Hand luggage: Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways policies explained
Possible changes are afoot, however, as the EU wants to bring in reforms to guarantee passengers the right to travel with a 7kg carry-on bag with maximum dimensions of 100cm (sum of length, width and height) — plus a smaller under-seat bag — free of charge across airlines. The vote in Brussels saw a 38-2 split with two abstentions, and the EU parliament now has three months to hash out, adopt, reject or amend the new laws. The benefits here would be consistency across airlines, practicality and making it easier for customers to compare fares. You'd hope it might lead to consumer savings too, but some critics warn it may potentially drive up the price of tickets as airlines try to recoup costs.
But for those travelling soon, here are the current carry-on luggage restrictions for the most popular airlines, as it stands today, to help you compare.
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The airline will allow everyone to take a small bag on board. The maximum size is 45 x 36 x 20cm, and the bag must be able to fit under the seat in front of you. There's also a weight limit of 15kg, and you'll need to be able to lift and carry this yourself.
You can also take a larger cabin bag on board for free if you're an easyJet Plus cardholder; have booked the Inclusive Plus fare; or paid for a large cabin bag (which also allows you access to speedy boarding). EasyJet notes that it is cheaper to pre-book large cabin bags online, rather than at the airport, where they also risk being placed in the hold if space doesn't allow at the last minute. This larger bag can be up to 56 x 45 x 25cm, and weigh up to 15kg. All large cabin bags are subject to space, but should they need to be put in the hold after purchase, or as part of a benefit, this will be done so for free.
Luggage allowance for those travelling with children depends on whether they have a booked seat. Children with paid-for seats have the same allowance as adults, plus a changing bag measuring up to 45 x 36 x 20cm. For babies travelling on an adult's lap, only a changing bag measuring up to 45 x 36 x 20cm is allowed, and this must be placed under the seat in front of you. You can also take two pieces of baby equipment for free, including travel cot, pushchair, car seat, booster seat and baby back carrier.
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All passengers travelling with Ryanair can take a small bag onboard for free, with maximum dimensions of 40 x 25 x 20cm. The bag must be able to fit under the seat in front of you.
There are also a limited number of 'Priority & 2 Cabin Bags' spaces on each flight, which allow you to board the plane via the Priority Queue and take two bags onboard. One of your two-bag allowances is your personal bag, which has the same dimensions as above. The second bag can weigh up to 10kg, with a maximum dimension of 55 x 40 x 20cm.
For children, baggage allowance depends on whether they have their own seat. If you've booked a separate seat for your child, you can take a cabin bag measuring up to 40 x 25 x 20cm for placing under the seat in front. If your child (from eight days to 23 months old) is sitting on your lap — you have to book an extra comfort seat for this — they don't have a baggage allowance. However, you can take a baby bag weighing up to 5kg, with dimensions of up to 45 x 35 x 20cm, in addition to your own cabin bag allowance. You can also take up to two pieces of baby equipment.
British Airways will allow all passengers to take two pieces of hand luggage on board, regardless of fare type. The smaller one can't be bigger than 40 x 30 x 15cm and must fit under the seat; the larger one a maximum of 56 x 45 x 25cm including wheels and handles. The bags can weigh up to 23kg each, making it one of the most generous cabin baggage allowances around.
Babies under 24 months without their own seats have a checked luggage allowance of up to 23kg but no additional carry-on allowance. Children with their own seats have the same allowance as adults.
The Virgin Atlantic allowance varies according to the cabin class. Upper Class passengers can take two cabin bags on board, weighing 12kg each or a combined weight of 16kg, while all other classes are permitted only one weighing a maximum of 10kg. The maximum size allowed for any bag is 56 x 36 x 23cm.
In addition, you're allowed to take a smaller bag, such as a handbag, small backpack or purse. While Virgin does not specify dimensions for these, it does say that it cannot be 'used to contain items that would otherwise be regarded as baggage'. It must also be able to fit under the space in front of you.
Children over two have the same cabin baggage allowance as adults. If your child is under two, you can take a bag weighing up to 6kg per child; Virgin doesn't specify dimensions for this. Car seats can be taken on board for free but foldable buggies (GB Pockit, Britax Holiday, Silver Cross Jet, Babyzen Yoyo) are in place of your cabin bag — or you can check this into the hold at the gate.
Everyone gets to take a personal bag measuring no bigger than 40 x 30 x 20cm onto Wizz Air flights; it must be put under the seat in front of you, and weigh no more than 10kg. Wizz Priority customers can also take a bigger bag measuring up to 55 x 40 x 23cm, that is stowed in the overhead locker. The weight restriction for this is also 10kg. Adults travelling with an infant can bring an extra free carry-on bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm), plus food for the journey, but if you're taking a foldable baby pushchair, pram, foldable travel cot, or a car seat then these must be put in the hold before you board the aircraft.
Aside from children under two, Tui allows all passengers to take one piece of luggage onboard. It must be no bigger than 55 x 40 x 20cm and no heavier than 10kg. You can also bring a personal item such as a laptop or handbag to be stowed under the seat in front of you; the maximum dimension for this is 40 x 30 x 20cm. Children under two have a 10kg checked-in luggage allowance but no carry on allowance.
Jet2's cabin bag allowance includes a small personal bag (up to 40 x 30 x 15cm) that can be put under the seat in front of you, as well as a larger case measuring up to 56 x 45 x 25cm (including wheels and handles) and weighing no more than 10kg. Those with children under two can take a collapsible pushchair, car seat and/or travel cot but this must be placed in the hold before boarding and weigh no more than 10kg.
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Vueling allows everyone to take a small underseat bag measuring up to 40 x 30 x 20cm on board for free. If you do any shopping at the airport, this must fit under the seat in front of you as well.
Passengers travelling on premium fares are allowed to take a second piece of hand luggage with them. It has a weight limit of 10kg, must be placed in the overhead locker and can't be bigger than 55 x 40 x 20cm. This also applies to passengers travelling with an infant under two and can be booked for those using special assistance at the airport.
Any cabin baggage must fit under the seat in front of you or in the overhead lockers on Loganair flights.
If you have a Fly Flex + ticket, you're entitled to take one bag of up to 6kg plus a small handbag and a slimline laptop bag. While the airline does not specify dimensions for the handbag or the laptop bag, your main bag can't be bigger than 40 x 35 x 18cm. If you have a Fly or Fly Flex ticket, you can only carry a cabin bag of up to 6kg (with the same dimensions as above), plus a small handbag.
If you're travelling with a child under two, you can also take a pram/pushchair and a car seat — but these must be foldable and go into the hold.
Aer Lingus will allow all passengers to take a small personal bag on board with them, which can measure up to 33 x 25 x 20cm and must be stowed under the seat in front. You may also be able to take a cabin bag weighing up to either 7kg or 10kg, depending on your fare class and destination — this must go in the overhead locker. The 10kg bag can be up to 55 x 40 x 24cm; the 7kg bag can't be bigger than 48 x 33 x 20cm.
Within Europe, you can take a 10kg cabin bag with you if your fare includes it. This applies to all Plus, Advantage, AerSpace and Economy fares purchased via British Airways; Silver, Platinum and Concierge AerClub members; AerClub or Aer Credit Card reward flights; those travelling with an infant; and those with a connecting flight with either Aer Lingus (transatlantic only) or a partner airline. On all other fares, you can either pay to take a 10kg bag on board with you (from €9.99/£9.99), or check it in for free before your flight.
On regional flights, which are within Ireland and the UK and are operated by Emerald Airlines, you can take a 7kg cabin bag in addition to your personal bag. If you're connecting to/from an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight, the 7kg cabin bag limit applies to both legs of the journey. On Aer Lingus transatlantic flights, the 10kg cabin bag allowance applies regardless of fare class or frequent flyer status — unless you're joining from a regional flight.
Prohibited items can vary between airlines and destinations so it's best to check before you travel. In general, anything that is illegal, considered dangerous, could be mistaken for something dangerous, or is otherwise hazardous is prohibited. This might include sharp objects and weapons like knives, corrosive and flammable substances such as bleach or fireworks, drugs and trafficked animals, and even sports equipment and toy guns.
There are also restrictions on the size of some items. Liquid is the most obvious example and is generally limited to 100ml per container — up to one 20 x 20cm clear plastic bag's worth — but it can depend on the airport you're flying from.This limit doesn't apply to sealed drinks bought in duty-free shops, breast milk or essential medication, although in the case of the latter you may need to show proof such as a doctor's note. But there could also be limits on the size of battery packs (varies from airline to airline) and types of cigarette lighters.
Occasionally certain electronics items and gadgets are banned from flights in cases where their batteries are known to spontaneously combust, or for other security reasons. For example, in 2019 several airlines banned a model of Apple's MacBook Pro over safety concerns.
This varies from airline to airline, so it's best to check with your carrier. Usually, flagship airlines will allow laptops as a personal item — it's comparable to a handbag — while budget airlines may require it to go inside your main cabin bag.
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