U.K. Airlines’ Updated Measurement Limits For Personal & Carry On Bags

by SharonKurheg

When traveling on a U.S. carrier, the size limitations for what you can bring as carry-on may vary slightly but not a whole helluva lot. And virtually no U.S.-based airline gives limitations on weight for carry-on bags, short of “You must be able to put it into the overhead yourself” (yeah, try that when your four and a half feet tall). That’s not necessarily the case for other countries, so as a reference, we’re posting the rules for other countries.

Today we’re focusing on the major airlines in the U.K.

If you’d like to see the other countries’ measurements for personal and carry on bags:

The U.S. and U.K. are two countries that speak the same language but still wind up with a lot of communication gaps. Even for travel. So here’s a translation guide 😉

U.S. U.K.
Inches & pounds Centimeters & kilograms
Carry on bag Hand bags/Cabin bag
Personal sized bag Hand bag/laptop sized bag
Checked luggage Hold luggage

And then you’ve got the whole measurement thing…
1 centimeter = 0.393701 inches
1 kilogram = 2.20462 pounds.
But don’t worry – I’ll do the conversations for you 😉

The measurement dimensions below all include the space taken up by handles, wheels and anything attached to the bag(s).

British Airways

Your free hand baggage allowance, i.e. the total number of bags, size and weight, varies depending on the airline that’s operating your flight, and, in one case, where you’re going. Generally speaking, you can bring:

Adults, young adults & children: 1 cabin/carry-on bag (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 56 x 45 x 25cm / 22 x 18 x 10in)
PLUS
1 handbag/laptop bag (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 40 x 30 x 15cm / 16 x 12 x 6in)

Infants (under age 2): 1 cabin/carry-on for items required during the flight (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 56 x 45 x 25cm / 22 x 18 x 10in)

For flights to/from BRAZIL, the rules are slightly different:

Adults, young adults & children: 1 cabin/carry-on bag (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 56 x 45 x 25cm / 22 x 18 x 10in)
PLUS
1 handbag/laptop bag (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 45 x 36 x 20cm / 18 x 14 x 8in) (this is a little larger than for other BA flights)

Infants (under age 2): 1 cabin/carry-on bag for items required during the flight (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 56 x 45 x 25cm / 22 x 18 x 10in)

NOTES: If you have made a reservation with British Airways but are traveling on one of its partners (Comair, SUN-AIR, Flybe, American Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airlines, etc.), your free hand baggage allowance, i.e. the total number of bags, size and weight, will vary depending on the airline that’s operating your flight. Go to the bottom of this page of BA’s website to find the specifications for each of those airlines.

easyJet

Cabin space is limited to 70 bags in the overhead and once they’ve reached that number of bags, all other carry-on bags will be gate checked. The number of bags you’re allowed to bring into the cabin varies with the seat you’ve purchased, as well as whether or not you’re an easyJet Plus cardholder. Generally speaking, most passengers can bring ONE cabin bag per person.

Cabin/carry-on bag: generally 56x45x25cm (22″ x 17.5″ x 9.75″).
Flexi, Upfront, Extra Legroom customers and easyJet Plus cardholders: can bring an additional under seat bag like a laptop bag or handbag (read: personal item).  Maximum size 45x36x20cm (17.5″ x 14″ x 7.75″).  These bags must be placed under the seat in front of you.

NOTES: easyJet has a mobile app and with it, you can click on your trip itinerary to find the bag sizing tool. You can then use your mobile phone camera to size your cabin bag. If it fits inside the maximum cabin bag dimensions you’re good to go! If it doesn’t fit, you can always add hold luggage quickly and easily (and for a cost) through the app or within Manage Bookings.

Jet2.com

FUN FACT! Jet2.com wouldn’t let me look at their website until I changed my VPN to make it think I was in the U.K. 😉

Screen Shot 2019-05-27 at 12.15.19 AM

Anyway, Jet2.com allows one piece of hand baggage onboard. It must be no bigger than 56 x 45 x 25cm (18 x 14 x 8in) and can be no more than 10kg (22 pounds).

Ryanair

Handbag/laptop bag: 40cm x 20cm x 25cm (15.5″ x 7.75″ x 9.75″)
If you buy a  “Priority & 2 Cabin Bag” or Plus/Flexi ticket or connecting flight ticket, you can also bring 1 additional 10kg bag (22 pounds) on board which must fit into the baggage sizer (not exceeding 10kg and dimensions 55cm x 40cm x 20cm / 21.5″ x 15.5″ x 7.75″.

This is a relatively new (November, 2018) update for Ryanair (previously you could bring both a personal sized bag and a carry-on bag for free). They even made a video to explain it:

NOTES: Passengers with medical equipment can still bring these items on board free of charge subject to pre-clearance by their special assistance team.

There’s no cabin bag allowance for an infant (aged 8 days to 23 months) traveling on an adult’s lap; however, a baby bag up to 5kg (11 pounds) may be carried by the accompanying adult in addition to their own cabin bag allowance. Click here to learn more about infant equipment.

TUI Airways

Carry-on bag: 1 piece of hand luggage of up to 10kg (22 pounds) and no more than 55x40x20cm (21.5″ x 15.5″ x 7.75″). Things such as laptops, handbags and items bought at the airport must fit within your 1 piece of hand luggage.

NOTES:

  • If you’re flying with TUI Airways, you can take a pushchair (stroller) for infants under 2 years old, for free. And if your flight is part of a package holiday, under-2s will also have a check-in luggage allowance of 10kg (22 pounds). If you’re not flying with TUI Airways (read: one of their partners), you’ll need to check with your airline. Most other airlines will also carry pushchairs free of charge and you can usually take them to the boarding gate. Some airlines also offer extra hold luggage for under 2s – you’ll find details on your e-ticket or confirmation email.
  • For TUI Airways flights, you’re allowed to pool your luggage allowance with anyone else traveling on your booking. However, each bag can only weigh up to 23kg.
  • They have other rules regarding sports & diving equipment, musical instruments, etc. Go towards the bottom of this page of their website for details.

Virgin Atlantic

Hand baggage is included as part of all of their tickets, and depending on the cabin you might be able to take more than just the one bag. Whichever cabin you’re in, the size of your bag needs to be a maximum of 23 x 36 x 56cm (that’s around 9 x 14 x 22 inches).

  • Economy & Premium: one piece of hand baggage per person weighing up to 10kg (or 22lb)
  • Upper class: up to two pieces of hand baggage per person, weighing up to 12kg (26lb) for one bag, or up to 16kg (35lb) combined weight.
  • You can also bring:
    — Your handbag, small backpack/rucksack, pocketbook or purse, as you would normally use it (in other words, not just being used to contain items that would otherwise be regarded as baggage)
    — Your overcoat or wrap
    — Your umbrella or walking stick (these cannot be pointed or sharp)
    — A small camera and/or pair of binoculars
    — A reasonable amount of reading matter for the flight
    — An infant’s food (for consumption on the flight)
    — A small amount of duty free goods
    — Headphones for onboard use (they’ll need the standard 3.5mm jack)
    — Laptop
    — Mobility aids and wheelchairs
    — You can bring real or electronic cigarettes, rolling papers and tobacco, and cigars onboard but you can’t smoke them. Cigarette lighters including butane, absorbed fuel (Zippo style) and battery-powered lighters can be carried on the person, except on flights to Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Tobago, Havana and Delhi.
  • Children’s bags:– Babies and toddlers aged 0-23 months are entitled to one bag each, weighing up to 6kg (or 13lb).
    — Any children aged 2+ years are entitled to the same amount of hand baggage as an adult in the cabin allowances shown above.
    — When traveling with infants or children you can bring a fully collapsible pushchair (stroller) and car seat, in addition to the free check in allowance.

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary

 

1 comment

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