Air Canada allows a free personal item up to 17 x 13 x 6 in, under the seat in front of you. Put your own bag's measurements in below.
| Personal item maximum | 17 x 13 x 6 in (under the seat in front) |
| Is it free? | Yes — every fare includes one personal item |
| Full-size carry-on | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in (also included) |
| If it does not fit | Gate-checked for a $65 CAD/USD fee. |
Air Canada calls it a personal article; published as 6 x 13 x 17 in (16 x 33 x 43 cm).
At 17 x 13 x 6 in it holds roughly 1326 cubic inches, about 44% of the volume of Air Canada's own 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in carry-on. That is larger than 7 of the 16 other airlines that publish a figure, and smaller than 9.
Worth knowing: 6 of the 23 airlines we track publish no personal-item measurement at all, so a bag chosen against Air Canada's stated 17 x 13 x 6 in is being measured against a firmer rule than most carriers give you.
Common small bags measured against Air Canada's published 17 x 13 x 6 in limit.
| Bag | Size | On Air Canada | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-inch laptop bag | 15 × 11 × 4 in | Fits, 2 in spare | A slim work bag |
| Small daypack | 17 × 12 × 7 in | Too big by 1 in | The commonest personal item |
| Weekender tote | 20 × 13 × 9 in | Too big by 3 in | Often too big for under the seat |
| Compact backpack | 16 × 11 × 6 in | Only just — 0 in spare | Fits almost anywhere |
Both bags are included in the fare on Air Canada, so the personal item is an addition to your 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in carry-on rather than a replacement for it. The two limits are judged separately — a bag that is too big for under the seat may still be fine overhead.
Air Canada publishes no cabin weight limit, so in practice the personal item is judged on whether it fits the space rather than what it weighs. You still have to be able to handle it yourself.
Gate-checked for a $65 CAD/USD fee. An over-large personal item usually travels overhead instead, which is free on Air Canada and therefore a much softer landing than on a carrier that charges for the carry-on.
Two practical notes that apply on any airline: the under-seat space is smaller in a row with a lifejacket box or an entertainment unit beneath the seat, and a soft bag that compresses will pass where a rigid case of identical stated dimensions will not. Measure with anything strapped to the outside included.
Air Canada allows a personal item up to 17 x 13 x 6 in, stowed under the seat in front of you.
Yes. Every Air Canada fare includes one personal item.
A purse, small backpack, laptop bag, briefcase or similar. Air Canada calls it a personal article; published as 6 x 13 x 17 in (16 x 33 x 43 cm).
Gate-checked for a $65 CAD/USD fee.
The personal item goes under the seat and is free. The carry-on goes in the overhead locker and can be up to 21.5 x 15.5 x 9 in, included with your fare.
Yes — Air Canada measures the whole bag, so soft bags that squash down have a real advantage under the seat.