Air France allows a free personal item up to 16 x 12 x 6 in, under the seat in front of you. Put your own bag's measurements in below.
| Personal item maximum | 16 x 12 x 6 in (under the seat in front) |
| Is it free? | Yes — every fare includes one personal item |
| Full-size carry-on | 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 in (also included) |
| If it does not fit | Moved to the hold. |
Air France calls it a small bag: 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in), for the space under the seat in front of you.
At 16 x 12 x 6 in it holds roughly 1152 cubic inches, about 39% of the volume of Air France's own 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 in carry-on. That is larger than 5 of the 16 other airlines that publish a figure, and smaller than 11.
Worth knowing: 6 of the 23 airlines we track publish no personal-item measurement at all, so a bag chosen against Air France's stated 16 x 12 x 6 in is being measured against a firmer rule than most carriers give you.
Common small bags measured against Air France's published 16 x 12 x 6 in limit.
| Bag | Size | On Air France | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-inch laptop bag | 15 × 11 × 4 in | Fits, 1 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 4 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 France, so the personal item is an addition to your 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 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 France publishes a cabin weight limit of 26 lb (12 kg) — 12 kg COMBINED across hand baggage and the small bag in Economy and Premium (18 kg in Business and La Premiere) — not per bag. Weight is checked far less often than size, but it is the rule most likely to catch you on a bag full of books or camera gear.
Moved to the hold. An over-large personal item usually travels overhead instead, which is free on Air France 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 France allows a personal item up to 16 x 12 x 6 in, stowed under the seat in front of you.
Yes. Every Air France fare includes one personal item.
A purse, small backpack, laptop bag, briefcase or similar. Air France calls it a small bag: 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in), for the space under the seat in front of you.
Moved to the hold.
The personal item goes under the seat and is free. The carry-on goes in the overhead locker and can be up to 21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 in, included with your fare.
Yes — Air France measures the whole bag, so soft bags that squash down have a real advantage under the seat.