1 week Ago By [email protected] (Liam Gilliver, Lois McCarthy)
Packing for a holiday has turned into a stress-fest, with the constant question of whether your hand luggage will fit the ever-shifting size limits. Those viral TikTok meltdowns where travellers are slapped with a hefty fine for attempting to sneak oversized carry-ons onto a flight, have become an increasingly common scenario as airlines tighten their baggage rules. Some savvy jet-setters have even resorted to extreme measures, like wearing multiple layers of clothing, to bypass these restrictions.
However, it's probably wiser to simply verify what you're allowed to take on board. The Mirror has gathered the most up-to-date hand luggage regulations from several major airlines operating out of the UK; from budget carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet to more upscale options like British Airways (BA). For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here Ryanair is often blasted on social media for its strict cabin bag policy and steep fines.
Despite this, its policy isn't much different from other budget airlines. "All our fares include one small personal bag which can be brought on board, such as a handbag or laptop bag (40x20x25cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you," the airline clarifies. If you're planning on bringing extra luggage onto the plane, you'll need to fork out for Ryanair's 'Priority and Two Cabin Bags' deal.
This lets customers bring a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm) onboard to be stored in the overhead locker, along with a small personal bag - and usually includes Priority Boarding at the gate. This upgrade can cost up to £36 per person, per flight - but it's still cheaper than the €/£75 fine staff might slap on you if your bag exceeds the size restrictions. Like Ryanair, easyJet also allows one piece of free hand luggage, such as a handbag, which must fit under the seat in front of you.
It can be as large as 45x36x20cm, which is slightly more generous than Ryanair, and shouldn't weigh more than 15kg. "If you'd also like to bring a large cabin bag on board (max: 56x45x25cm, including any handles and wheels), you have the option to book a large cabin bag for your flight," the airline added. "Every customer who books a large cabin bag can also enjoy the benefit of Speedy Boarding.
" However, travellers risk being hit with a £50 fee for any 'non-purchased bags (per item) brought to the departure gate that exceed a customer's small cabin bag allowance which is a maximum size of 45 x 36 x 20 cm or any bags outside of standard entitlements'. Despite being a budget airline, Jet 2 boasts a very generous policy when it comes to hand luggage, with each passenger (excluding infants) allowed a 10kg hand luggage allowance as standard. "You can also bring one small under-seat bag onboard (such as a handbag or laptop bag) as long as it fits under the seat in front of you," the company states on its website.
"Travelling with little ones in tow? You can bring along a collapsible pushchair, car seat and/or travel cot free of charge – up to a total weight of 10kg." While British Airways (BA) might not match the budget-friendly fares of the airlines listed above, it is fairly generous when it comes to its hand luggage policy. Passengers flying Economic Basic can bring a handbag (up to 40x30x15cm) free of charge, which should be placed under the seat and shouldn't exceed 23kg.
You'll also be able to bring a free cabin bag that can be stored in the overhead lockers, which can weigh up to 23kg but should not exceed 56x45x25cm. TUI, primarily recognised for its packaged holidays, is another airline that doesn't appear overly strict with hand luggage. Passengers can bring a 10kg bag on board as long as it's no bigger than 55x40x20cm - as well as one 'personal item'.
This can include a laptop bag, handbag, or backpack - but must fit under the seat in front of you and not exceed 40x30x20cm. The travel firm issued a caution to passengers, stating: "If you arrive at the airport with luggage in excess of your allowance, you'll need to pay excess luggage charges," and further advised, "[This applies to] package bookings that include a checked-in luggage allowance and for flight-only bookings that have already added a checked-in allowance.".
