Carry-on luggage, from packing to your seat
Follow the whole cabin-baggage journey: check your ticket, prepare essentials, board and stow your bag. Start with the question you need now.
Where to Put Your Carry-On — and Why the Bin You Choose Matters
If you can, put your carry-on in the bin above your seat or slightly ahead of it, not behind you. It keeps your bag reachable when you land, instead of leaving you to fight the aisle or wait for it to clear.
Open the guide →Carry-On Checked at the Gate? What to Take Out First
Take out spare lithium batteries and power banks first. FAA rules require them to stay in the cabin when a carry-on is checked at the gate. Then remove what you need before baggage claim, such as medication, documents, phone and valuables, and ask where you will collect the bag.
Open the guide →Before You Board: Three Things That Make It Easier
Have your boarding pass open and your seat number ready, take your backpack off and carry it in front of you in the aisle, and use the bathroom in the terminal rather than during boarding.
Open the guide →Once You're Seated: Three Small Courtesies
Bring your seat upright while the person behind you is eating, don't take it personally when turbulence stops the hot drinks, and keep your seat belt loosely fastened whenever you're sitting.
Open the guide →Don't Lose Your Earbuds on the Plane
Take your earbuds out and put them back in their case before you fall asleep. If one does fall into the seat, tell a flight attendant instead of moving an electric seat around to look for it.
Open the guide →Understanding Airline Fare Classes
The booking-class letter ties your ticket to a set of rules. Read the fare rules before you pay: change fees, refunds, loyalty earning and upgrade eligibility can differ even within the same cabin.
Open the guide →
Your airline sets the size, weight and ticket allowance. The bag checker compares values you enter; these guides explain the practical steps. FlyingWith →