Pauline wants to know exactly how much luggage she can take on board her next flight.
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Q. Pauline
I have noticed that people are getting away with bringing on more than one piece of carry-on luggage, claiming a second big bag as a personal item. I thought a personal item was something akin to a handbag. What is the difference between a personal item and carry-on luggage? How much can you take on-board with you on a flight?
A. Different airlines have different rules, but you are right that most allow one piece of carry-on luggage and one personal item.
The specifications for the bags allowable as carry-on luggage and as a personal item will differ between airlines and that may mean that you have to check luggage that was allowed on a different leg of your journey if you change airlines.
Carry-on bags are usually allowed to be larger than personal items. They have to fit in the overhead storage compartment and most airlines will apply a weight restriction. Although the size and weight restrictions will differ between airlines. The airlines will usually have a display outside the boarding gates so you can see if your luggage exceeds the size limits.
A personal item is normally another bag that is smaller than the allowed size for a carry-on item.
As you mention, handbags are a good example of a personal item, but this can also include laptop bags, backpacks and tote bags. It is not hard to find very large tote bags these days, which is definitely where you start to see people taking advantage of what they are allowed to take on board.
Personal items, though, are normally required to fit under the seat in front of you. Some airlines do have size limits for what will be considered a personal item, so it can be worth checking before you arrive at the airport.
Skyscanner.com.au has compiled the below table to show what different airlines allow.
| Airline | Allowance | Max Dimensions | Max Weight |
| AirAsia | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 56cm x 36cm x 23cm | 7kg |
| Air New Zealand | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | Sum of length, width and height must not measure more than a combined 118cm | 7kg |
| British Airways | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 56cm x 45cm x 25cm | 23kg |
| Cathay Pacific | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 56cm x 36cm x 23cm | 7kg |
| China Airlines | 1 cabin bag | 56cm x 36cm x 23cm | 7kg |
| Emirates | 1 cabin bag | 55cm x 38cm x 20cm | 7kg |
| Etihad Airways | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 50cm x 40cm x 25cm | 7kg |
| Fiji Airways | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 55cm x 40cm x 23cm | 7kg |
| Garuda Indonesia | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 56cm x 36cm x 23cm | 7kg |
| Japan Airlines | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 55cm x 40cm x 25cm | 10kg |
| Jetstar | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 55cm x 36cm x 23cm | 7kg |
| KLM | 1 cabin bag | 55cm x 35cm x 25cm | 12kg |
| Lufthansa | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 55cm x 40cm x 23cm | 8kg |
| Malaysia Airlines | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 55cm x 35cm x 25cm | 7kg |
| Qantas | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 48cm x 34cm x 23cm | 7kg |
| Qatar Airways | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 50cm x 37cm x 25cm | 7kg |
| Scoot | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 54cm x 38cm x 23cm | 7kg |
| Singapore Airlines | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | Sum of length, width and height must not measure more than a combined 115cm | 7kg |
| Thai Airways | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 56cm x 45cm x 25cm | 7kg |
| Tigerair | 2 bags | 54cm x 38cm x 23cm | 7kg |
| United | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 56cm x 35cm x 22cm | No limit |
| Virgin Australia | 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item | 48cm x 34cm x 23cm | 7kg |
What luggage do you take on-board with you when flying?
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