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With carry-on luggage rules changing from airline to airline, it’s easy to get caught out by unexpected charges when you check-in or go through security.
So to help you navigate your way through the cabin bag maze we've got an essential guide to the weight and size limits for the seven most popular airlines in the UK.
And we rank them best to worst for what you can take onboard for free.
Only two of the seven airlines in our guide had the same luggage allowances (Jet2 and British Airways), meaning if you're the kind of traveller who always goes for the best price, you'll need to factor in buying different size bags depending upon who you fly with.
Four of the seven airlines let you to bring a carry on for free as well as the underseat bag – another thing to think about if you want to take more with you but don't want to get hit with charges.
If you want to breeze through the departures lounge, knowing your bag will pass the test, we've unpacked the sizes and costs for cabin bags for the UK's most popular airlines, so you can pack with confidence.
What you can take onboard the different carriers for free, in descending order.
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British Airways’ baggage rules are different to the budget airlines, as the company has tiers of tickets. However even on the cheapest ticket (economy basic), an underseat bag and a generous weight of cabin bag is included in the price.
FREE: small bag – such as a handbag, laptop bag or backpack. It must fit under the seat in front of you and be no more than 40 x 30 x 15cm (18 litres). It can weigh up to 23kg.
FREE: cabin bag – this must be stored in the overhead locker and measure no more than 56 x 45 x 25cm. The maximum weight allowed is 23kg
EXTRA: (depending on ticket type) checked baggage – up to 23kg, or 32kg in First and Business, and no more than 90x75x43cm. Each customer is allowed to pay for 10 additional hold bags with British Airways, if they need.
Check allowance on British Airways
Bag pooling is when people on the same booking share their luggage allowances.
For example, two people who are allowed 20kg each, can 'pool' their bags, allowing one to weigh 15kg and the other 25kg. However there is usually a weight limit to avoid one bag weighing 5kg and the other 35kg.
With Jet2 you can take one underseat bag, and one piece of hand luggage on all flights booked through them, whether it's flight only or part of a package holiday. No wonder it was voted the UK's favourite short-haul airline.
Its luggage allowance dimensions are the same as British Airways, although the weight limit is slightly lower.
FREE: small bag – such as a handbag, laptop bag or backpack. It must fit under the seat in front of you and measure no more than 40 x 30 x 15cm (18 litres).
FREE: cabin bag - weighing a maximum of 10kg and no larger than 56 x 45 x 25cm (including wheels and handles).
EXTRA: you can add up to three 22kg bags per person, per flight.
No matter whether you've booked a package holiday, or just a flight with TUI, you're entitled to bring an underseat bag and a cabin bag onboard.
If you've booked a holiday, then you have a free hold bag too.
FREE: small bag – such as a handbag, laptop bag or backpack. It must fit under the seat in front of you and measure no more than 40 x 30 x 20cm (24 litres).
FREE: cabin bag weighing up to 10kg and measuring a maximum of 55 x 40 x 20cm (44 litres).
EXTRA: (flight only) cabin luggage weighing up to 20kg.
Bag pooling allowed? Yes, but no bag can weigh more than 25kg.
Keep any valuables, prescriptions and medicines with you in your underseat bag.
You need to be prepared for the fact that your bigger cabin bag may have to go in the hold.
Even with an economy ticket on KLM you'll still be able to bring an underseat bag and a cabin bag.
FREE: small bag – such as a handbag, laptop bag or backpack. It must fit under the seat in front of you and measure no more than 40 x 30 x 15cm (18 litres).
FREE: cabin bag – max 10kg. Must be stored in the overhead locker and measure no more than 55 x 35 x 25cm.
EXTRA: (depending on ticket type) checked baggage – up to 158cm (length/width/height) including handles and wheels and with a maximum weight of 23kg.
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Now we're moving into budget airline territory, where cabin bags have to be paid for, seat selection costs extra, and there's a fee for everything. easyJet has a more generous 'underseat bag' allowance than its peers, but go a zip or a wheel over and you could be in trouble.
FREE: small bag – such as a handbag, laptop bag or backpack. It must fit under the seat in front of you and measure no more than 45 x 36 x 20cm (32.4 litres) and weigh no more than 15kg.
EXTRA: cabin bag – it must be stored in the overhead locker and measure no more than 56 x 45 x 25cm. The maximum weight is 23kg. If you book this with easyJet, you'll also get speedy boarding included. If you are booking a holiday package deal check the small print to find the best baggage allowance for you. It can work out cheaper to take a small bag onboard and pay for hold luggage than take a cabin bag onboard.
EXTRA: checked baggage has 15kg, 20kg, and 23kg limits. Prices depend on your ticket and route. One bag per person, per flight.
FREE: one small bag, which should be placed under the seat. Maximum size allowed is 40 x 30 x 20cm (24 litres) and with a maximum weight of 10kg. This size allowance does not include bag handles/wheels - however wheels must add no more than 5cm to the size of the bag.
EXTRA: cabin bag, max 10kg, 55 x 40 x 23cm (50 litres). It must fit in the overhead compartment and is only available through Wizz Priority
EXTRA: Basic fares do not include hold luggage but each passenger can pay for up to six cases of 10kg, 20kg, 26kg or 32kg. Each item can measure no more than 149 x 119 x 171cm.
In November 2024 the Spanish authority fined Vueling, easyJet and Ryanair €150 million for illegal charges for cabin luggage and demanded they stop. Charging for cabin baggage only came into effect 20 years ago, and since it was first introduced, allowances have shrunk.
Airlines say if they charge less, the flight ticket price will just rise.
FREE: small bag – such as a handbag, laptop bag or backpack. It must fit under the seat in front of you and measure no more than 40 x 20 x 25cm (20 litres).
EXTRA: cabin bag – This must be stored in the overhead locker and be no more than 55 x 40 x 20cm. Maximum weight 10kg.
EXTRA: checked baggage – max 10kg or 20kg depending on how much you pay.
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