Thanks for taking your time to read our information on carry on luggage allowances in the UK. Carry on luggage is also known as cabin luggage or hand luggage and simply means the size and weight of a piece of luggage that airlines allow you to take on board the aircraft.
Carry on luggage is restricted in two ways:
- The actual size of the luggage
- The actual weight of the luggage.
This can vary quite a lot and depends on which airline carrier you are using. There is no standard size or weight restriction and airlines dictate what they are willing to allow on as carry on luggage.
UK Airline Carry on Luggage Allowances Table
It would be really useful if the airlines all adopted a standard size and weight but they don't. To complicate this further they also have slightly different offers available depending on our booking type and if you are a member of their airline.
In the table below we have shown a list of UK airlines and included their standard carry on allowance. Underneath that we have explained in more detail their other options for carry on luggage. If you click on the airline name you can read more information on their full carry on luggage rules.
Airline Name | Luggage Size | Luggage Weight |
|---|---|---|
45 x 36 x 20 cm | Up to 15 Kg | |
56 x 45 x 25 cm | Up to 10 Kg | |
40 x 25 x 20 cm | Up to 10 Kg | |
40 x 30 x 20 cm | Up to 10 Kg | |
40 x 35 x 18 cm | Up to 6 Kg | |
56 x 45 x 25 cm | Up to 23 Kg | |
55 x 40 x 20 cm | Up to 10 Kg | |
56 x 36 x 23 cm | Up to 10 Kg | |
55 x 38 x 20 cm | Up to 7 Kg | |
56 x 36 x 23 cm | Up to 7 Kg |
Please note these can change so always check the airline website at the time of booking for their latest size and weight restrictions.
Easyjet Carry on Luggage Allowance
- Their standard carry on luggage allowance has a maximum size of 45 x 36 x 20 cm and a weight restriction of up to 15 Kg
- You can also bring a larger carry on bag (56 x 45 x 25 cm) with a weight restriction of up to 15 Kg, if you pick an Up Front or Extra Legroom seat or bought an extra carry on bag
Jet2 Carry on Luggage Allowance
- Their standard carry on luggage allowance has a maximum size of 56 x 45 x 25 cm and a weight restriction of up to 10 Kg
- Jet2 also allow a small, personal item on board (such as a handbag, laptop bag or airport purchase), as long as it is placed underneath the seat in front of you
Ryanair Carry on Luggage Allowance
- Their standard carry on luggage allowance has a maximum size of 40 x 25 x 20 cm and a weight restriction of up to 10 Kg
- If you are travelling with "Priority" on Ryanair you are allowed 2 bags, a wheelie (55 x 40 x 20 cm) up to 10 Kg and a small personal bag 40 x 25 x 20 cm
- If "Priority" is sold out then you are allowed a small carry on bag but will have to pay for a 10Kg Check In bag.
Wizz Air Carry on Luggage Allowance
- Their standard carry on luggage allowance has a maximum size of 40 x 30 x 20 cm and a weight restriction of up to 10 Kg
- If you purchase a trolley bag with "Priority" on Wizz Air you can get a 55 x 40 x 23 cm up to 10 Kg along with their standard carry on bag
Loganair Carry on Luggage Allowance
- Their standard carry on luggage allowance has a maximum size of 40 x 35 x 18 cm and a weight restriction of up to 6 Kg
- Fly Flex + passengers can carry 1 bag up to 6kg free of charge plus a small handbag and slimline laptop bag
- Fly and Fly Flex passengers can carry 1 bag up to 6kg free of charge plus a small handbag
British Airways Carry on Luggage Allowance
- British Airways allow 2 carry on pieces of luggage a wheelie style (40 x 30 x 15 cm) and a cabin bag (56 x 45 x 25 cm) with a combined weight of 23 Kg
TUI Carry on Luggage Allowance
- TUI allow one cabin bag 55 x 40 x 20 cm and weighing up to 10 Kg
Virgin Atlantic Carry on Luggage Allowance
- Virgin Atlantic allow a cabin bag 56 x 36 x 23 cm and weighing up to 10 Kg
- All passengers flying in Economy (Light, Classic & Delight) or Premium cabins can take one piece of hand baggage per person weighing up to 10kg
- All Upper Class passengers can take up to two pieces of hand baggage per person, weighing up to 12kg (26lb) for one bag, or up to 16kg (35lb) combined weight. So for example, you could take a 12kg bag and another little bag of 4kg
Emirates Carry on Luggage Allowance
- Emirates allow a cabin bag 55 x 38 x 20 cm and weighing up to 7 Kg in Economy class
- Emirates allow a cabin bag 55 x 38 x 20 cm and weighing up to 10 Kg in Premium Economy class
- All Business and First Class passengers can take up to two pieces of hand baggage per person, a briefcase (45 x 35 x 20 cm) and a handbag (55 x 38 x 20 cm) or a garment bag that can be no more than 20 cm thick when folded.
- For customers boarding in India, you are allowed one piece of carry-on baggage. The size of the carry-on baggage may not exceed 115 centimeters (length + width + height).
- For all flights departing from Brazil, customers can carry up to 10 kg of cabin baggage.
Qantas Carry on Luggage Allowance
- Qantas allow a cabin bag 56 x 36 x 23 cm and weighing up to 7 Kg in Economy class or a garment bag (60 x 11 x 114 cm)
- In addition to your carry-on baggage allowance, you may also carry onboard one small personal item such as a handbag, laptop computer, overcoat, small camera, a reasonable amount of reading material or a small amount of duty free goods
Hopefully the above information has helped. With almost veery airline flying in and out of the UK, any child aged over 2 years old is also entitled to the carry on luggage allowance. That is simply because in most cases you are in effect paying for their seat on the aircraft.
Ideally the industry would make life simpler for everyone if they would adopt a standard size and weight. In reality that is not going to happen. These sizes have changed quite a lot over the past 2-3 years. In almost every case that has been to reduce the size of the luggage.
