, ample storage space, and 7 color and pattern options including red, blue, purple, brown, black, turquoise, and surprisingly enough, even an owl pattern! You won’t go wrong with this creatively designed wheeled carry-on that can fit with ease under your airplane seat and make air travel just a little bit easier!
Pros
Cons
The Travelon Wheeled Underseat Carry-On is a newer carry-on item available on Amazom.com, that so far appears to be a sturdy, sleek bag, designed to fit under your airline seat. The Travelon wheeled carry-on includes a large main compartment, a front organizer compartment, a zippered front pocket, and a water bottle pocket. This is a full-size bag that measures 15.6x14.5x7. inches that should meet most airline carry-on regulations and requirements.
It will fit under your seat or in your overhead bin and is also easy to move around as it weighs less than 6 pounds. The Travelon Wheeled Underseat Carry-On is available in red, khaki, and black a and can be rolled or carried using its soft carry handle.
You can use this bag as a carry-on garment bag for the plane, as a daily commuter bag, or even for the gym. Customers love this tote bag for its lightweight, looks, and apparent durability.
Pros
Cons
See the Travelon live in action with this video:
The Lily Bloom Underseater carry-on bag is sure to do the trick and keep you in style at the same time! With three variations of floral patterns, the Lily Bloom carry-on is truly blooming! It is a 15” deep under the seat bag that features a printed design, a telescopic push button handle system, a spacious main compartment, and a front zippered pocket. The Lily Bloom’s dimensions are 15.8x15.7x9.9 and its shipping weight is 5.8 pounds, making it a fairly lightweight carry-on bag designed to fit under your seat on the plane.
Customers report satisfaction with the quality of the bag and its ability to be packed full without tipping over. After all, a critical part of traveling is being able to keep moving without stopping to pick up your knocked over bag! The handle is a little wobbly according to a customer review we found on Amazon.com, nonetheless, the product appears to be very sturdy.
A tablet will fit inside the bag without a problem, but a 13-15” laptop may be difficult to put inside, and if you do attempt to put a computer or tablet in this bag, we recommended that you provide your own padding for the laptop. After all, this bag was designed as an underseat carry-on, not as a laptop bag. We think you’ll love it! Go for it!
Pros
Cons
8. The Verdi
The Verdi is a lovely, rolling, carry-on luggage piece that can fit under your airplane seat! With polyester lining, durable dobby polyester exterior, and is the perfect size to find under your seat or in your overhead bin without being too cumbersome, the Verdi is an excellent option for use as a carry-on garment bag. The Verdi’s carry-on under the seat bag is ideal for the organized traveler as it features six exterior zipped pockets, three zipper pockets, and a spacious main compartment. Like a few of the other bags we have reviewed until this point, the Verdi also features a telescoping push button handle system. Furthermore, it comes in two colors: blue and black.
Measuring 8x15x5 the Verdi is an excellent size carry-on bag for your travels if you prefer packing light and skipping the checked bag altogether! With a shipping weight of just 5.1 pounds, the Verdi is a dream come true! The Verdi will pass through the busiest of terminals and between airline seats with ease.
Additionally, customers have verified that it passed as a carry-on with Spirit Airlines, which notoriously charge for a checked bag with any ticket. Other customer reviews showed us that the handle may be a little wobbly and the rods that connect to the wheels take up perhaps too much of the interior space of the bag. Although overall this bag looks like a great find for the price, if you’re looking for a serious top-quality rolling carry-on bag, it wouldn’t hurt to compare all your options before adding your credit card details at the checkout page!
Pros
Cons
The Travelpro Maxlite 4 Rolling Tote is a 100% polyester rolling carry-on bag that is the perfect size to fit under your airplane seat. With a fabric interior, fully closeable compartments with zippers, and high-performance ball-bearing in-line wheels the Travelpro Maxlite Rolling Tote is a well-made carry-on garment bag. It measures 8.4 inches high and 15.5 inches wide and weighs approximately 6 pounds empty. Selling points of the Travelpro Maxlite Rolling Tote include its telescoping aluminum handle, protective crash-guard wheel housings, comfortable carry handles, and exterior passport/ticket pocket.
In addition to the above features, it comes with a limited lifetime warranty and is featured on Amazon.com in four different colors: black, blue, purple, and merlot (a dark red). Where this bag falls short is that it does not fit very well down the airplane aisle and may need to be picked up and carried by hand in the aisle. It also does not feature a specific compartment for a laptop, however, neither do all of the other bags we reviewed, to be fair!
On the other hand, this bag rolls very smoothly; the handle is covered with comfortable cloth and does not jam. Customer reviews showed us that the material remains like-new after use. We do, however, advise caution regarding overstuffing this bag as that could create zipper problems in the future.
Pros
Cons
In a world of high-end travel bags, Briggs & Riley is the queen. From one of the best brands in travel luggage comes Briggs & Riley Baseline Cabin Bag, a 100% nylon, 12.5-inch high travel garment carry-on, available in black, olive, and navy. With nylon lining, a 9” shoulder drop, and all enclosed and zippered compartments, this rolling carry-on bag hits the mark. We love this bag for its unique flat surface on the inside. That means that if you neatly fold your clothing, dresses, or suits when packing this bag, you will minimize the wrinkling of your clothing.
In addition to the flat interior packing surface, it features an outstanding design with comfortable webbing handles and magnetic leather wrap. This cabin bag also has low-profile wheels, which enables it to fit in the majority of overhead compartments. A large u-shaped zippered pocket on the front of the bag makes it easy for you to quickly access your travel documents too and keep you moving through airport security. The front pocket also includes slip pockets and pen loops. Elastic mesh pockets on the interior of the large compartment as a well as a padded pocket for your iPad make it easy for you stay organized on the go and protect your small electronic devices.
Our only other con besides the high price is the weight of the bag, as the shipping weight is 8.3 pounds, which is higher than all of the other carry-on garment bags we’ve reviewed. The only thing not to love about this bag perhaps is the price tag, but if you’re looking for a solid-quality underseater carry-on, Briggs & Riley produces a top-notch cabin bag, with a sturdy handle and an excellent space for folded garments.
Pros
Cons
See the Briggs & Riley Baseline Cabin Bag live in action with this video:
The Aerolite carry-on luggage bag is a very effective rollable piece of luggage that should fit under your seat on in your overhead storage space. The Aerolite carry-on comes in black, gravy, and navy and is in a very reasonable price range for this type of luggage. It was designed to meet airline luggage requirements with airlines such as American, Delta, and Southwest.
The bag’s double telescopic retractable trolley handle makes it super easy to move through the airport and your travel destination, while the three zipped compartments are essential for toting your personal belongings, passport, clothes, shoes, etc. The main compartment is centered while the additional two pockets are located on each side. The Aerolite bag measures 16.6x14x7.8 and weighs just under 4.3 pounds. We found that if overpacked the Aerolite bag could become a little bulky, however, if you pack well that shouldn’t be a source of stress!
Customer reviews have shown that a 15” laptop would barely fit in this bag, but it may or may not be well secured, and we wouldn’t recommend it. It does feature a strap on the bag so it could be slipped over another larger bag’s handle. As far as carry-on bags go, we love the Aerolite, the price, its sturdiness, and find that it’s the perfect little rollable luggage item for under the seat.
Pros
Cons
From one of the most famous brands in luggage, Samsonite, comes the Samsonite Silhouette Sphere 2 Softside 21-inch Spinner! That’s quite a mouthful, but the bag is a high quality, 100% carry-on bag. Full zipper closure ensures the safety of your items and four multi-directional spherical spinner wheels make it easy for you to turn on a dime! Samsonite understands the importance of your ability to get around the airport in a hurry, which is why this four-spinner wheel design is a plus in our opinion. Additionally, it rolls upright to keep the stress off your back, arms, and shoulders, especially during travel, which can naturally become stressful.
Furthermore, it’s textured, gel-infused, TPR coated handle has an excellent grip and features a push-button locking system. We trust that this bag will hold up to frequent use even if you’re a frequent flyer for business or pleasure! It also features a tri-core Nylon fabric water-resistant coating to help you get the through tricky weather situation and its rubberized corners will protect your bag from the standard wear and tear that travel bags can incur.
One con for us regarding this product is the weight, which may be a function of the impressive wheels. It’s shipping weight is listed as 13.7 pounds on Amazon.com, which means that a lot of your allowed weight on your flight will be taken up by the bag itself. It measures 8x15x21 inches, has a roomy main compartment, rolls effortlessly through the airport or your place of work, and is simply reliable. We find that this bag is fairly and competitively priced, and is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a reliable, durable rollable carry-on, however, for us, its weight is certainly a problem, since it is supposed to be an underseat carry-on airplane bag!
Pros
Cons
See the Samsonite Silhouette Sphere 2 live in action with this video:
The Travelon Wheeled Underseat Carry-On is a 15” inch quality underseat luggage bag made of 1680 D ballistic polyester. It is 14 inches high and 15 inches wide. It includes a significantly spacious main compartment which features 2 zippered pockets and 2 open-top pockets. The Travelon Wheeled Underseat Carry-On does feature a specific compartment that is padded and can be utilized for an iPad or tablet. Designed to fit under most airplane seats or in overhead airplane bins, the Travelon Wheeled Carry-On is a great choice for a carry-on bag specifically because it opens from the top.
We did find mixed reviews regarding customer satisfaction. A few customers experienced issues with the zipper and others were not satisfied that it did not fit under every airline seat. The Travelon Wheeled Carry-On did include a fold flat water bottle compartment, an add-a-bag strap, and a front pocket. Its shipping weight is 5.5 pounds and measures 8.5x15x14 inches.
Although the Travelon appears to be a rather sturdy luggage item, we advise caution regarding the zippers, seeing as they may or may not hold up over time. The bottom line: this carry-on comes in black, burgundy, and purple.
Pros
Cons
See the Travelon live in action with this video:
The Tumi Voyager Oslo 4 is a five-star high-quality rollable luggage piece designed to be lightweight and fit under your airplane seat. It features a 14inch padded laptop pocket for your laptop or other electronic device, multiple other zipper enclosed pockets, phone pockets, pen loops, and a front u-zip pocket for a tablet. The Oslo 4 also features an adjustable telescoping handle and a top carrying handle so you can decide whether you want to roll or carry your bag through tight spaces.
Measuring 8x15x14 inches, the Oslo 4 is the perfect size bag for overnight or weekend trips for business or pleasure! Additionally, it has a shipping weight of 9.4 pounds and is made from a durable lightweight fabric. On the inside of the bag, you will find a fabric lining and zippered pockets so you can organize your personal items.
It currently comes in only one color, “marine,” which is a navy blue. The only con we found about this product was that we did not find many customer reviews online to really effectively compare it to other similar products. Furthermore, the price tag is a little bit high in our opinion, as it comes in just below $400, however, you will receive a quality bag with the brand name Tumi. The Oslo 4 does have a slightly feminine look to it so we recommend this bag primarily for our female travelers who are looking for a simple underseat airplane bag or small rollable bag for daily use. Overall the Oslo 4 appears to be a top-notch bag made with excellent materials and includes a variety of fully zippered pockets making it is easy for you to get and stay organized on your trip or even daily commute!
Pros
Cons
How Do You Know What To Buy?
Whether you’re looking for a multi-purpose underseat luggage bag or a quick and sample wheeled tote for your business travel or daily commute, the key is to find what will fit your needs. Just because we recommended these 13 bags doesn’t mean you can’t find something else that is the best underseat carry-on bag for you!
See for yourself! Talk to fellow travelers or companions on the journey, so to speak! Don’t find yourself trapped with a huge carry-on that you can’t even lift into the overhead bin space like my 25-year old self! Keep searching and we know you’ll find what you’re looking for. 🙂
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