We are the midst of the Holiday season and while many people are traveling less due to Covid-19, there are those who are still willing to travel. TSA Checkpoint Travel Numbers for the first few days of December 2020 show airline travel has decreased 70% compared to last year. That still means that there are over 600,000 people traveling a day in December. That number will increase as we move closer to Christmas. Due to more individuals traveling this year as oppose to families, less people are checking in bags. The question is how do you know what size duffel bag to buy if you are only bringing a carry on?

Most airlines will allow you to use a duffel bag for carry-on so long as the width is 22” or less.  However, keep in mind if your duffel bag has side pockets, then your actual usable space in the main compartment will be less. For example, a duffel bag with the width of 25” and has side pockets will typically have only 21” of usable space in the main compartment. So, if you are traveling over the holidays for a short weekend stay and you are only bringing carry-on but you have a lot of stuff to bring, you will get more overall capacity from a duffel bag with no side pockets. The same applies to front pockets when dimensions of duffel bags are listed. Any side or front pockets will take away from internal compartment space.

There are also consequences for buying too big of a duffel bag if you intend on checking it in. If your duffel bag dimensions are too big, you may be hit with an oversize fee. Most airlines go by linear dimensions. The linear dimensions of a bag equal the sum of the height, width, and length of the duffel bag. American Airlines will hit you with a $200 fee if that bag has a linear dimension over 62” and if the same bag is also over 71lbs you will receive another $200 fee. They do no accept bags over 100lbs, and the fines are for traveling each way. So, unless you want to be hit with $800 in fees round trip, be sure to check with your airline for check-in and carry-on requirements.

Duffelbags.com carry-on choice: DFL1020 or DFL1022. If you are looking for a multi-purpose carry-on duffel bag, we recommend the DFL1020 or the DFL1022 (the only difference being one is 20” in width and the other 22”). Also known as the “TuffDuff”, this bag clear size requirements for carry-on bags. It also is made of 1200 Denier Polyester, which is double the industry standard for durability and gives you plenty of functionality with two side pockets, one large front pocket, and a hard bottom with feet.

Duffelbags.com check-in choice: DFL30. We recommend the DFL30. Also known as the “GrandCanyon Bag”. Made with 1200 Denier polyester and no side pockets, this duffel gives you ample storage room in the main compartment. With a linear dimension of 59” you should be clear of any oversize charge as well. However, if you need the extra space and do not mind paying the oversize charge, the DFL40 is bag for you. It has a whopping 14,400 cubic inches of space.

Duffelbags.com Holiday Travel Sale: Click “show now” on the sales banner for the Holiday Travel Sale and receive an extra 10% off select carry-on duffel bags by entering coupon code “travel”.