If you’re jetting off on a long weekend or overnight trip and don’t want to pay for any extra baggage, Antler’s new Underseat Cabin bag fits the free luggage requirements on EasyJet and British Airways. Here, shopping assistant Grace gives it a test
Now that many airlines have taken away the free cabin bag, instead only offering a small handbag or backpack option, it can be really difficult to travel on a budget with everything you need. Especially if, like me, you enjoy having enough options for different outfit changes for every possible occasion. Enter Antler’s new Underseat Cabin bag, £130 here.
This compact case has been designed to fit perfectly underneath your plane seat, making it the ideal piece for frequent travellers, long weekends or overnight stays. The case measures 35 x 45 x 20 cm, fitting the requirements of airlines such as British Airways, EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic.
I recently went to Spain for five days and managed to fit every single item I needed into the case without struggling. I did wear my clunkiest shoes to the airport and pack pretty lightly as this trip was very sunbathing-heavy, however, I still fit in two outfit changes a day, alongside swimwear, underwear, make-up and hair straighteners.
The case features a double-layered pocket, giving instant access to electricals and boarding passes or passports, which is a life-saver when going through security at the airport. The soft exterior, rather than a hard shell, is beneficial when using a smaller case because I find you can squeeze more in.
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An added bonus is how lightweight the case is because although this does fit underneath your seat, you may want to put it in the overhead locker to give yourself some more legroom. And there’s nothing worse than struggling to lift your bags and consequently holding up the whole plane or having to call over a flight attendant.
Although this case fits a surprising amount of clothing, as a chronic over-packer, this case has actually saved me from taking things I don’t need or use. Last year I went on a three-week trip to Australia with an 8kg overweight suitcase and ended up only wearing just over half of the items I packed. This year, I’ve forced myself to be stricter with packing, making sure I outfit plan beforehand and luckily Antler has really helped me with my dilemmas by forcing me to pack less.
It is on the pricier side considering its small size, however, when it comes to suitcases you can’t beat high, quality, durable ones that you know are going to last you and I think Antler’s one will definitely stand the test of time.
If, however, you are looking for a slightly more affordable alternative, Tripp’s hard shell under seat cabin case is currently on sale for £45 here. The dimensions of this bag would also fit EasyJet and British Airways planes.
Unfortunately, the Ryanair luggage allowance is slightly smaller than some other airlines so if you’re in the market for a cabin to fit their free hand luggage requirements, a backpack like this one from Amazon, £25.99 here, would probably be the best option.
