TikTok is well known for its “travel hacks.” Some of them can be genuinely helpful and some of them, well, not so much.
There are a bunch of videos on TikTok right now that reveal the new, “secret” hack that allows you to bring more items on the plane without paying for carry-on (if you’re on a plane or seating category where you’d have to pay for a carry on) or perhaps an extra checked bag. It’s stuffing things into a pillowcase and bringing your pillow into the cabin with you.
Anyway, the “airport pillow hack” has come to light in recent months because some airlines are apparently stopping some of these would-be hackers and telling them their pillow would be considered a personal item.
- Boing Boing: Oops! Man tries viral pillowcase hack – gets kicked off (June, 2024)
- Reddit: In SFO, the gate ladies told us we had to put our pillows in our bags (March, 2024)
- 9News: Clothes-stuffed pillow “travel hack” might not fly (December, 2023)
If you search the internet enough, you’ll also see that some passengers, although not using it as a hack as much as to be comfy and warm on the plane (BTW, here’s why they keep planes so cold), are also occasionally being told to pack their blanket away or it will count against their number of personal items.
It doesn’t appear to be coming from any one particular airline – I saw Frontier, Southwest and American mentioned in different references. So I decided to see what the official word was from each of the major airlines:
Alaska Airlines
Pillow: Alaska specifically says that “a pillow for personal use” may be brought onboard without counting toward your carry-on limit.
Blanket: Not mentioned
Allegiant
Pillow: “A pillow for personal use” is included in their list of items may be brought onboard without counting toward your carry-on limit
Blanket: Allegiant actually RECOMMENDS bringing a weighted lap blanket onboard, if you have flight anxiety.
American Airlines
Pillow: Not mentioned
Blanket: Not mentioned
Delta Air Lines
Pillow: Not specifically mentioned but also not included in their list of “Approved Personal Items” (1 purse, briefcase, small backpack, camera bag, diaper bag, laptop bag, or 1 item of similar or smaller size to those listed) or “Free Items to Carry On.
Blanket: Not mentioned
Frontier
Pillow: Not specifically mentioned but they specify the max size of a personal item (14″ x 18″ x 8″) and suggest “Think purses, totes, computer bags, briefcases, diaper bags and kids backpacks.” Right after that though, they say “The size of your personal item will be checked during boarding. Items larger than the allowed dimensions are subject to an additional charge.”
Blanket: Not mentioned
Hawaiian Airlines
Pillow: Hawaiian Airlines’ website doesn’t specifically mention pillows. But does have a list of “ancillary items” that you are allowed to bring onboard, in addition to your carry on and personal item. Pillows are not included on the list.
Blanket: Not mentioned
jetBlue
Pillow: Not mentioned
Blanket: Not mentioned
Southwest
Pillow: You may bring one carryon bag and one personal item without charge…Examples of personal item: purse (including crossbody bags), briefcase, laptop computer case, backpack, pillow (neck pillows do not count toward the carryon limit), blanket, small camera
Blanket: You may bring one carryon bag and one personal item without charge…Examples of personal item: purse (including crossbody bags), briefcase, laptop computer case, backpack, pillow (neck pillows do not count toward the carryon limit), blanket, small camera
(Note from Sharon: Better stuff that blanket into that pillowcase, huh?)
Spirit
Pillow: Spirit specifies that “Neck and head pillows can be carried on the aircraft as long as they fit completely in your personal item bag.” (gee, isn’t that nice of them? Sigh.)
Blanket: Not mentioned
United Airlines
Pillow: United Airlines’ website doesn’t specifically mention pillows. But under their “Traveler pro tips,” they mention that, “You can bring a few items in addition to your carry-on bag and personal item for free.” a pillow is not included in the list.
Blanket: Not mentioned
What does all this mean?
Pillow
2 airlines (Alaska and Allegiant) specify that you can bring a pillow with you oboard and it won’t count against your personal or carry on bag allotment.
6 airlines (American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, jetBlue, United) don’t say anything either way.
1 airline (Spirit) specifically says you can bring a pillow on board, as long as it’s completely inside your personal item bag.
1 airline (Southwest) specifically says a pillow counts as your one personal item.
Note: Heads up that, save for Spirit, none of the airlines consider a neck pillow to be a carry on. They’re talking about a full-sized pillow that you’d typically use in a bed.
Most airlines don’t mention blankets at all.
Allegiant not only allows you to bring a blanket, but encourages bringing a weighted one to help with anxiety.
Southwest specifically says a blanket counts as your own personal item.
Our take on this
Thankfully, a small handful of airlines specify if pillows and/or blankets are allowed.
Frontier has already made social media for not allowing a passenger onboard with a pillow (except his wasn’t a pillow, but a pillowcase full of stuff).
As for the rest of the airlines, even if they don’t specify a rule about pillows (or blankets), anecdotally there’s evidence that if you try to get onto a plane with a bed pillow (or a pillow case filled with stuff), the gate agent may stop you and ask you to consolidate your stuff so you truly only have 1 carry-on and 1 personal bag. Don’t argue with them – they could be one of the people who decide if you can go on the plane or you’re being too argumentative to do so.
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