Hand luggage sizes and bag fees: how to stop the extras costing more than the fare

Personal item, cabin bag, checked bag: the three sizes

Airlines sort luggage into three groups, and each airline uses different names for them, which is half the confusion. Once you know which group your bag falls into, comparing fares gets much easier.

Why the cheapest fare often isn’t the cheapest trip

Many airlines now sell economy in tiers, often called basic, standard and flexible, or light, classic and plus. The lowest tier usually includes only a personal item, and sometimes no seat choice or changes. The headline price in a search is usually that lowest tier.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) puts it simply: your fare may not include hold luggage, the airline doesn’t automatically add it, and allowances vary across airlines and even destinations on the same airline. Its example is one airline giving 15kg on flights to Tenerife but 23kg to Florida.

So a fare that looks £30 cheaper can end up costing more than a rival that already includes a bag. Before you compare, decide what you’re taking, then compare the total.

Carry-on sizes for major US airlines

These are the limits each airline publishes on its own website, checked on 16 October 2026. Sizes include wheels and handles.

UK and European airlines: where to check

UK and European low-cost airlines change their bag sizes and prices often, and their pages either sit behind an interactive calculator or don’t allow automated checking, so we don’t quote figures we haven’t been able to confirm. Use the airline’s own baggage page or its booking flow, on the day you book:

• British Airways: the baggage calculator on ba.com shows the allowance for your cabin and route
• easyJet and Ryanair: check which bags your fare includes, the size of the free under-seat bag, and the price of adding a larger cabin bag
• Jet2 and TUI: check the allowance shown in your booking before you pack
• On a codeshare, the operating airline’s rules usually apply. BA, for example, says the allowance on connecting journeys is generally set by the airline that operates the longest flight

How to avoid paying at the gate

The CAA says that if your hand luggage is too big or too heavy, you may be required to have it placed in the hold, and this usually carries a charge. It also warns that paying for extra weight at the airport costs more than adding a bag when you book.

1. 1Measure your bag at home, including wheels and handles, and weigh it if the airline has a weight limit
2. 2Add any bag you need when you book, not at the airport
3. 3Check the allowance for every flight on your trip, especially if the airlines differ
4. 4Keep your personal item small enough to go under the seat, so it isn’t counted as a second cabin bag
5. 5Wear your bulkiest clothes and shoes on the plane

Refunds when bags are delayed or a service isn’t provided

On flights to, from and within the US, the Department of Transportation says you’re entitled to a refund of the bag fee if your checked bag is lost or significantly delayed. Significantly delayed means not delivered within 12 hours of a domestic flight landing, or within 15 hours of an international flight (30 hours if the flight is longer than 12 hours). You need to file a mishandled baggage report with the airline.

You can also get a refund of fees for extras you paid for but didn’t get, such as a seat you didn’t receive or Wi-Fi that didn’t work. Our guide to your rights when a flight is cancelled or delayed covers the rest.

What goes in which bag

Whatever the size, some things must stay with you in the cabin: power banks and spare batteries (never in the hold), medicines, passports and valuables. Liquids in your hand luggage follow the rules of the airport you fly from. See our guides to power banks on planes and liquids rules at UK airports.

Questions people ask