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Gone are the days where a carry on bag simply meant a small suitcase that you can wheel onto the plane and store in the overhead bin. Instead, especially when travelling short haul in Europe, you rarely get more than an underseat bag included in your fare for free, and even then you have to make sure it fits in the strict measurements for your specific airline. While it can be a headache to navigate these rules, the good news is that there are plenty of bags on the market that make life easier for you. Here are my top picks when it comes to the best underseat carry on bags for budget airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet.
How we choose the underseat cabin bags
Every bag on this list has been independently tested and reviewed by budget-travel expert Chelsea Dickenson of Cheap Holiday Expert, as well as our in-house editors. When testing these bags, we look for function, design features, quality and overall value for money.
- Best all rounder: Cabin Max Travel Bag
- Best for maximum packing space: Decathlon 20L Bag Essential
- Best for quality: Antler Chelsea Overnight Bag
- Best under seat suitcase: Flight Knight Lightweight 4 Wheel Suitcase
- Best under seat backpack: Lossga Backpack with USB Charging Port
Cabin Max Travel Bag
When I asked others for underseat carry on bag recommendations, the Cabin Max range was the response I heard numerous times. This makes sense when you realise that the company truly understands the plight of bargain hunting travellers and so have created a line where each backpack meets the exact maximum measurements for the specific airline that you’re flying. In addition, their bags feature multiple pockets (including one for a laptop and bottle), adjustable ‘packaway’ straps and air mesh padding. There’s a 3 year warranty too.
The only downside is that if you opt for a larger bag – say the easyJet size – it probably won’t fit in the baggage sizer for either Ryanair or Wizz Air. However, you could always opt for a Ryanair sized bag to make sure you’re sorted for all options in the future. Chelsea Dickenson
- Ryanair Size: 40 x 20 x 25cm – Fits on: Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet
- Wizz Air Size: 40 x 30 x 20cm – Fits on: Wizz Air and easyJet
- easyJet Size: 40 x 36 x 20cm – Fits on: easyJet
Decathlon 20L Bag Essential
You might have seen the ‘viral Ryanair bag’ doing the rounds on social media but I think this bag is better. For one, it’s cheaper at just £6.99, and the shoulder strap is going to make carrying this bag a lot easier than hauling around a bag by just its handles. Originally created as a gym bag to separate your workout gear from your shoes, the two compartments work just as well for travel. Plus, all Decathlon products come with a two-year warranty, so while it may not be the best quality bag, you’ll be covered for your next few trips at least. CD
- Size when folded: 23 x 20 x 10 cm
- Size unfolded: 40 x 23 x 20 cm
- Fits on: Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet
Antler Chelsea Overnight Bag
It might be called an overnight bag, but if you pack strategically Antler's Chelsea bag can easily work as a weekender bag. I travelled with it on a recent trip to Barcelona and was able to comfortably fit a weekend's worth of clothes and toiletries. Although if you need to pack extra shoes, there's room for a pair of flip flops but little more. If you're a frequent flyer, this is a worthy investment – in addition to numerous internal and external pockets and compartments, including a laptop sleeve and a water bottle pouch, it also has an over-handle sleeve, making it an ideal option to take on a long-haul flight. The bag is made in a durable water-resistant nylon and comes in nine different colour options, which of course match their Chelsea suitcase range. See our full Antler Chelsea overnight bag review for more. Lauren Burvill
- Size: 41.5 x 26 x 18cm
- Fits on: easyJet
Lossga Backpack with USB Charging Port
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from reviewing small cabin bags is that they can get surprisingly heavy if you fill them to the brim! If you'd prefer to avoid heavy shoulder straps, an underseat backpack is the better option. I can’t get over just how many features this pack from Lossga has, including multiple pockets, a laptop sleeve, compression straps, a 180 degree ‘clamshell’ opening, and even a USB port for you to connect your own portable battery pack to.
For the price, it looks good – the outer material has a shine to it which keeps it from looking too cheap. The inside material is less lux, but it’s practical nonetheless. Overall, it’s a fantastic bag for the price and one of my top picks. CD
- Size: 40 x 20 x 25 cm
- Fits on: Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet
Flight Knight Lightweight 4 Wheel Suitcase
If you hate the thought of hoisting a heavy bag along with you for your holiday; don’t worry. There are only a few hardshell suitcases that will fit the small underseat carry on bag allowance but they do exist. Like Cabin Max, Flight Knight are a company that have noticed a need for luggage that fits exact requirements and so you can opt for one of their suitcases which is the exact size for Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyjet.
The case has an anti-scratch water resistant outer shell and comes with a three-digit combination barrel padlock for added security. It also has a five-year warranty. If space is important to you, do note that the Ryanair sized suitcase is only 16L – meaning you miss out a huge 4L compared to many of the soft bags! However, what you lose in packing ability, you absolutely make up for in comfort and ease. CD
- Ryanair Size: 40 x 20 x 25cm – Fits on: Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet
- Wizz Air Size: 40 x 30 x 20cm – Fits on: Wizz Air and easyJet
- easyJet Size: 40 x 36 x 20cm – Fits on: easyJet
VMIKIV Underseat Carry On Bag
Most small carry on bags have quite a practical look to them, and yet this bag could easily pass as a casual day bag as well. I really liked that it was double lined, with several pockets on the inside and out, and I was surprised to find a padded laptop sleeve inside too – my 13” laptop fit in with plenty of room to spare. Other perks include the reinforced handles, a shoulder strap and a strap across the bag that allows you to slot your suitcase handle through it should you be travelling with that too.
The only drawback is that whilst it states it’s the same size as others, I couldn’t fit as much in as the other bags I tested. However, it’s a great option if you’re packing light and need a daily bag to carry your laptop around in too. CD
- Size: 40 x 20 x 25 cm
- Fits on: Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet
Lossga Convertible Cabin Bag
I think this bag is a great compromise between style and function. It looks good while having several pockets, a suitcase handle sleeve, reinforced handles, a shoulder strap and even one ‘wet pocket’ for storing damp items – perfect if you fancy one final dip in the pool before coming home.
However, the real standout feature of this bag is a little zip at the bottom that makes the bag even bigger. Try not to overfill the bag though, as it can get quite bulky in its bigger state which means you could struggle to fit it into the baggage sizer if asked. My top tip is to measure your bag once it’s full just to double check. CD
- Size: 40 x 20 x 25 cm
- Fits on: Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet
- Extended Size: 45 x 36 x 20 cm
- Fits on: easyJet - but don’t fill it to the brim!
Take Off Personal Item Suitcase
One of the major downsides of using a suitcase is that the wheels take up a lot of space, so what if there was a suitcase where you could detach the wheels?! This is exactly what Take Off have created, meaning that many travellers have already hoodwinked airline staff by quickly removing the wheels on their cases before being asked to prove its size. CD
- Size: 45.7 x 35.6 x 20.3 cm (18 x 14 x 8 inches)
- Fits on: The dimensions are a fraction of a cm over the allowance for easyJet (45 x 36 x 20 cm) however there is a photo on the Take Off website showing that it fits in the easyJet baggage sizer. I definitely wouldn’t overpack this case.
