As you plan your next trip, you may want to bring along your favorite stylish shopping bag, but can you bring a shopping bag on a plane?
Yes, you can bring a shopping bag on a plane, but if it is large it will be counted as one of your carry-on items. Most airlines allow one standard carry-on and one personal item, so if you are carrying a shopping bag in addition to these, it may be rejected or need extra fees.
In this post I will cover eventing you need to know about taking shopping bags on planes, duty-free items, plastic bags, and when your shopping bag will be considered a personal item.
Let’s dive right in.
TL,DR
You can bring a shopping bag on a plane.
Duty-free shopping bags you purchase at the airport are usually allowed in addition to your carry-on and personal item and will not count toward your baggage allowance.
Regular shopping bags are also permitted, but some airlines may count them as a carry-on or personal item, especially on budget airlines.
If possible, place your shopping bag inside your carry-on to avoid any issues at the gate.
Avoid checking shopping bags on their own since they are not designed to withstand rough baggage handling.
Can You Bring a Shopping Bag Through TSA Airport Security?
Do not worry about these guys.
Generally, airport security does not have any issues with you taking a shopping bag, do only thing they care about is what is inside.
Here is a screenshot from the AskTSA team on X replying to Joe that, shopping bags are good to through the security checkpoint.
But there’s one thing to keep in mind.
Your airline cabin bag size limits and how many bags they allow on board.
Also if you have liquids inside your shopping bag.
You will need to limit the amount of liquids you bring through airport security, and pack them neatly.
And if you want to bring liquids that exceed the allowed amount, you can do some shopping after you pass the security checkpoint or place them in your checked luggage.
You can buy items and place them in your shopping bag without the hassle or questions from security agents.
If you are not sure what an airport duty-free bag is, here is a short definition:
Duty-free bags are shopping bags or plastic bags containing products purchased from airlines or airport retailers after the security checkpoint.
They are called duty-free shopping bags because taxes do not apply to those purchases.
Make sure that you always keep the receipts for items that you purchase from duty-free shops at any airport. You may be asked to show them by airline staff or when you arrive at your destination.
Can I Bring a Shopping Bag As a Carry-on Or As a Personal Item?
large black thank you shopping bags
Duty-free shopping bags can be transported on board airplanes without any issues.
But if you want to bring a shopping bag from home or outside the airport, such as grocery bags or other bags in general, there will be some rules.
In addition to a personal item, which is a small bag that can be placed under the seat in front of you, most airlines allow a carry-on bag.
Most airlines have a standard carry-on size, which is usually a 22-inch suitcase (like the Samsonite Omni above) that can be placed easily in the overhead compartment.
A shopping bag won’t be considered a carry-on unless it is too large, so even if you bring a suitcase, you will usually be allowed to bring an additional item, and it can be a shopping bag or any other small item.
But if it is a large shopping bag, most of the time the airline will count it as your personal item.
Here is some of the major airlines carry on luggage sizes:
Airline
Size
American Airlines
22 in x 14 in x 9 in (55 cm x 35 cm x 22 cm)
Delta Air Lines
22 x 14 x 9 in (55 cm x 35 cm x 22 cm)
Southwest Airlines
10 x 16 x 24 in (25 cm x 40 cm x 22 cm)
United Airlines
22 x 14 x 9 in (55 cm x 35 cm x 22 cm)
JetBlue
22 x 14 x 9 in (55 cm x 35 cm x 22 cm)
Alaska Airlines
22 x 14 x 9 in (55 cm x 35 cm x 22 cm)
Spirit Airlines
18 x 14 x 8 in (45 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm)
Frontier Airlines
24 x 10 x 16 in (60 cm x 25 cm x 50 cm)
Hawaiian Airlines
22 x 14 x 9 in (55 cm x 35 cm x 22 cm)
Allegiant Air
22 x 14 x 9 in (55 cm x 35 cm x 22 cm)
British Airways
22 x 18 x 10 in (55 cm x 35 cm x 22 cm)
Air Canada
9 x 15.5 x 21.5 in (22 cm x 39 cm x 54 cm)
You can find more about airlines luggage dimensions and weight here.
Some airlines do not have a specific size for their personal item, but they enforce that it should fit under the seat in front of you.
This is an example of a personal item backpack.
Width: 9 inches
Height: 17 inches
Length: 10 inches
As the United customer service answered Vanessa below “It is best to place a shopping bag inside a personal item bag or backpack”.
Can You Use Shopping Bags As Checked Luggage?
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com
I don’t think it is a good idea to check in a shopping bag or a plastic tote as long as it is small enough to be transported as carry-on luggage.
Shopping bags are not that sturdy. They can be opened easily or torn, and your items will be scattered everywhere, even when you think that you secured them perfectly.
But if you don’t have space in your carry-on or you are traveling with certain items that are not permitted in carry-on luggage, you can place your shopping bag inside your checked bag and check it in with your airline.
Just know that it is better to avoid sending any valuable items in checked luggage. There is a greater chance that they will be damaged or, in some cases, even lost.
Can You Bring a Plastic Bag On a Plane?
Just like a shopping bag, a plastic bag is also allowed and good to go on planes. It won’t be considered a carry-on bag on most airlines if you got it from duty-free shopping.
Otherwise, if it is not from duty-free shopping, it will be counted as a personal item on most airlines.
Just make sure it is an eco-friendly plastic bag.
Final Thoughts
Whether you want to bring some souvenirs from your destination or you just love to do some shopping before you board the airplane, you can bring a shopping bag on a plane on your next flight without any issues.
In general, duty-free bags won’t be counted as part of your carry-on or personal item allowance.
The only thing you should consider is the size of your shopping bag if you bring it from outside the airport. But if it is small, you are fine and do not need to worry about it.
It is always better to place any items that you bring from outside the airport inside your carry-on bag rather than carrying them in your hand, as some airlines may be strict about any additional item.
I hope this helps
Happy travels.
FAQ About Bringing a Shopping Bag on a Plane
Can a Shopping Bag Count as a Carry-On Bag?
If your shopping bag is large enough and fits within your airline’s carry-on size limits, you can use it as your carry-on bag. Just remember that it will count toward your baggage allowance like any other carry-on.
Can a Shopping Bag Count as a Personal Item?
A small shopping bag can count as your personal item if it fits under the seat in front of you. Many travelers use a shopping bag instead of a purse, tote bag, or small backpacks.
Can You Bring a Shopping Bag and a Carry-On on the Same Flight?
If the shopping bag contains duty-free items that you buy at the airport, most airlines will allow it in addition to your carry-on and personal item. For regular shopping bags, airline rules may differ.
Do Airport Shopping Bags Count as Carry-On Luggage?
In most cases, no. Airport shopping bags and duty-free bags are generally treated differently from regular luggage and are often allowed on board without counting toward your carry-on allowance.
Can You Bring Food Purchased at the Airport on a Plane?
You can bring food and drinks you buy after the security checkpoint onto the plane without any restrictions. Just make sure any items is within your airline and destination regulations if you are traveling internationally.
Can You Bring a Shopping Bag on an International Flight?
You can bring a shopping bag on international flights just like on domestic flights. However, some items inside the bag may be subject to customs restrictions when you arrive at your destination.
Do Budget Airlines Count Shopping Bags as Carry-On Luggage?
Sometimes. Budget airlines tend to be stricter about baggage rules, and a shopping bag may be counted as part of your carry-on or personal item allowance. It’s always a good idea to check your airline’s policy before flying.
What Happens If You Bring Too Many Bags on a Plane?
If you exceed your airline baggage allowance, you may be asked to combine your bags, check one of them, or pay an additional baggage fee. To avoid surprises, try to fit smaller shopping bags inside your carry-on before boarding.
Gargie, is writer, traveler & a digital marketing specialist
passionate about traveling and exploring new cultures. She is a savvy traveler who likes to pack light, testing various luggage brands and seeking out budget-friendly airline options. Gargie enjoys creating unique recipes when she’s not on the go.
