2 days ago
Traveling Ultralight: How to Pack a Personal Item
I once flew Spirit Airlines round-trip to Las Vegas from Chicago for less than $100. The catch: I could take only a personal item that would fit under the seat in front of me (or check a bag for a fee).
This lesson in ultralight flying won me over with convenience and the joy of being unburdened by a lot of extra stuff.
With the cheapest airfares come the tightest constraints, including limitations on complimentary carry-on luggage. Basic economy tickets on United and low-cost carriers such as Allegiant, Frontier and Spirit restrict ticket holders to a personal item.
Packing light is a challenge compounded by the personal-item limit. Provided you're not packing for business or special events or have children to consider, the following are ways to pare down your load, allowing you to take advantage of bargain fares.
The definition of a personal item varies. While most airlines agree it should fit under the seat in front of you, many don't specify dimensions.
Those that do list maximum sizes have slightly varying limits. For example, Spirit says the dimensions should not exceed 18 by 14 by 8 inches, the size of a typical daypack. United puts the measurement at 17 by 10 by 9 inches.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
