If you’re flying with just a free underseat cabin bag then I’m here to share the best options and my travel hacks to squeeze everything into that tiny bag.
I’ve been a full time travel blogger for over 10 years and to save money on my trips I almost always travel with just free underseat luggage. Flying with just an underseat cabin bag is cheaper, easier, so much faster and once you’ve done it a few times you realise you didn’t need all that stuff you were shoving into your big suitcase anyway!
I don’t want to be big headed but I consider myself a bit of an underseat luggage expert these days!
Here are 5 of my favourite underseat cabin bags and further down I’ve shared 10 tips to help you pack for your whole trip with just underseat luggage!
Travel Hack Tip: Check the luggage size your airline allows!
Before we go any further, we need to highlight that different airlines have different sized underseat cabin bags. (I know, I know, why can’t they all just agree on the same size!?)
Ryanair and Wizzair have particularly small underseat cabin bags but easyJet is considerably bigger.
- Ryanair: It’s 40 x 20 x 25cm
- Wizzair: 40 x 30 x 25cm
- easyJet: 45 x 36 x 20cm
Before you do anything else, check underseat luggage size for your airline and opt for the biggest bag you can find.
The best underseat cabin bags
For simplicity, I’m going to recommend the best underseat cabin bags for Ryanair and easyJet. These are two of the more popular airlines in the UK and you can consider Ryanair to be the smaller bag and easyJet to be the bigger.
Below you will find…
- Best women’s Ryanair underseat bag (small)
- Best men’s Ryanair underseat cabin bag (small)
- Best women’s easyJet underseat bag (bigger)
- Best men’s easyJet underseat cabin bag (bigger)
- Best wheeled underseat cabin bag
Best women’s Ryanair underseat bag (small)
- A fashionable and space-saving womens Travel Backpack cabin size which fits under the seat. It can hold laptops up to 13", serving as a convenient option for weekend trips too.
- Features an easy access top pocket for purses, sun glasses, phones and travel documents.
- Fits the Ryanair 40x20x25cm' free' underseat hand luggage rules. Flies for free on all other known airlines. Lightweight design weighs just 0.6kg.
This is my own design and I worked with a company called Cabin Max to create it (who make loads of great cabin bags if you’re interested!)
It’s so exciting because every flight I get on these days I see two or three Travel Hack Backpacks on the plane and I love seeing them ‘out in the wild’!
Things to love about this bag include:
- Fully opening zipper so it’s easier to pack
- Plenty of exterior pockets so it’s easy to access things
- Large water bottle holder
- Secure and padded laptop pocket
- Interior pockets for organisation
- Stylish enough to be used as a day bag when you arrive
- Can be used as an everyday bag at home too
- A fashionable and space-saving womens Travel Backpack cabin size which fits under the seat. It can hold laptops up to 13", serving as a convenient option for weekend trips too.
- Features an easy access top pocket for purses, sun glasses, phones and travel documents.
- Fits the Ryanair 40x20x25cm' free' underseat hand luggage rules. Flies for free on all other known airlines. Lightweight design weighs just 0.6kg.
Best men’s Ryanair underseat cabin bag (small)
Hayayu Ryanair underseat carry on
This one obviously isn’t just for men but it’s a more masculine design in the black, grey and navy colourways. It does come in pastel colours if you like a brighter look.
- Anti theft pocket at the back
- Cable hole for a power bank
- Fully opens
- Has a laptop pocket
- Interior pockets
- Water resistant fabric
- Perfectly Sized for Ryanair: Measuring at 40x20x25cm, our under seat cabin bag is meticulously crafted to fit Ryanair's and other airlines without charge hand luggage regulations. It effortlessly...
- Enhanced Security and Convenience: Equipped with an anti-theft back pocket and a convenient charging port, Safeguard your belongings and stay connected by charging your devices on the go, making your...
- Versatile Organization for Any Travel: Featuring multiple compartments tailored for various needs, including 2 easily accessible front pockets, dedicated slots for small items, 2 mesh pockets, 1...
Best women’s easyJet underseat bag (bigger)
The Travel Hack Hybrid shares a lot of similar characteristics with the backpack but it’s bigger (suitable for easyJet) and can be converted from a backpack into a rolling suitcase. This flexibility is brilliant because it allows you to wheel the bag through smooth airports and railway stations, but you can easily convert it into a backpack and carry it through busy streets or over rough terrain.
- Can convert from a backpack to a rolling suitcase
- It’s actually easy to convert and isn’t a faff!
- Has an exterior pocket perfect for organising all your bits and bobs
- Water bottle holder
- Very large interior pocket
- Versatile Design: Converts seamlessly between a wheeled trolley and a backpack for ultimate travel flexibility. Carry-On Compliant: Sized to meet the cabin luggage requirements of most major airlines,...
- Spacious & Organized: 30L capacity with well-designed compartments for efficient packing and easy access to your items. Features include side bottle holder, front organiser for documents and...
- 30 litre capacity and large suitcase style opening for easy packing. Durable : Built with high-quality materials to protect your belongings from the elements. Construction: 600D PU with Eco-leather...
Best men’s easyJet underseat cabin bag (bigger)
You’ll see this bag all over the plane! They’re so popular and I spot one on every flight. This underseat backpack ticks every box if you’re looking for a simple, no frills kind of backpack.
- Comes in plenty of different colours
- Opens fully
- Has a front pocket to organise all your little bits
- Side compression straps.
- AIRLINE Compliant - Designed for Easyjet small cabin bag 45x36x20 to fit underseat requirements for EasyJet, and other major airlines, ensuring hassle-free travel with your essential items.
- Spacious Design - 30L capacity allows for easy packing and access to belongings, maximizing storage in a compact under seat cabin bag. Features include side bottle holder & rear trolley strap. British...
- Comfort-Focused - Padded back panel and adjustable straps provide long-lasting comfort during extended wear, making it an ideal backpack for travelling and airport navigation.
Best wheeled underseat cabin bag
Underseat cabin bags might be small but once they’re fully packed they can be heavy. If you struggle to carry your luggage for long periods through the airport and while queuing, get yourself a wheeled underseat bag.
I love the Cabin Max Anode 24L (40 x 30 x 20cm) and, honestly, it’s just really cute because it’s a teeny, tiny suitcase!
- The Anode 24L TwinWheel is the perfect size carry on suitcase (40 x 30 x 20 cm) to fit easily under the seat and save you from paying extra fees. Flies free with WizzAir.
- PERFECTLY Sized at 40x30x20 cm and weighing in at a lightweight 2.2kg, this case fits perfectly in to the Wizz Air ‘free’ luggage sizer.
- SPACIOUS interior lets you maximise your free luggage allowance and features packing straps, a zipped divider and a zipped organiser pocket that is ideally sized for chargers, travel accessories or...
OK, so those are 5 of the best underseat cabin bags you can find on Amazon.
Now it’s time for my top 10 tips to pack everything into your cabin bag, whether you’re going away for one night or a whole week!
10 tips to pack extra light
- Don’t take any additional shoes
This initially sounds tough but it’s not as hard as it sounds.
When you’re travelling with just a small backpack you literally don’t have space for an extra pair of shoes so you’re going to have to spend your whole trip in the same shoes.
They will obviously need to be really comfortable but also suitable to wear during the day and out for meals at night too.
I stick to the following:
- Spring and autumn: Trainers like adidas Sambas
- Summer: Sandals like Birkenstocks
- Winter: Boots like Dr Martens
If you’re going to need something more elegant for evenings out then find a classic pointed shoe with a tiny kitten heel because these won’t take up much space in your bag.
2. Accept that not every outfit will be perfect
If you’re into social media then you probably see people’s holiday photos where they seem to change outfits 4 times a day! But here’s a PSA: You don’t need to do that to have a great holiday!
Some outfits won’t be exactly what you’d wear at home but just embrace the relaxed vibe of a holiday and don’t worry about it.
3. Rewear
The easiest items to rewear are your jeans. I often travel with one pair of classic black jeans and I’ll wear them for everything, whether it’s evenings out or strolls around the city.
4. Take your skimpy undies
Now is the time to bring your skimpy undies out! When you’ve just got a small backpack every single item you pack matters. A padded bra takes up so much space compared to a lacey little bralette!
5. Plan your itinerary
It’s easier to pack when you know what you’re doing. If you don’t know what you’ll be doing you tend to panic pack and you’ll want to bring outfits for every possibility.
6. Decant your toiletries into tiny bottles (smaller than 100ml)
When you’re travelling with just hand luggage you need all your liquids to be in bottles 100ml or smaller. Many of us are used to this now but, actually, you could probably go smaller. 100ml is a lot and, for most of us, you won’t need that amount for a short trip.
Read more: How to travel with hand luggage liquids
I like to use small pouches for my liquids because I can squeeze any excess air out of them and make them even smaller. And for my liquid makeup I tend to use tiny 10ml pots.
I have this set of pouches and pots from Amazon.
- 【Leakproof & Waterproof】 These travel bottles adopt flat cap design, convenient to open and close, and the bottom of the pouch can stand up right on the table. Each travel pouch has a flip-top lid...
- 【100% Transparent】The travel containers for toiletries makes it easy to see the liquids inside and there are labelled sheets to help sort them. It can be quickly passed through airport security.
- 【Saving Space】Our portable pouches for liquid are lightweight, compact and foldable. The small size can be put into cosmetic bags or suitcases, saving your limited luggage space.
7. Wear your bulkiest items on the plane (you might be hot!)
Get your chunky jumpers and jeans on for the plane and save space in your bag. OK, you might be hot but at least you’ll fit everything in your bag!
8. Opt for thermals instead of bulky layers
While we’re talking about chunky jumpers, it’s much better to pack thinner, thermal layers than big jumpers as they take up a lot less space while keeping you just as warm.
9. Pack clothes with thin material
It’s not just your thermals that are thinner, you can find all sorts of clothes that are thin and great for travel.
Something like a satin slip skirt is amazing because it folds into a tiny parcel but can be such a versatile item to wear while you’re away.
10. Sneak things into your duty free bag
And finally…
If you’re really struggling you can sneak a few bits into your duty free bag! I do this all the time and no one has ever stopped me. It’s usually items I could wear if I really had to, such as jumpers or hats!
FAQs about travelling with just an underseat cabin bag
If you’re still a little unsure about travelling with just an underseat cabin bag, here are some frequently asked questions answered. If you have any more questions please do pop them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you asap.
Is it a good idea to use vacuum bags while travelling with small hand luggage?
Vacuum bags will definitely save a lot of space in your luggage. They compress all the air out of your clothes, leaving you with more room. This is especially convenient if it’s a winter trip and you have lots of bulky jumpers that can be full of trapped air.
So yes, it does save space but:
Vacuum bags will leave your clothes very creased and everything will need ironing when you arrive
Your bag can end up extremely heavy, possibly leading to damage to your bag (and even your back!)
Personally, I think it’s a good idea to use vacuum bags on your return journey when all your clothes are dirty anyway. You can just use it as a regular packing cube/luggage organiser on the way out.
Read more: Using vacuum sealed bags for travelling
What can I pack in an underseat bag?
You can’t take anything dangerous so nothing flammable, sharp or anything that could be considered a weapon.
I’d check on the website of the airports your flying from to find a full list of banned items.
Other things to note are:
Any liquids must be in a 100ml container or smaller
Liquids must then fit into a clear, plastic, resealable bag sized 20cm x 20cm or smaller
You can take safety/disposable razors.
Read more: Everything you need to know about taking razors in your hand luggage.
Can I take my hair straighteners in my hand luggage?
Is my underseat bag subject to a weight limit?
Usually there is no weight limit to your underseat bag.
How do I keep my underseat bag organised?
I recommend using packing cubes or organisation bags to stay organised. I tend to use lightly compressible packing cubes for my clothes. Sometimes I’ll use a different cube for each type of item (tops in one and bottoms in another) and sometimes I’ll put entire outfits into a packing cube together.
I’ll then have a tech pouch, a liquids bag and another kind of purse for all my bits and bobs.
BUT...if you're struggling for space then you'll usually find that having purses and pouches for everything takes up more space. Having all your bits and bobs tooked into the nooks and crannies of your bag feels disorganised but it does save space.
Where do I put my inflight entertainment like books and my iPad?
If your underseat bag is full of your clothes and travel essentials then you may find you’ve got not space for the things you’d normally put in your hand luggage.
If this is the case then I recommend making the most of your phone. Download apps like Netflix, Disney+, Audible, Kindle and loads of games and that’ll keep you entertained for the flight. Don’t forget to take some small earbuds too! I like the JBL earbuds, they’re so much better than airpods!