The 8 Best Underseat Luggage of 2024

When you’re flying, there’s often a rush to board to get your carry-on bag a slot in the coveted overhead bins – as well as multiple announcements asking travelers to gate-check their bag to help reduce the amount of luggage in the overhead space. Some airlines even charge an additional fee if you want to bring a carry-on bag. To avoid these problems and keep your luggage with you, an underseater is an ideal option.

Designed to stow neatly under the seat in front of you on a plane or train, underseat luggage comes in a variety of styles, including hard– and soft-sided mini suitcases, backpacks, totes, and briefcases. What’s more, depending on airline luggage size requirements, these bags are considered a personal item with most airlines, so you’ll save on bag fees and have continuous access to everything you pack in your carry-on bag.

U.S. News editors researched dozens of review sites, including Amazon, online retailers, travel industry review sites and more, to come up with this selection of the best underseat luggage.

(Note: Prices and availability were accurate at the time of publication; they may fluctuate due to demand or other factors. Dimensions are listed in order of length by height by width.)

What sets it apart: Lightweight and constructed with a matte-finish polyester fabric, this small carry-on suitcase has organizational features that make it stand out from the rest. The spacious interior compartment includes a padded laptop sleeve (which holds up to a 13-inch laptop), a mesh slip pocket, a removable mesh zipper pocket and two additional small zipper pockets.

On the outside, there’s a large front zip pocket for reading material or other documents, and a side zippered pocket ideal for a phone cord, writing utensils, earbuds or other small items you may want to reach midflight. The trolley sleeve allows you to attach this underseater to a larger carry-on or a checked rolling bag once you reach your destination.

Expert review: “I love the stylish appearance of this particular design, along with the thoughtful design details like the two exterior zippered compartments, which are great for small items I want to reach easily while traveling,” says Rachael Hood, senior editor at U.S. News Travel. “It is easy to slide under the seat in front of me, and I also really like this bag’s laptop sleeve, as it is especially useful for a quick business trip or when I’m traveling and planning to work remotely. Despite its compact size, it can comfortably fit 2-3 days of clothing (even more if I use compression packing cubes), and it handles well in airports and hotels on multiple types of surfaces.”

What sets it apart: This carry-on backpack works as both an underseater and a daypack. It has multiple zippered compartments to keep things organized and secure, including two side mesh pockets for a water bottle and umbrella. Constructed with a lightweight nylon resistant to tears and water, this bag comes in a variety of colors such as orange or green. What’s more, the packable backpack can also be folded up into a small pouch and put into a carry-on or checked bag, so it’s perfect to stow in your bag to use as an underseater on the way home for all of finds you purchased on your journey.

Expert review: “The ZOMAKE backpack is a compact carry-on option that easily fits under a plane seat,” says Erin Evans, managing editor at U.S. News Travel. “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.”

What sets it apart: For a true office-on-the-go setup, this bag checks the boxes. The front compartment has a laptop sleeve and mesh pockets for work essentials. There are exterior zip pockets for earbuds, writing utensils and other meetings-in-transit needs. Given the design, you can take out all your belongings for work without going into the main compartment, where clothing and personal items can be stowed.

The inside has a removable lining for cleaning, two compression straps, a mesh zip pocket and a slip pocket for a USB battery pack (sold separately). There’s a lock to keep contents secure and a trolley sleeve to attach the underseater to a full-size carry-on.

Travelers appreciate: Commuters like this bag because they can fit clothing for two to three days along with a laptop and other work necessities. The two wheels help the briefcase easily glide under the seat on an airplane, though some note it would be nice if the bag had four spinner wheels instead. Many note it is a go-to bag for travel because of its organizational features and ease of use.

What sets it apart: This bag is constructed of a water-resistant polyester exterior and lined with a fabric made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. The interior compartment has space for clothing and essentials for a quick overnight business trip or a weekend getaway. For quick access, the front panel opens to reveal a mesh pocket for smaller items; an internal breakaway snap feature helps keep the flap secure, so you don’t spill all of the bag’s contents onto the airport floor. There’s also a front zippered compartment for electronics and your boarding pass, along with a back trolley strap to secure it to a larger rolling bag.

Travelers appreciate: The lightweight yet sturdy handle is one of the features travelers like about this bag. They also appreciate its sturdy construction, its ability to fit in the overhead bin on smaller planes (where it is too large to go under the seat), and the high-performance wheels.

What sets it apart: The spinner wheels and integrated charging port really set this carry-on bag apart. Designed to fit under most airline seats, the interior compartment has space for one to two days’ worth of clothing, a laptop and tablet sleeve, and mesh pockets. Other features include a zippered exterior pocket with organizational features, a side zippered pocket with charging port access (personal charging device not included) and a luggage trolley sleeve.

Expert review: “I’m a big fan of the durability of the Samsonite underseater,” 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.” He says the bag is built to last and that, while it doesn’t have a dedicated laptop compartment, the laptop sleeve works well for travel.

Andre Robles, general manager at Voyagers Travel Specialists, says, “The Samsonite wheeled underseater stands out as my top recommendation due to its winning combination of style and practicality.” He adds that the bag is versatile for business and leisure travel, fits well under the seat, and provides easy access to your belongings during the journey.

What sets it apart: If you’re looking for versatility, this underseater folds into a 15 x 9 x 4-inch pouch and can expand to a 21-inch carry-on size – perfect for creating space to bring those souvenirs home from your trip. Featuring a durable and water-resistant construction on a four-wheel spinner base, this underseater has an adjustable cushioned handle to pull or carry the bag over your shoulder.

The interior compartment has two mesh zip pockets and includes an extra-deep packing cube. There are three exterior pockets for small travel essentials like your earbuds, boarding pass and reading material. The bag can be stowed under the airplane seat when not expanded, or placed in the overhead bin if you choose to fully expand the suitcase.

Travelers appreciate: Owners of this 2-in-1 style rave about the expandability options, as well as the ability to fold down for easy storage when not traveling. They also appreciate that the bag is lightweight and durable, with the capacity to hold a lot of items for its size.

What sets it apart: This cube-shaped polycarbonate design offers a compact yet spacious interior space for three to five days of clothing and necessities. The zippered interior divider keeps the contents in place, and there are multiple pockets for smaller items. The bag also has a built-in TSA-accepted lock, spinner wheels and a retractable handle. For easy maneuverability, there are top and side handles to pull the bag out from under the seat or to place in an overhead bin.

Expert review: “If I’m not taking my laptop, this bag is my go-to for quick trips. Since I have lifting restrictions, this underseater glides easily under the seat, so I don’t have to try to get it in the overhead bin (which also saves on baggage fees),” Hood says. “I have the poppy (coral) color, and I absolutely adore it! I use compression cubes to fit up to six days of clothing inside this bag, and even when fully packed it glides along moving walkways, sidewalks and airports like a charm. While the handle doesn’t feel extremely strong, I’m able to trolley another packed tote with no problem.”

What sets it apart: Compact and smartly designed, this underseater has two exterior zippered pockets for easy access to earbuds, reading material or your boarding pass. The interior has a removable clear zippered bag for TSA-compliant toiletries, plus two additional zippered compartments for smaller travel items. For easy access, there’s a side slide pocket with a built-in port for a USB charger (sold separately) to charge your phone on the go. It also has a trolley sleeve so it can be used as a personal item in addition to a rolling carry-on bag.

Travelers appreciate: Given its compact design, buyers of this bag like that it fits more than it appears it would hold. They also appreciate that it fits under the seats of even small planes where overhead bins are extremely small. Most note that it is extremely well constructed for the price.

Rachael Hood rarely checks a bag and likes to have her suitcase within reach while in flight. She has traveled extensively with the CALPAK Luka Soft-sided Mini and the Hue Mini, both of which she likes to maximize the interior space with compression packing cubes. To curate this list, she used her personal experience, research and retail merchandising background.