Everyone who has flown recently knows that overhead bins are extremely popular, so passengers typically board in a mad dash to get a spot for their carry-on bags. To alleviate this problem, the airline often makes announcements urging passengers to gate-check their bags. To sidestep the issue and retain your bags on board, an underseater is the way to go.
Underseat luggage is available in a wide range of styles, specifically those that can fit under the seat in front of you on an airplane or train. It includes compact suitcases with hard or soft sides, backpacks, totes, briefcases, and more. You can save money on carry-on or checked bag costs and have all of your belongings close at hand because these bags are considered personal items by most airlines, depending on their luggage size limits.
Experts in travel and editors at U.S. News have done the legwork for you and shared their top picks for carry-on luggage that fits under the front seat to help you narrow down your choices.
7 Top Underseat Luggage of 2024
What makes it different is that the cube-shaped polycarbonate design has a small but roomy interior that can hold clothes and other needs for three to five days. There is a buttoned divider inside that keeps the things inside in place, and there are several pockets for smaller items. The bag has a TSA-approved lock, spinning wheels, and a handle that can be pulled back. To make it easy to move, the bag has handles on the top and sides. You can use these to pull the bag out from under the seat or put it in an overhead bin.
This is the bag I use for short trips when I’m not taking my laptop. This underseater slides easily under the seat, so I don’t have to try to fit it in the overhead bin, which saves me money on baggage fees. The poppy (coral) color is what I have, and I love it so much! With compression cubes, I can fit enough clothes for six days in this bag. It’s easy to move around on moving streets, walkways, and airports, even when it’s full. Even though the handle doesn’t feel very strong, I can easily roll another packed bag.
- Dimensions: 16 x 14 x 9 inches
- Weight: 6 pounds
- Colors: Seven options, including coral, cream and brown
- Hard- or soft-sided: Hard-sided
- Warranty: Limited two-year
- Price: $165 or less
This standout carry-on bag can be used as both a daypack and an underseater. In addition to two side mesh pockets for a water bottle and umbrella, it has several zippered compartments to keep things safe and ordered. It’s made of a lightweight fabric material that won’t tear or get wet, and it comes in different colors, like orange or green. Additionally, the packable backpack can be folded into a small pouch and placed in either a carry-on or checked bag. This makes it perfect for hiding in your bag and using as an under seater on the way home to store all the things you bought on your trip.
U.S. News & World Report Travel managing editor Erin Evans says, “The ZOMAKE backpack is a small carry-on option that fits easily under a plane seat.” “I’ve had two of these backpacks (in two different colors) for years – they last, they’re affordable, they’re versatile and they can fit a surprising amount of stuff.”
- Dimensions: 13 x 19 x 7 inches
- Weight: 0.74 pounds
- Colors: 12 options, including red and yellow
- Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided
- Warranty: 90 days
- Price: $21.99 or less
What makes it unique: This bag has everything you need for a real office on the go. There is a laptop sleeve and mesh pockets for work items in the front compartment. Outside zip pockets hold cellphones, writing tools, and other things you might need for meetings while you’re on the go. The way it’s made means you can get all of your work stuff out without having to go into the main compartment, which is where clothes and other personal things can be kept.
Inside, there are two compression straps, a mesh zip pocket, a slip pocket for a USB battery pack (sold separately), and a lining that can be taken off and cleaned. It has a lock to keep the items inside safe and a trolley sleeve to connect it to a regular carry-on.
Travelers like: People who commute like this bag because it can hold clothes for two to three days, a laptop, and other work-related items. The briefcase’s two wheels make it easy to slide under an airplane seat, but some people think it would be better if it had four spinning wheels instead. Many people say it’s their go-to travel bag because it’s so easy to use and organize.
- Dimensions: 14 x 17 x 9 inches
- Weight: 6.49 pounds
- Colors: Black, botanical paisley, and enchanted mandala blue
- Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided
- Warranty: Limited five-year
- Price: $200 or less
What makes it unique is that the outside is made of water-resistant polyester and the inside is lined with cloth made from recycled plastic bottles. The inside compartment can hold clothes and other necessities for a short work trip or a weekend trip. The front panel opens to show a mesh pocket for smaller items that you can get to quickly. An internal breakaway snap helps keep the flap in place so you don’t spill the whole bag’s contents on the airport floor. There’s also a zippered pocket on the front for your phone and flight pass, and a strap on the back to attach it to a bigger rolling bag.
Travelers like: One thing that travelers like about this bag is the handle, which is both light and strong. They also like how well it’s put together, how it can fit in the overhead bin on smaller planes (because it’s too big to fit under the seat), and how well the wheels work.
- Dimensions: 16.25 x 15.5 x 8.5 inches
- Weight: 5.4 pounds
- Color: Black
- Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided
- Warranty: Limited lifetime
- Price: $129.99 or less
What makes it unique: This carry-on bag is unique because it has spinning wheels and a charging port built right in. The inside compartment is made to fit under most airplane seats and has mesh pockets, a laptop and tablet sleeve, and enough room for one to two days’ worth of clothes. A zippered pocket on the outside with organization tools, a zippered pocket on the side with access to a charging port (personal charging device not included), and a bag trolley sleeve are some of the other features.
“I’m a big fan of how durable the Samsonite underseater is,” says James Smith, founder of Travel-Lingual. “I’ve spent a ton of time on the road, so I know how important it is to have a dependable bag.” The bag is made to last, and even though it doesn’t have a separate space for a laptop, the laptop sleeve works well for trips.
“The Samsonite wheeled underseater stands out as my top recommendation because it gives you the best of both worlds,” says Andre Robles, general manager at Voyagers Travel Specialists. He also says that the bag can be used for both work and pleasure trips, fits well under the seat, and makes it easy to get to your things while you’re traveling.
- Dimensions: 13.8 x 16.5 x 9 inches
- Weight: 5.6 pounds
- Colors: Black, blue or purple
- Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided |
- Warranty: Limited three-year
- Price: $145 or less
One thing that makes it unique is that this under seater can be expanded to a 22-inch carry-on size, which is great for making room for your trip gifts. This carry-on has a sturdy, water-resistant build and a four-wheel spinner base with a metal trolley handle that can be folded up. When not expanded, it fits under an airplane seat.
Inside, there is a padded laptop sleeve that fits devices up to 13.5 inches, two mesh open pockets, and elastic tie-down straps. The outside has four open pockets, two on each side, to help you keep things organized. These make it easy to find small items you need. You can close the zipper inside the expanded section to make two separate compartments, or you can leave it open to make one bigger packing space.
Travelers like: People who own this 2-in-1 style love how it can be expanded. They also like that the bag is strong, doesn’t weigh much, and is easy to store under the seat or in the overhead bin when it’s bigger.
- Dimensions: 15 x 14.5 x 7 inches; 22 x 14.5 x 7 when extended
- Weight: 5.5 pounds
- Colors: Black, gray or purple
- Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided
- Warranty: Limited five-year
- Price: $254.99 or less
Differentiating factors: This compact carry-on bag is built with lightweight, matte-finish polyester fabric and boasts unique organizing features that set it apart. An internal padded laptop sleeve (supporting laptops up to 13 inches in screen size), a mesh slip pocket, a detachable mesh zipper pocket, and two more little zipper pockets make up the roomy compartment.
An external zipped pocket is perfect for storing reading materials or other papers, while an additional zippered pocket on the side is perfect for stowing a phone cord, writing implements, earphones, or any other little things you might need to access while in flight. This under-seater may be connected to a larger carry-on or a checked rolling bag once you get there thanks to the trolley sleeve.
Professional assessment: Two outer zipped compartments are perfect for storing little goods that I wish to have easy access to when traveling, and the design nuances, such as the fashionable appearance, are appreciated. I appreciate the bag’s laptop sleeve and how easily it slides under the seat in front of me. It’s perfect for short business trips or when I’m traveling and intend to work remotely. Despite its small stature, it can hold enough clothes for two or three days (or more with compression packing cubes) and is easy to maneuver on a variety of surfaces at airports and hotels.
- Dimensions: 16 x 14.5 x 9 inches
- Weight: 5.1 pounds
- Colors: Oatmeal, chocolate and rose quartz
- Hard- or soft-sided: Soft-sided
- Warranty: Limited two-year
- Price: $165 or less
FAQ’s
Q1. What makes these underseat luggage options the best in 2024?
The following underseat luggage choices were chosen because they are small, durable, useful, and have good reviews from users. Because they fit under airline seats, they are perfect for tourists who want easy carry-on options.
Q2. How do I know if a specific underseat luggage will fit under the seat on my flight?
Most underseat gear is made to fit under regular airplane seats. However, it's always a good idea to check the manufacturer's measurements and see if they match the carry-on size limits set by your flight.
Q3. Are these underseat bags suitable for business travel?
Yes, definitely! Many of these choices are made with business travelers in mind, with compartments just for laptops, tablets, and other workplace essentials. When workers are on the go, they're a stylish and useful option.
