Have you ever flown Alaska Airlines? If you’re curious about what the carrier’s policies are regarding luggage, read on for information about passenger luggage size restrictions for carry-on and personal items. For your questions in this regard, I will cover as many of them as I can in this article here, and offer you links to additional relevant information.
Let me fill you in on Alaska Airlines’ current rules and regulations and then answer common questions I hear about them.
If you need new carry-on bags, take a look at these Alaska Airlines-compliant ones:
This great carry-on bag is for travelers that want to get the best value out of their luggage investment.
This Travel Pro bag could end up being the last carry-on bag you ever purchase!
How Strict is Alaska Airlines With Its Carry-on Luggage Policy?
Alaska Airlines maintains that the carry-on bag size limit for its passengers has been changed to 22” x 14” x 9′,’ including the wheels and handles. The airlines recommends carefully measuring your carry-on before you fly. In addition to your one carry-on bag , you’ll also be allowed one personal item such as a purse, briefcase, backpack, diaper bag, or laptop bag.
Alaska Airlines, like other airlines, implements its own policies, taking into account Travel Safety Administration (TSA) requirements. Note that Alaska Airlines is considered fairly strict in regard to carry-on/personal items brought on board its flights. If your luggage is deemed to be “oversize,” you could very well have to pay additional check-in fees at your boarding gate.
Carry-on luggage items have size restrictions, but not weight restrictions, and are typically stowed in the luggage bins overhead of passenger seats. Personal items typically are stowed underneath the seat of each passenger, though they may need to go in the overhead bin, as well.
Alaska Airlines’ Carry-on Baggage Policy
Including handles and wheels, your carry-on luggage on Alaska Airlines flights are not to exceed:
22” l x 14” w x 9” h (56 x 36 x 23 cm), or less
Carry-on items any larger than these dimensions will need to be checked, even if at the gate during boarding.
Take some preemptive cautionary steps beforehand and invest in some Alaskan-compliant carry-on luggage, so that you can travel calmly.
How Can I Measure My Carry-on Bag to Make Sure It Fits on an Alaskan Airlines Flight?
To help you verify your baggage conforms with Alaska Airlines carry-on size restrictions, the carrier recommends taking note of bag sizers at airport locations that feature its required 22″ x 14″ x 9″ dimensions.
It’s also a good idea to measure your carry-on bag before you leave for the airport, to ensure that your entire bag, along with the wheels and handles, measures 22″ x 14″ x 9″ or less.
It’s important to remember that the three dimensional measurements together – length + height + width – cannot add up to more than 45 linear inches/114 linear cm. If you happen to be traveling with a soft-sided or expandable suitcase, you may want to measure your carry-on again after it’s packed it, to ensure it still complies.
Recommended: How Strict Is EasyJet With Carry-On & Personal Item Size?
My Alaska-compliant Luggage Recommendations
Would you like to know what carry-on luggage I would recommend for flying with Alaska Airlines? I personally recommend the following Alaska-compliant carry-on luggage bags because of the carrier’s strictness with its luggage policies.
This is a great carry-on bag for travelers that want to get the great value out of their travel baggage investment.
This Travel Pro bag is one you’ll fall in love with, and it may be the last carry-on bag you’ll ever purchase!
Alaska Airlines’ Carry-on Luggage Allowance
Alaska Airlines passengers are allowed to bring one carry-on item and one personal item on board its flights.
If your carry-on bag has been deemed to be in excess of baggage dimension requirements (it should be able to fit in an overhead luggage bin or underneath the seat in front of you), there’s a good chance you’ll have to check it for a fee (oversize bags incur a $100 checked bag fee, and overweight bags (>50 lbs/23 kg) also incur a $100 fee).
Bringing Carry-on Liquid Items Onto Alaska Airlines Flights
You are allowed to bring liquid items onboard Alaska Airlines flights in accordance with TSA regulations, as long as they make it through TSA security checkpoints.
Liquid items in question include your toiletries and all other liquids and creams you may want to pack along. The TSA allows containers/bottles with no more than 3.4 fl. oz. / 100 fl. ml.
These liquid toiletries/items also need to be packed neatly into a re-sealable clear Ziploc-style plastic baggie, like these gallon size baggies. Your baggie can’t be any larger than 7.8 x 7.8 inches (20 x 20 centimeters).
You’ll find plenty more information here on our TravelontheFly site about what items you are and aren’t allowed to bring on a plane with you.
You may also want to verify these requirements with the TSA’s website.
How Strict Is Alaska Airlines With Your Carry-on Size?
You shouldn’t have to worry about anything, as long as your item(s) fit in the overhead bin above you or underneath the seat in front of you.
To make your flight as worry-free as possible I’d suggest complying with the carrier’s policies. If you need a new carry-on bag that will fit Alaska’s (and other carriers’) guidelines, get this bag and don’t have to worry about it ever again.
How Strict Is Alaska Airlines With Your Carry-on Baggage Weight?
Most airlines, including Alaska Airlines are not concerned with carry-on/personal item weight. You should only be concerned with spaces in the cabin where carry-on items should be able to be stowed comfortably. Meeting the size dimensions of your carry-on bags I mentioned above should cover all your bases.
Should I Risk Flying on Alaska Airlines With an Oversized Carry-on?
Most individuals who fly frequently will likely ask you, “Why risk it?” And I would have to agree with them. But know that if your bag is only slightly larger than Alaska Airlines’ specified size dimensions, you’ll likely be OK. Worst-case scenario if your carry-on is too large, is that you will have to check your bag at the gate, but then you can be charged $100 for checking an oversized bag and possibly $100 for checking an overweight bag.
PRO TIP – You have a better chance of getting away with a slightly larger piece of luggage if your carry-on is soft-sided. That‘s why I have highlighted and pointed you toward soft-sided bags like this one here. They are a little easier to squeeze into tight spots, including into the overhead bins on a plane!
Alaska Airlines Checked Baggage Fees
The first checked bag fee for Alaska Airlines flights is $30, and $40 for the 2nd one.
There are some exceptions to this fee, including for medical equipment, strollers, packaged pineapples coming back from Honolulu, etc.
I travel with a bag that is slightly larger than many airline regulations and I have never been asked to check it. I can’t guarantee that you won’t be asked to.
Your best bet is to travel with baggage that is within Alaska Airlines’ size regulations, and then you will never have to worry about it!
You can read more about Alaska Airlines’ checked bag policies here, as you’re preparing for a specific upcoming flight.
Where Can I Find a Quality Travel Bag That’s Within Alaska Airlines’ Carry-on Luggage Limits?
I recommend this great carry-on bag that is a great value for the money.
And this Travel Pro bag is more than enough for even the pickiest travelers.
How Strict Is Alaska Airlines With Its “One Personal Item” Policy?
Alaska Airlines is considered to be one of the stricter airlines in operation today in regard to baggage sizes and weights. One small personal item is allowed per passenger (e.g., purse, handbag, briefcase, laptop bag, backpack, and medically necessary items). As long as your personal item can easily be carried and stored underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead luggage bin, Alaska Airlines representatives probably won’t ask to verify its size.
Alaska Airlines’ Personal Item Policy
Your personal item ( e.g., purse, shoulder bag, backpack, diaper bag, etc.) must fit under the seat in front of you, and dimensions should not exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches (53 x 36 x 23 cm). Read more about personal items on Alaska Airlines flights here.
Carrying Additional Items Onto Alaska Airlines Flights
In addition to your carry-on bag and personal item onboard Alaska Airlines flights, you are also allowed to bring small items, such as a jacket/sweatshirt, blanket, umbrella, book, duty-free items, a reasonably sized stuffed animal, food/drink purchased past the security checkpoint, crutches, strollers, camera, etc. These won’t count as personal items, unless they’re larger things that take up space overhead or underneath a seat, like purses, shoulder bags, backpacks, briefcases, large camera cases, etc.
Is the First Checked Bag Free on Alaska Airlines Flights?
Alaska Airlines charges $30 USD for the first checked bag, and $40 for the 2nd bag. Overweight (>50 lbs/23 kg) and oversize bags are assessed an additional fee of $100.
Exceptions to checked baggage fee charges include: Strollers and car seats when traveling with infants or children. One packaged box of pineapple from Hawaii to anywhere in the US from Honolulu, mobility aids and medical assistive devices, and wine (Mileage Plan™ members only).
So, How Strict is Alaska Airlines About Carry-on and Personal Items?
Alaska Airlines passengers are allowed to take one carry-on bag and one personal item on board its flights, in accordance with TSA regulations. Both of these items should be able to fit in an overhead luggage bin, or one of them should be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you. Invest in carry-on baggage that complies with Alaskan Airlines’ regulations, like this one.
In case you choose to take this risk with Alaska Airlines by bringing a larger bag, be sure to at least use a soft-sided bag so you’ll be able to better navigate it into a tight space.
If your carry-on or personal item is deemed to be “oversized,” you could be charged a bag check-in fee at your boarding gate ($100 for oversized bags and $100 for overweight bags).
