Airline hand luggage rules can be some of the most confusing out there. With dozens of airlines, you’d think there would be a standard size, but all of them seem to have different guidelines.
For 16 airlines flying from Newcastle Airport, from the budget easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair, to the more uncommon Eastern Airlines, SunExpress and Corendon Airlines, each have different rules. For many though, the amount of luggage you can haul to your seat depends on the ticket you buy.
Priority seats, which often come with early boarding, seat reservations and more legroom, also come with more luggage. But whether you’re permitted a cabin bag, a handbag, a personal item or a wheelie case, sometimes it can be tricky to tell the difference.
Read more: Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, TUI and British Airways hand luggage rules for 2023
The Chronicle researched the hand luggage, or cabin baggage, rules for each of the 16 airlines listed on Newcastle Airport’s flight timetable for 2023. Passengers are advised to double and triple-check the allowances they are permitted to carry on board as there can be hefty fares for excess baggage.
What is a cabin bag?
A cabin bag is usually a small bag or suitcase that you bring inside the plane to your seat. Many people choose to pack this with travel essentials, including tickets and reservations, as well as a change of clothes and some in-flight entertainment, others will pack everything they’ll possibly need for their whole holiday.
Most airlines class this as a bag that measures around 55cm x 40cm x 20cm including any wheels and handles. Measurements do vary by the airline with some permitting wider or deeper cases and maximum weights can be everything from 6kg (e.g. Loganair) to 8kg (e.g. Lufthansa) to 10kg (e.g. Ryanair).
What is a personal item?
A personal item is defined by Ryanair as a small backpack, handbag or laptop bag that measures 40cm x 25cm x 20cm. A number of airlines, including Aer Lingus, easyJet, Eurowings and Corendon Airlines, say that this is the limit for the standard, cheapest fares and it is called a personal item or a small cabin bag.
Which airlines have the best hand luggage rules?
For those travellers who prefer to cover all bases and leave nothing to worry about, there are three airlines that will allow passengers to bring one cabin bag (that’s a 55cmx40cmx25cm bag) as well as one personal item (that’s your handbag or backpack). So for those who want to keep their purse and passport separate from their duty-free booze and change of clothes, or those who only travel with cabin baggage, British Airways, Jet2 and KLM are your best bet as they allow passengers to carry both.
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