Travelling light can be a blessing for some travellers but it’s a headache for over-packers and carrying a weekend trip’s worth of clothing won’t is a painful burden to your shoulders.
Underseat cabin bags, also commonly known as the “budget airline bag”, are usually the handheld kit bag or duffle bag with a thick shoulder strap. But shoppers have found a nimble suitcase that fits perfectly under the seat so they won’t have to fork out extras for lugage.
The Amazon Basics Underseat Travel Luggage, from £49.99, is a wheeled suitcase with telescopic handle yet it fits within the requirement of easyJet’s 45 x 36 x 20cm and Wizz Air’s 40 x 30 x 20cm. However, it won’t fit for Ryanair. It comes with navy blue and black, either with or without quilted pattern.
With more than 8,900 customers purchased the travel bag, the Amazon Basics suitacase has scored an overall 4.6 out of five stars and many said it’s “just what I need”.
A shopper mentioned: “I’m fed up lugging a heavy bag around the airport and this is especially useful in long walks to the gate for boarding. “A second loved the functional pockets at the back of the sleeve, explaining: “It has lots of pockets inside and on the sides. I’ve used it once, the wheels worked well, and the handle is strong enough and feels stable.”
Meanwhile a third customer detailed how he utilised all the pockets to fit everything he needed for a four-day trip – including sliding an umbrella and a water bottle on each side pocket as well as a pair of flip flop. He added: “Once you open the front there is a mesh panel to stop all your items falling out and there again is lots of room for clothes for overnight or all your necessities for travelling.
The navy blue quilted version is currently on sale and is reduced to the cheapest at £49.99; meanwhile the other styles are retailed between £51.87 and £59.86.
The luggage measures at 35.4cm L x 25.2cm W x 38.7cm and it fits a 14-inch laptop with one easy-access front pocket and two side pockets for boarding pass or passport, one mesh interior pocket with four zipped compartments and a removable wash bag insert.
However, some customers complained that the handle stopped retracting after using it for nine months. Another added: “After a single use the fabric has torn and coming away at the seams. So disappointing as in other ways it is perfect. Should be made of stronger fabric.”
For a sturdy luggage, British travel lifestyle brand Antler has recently launched Soft Stripe Underseat Cabin Bag, £130, to offer a surprisingly spacious solution for overnight trips and weekend getaways. Decathlon’s Kipsta 20L kit bag also works well as an underseat bag on budget airlines and it’s considerably cheaper.