With air travel back to near pre-Covid levels, many people will be looking to book their getaways in the next few months. However, while you can look forward to flying off for a ski trip, city break or beach holiday, if you forget important airline rules, you could be off to a rocky start.
The Mirror reports that when it comes to luggage, long gone are the days when you always got free bags to check in. Nowadays airlines such as TUI, easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways each have their own policies around what you can bring onboard flights for free. Getting it wrong could prove costly, especially if you end up having to pay to check-in a bag.
Here's what you need to know about the policies of some of the airlines.
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus offers up two options for those bringing carry-on bags. If you want to bring a second bag (not just a small handbag or rucksack), you need to either pay for priority boarding with carry-on bag from £5.99, or you can drop it off free-of-charge at the airport to have it placed in the hold.
British Airways
You can take one personal bag such as a laptop bag or handbag measuring max 40x30x15cm including handles, pockets and wheels and an additional cabin bag weighing no more than 23kg and measuring no more than 56x45x25cm.
This is included in the airline's hand luggage only fares. While your handbag/laptop size bag is guaranteed to travel with you in the cabin, on busier flights you may need to check in the additional larger bag.
Any extra bags will need to be checked in and will count towards your checked luggage allowance. Some British Airways fares include this as part of the booking, but if you exceed your allowance because you're adding extra hand luggage, then you may be charged.
easyJet
You can bring for free one small bag measuring max 45x36x20cm including handles and wheels that fit under the seat in front of you.
If you want to bring a second bag on board, you'll need to pay extra. Those in Extra Legroom or Up Front seats can bring a second bag to put in the overhead locker, with prices for these options varying from an extra £7.99-£34.99. You can also book a large cabin bag for your flight.
Jet2
You can take for free one small personal item - such as a laptop size bag or handbag - that can be placed underneath the seat in front of you as well as a larger bag weighing no more than 10kg and measuring no more than 56x45x25cm including the wheels and handles.
If your larger bag weighs more than 10kg or is larger than the maximum measurements, you'll be asked to check in and you'll need to pay a fee. If you want more luggage, this will need to be checked in and will count towards your checked bags allowance.
Ryanair
You can take for free one small personal bag such as a handbag, backpack or laptop bag, measuring no more than 40x20x25cm. If you want to bring a second bag, you can pay to add 'Priority & 2 Cabin bags' to your booking. This allows you to bring your small personal bag, as well as a 10kg wheelie bag measuring no more than 55x40x20cm. Alternatively you can also pay to add a 10kg check-in bag option to your booking.
TUI Airways
You can take for free one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 10kg and measuring no more than 55x40x20cm. If you have a handbag or laptop bag, this will need to be able to fit into your larger bag.
If you want more luggage you'll need to pay extra to add checked luggage to your allowance, as any extra bags will need to be checked in. A word of caution - if you booked a TUI holiday which includes a different airline, you'll need to adhere to that airline's policy.
Virgin Atlantic
You can take for free one piece of hand luggage weighing no more than 10kg. (Economy or Premium cabins only). Babies and toddlers aged 0-23 months are entitled to one bag each weighing up to 6kg. You can also take a handbag, small backpack or rucksack.
Babies and toddlers up to 23 months are entitled to one bag each weighing up to 6kg. Kids aged two or over have the same hand luggage allowance as adults.
If you want more luggage you'll need to pay for a ticket that includes checked luggage - Economy Classic and Delight both include one bag of up to 23kg.
Wizz Air
You can take for free one bag measuring no more than 40x30x20cm that must fit under the seat in front of you, such as a handbag or laptop bag. It must not weigh more than 10kg.
If you want to bring a second bag for the overhead locker, you can opt to upgrade to a WIZZ Priority booking which includes an additional cabin bag measuring no more than 55x40x23cm and weighing no more than 10kg. Alternatively you can also pay to add checked luggage to your booking.
Wizz Air's measurements don't include wheels but the airline says that these "must add no more than 5 cm to the size of the bag".
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