Cabin baggage is one of the easiest travel rules to remember incorrectly. A bag that was comfortably within the allowance on one airline can be chargeable on the next, and even a carrier you have used before may have changed its dimensions or fare structure since your last flight.
Ryanair is a useful example. Its free personal-bag allowance is now 40×30×20 cm. Older packing notes and travel pages may still show the previous dimensions. The safest approach is therefore not to memorise one industry-standard cabin size, because there is no single standard. Check the operating airline, the booking type and the current rule before you pack.
The comparison below uses the same source data as the Farlounge baggage allowance checker. The airline records were checked against official airline baggage pages on 19 August 2026. We deliberately avoid presenting dynamic bag prices as fixed figures because many airlines change them by route, date and when the bag is added.
Cabin baggage rules compared
| Airline | Small / personal bag | Overhead cabin bag | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 × 30 × 20 cm included | Not included | — |
| easyJet | 45 × 36 × 20 cm included | 56 × 45 × 25 cm available as an add-on | Up to 15kg for each cabin bag |
| Wizz Air | 40 × 30 × 20 cm included | Not included | Free carry-on bag up to 10kg |
| Jet2 | 40 × 30 × 20 cm included | 56 × 45 × 25 cm included | 10kg |
| TUI Airways | 40 × 30 × 20 cm included | 55 × 40 × 20 cm included | 10kg |
| British Airways | 40 × 30 × 15 cm included | 56 × 45 × 25 cm included | No fixed kg limit stated; you must be able to lift it into the overhead compartment unaided |
That table is a starting point, not a substitute for the fare-specific guide. Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air separate the small under-seat bag from larger overhead baggage in different ways, while Jet2, TUI Airways and British Airways include more cabin capacity in their standard arrangements. Follow the airline links above for the fare breakdown and the official source used by Farlounge.
Ryanair: the free bag is now 40 × 30 × 20 cm
Every Ryanair fare includes one personal bag measuring up to 40×30×20 cm. It must fit under the seat in front. Priority & 2 Cabin Bags adds an overhead trolley bag measuring up to 55×40×20 cm with a 10 kg maximum. Checked luggage is sold separately on most bookings, although the Plus fare includes a 20 kg checked bag.
The practical point is simple: a conventional cabin roller is not part of the Basic fare merely because it would physically fit in an aircraft overhead locker. Check the exact bag product included in the booking rather than relying on the phrase “hand luggage”.
See the verified Ryanair baggage guide →
easyJet: a generous free under-seat bag, larger bag separate
easyJet includes one small cabin bag measuring up to 45×36×20 cm for every passenger. The airline states a maximum weight of 15 kg for each cabin bag, provided you can lift and carry it yourself. A larger 56×45×25 cm cabin bag can be included through an eligible fare, seat or membership arrangement, or purchased separately where available.
This is a good example of why dimensions and entitlement both matter. A bag can meet the airline's large-cabin dimensions perfectly and still not be included in the cheapest booking.
See the verified easyJet baggage guide →
Wizz Air: free personal bag, Priority for the trolley bag
Wizz Air's standard free carry-on is 40×30×20 cm with a 10 kg maximum. WIZZ Priority adds a trolley bag up to 55×40×23 cm, also with a 10 kg maximum. Checked bags are available in several weight bands, so the right option depends on the trip rather than a single universal allowance.
See the verified Wizz Air baggage guide →
Jet2 and TUI Airways: standard cabin bags remain included
Jet2 currently includes a cabin bag up to 56×45×25 cm and 10 kg, plus a 40×30×20 cm under-seat bag. TUI Airways includes a 55×40×20 cm cabin bag up to 10 kg plus a 40×30×20 cm personal item for adults and children aged two and over.
Checked-luggage inclusion is where the two booking models diverge more sharply. Jet2 allows checked bags to be added, while TUI package holidays flying both ways with TUI Airways include at least 20 kg according to TUI's current luggage guidance, with higher allowances on selected products. A flight-only TUI booking does not automatically mirror the package allowance.
Jet2 guide → · TUI Airways guide →
British Airways: two cabin pieces, but check the booking for the hold bag
British Airways permits one cabin bag up to 56×45×25 cm plus a handbag or backpack up to 40×30×15 cm. BA's current baggage guidance does not state a fixed kilogram limit for that cabin bag; instead, you must be able to lift it into the overhead locker without assistance.
The checked-bag allowance then depends on the booking. Economy Basic can exclude a checked bag, standard Economy commonly includes one 23 kg bag, and Business permits two 32 kg checked bags. Route-specific exceptions exist, so the booking remains the final reference.
See the verified British Airways baggage guide →
Personal item and overhead cabin bag are not the same thing
This distinction causes much of the confusion. A personal item is the smaller bag intended to go under the seat in front. An overhead cabin bag is larger and uses locker space. On some airlines both are included; on others only the personal item is included in the lowest fare.
When shopping for luggage, therefore, “cabin approved” is not a meaningful universal promise. A manufacturer can design a case to fit one airline's overhead dimensions without that case being included in your particular fare. Compare the case dimensions with the operating airline's current policy and then check your booking entitlement.
Measure the whole bag
Airline dimensions normally include wheels, handles and external pockets. A soft-sided bag that measures correctly when empty can exceed the limit once its front pocket is full.
Why we no longer publish a fixed table of baggage fees
A static fee table looks useful but can become wrong quickly. Low-cost airlines in particular can vary baggage prices according to route, travel date, demand, bag weight and whether the option is bought during booking or added later. Gate or airport charges can also differ from advance prices.
Farlounge therefore separates stable information from volatile information. We publish the current dimensions, weight rules and fare structure that can be checked against the airline's policy. For the actual price of adding a bag to a specific flight, the airline's booking flow is the authoritative source.
A five-minute baggage check before every flight
- Identify the operating airline. A codeshare can carry another airline's flight number, but the aircraft operator is the one whose operational baggage rules matter.
- Open the actual booking. Confirm what the fare includes rather than relying on a generic airline allowance.
- Measure the bag externally. Include wheels, handles and bulging pockets.
- Weigh it after final packing. Do not estimate from the luggage capacity in litres.
- Check the official airline page again if you are close to a limit. Rules can change after an article or saved note was published.
The broader packing decision is then much easier. Use the Farlounge packing list to decide what actually needs to travel, and the baggage checker to make sure the bag you put it in matches the airline.