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Airline Luggage Allowances: Size Limits, Weight & Fees
If you’ve flown recently, you’ve probably noticed how complicated baggage fees have become. Not only are the rules complex, but the fees seem to be constantly increasing.
Ever since airlines began unbundling their fees, baggage rates have been on the rise. Henry Harteveldt, President of Atmosphere Research Group said in an interview with CNN,
Airlines are raising bag fees in part because of higher labor costs, and in part because they want to - and they can. Passengers don’t like paying to check bags, but they generally don’t change airlines over the price of the associated fee.
Maybe not, but if you know the baggage allowance rules and how they can vary among airlines and routes, you’ll be more prepared to minimise the amount you end up paying. Here, we're going to give you an overview of what to expect, so you can keep your baggage fees at a minimum the next time you fly.
The Basics of Airline Baggage Policies
Whether you’re flying with a full service or a low cost airline, your luggage will have to meet certain size and weight requirements. Plus, according to which airline you fly with, you might have to pay fees for carry-on bags as well as checked luggage. But depending on your route and cabin class, you might not have to pay anything.
Baggage Fees
How and when you choose your baggage options also makes a difference in how much you’ll have to pay. Baggage fees for low-cost airlines tend to be lower the earlier you choose and pay for your luggage allowance while legacy carriers fees are based more on whether you pay for checked bags online or at the airport.
The Different Ways to Pay for Baggage
- Online when you book your ticket
- After you book - either on the airline’s website or on the app
- During check-in online or on the app
- During check-in at the airport kiosks
- During check-in at the check-in desk
- At the boarding gate
Luggage Allowances
A luggage allowance refers to what you are permitted to bring with you, either in the cabin or in the aircraft hold.
Just like baggage fees, allowances vary significantly between low-cost and full-service airlines. In most cases, passengers are allowed to bring at least one small personal item, such as a handbag or purse. Whether you can also bring a larger carry-on bag, and at no extra cost, depends on the airline and the fare type.
- With low-cost airlines, carry-on bags are often not included in the base fare. Size limits also tend to be more restrictive, meaning anything larger than a small personal item usually comes with an added fee.
- Legacy airlines, on the other hand, generally include one free carry-on bag in the ticket price, although this can be limited or removed in the lowest economy fare classes.
Checked baggage allowances introduce even more variation. Weight limits, size restrictions, and fees can differ widely by airline and fare type, which we will break down in more detail later.
Baggage Fees and Allowances Compared
In all regions, airlines can set their own rules for baggage allowance and fees, and passengers can see big differences between full and low cost airlines.
Region | Carry-on Baggage | Checked Baggage |
🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Generally one free carry-on bag is allowed but size allowances are different by airline | For long-haul flights, 1 checked bag is included in the ticket price, but this isn’t always the case for shorter flights. The weight limit is roughly 50 lbs (23 kg) for economy class. |
🇪🇺 Europe | Typically, legacy airlines allow one free carry-on that is at most 55 x 40 x 20 cm | Several full cost airlines allow one free checked bag but LCCs charge for all checked bags. Weight limit:roughly 50 lbs (23 kg) |
🇺🇸 United States | Usually one free carry-on bag and one personal item. Size limits are generally 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm) | Fees for checked baggage usually start at $35 on full service airlines. Weight limits are generally 50 lbs (23 kg) |
🇨🇦 Canada | Usually you can bring one free carry-on no more than 55 x 40 x 23 cm. | Most carriers charge to check bags on domestic flights. Fees begin at around £20. Weight limits: 50 lbs (23 kg) |
Comparing Low Cost and Full Service Airlines
As mentioned, once baggage fees are added, passengers can end up paying just as much for a low-cost airline ticket as they would for a full-service fare. Low-cost carriers often charge higher overall fees for checked baggage and, in many cases, also apply charges for carry-on bags.
To illustrate this, we looked at a selection of UK and EU airlines and compared the baggage fees and allowances for a standard economy ticket to see how they stack up.
Airline | Carry-on Baggage | Checked Baggage |
British Airways | Included free in economy fare: 1 carry-on (56x45x25cm) + | 1 checked bag included free with economy fare Max dimensions up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35 x 30 x 17in) Weight up to 23kg (51lb) per bag |
easyJet | All passengers allowed 1 free underseat cabin bag of 45 x 36 x 20 cm (including any handles and wheels) max 15 kg | One bag weighing up to 15kg for £14.99. Fee varies depending on the route selected, flight and time of booking. |
Loganair | Fly customers can carry a total allowance of up to 21kg: split as 15kg hold & 6kg cabin luggage. | Fly customers can carry a total allowance of up to 21kg: split as 15kg hold & 6kg cabin luggage. |
Jet2 | All passengers allowed 10kg hand luggage allowance + one small under-seat bag | £8 to £45 for a 22kg bag depending on your route and when you book |
Ryanair | 1 small personal item 40x20x25cm £12-£36 for a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm) | £9.49 - £44.99 for a 10kg check-in Bag. Fees vary by route & travel dates |
Wizz Air | 1 free personal item 1 trolley bag (55 × 40 × 23 cm, up to 10 kg) for between £12 to £25 depending on route and travel dates. | One 10 kg checked bag costs between £5 and £18 depending on route and dates travelled |
Additional Baggage Options
Baggage allowance doesn’t end with suitcases and carry-on bags. Most airlines have special fees, rules, and requirements for a wide range of other items you might want or need to travel with including:
- Extra baggage
- Overweight or oversized bags
- Sports equipment like bikes, ski equipment, etc
- Car seats and other kid-centric items
- Pets
Passengers travelling with children or babies, medical equipment, mobility devices, or any other special item will have to dig even deeper into airline policies to prepare and comply with the rules.
Bottom Line
Airline baggage policies can be a complex business, which is why it’s so important to understand the rules for the airline you fly. In order to help you save money and have as smooth a journey as possible, we’ve created special baggage allowance guides for some of the most popular airlines in the US, UK, Europe, and Canada. These guides will allow you to navigate the maze of rules and fees so you can bring what you want with you for less.
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Author:
Joanna Teljeur
Job/Position: Senior Editor & Content Lead
Joanna Teljeur is a senior editor and writer with 15+ years of experience in editorial leadership, journalism, and content development, specialising in consumer rights, aviation law, and public-interest reporting. Her work focuses on transforming complex regulatory and legal topics into clear, accurate, and accessible content for international audiences.
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