Carry on luggage by airline: sizes and rules for 2026
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Carry-on rules are where low-cost airlines make their real money: the ticket looks cheap, and the bag — if it misses the sizer by a centimetre — costs more than the flight itself. Here are the cabin bag allowances of the airlines that dominate European skies, what each fare includes, and how to get through the gate without paying a surcharge. If you haven’t booked yet, compare fares first and decide your luggage around the ticket, not the other way round.
Two terms everyone confuses
- Personal item (under-seat bag): the small bag that fits under the seat in front of you. Free on virtually every airline.
- Cabin bag (overhead): the suitcase that goes in the overhead locker. This is where each airline sets its own dimensions, weight limits and sizer gauges.
On many low-cost carriers, the basic fare includes only the under-seat bag; the cabin bag is a paid extra.
Carry-on sizes by airline
Indicative data checked August 2026; always confirm with your airline before flying, because policies change:
| Airline | Under-seat personal item | Cabin bag (basic fare) | Cabin bag (higher fare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40×20×25 cm | Not included (paid extra) | 55×40×20 cm, 10 kg |
| Vueling | 40×20×30 cm | Not included in basic (paid extra) | 55×40×20 cm, 10 kg |
| Iberia / Iberia Express | Personal item | 55×40×20 cm included, 10 kg | Same + priority boarding |
| easyJet | Small bag under seat | 56×45×25 cm (fare with cabin bag) | 56×45×25 cm |
| Lufthansa | Personal item | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | Same |
| Air France | Personal item | 55×35×25 cm, 12 kg | Same |
| KLM | Personal item | 55×35×25 cm, 12 kg | Same |
| TAP Air Portugal | Personal item | 55×40×20 cm, 8 kg | Same |
| British Airways | Personal item | 56×45×25 cm, 23 kg | Same |
Dimensions verified against public airline information; some fares and routes differ.
What happens if your bag doesn’t fit
Gate agents use sizer cages, and enforcement on low-cost airlines is deliberate and consistent:
- Gate-check fee: typically $50–75, much more than pre-paying for the same bag online.
- The fix: buy the cabin-bag extra when you book, not at the gate. It’s almost always 3–4× cheaper in advance.
- Soft bags win: a flexible duffel squeezes into a sizer where a rigid shell suitcase won’t.
Packing tips that pass any gauge
- Measure at home, including wheels and handles. Most bags sold as “cabin size” exceed at least one airline’s limit.
- Weigh it. Weight limits (8–12 kg) catch people whose bags are dimensionally perfect.
- One-bag strategy: travel with a 40-litre compliant backpack and you never think about this again.
- Wear the heavy stuff. Jacket and heaviest shoes on the plane frees up real space.
- Power banks and liquids: power banks go in the cabin bag (never checked), liquids under 100 ml in a transparent bag.
Fare types and what they mean for your bag
Since 2024–2025, most European full-service airlines have introduced “basic” economy fares that mirror low-cost rules — this is the biggest change to luggage in a decade:
- Basic/light fares (Lufthansa Light, KLM Basic, Air France Light, TAP Basic, BA Basic): include a cabin bag but not checked luggage, and often restrict seat selection.
- Standard fares add a 23 kg checked bag and seat choice.
- Low-cost “priority” bundles bundle the cabin bag, priority boarding and sometimes a seat; usually the cheapest correct way to carry a roller case.
- Status and credit-card perks sometimes include extra bags or priority — check before paying for what you may already have.
The lesson: compare the fare plus the bags you actually need, not the headline price. A basic full-service fare plus a paid bag can cost more than the standard fare on the same flight.
FAQs
Is a personal item free on every airline? On virtually all of them, yes — but size limits differ (40×20×25 cm on Ryanair vs 40×20×30 cm on Vueling).
Can I bring a cabin bag on a Ryanair basic fare? Only by paying for it. The basic fare includes just the small under-seat bag.
Do full-service airlines include a cabin bag? Yes — Iberia, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, British Airways and TAP all include a standard cabin bag in economy.
What if my cabin bag is slightly over? Expect a gate-check fee. Pre-paying online, or repacking into your personal item at the gate, is cheaper.
Are liquids still limited to 100 ml? In most regions yes, in a transparent bag. Check current rules at your departure airport.
Book with your bag in mind
The cheapest final price is ticket + luggage together. Search and book your next flight with TopTravelCentre and compare fares before deciding how much to carry.