Alaska Airlines
Alaska personal item
Exact Alaska Airlines personal item size with official sources. Last verified 2026-09-10.
Quick answer
Alaska’s personal item must fit under the seat. The airline publishes no L×W×H inches or cm — official examples only (purse, briefcase, laptop bag/computer). It is free with 1 carry-on on every fare including Saver. Medically necessary items are also allowed per the carry-on page. Do not invent dimensions from United, JetBlue, or Frontier and call them Alaska’s.
Last verified
Table
| Field | Alaska published value |
|---|---|
| Max dimensions (in) | Not published — must fit under the seat (do not invent L×W×H) |
| Max dimensions (cm) | Not published; check Alaska if a numeric limit appears later |
| Placement | Under the seat (not overhead) |
| Cost | Free — all fares (incl. Saver / Main / First), plus free carry-on |
| Weight | None published for personal item |
| If oversized | May not qualify as personal item; could count as your carry-on or need to check — no invented Alaska gate $ (United BE $75 is not Alaska) |
| Carry-on contrast | 22 × 14 × 9 in / 45 linear; cm not published; free all fares → carry-on size |
| Allowed examples | Purse, briefcase, laptop bag/computer (official examples only) |
| Saver interaction | Saver = personal item + carry-on both free · Group F boarding = bin risk for carry-on |
| Sizer strictness | Under-seat fit; airport bag sizers apply to carry-ons at 22×14×9 — personal item has no published sizer dims |
| Peer contrast | United 9 × 10 × 17 in; JetBlue 17 × 13 × 8 in; Frontier 18 × 14 × 8 in — Alaska does not match those as official |
Free vs paid
Personal item: always free if it fits under the seat.
Full carry-on: also free on all fares including Saver — unlike United Basic Economy on most domestic routes (personal-item only).
Checked: paid domestically ($45 / $55 on tickets ≥ Apr 10, 2026 for 1st/2nd) unless a waiver applies — details on Alaska baggage fees; don’t duplicate full fee tables here.
Medically necessary items: free per the carry-on page — brief allowance; not a second personal item.
Gotchas
- No published L×W×H — blogs that list exact Alaska personal-item inches are often copying United / JetBlue / Frontier; call that out.
- Soft bags that don’t fit under the seat may be refused as a personal item.
- Saver Group F: carry-on still free but bins may fill late — the personal item is the reliable cabin bag.
- Do not cite United’s $75 gate fee for a failed personal item as an Alaska rule.
- Carry-on dims (22 × 14 × 9 / 45 linear) are not the personal-item limit.
- Official carry-on cm also not published — don’t invent either.
Avoid fees
- Choose a slim under-seat bag; measure packed, not empty marketing size.
- On Saver (Group F), pack essentials in the under-seat bag in case the carry-on is gate-checked.
- Use the free carry-on on Main / First when you need more space (still free on Saver too).
- For checked fees, stay on the baggage fees sibling — no Amazon fee framing.
Bags that fit
Soft picks for under-seat / Alaska personal-item use. Prefer non-expanding backpacks and totes designed to fit under most airline seats. Do not claim official Alaska dimensions on product cards — Alaska publishes no L×W×H. Measure your packed bag against the under-seat space on your aircraft.
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AmazonCard — Under-seat backpack for Alaska
Daypack or personal-item backpack marketed for airline under-seat use. Confirm it fits under the seat when packed — Alaska lists laptop bag / computer-style items as examples and does not publish official inches. Especially useful on Saver (Group F) when overhead fills late.
AmazonCard — Slim personal-item tote / laptop bag
Structured tote or slim laptop shoulder bag aimed at under-seat fit. Matches Alaska’s official example list (purse / briefcase / laptop bag) without inventing a size limit. Prefer non-expanding designs.
When a dedicated BagRule guide goes live, start at /guides/best-personal-item-bag/ — until then, buy for under-seat fit and verify yourself.
FAQ
What is the Alaska Airlines personal item size?
Alaska does not publish exact L×W×H. The personal item must fit under the seat. Official examples: purse, briefcase, laptop bag/computer.
Is a personal item free on Alaska Saver?
Yes — Saver includes one free personal item and one free carry-on (unlike United Basic Economy on most routes). Saver boards Group F.
What if my personal item doesn’t fit under the Alaska seat?
It may not count as a personal item and could need to go in the overhead (as your carry-on) or be checked. Alaska does not publish a United-style $75 personal-item gate fee — don’t invent one.
Does Alaska allow a backpack as a personal item?
Yes if it fits under the seat when packed — Alaska lists laptop bag / computer-style items as examples; don’t invent a backpack size limit.
What’s the difference between Alaska personal item and carry-on?
Personal: under seat, no published L×W×H, free. Carry-on: 22 × 14 × 9 in / 45 linear, overhead, also free on all fares including Saver. Full carry-on detail: Alaska carry-on size.
How does Alaska’s personal item compare to United, JetBlue, or Frontier?
United publishes 9 × 10 × 17 in; JetBlue 17 × 13 × 8 in; Frontier 18 × 14 × 8 in. Alaska is under-seat only with examples — link siblings; don’t paste peer dims as Alaska’s.
Related
Disclaimer
Confirm sizes and fees on alaskaair.com before travel. BagRule is not affiliated with Alaska Airlines.