Packing for a plane trip can be tough, especially when trying to maximize space in small suitcases. With many airlines charging additional fees for both checked and carry-on luggage, travelers often try to get creative with their bags to save some money.
Some people claim they’ve discovered a hack that lets them bring extra stuff with them onto the plane. Viral videos on YouTube and TikTok appear to show people packing clothing in a pillowcase and carrying it on a plane, without having to pay any extra fees associated with an additional bag.
The “pillow hack” is also popular on Reddit, where people typically pose the idea of removing the inside of a neck pillow and replacing it with clothes. Many commenters on Reddit asked if the trick actually works.
THE QUESTION
Are pillows always exempt from airline baggage limits?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
No, pillows are not always exempt from airline baggage limits.
WHAT WE FOUND
Most airlines in the U.S. allow domestic flight passengers one free personal item, which are usually items small enough to fit underneath the seat. This can include small bags like backpacks or purses, or small items like a laptop.
Depending on the airline or the fare class of your ticket, a free carry-on bag also may be included in your in-cabin luggage limit.
Regardless of your exact bag breakdown, your total luggage count will be limited either by airline policy or how many bags you’ve paid for, which is why the “freebie” pillow claim is so appealing.
But cost-conscious travelers may find the results of this trick could vary based on which airline they’re flying.
Only one of the 11 largest American passenger airlines has a written policy that explicitly exempts pillows from its baggage limit; Alaska Airlines says passengers can carry “a pillow for personal use” onboard at no extra cost.
Spirit Airlines’ written policy explicitly says that “neck and head pillows can be carried on the aircraft as long as they fit completely in your personal item bag.”
Southwest Airlines has also publicly clarified its policy on carry-on pillows. It told a customer on X, formerly Twitter, to “keep in mind that your pillow will need to fit inside either your carry-on bag or personal item (backpack/purse).”
The other eight airlines — American Airlines, Delta, United, JetBlue, Frontier, Allegiant, Hawaiian and Sun Country — have no official written policies directly addressing how pillows are treated in regard to their baggage policies.
Usually, if you already have a carry-on bag and a personal item bag, then nearly anything else you take with you onto the plane will need to be able to fit into one of those bags or else incur extra baggage fees.
There are some items that airlines exempt from baggage limits. These exceptions typically include food and drink purchased in the airport, wearable items such as jackets, mobility devices like canes and wheelchairs, child safety seats, umbrellas and reading material, according to the airlines’ baggage policy pages.
Whether your pillow will count as carry-on luggage may be up to the gate agent.
An American Airlines spokesperson told VERIFY that a "pillow of reasonable size" can be considered an allowed additional item, but a customer could chat with a gate agent or use the airline's mobile app if they have questions.
A spokesperson for Sun Country Airlines explained to VERIFY that in practice, the gate agent will make the decision on whether you’re allowed to bring your pillow onboard without packing it up or paying an extra baggage fee.
“Our policies do not specifically call out pillows, but a gate agent would typically consider this to be like a coat or wrap that would not count as a personal item or have a charge associated with it,” a Sun Country Airlines spokesperson told VERIFY in an email. The spokesperson clarified this applies to travel pillows, standard pillows and blankets.
“There may be some situations, for example, if a flight is extremely full - and in the winter where people have big jackets and coats and scarves - that maybe bringing a pillow along is going to be a little bit much in terms of stuff,” the Sun Country spokesperson said. “I’d encourage a customer to use their best judgement. And there may be instances where a flight attendant or gate agent deems that access may be impeded. They may ask a passenger to put the pillow in a suitcase.”
This story is also available in Spanish / Lee este artículo también en español: El truco de la 'almohada de ropa' podría no funcionar en todas las líneas aéreas
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