Tips · 5 min read
Avelo's Free Bag Is 17 × 13 × 9 Inches. Here's What Actually Fits
Avelo's fare includes one under-seat bag and nothing else. How to pick a bag that fits 17 × 13 × 9, and how to pack a long weekend into it.
Every Avelo fare from McKinney National Airport includes exactly one free bag: a personal item up to 17 × 13 × 9 inches that fits under the seat in front of you. A carry-on for the overhead bin (up to 22 × 14 × 9) and checked bags (up to 50 pounds and 62 linear inches) cost extra, and they cost less when you add them at booking than at the airport.
For a three-night trip, which is exactly what Avelo's twice-a-week and four-a-week DTX schedules are built for, the free bag is enough if you choose the right one and pack it deliberately. Over a few round trips, that adds up to real money.
Measure before you buy. A bag sold as a "personal item" isn't automatically 17 × 13 × 9, and soft bags bulge when they're full. Look for listed dimensions at or under 17 × 13 × 9, and measure it packed, including handles and wheels. When in doubt, go an inch smaller.
1. A 17 × 13 × 9 under-seat backpack
The most versatile option: a clamshell-opening backpack opens flat like a suitcase, carries comfortably from the DTX lot to the gate, and works as a day bag at your destination. A separate laptop sleeve means it comes out cleanly at security.
2. An under-seat rolling bag
If you'd rather not carry the weight, small wheeled bags are made to these dimensions. They give up a little space to the wheels and handle, so check the listed size includes them.
3. Two compression packing cubes
Cubes are what make one bag hold three nights: one for tops, one for bottoms, zipped down to squeeze out air. They also keep a soft bag from bulging past the sizer.
4. A packable jacket
Wear your bulkiest layer on the plane, and make your outer layer one that stuffs into its own pocket. It doubles as a pillow and costs your bag almost no space.
5. A clear quart bag and travel bottles
TSA's 3-1-1 rule still applies: liquids 3.4 ounces or less in one quart-size bag. Refillable bottles keep you from buying full-size toiletries at your destination.
6. A luggage scale, if you do check a bag
If a longer trip needs a checked bag, Avelo's limit is 50 pounds. A pocket scale at home is cheaper than an overweight fee at the counter.
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Check Avelo's current bag rules at aveloair.com before you fly, since airlines change them. For the rest of the trip, from parking to boarding cutoffs, see our first-flight guide for McKinney National Airport.
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