Does the TOM BIHN Synapse 19 fit as a personal item?
By its listed size it fits 12 of 29 airlines that publish a personal item limit and is too big for 17.
Size and specs
| Listed size | 41 × 29 × 20 cm (16.1 × 11.4 × 7.9 in) |
|---|---|
| Volume | 19 L |
| Empty weight | 1.5 lb (0.7 kg) |
| Laptop sleeve | up to 13 in |
| Wheels | none |
| List price | $255 (seen 2026-10-19) |
Against the usual US limit
Dashed and yellow: American Airlines' personal item limit, 18 × 14 × 8 in. Coloured: this bag's listed size.
Every airline
| Airline | personal item limit | This bag |
|---|---|---|
| United States | ||
| Alaska Airlines | not published | No size published must fit under the seat |
| Allegiant Air | 8 × 14 × 18 in (20 × 36 × 46 cm) | Fits 0.1 in to spare |
| American Airlines | 18 × 14 × 8 in (46 × 36 × 20 cm) | Fits 0.1 in to spare |
| Avelo Airlines | 17 × 13 × 9 in (43 × 33 × 23 cm) | Fits 0.9 in to spare |
| Breeze Airways | 17 × 13 × 8 in (43 × 33 × 20 cm) | Fits 0.1 in to spare |
| Delta Air Lines | not published | No size published must fit under the seat |
| Frontier Airlines | 18 × 14 × 8 in (46 × 36 × 20 cm) | Fits 0.1 in to spare |
| Hawaiian Airlines | not published | No size published must fit under the seat |
| JetBlue | 17 × 13 × 8 in (43 × 33 × 20 cm) | Fits 0.1 in to spare |
| Southwest Airlines | not published | No size published must fit under the seat |
| Sun Country Airlines | 17 × 13 × 9 in (43 × 33 × 23 cm) | Fits 0.9 in to spare |
| United Airlines | 9 × 10 × 17 in (23 × 25 × 43 cm) | Too big 1.4 in over, too wide |
| Canada & Mexico | ||
| Aeromexico | not published | No size published must fit under the seat |
| Air Canada | 13 × 17 × 6 in (33 × 43 × 15 cm) | Too big 1.9 in over, too deep |
| Porter Airlines | 13 × 17 × 6 in (33 × 43 × 15 cm) | Too big 1.9 in over, too deep |
| Viva Aerobus | 18 × 14 × 8 in (46 × 36 × 20 cm) | Fits 0.1 in to spare |
| Volaris | 35 × 45 × 20 cm (13.8 × 17.7 × 7.9 in) | Fits right at the limit |
| WestJet | 16 × 13 × 6 in (41 × 33 × 15 cm) | Too big 1.9 in over, too deep |
| Latin America | ||
| Avianca | 45 × 35 × 20 cm (17.7 × 13.8 × 7.9 in) | Fits right at the limit |
| Copa Airlines | 43 × 25 × 22 cm (16.9 × 9.8 × 8.7 in) | Too big 1.6 in over, too wide |
| LATAM Airlines | 45 × 35 × 20 cm (17.7 × 13.8 × 7.9 in) | Fits right at the limit |
| Europe | ||
| Aer Lingus | 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) | Too big 0.4 in over, too tall |
| Air France | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | Too big 2 in over, too deep |
| British Airways | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | Too big 2 in over, too deep |
| easyJet | 45 × 36 × 20 cm (17.7 × 14.2 × 7.9 in) | Fits right at the limit |
| Iberia | 30 × 40 × 15 cm (11.8 × 15.7 × 5.9 in) | Too big 2 in over, too deep |
| Icelandair | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | Too big 2 in over, too deep |
| KLM | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | Too big 2 in over, too deep |
| Lufthansa | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | Too big 2 in over, too deep |
| Ryanair | 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) | Too big 0.4 in over, too tall |
| Turkish Airlines | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | Too big 2 in over, too deep |
| Virgin Atlantic | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) | Too big 2 in over, too deep |
| Vueling | 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) | Too big 0.4 in over, too tall |
| Wizz Air | 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) | Too big 0.4 in over, too tall |
| Middle East & Asia-Pacific | ||
| Emirates | not published | No size published must fit under the seat |
| Japan Airlines | not published | No size published must fit under the seat |
| Qantas | not published | No size published must fit under the seat |
| Qatar Airways | not published | No size published must fit under the seat |
"Borderline" means over by no more than the rounding in published sizes (0.5 cm, about 0.2 in). It may pass at the gate, but we don't promise it.
Why it's in our list
- Owners recommend this model on RedditPraised on Reddit
Where these numbers come from
- tombihn.combrand page
Notes from our data check
Brand: 'Dimensions 11.4" (w) x 16" (h) x 7.9" (d) | 290 (w) x 410 (h) x 200 (d) mm'; 'Volume 19 liters / 1160 cubic inches (ASTM Standard Measure)'; 'Fits under the seat of a plane and meets the personal item requirements for most major airlines.' Weight by fabric: 420d Spectron 1 lb 7.5 oz / 670 g (recorded), X-Pac 695 g, 630d Ballistic 755 g. Laptop: no padded sleeve; 'Built-in Cache loops to attach a 13" laptop' (laptopIn 13 assumes the optional Cache sleeve). Price $255; 17 of 47 variants in stock. Amazon listing 'TOM-BIHN-Synapse-19' B0HJ7SJDMJ (another, 'TOM BIHN 19L Synapse Backpack', is B0GYXR57VF).