The Season’s Best Underseat Carry-Ons

See if this sounds familiar: You arrive at your airport gate five minutes after boarding has begun, and the passenger line already stretches the full length of the Jetway. You’re sitting in 18A, and while inching toward the plane door, you’re hoping that the overhead storage above your row is not stuffed to full capacity.

Here’s another scenario: Your carry-on is snugly tucked into the overhead, while you’re happily tucked into your window seat. The plane pushes back from the gate on time, but after 20 minutes on the taxiway, your flight has barely budged amid an endless procession of jets awaiting takeoff. That’s when you realize a much needed item remains in your carry-on—a phone charger, the headphones for the music that keeps you relaxed during the climb-out, the engrossing novel that would help pass the time, or any number of personal comforts. Suddenly that delay goes from annoying to agonizing, as it could be an hour or more before you can finally stand and retrieve what you need from the compartment above.

Apologies for the stress-inducing thoughts, but both circumstances are all too common in today’s air travel experience—and they can be solved with an underseat bag. Designed to maximize space while fitting under the seat in front of you, today’s underseat bags are stylish, compact and keep everything insanely handy. With a little planning and any of the five bags featured here, stressful preflight moments will become a distant memory.

Béis The Day Tripper

Béis The Day Tripper

Béis has introduced the aptly named Commuter Collection, and among the pieces is this Day Tripper tote, which is crafted of water-repellent nylon and as a soft-side piece easily can reside in your underseat storage. This oversized tote includes features such as an elastic pocket and a trolley pocket so it will sit securely above your checked bag as you’re rolling through the airport. But the best quality is the bottom compartment, the perfect spot for any items that might be useful while on the plane.
$128, at beistravel.com

Mark & Graham Terminal 1 Expandable Travel Tote

Mark & Graham Terminal 1 Expandable Travel Tote

The Expandable Travel Tote from Mark & Graham’s Terminal 1 collection is crafted from recycled polyester, perfect for anyone seeking a sustainable element. This gusseted piece should be packed with only the essentials to ensure it fits under the seat. That’s because the bottom section can be enlarged to add another six inches (save that to pack what you’ll collect on the trip, knowing it needs to go in the overhead when expanded). But its eight-inch height makes it suitable for underseat storage, while additional features include a cross-body strap and interior slip and zipper pockets. For a nominal fee, the bag can be embroidered with your favorite traveler’s initials.
$199 ($12.50 for monogram), at markandgraham.com

Briggs & Riley Wheeled Cabin Bag

Briggs & Riley Wheeled Cabin Bag

At 8.5 inches wide, this Wheeled Cabin Bag, which debuted as part of the Rhapsody collection from Briggs & Riley, should fit under most seats. Delta, for example, lists an underseat height of 9.06 inches in Comfort and coach classes, and 10.5 inches in First Class, on an Airbus A321, making this zippered piece a breezy no-brainer. The easy-access top opens to reveal tech pockets that line the interior, perfect to hold a phone, laptop (which slides into a padded sleeve) and other items, while shoes and a change of clothes fit comfortably in the center. In addition to a telescoping handle and 360-degree spinner wheels, another handy feature is the zip-front pocket for passport and other docs. It’s lined in orange nylon so you can easily discern whether the zip was inadvertently left open.
$419, at briggs-riley.com

Calpak Hue Mini

Calpak Hue Mini

For fans of hard cases and brilliant colors, the Calpak Mini from the brand’s popular Hue collection is a terrific choice. Seen here in Key Lime (a lavender Orchid tone and bright pink Dragonfruit are also available, as well as a variety of classic neutrals), the Hue Mini measures 16 inches in length by 14 inches wide and nine inches in height, enabling this polycarbonate roller to slide under most seats with ease. A zippered interior divider with pockets helps with organization. This piece also comes with a TSA-approved lock.
$165, at calpaktravel.com

Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port

Samsonite Spinner Underseater with USB Port

This spinner underseater is among the brand’s most popular pieces, not only for its compact size, but also because it includes a charging port above a side pocket. That pocket can accommodate everything from a phone charger to headphones. A front pocket fits a book or other must-haves, while an interior sleeve fits a laptop and an interior handles clothes and shoes. Also included are a telescoping handle and Samonsite’s SmartSleeve, to slip over a checked bag.
$145, at shop.samsonite.com