Suggestions for a tote bag to take on a plane.

[ilovemykindle]

Will a tote bag be big enough. This will be instead of a handbag.
Do the airline measure this bag.
It's usually holding passport, paperwork, purse, kindle and specs.. Maybe a bikini and spare knickers.
Newspapers for DH to read.

I use a Lulu Guinness tote but it zips closed.
I use pouches inside to keep things together eg Tissues, ĺipsalve, meds, Moisturiser in one. Purse, phone, etc in another.

LV Neverfull for solo trips and if I've got the kids I use one from Nere travel or the Le Pliage.

I feel like I live on another planet looking at the prices of these.

I bought the away featherlight tote and bought a handbag insert organiser to drop into it that zips shut.

I usually take a small backpack and fit my handbag in the bottom That way you can carry what you like including a light weight jacket for warmer months just in case it is chilly on return to Britain!

I have a mia tui jenny

https://miatui.com/collections/travel-bags/jenny

Two hundred & thirty quid??… to take passports & a copy of the daily mirror in for your husband? Mumsnet at its finest!

Sorry my reply was to mymanincaracaas….still think their suggestion of £230 was utterly ridiculous! Tesco do a bag for life for less than a quid!

What? I didn’t say anything about taking anything to my husband. Yes, it’s expensive but I love it and I don’t love Tesco’s finest.

@Gall10i am grateful for the suggestions of so many different bags. I'm guilty of NOT giving a budget.
Should have said less than a £100 but cheaper if possible.

they are ridiculous I completely agree. I travel A LOT. Rucksack, cotton tote shirt haul or samsonite hard body wheeled cabin bag and cross body slim fit for my passport / travel documents if long haul.

Check your airline rules carefully.

Jet2’s ‘handbag’ size is 20x30x40 Cm which is much smaller than some of these suggestions, for example.

You carry newspapers, plural, for your DH to read?

There is plenty of middle ground between a £5 tote and a £230 bag though and different people prioritise different things when spending their money. I still think Longchamp at around £120 work out at decent value for how much use I get out of them (I’ve got two and use them loads).

I have an "ordinary person's" (price point) version of the MiaTui (sp?) above. I think I got it on Amazon a few years ago for around 40 quid. Obv a dupe!

I got it because it has one of the non negotiables for me in a travel tote bag - a long strap that can be used cross body. I don't like totes that are heavy with travel stuff (they can be!) and slip off your shoulders if only a shoulder strap. I wouldn't use the crossbody strap all the time, but it's very handy in queues etc. At least that's what works for me! Oh and I check bags in all the time, even the cabin size so I can't slot it over the suitcase handle. But I suppose any style would work if you do!

That's my 10c.

I travel a lot and always use a rucksack as my hand luggage (either a cabin max one if I'm travelling hand luggage only or a smaller one if I'm not). In my experience it's much more practical than a tote. I also take a small crossbody bag for my wallet, passport etc that can fit into the rucksack.

But if you do want a tote, Roka do a few different styles that I like, and Rains have one that looks practical, waterproof and with cross-body strap.

I've got the Longchamp too. Personalised so I can never miss it and I can fit a handbag in it, a laptop and a coat. In fact I am packing mine now for a trip this coming week. I find the shoulder strap really comfortable too if you've weighed it down a bit. (Which I do because I am incapable of travelling light).

Never heard of them until this thread. Now my Facebook page is inundated with ads. I know what I'm like - it's only a matter of time... Sigh.

Ooo I like that one. zips and compartments all over and looks great. Might get cream one.

Forget wasting money on over priced designer handbags for flights, you need to carefully examine the bag measurements set by each air line because bags that size would have to be your undeseat bag and need to meet certain measurements and every airline likes to have different measurements to each other just to make life even more complicated. My partner have had to buy all sorts of different cabin luggage because such as Ryanair, Wizz, easyJet, vueling, BA etc all have different measurements you have to stick to. The budget airlines are a nightmare especially because they love picking people out at the boarding gate and making them put their bags in a measuring.devuce that always looks too small. No point wasting £230 in a brand name to get told at the boarding gate you've got to have it put into your hold at your own expense and the £230 bag has dirty black marks and scuffs all over it by the time you get it back.

I wouldn't waste that kind of money just to use it for flights, every airline has its own set measurements that your bag needs to fit. One airline may allow it but another airline won't and will make you check it in to the hold at your expense and it'll probably be ruined by the time you get it back.

Ive just bought 2 x teddingtons (they are not large tote's so maybe find where you can get bigger ones) and a backpack. Im away for the weekend using the back pack - its small lightweight but big enough for a weekend away and just £15 each!!!

The reason I recommend them is they are water resistant so can be cleaned, they are lightweight, well made and feel comfy when used.

I bought the back pack for work, it'll be perfect for my laptop.

Ive just bought 2 x teddingtons (they are not large tote's so maybe find where you can get bigger ones) and a backpack. Im away for the weekend using the back pack - its small lightweight but big enough for a weekend away and just £15 each!!!

The reason I recommend them is they are water resistant so can be cleaned, they are lightweight, well made and feel comfy when used.

I bought the back pack for work, it'll be perfect for my laptop. https://youknowwhos.co.uk/search?type=product&q=Clan

That's true. And we try to fly hand luggage only these days (as does everyone I guess!). In fact over new year we're away for a 6 days, and the flights were such a pain we decided to Le Shuttle it on a flexi ticket. So good not having to worry about bags and weight, and flight times and check in! Freeing..

But yes re the bag, it could be too big for a hand luggage hand bag plus hand luggage arghh

Cloud 9 crew tote bags are amazing. Their advertising tends towards students (which I'm not) but honestly, I love them. I personally love the Puffer tote, it holds everything you could possibly need, inc laptop and it was perfect for airline too.

For Ryanair I would use a back pack. My George fits and squishes under the seat. You can fit a lot in but is terrible for organisation. So I would use anything within those dimensions that has good storage pockets and you won't mind schlepping around in place of a handbag. Look at Samsonite, Hershchel or Eastpak type bags. Personally I'd use Amazon and enter the dimensions.