Flying Home for Christmas? Find Out Which Airlines Let Your Gifts Fly Free

Joanna Teljeur

By:  Joanna Teljeur

11 minutes read

Last Updated:  May 6, 2026

Reviewed by:  Anton Radchenko

The holiday season is ramping up, but while millions are planning celebrations, there’s a less cheerful issue dancing in the minds of soon-to-be passengers: Will my gifts make it onboard with me, or will I have to pay extra for the space?

To find out, AirAdvisor analysed the 2025 cabin baggage policies of Europe’s top airlines and compared what passengers actually get when it comes to cabin baggage. So, we inspected each airline’s policy for carry-on sizes, weights, personal-item allowances, and clarity of rules, and came up with a “Nice List” and “Naughty List” to show you which carriers are the most and least generous with cabin baggage.

The “Nice List”: The Most Generous Legacy Airlines

#1 British Airways - 15/15

BA cabin baggage allowance (Economy fares):

1. 1 cabin trolley – maximum size 56×45×25 cm, up to 23 kg
2. 1 personal item – maximum size 40×30×15 cm, up to 23 kg
3. Both items can be carried together with no combined weight cap, allowing passengers to maximise their allowance

Among Europe’s full-service airlines, British Airways stands out as the most generous carrier for Christmas travel, earning a perfect 15/15 in AirAdvisor’s ranking. This means you can fly more comfortably, bring winter clothes, holiday gifts, and even a tin of Quality Street without worrying about size or weight restrictions. British Airways’ policy is also crystal clear across fare types, so you won’t have any last-minute surprises at the gate. In short, it’s the kind of generosity that makes festive flying feel just a bit more human.

#2 Iberia - 13.5/15

Iberia cabin baggage allowance (Economy fares):

1. 1 cabin trolley – up to 10 kg (maximum size 56×40×25 cm)
2. 1 personal item – up to 40×30×15 cm (e.g., handbag, laptop bag, or small backpack)
3. The personal item does not count toward the 10 kg limit, giving passengers extra flexibility

If you’re flying home for Christmas with Iberia, you’re in luck! The Spanish flag carrier keeps things refreshingly simple. Every passenger can bring a free 10 kg cabin trolley plus a personal item, without any sneaky small print or unexpected charges.

The airline’s baggage policy is clearly explained on its website and is applied consistently across routes, making it one of Europe’s most reliable and transparent options for Christmas travel. Whether you’re heading from Madrid to London or returning home from Barcelona with a suitcase full of presents, Iberia makes festive flying easier, and friendlier, for everyone.

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#3 SWISS - 13.2/15

SWISS cabin baggage allowance (Economy fares):

1. 1 cabin bag – maximum size 55×40×23 cm, up to 8 kg
2. 1 slim laptop,  or personal item – fits under the seat in front of you
3. Clear and consistent policy across all SWISS routes

When it comes to transparency, SWISS lives up to its reputation for precision. Travellers are allowed one 8 kg cabin bag and a small personal item or laptop bag. Also, the airline’s baggage pages are exceptionally clear, with identical guidance across routes, something not all airlines can claim.

#4 TAP Air Portugal - 13/15

TAP cabin baggage allowance (Economy fares):

1. 1 cabin trolley – maximum size 55×40×25 cm, up to 10 kg
2. 1 personal item – maximum size 40×30×15 cm
3. Combined total weight not explicitly stated, but the policy remains flexible in practice

TAP Air Portugal earns high marks for its clear communication and fair allowances. They offer travellers a standard cabin trolley as well as a personal item at no extra charge. Although the combined total isn’t formally listed, the airline’s policy is applied consistently and explained in straightforward language.

#5 Lufthansa - 12.7/15

Lufthansa cabin baggage allowance (Economy fares):

1. 1 cabin bag – maximum size 55×40×23 cm, up to 8 kg
2. 1 personal item – maximum size 40×30×15 cm
3. No combined allowance specified, but both items are accepted in Economy

As one of Europe’s leading network airlines, Lufthansa delivers clarity and reliability where it matters most. Passengers can bring one 8 kg cabin bag and a personal item free of charge, with well-structured policies that don’t really vary among routes.

They don’t provide a formal combined cabin baggage allowance, but they do have a well-balanced policy which is rewarding for careful travellers, especially if you’re flying home for Christmas with a sack of gifts.

Top 5 Most Generous European Legacy Airlines for Cabin Baggage (2025)

The Low-Cost “Nice List”: The Most Generous Budget Airlines

While budget airlines often get a bad rap for charging lots of extra fees for baggage, some prove that low-cost doesn’t have to mean stingy. Here are the most generous low-cost carriers:

#1 Jet2 - 14/15

Jet2 cabin baggage allowance (Standard fares):

1. 1 cabin trolley – 56x45x25cm, maximum weight 10 kg 
2. 1 personal item – handbag, laptop bag, or small backpack (40 x 30 x 20cm)
3. Both items included free of charge on all standard fares

While many low-cost airlines have shrunk their cabin allowances, Jet2 stands out for doing just the opposite. With Jet2, every passenger gets a free 10 kg trolley and a personal item without hidden conditions or gate-side surprises.

The airline’s baggage policy is simple, transparent, and clearly explained online, making it ideal for holiday passengers who don’t want to decode the small print before packing.

#2 TUI Fly Belgium: 13.2/15

TUI Fly cabin baggage allowance (Economy fares):

1. 1 cabin trolley – maximum size 55×40×20 cm, up to 10 kg
2. 1 personal item that fits under the seat in front of you (40 x 30 x 20cm)
3. Overhead trolleys may be checked at the gate if bins are full (no added cost)

TUI fly Belgium lets you bring a free 10 kg trolley and a personal item without worrying about sudden fees or confusing exceptions.

And even during the busy Christmas season, TUI’s policy stays transparent. If overhead bins fill up, the airline may check trolleys for free rather than penalising you with fees. 

#3 Norwegian: 11/15  - Ex Aequo

Norwegian cabin baggage allowance (Economy fares):

1. LowFare: 1 free under-seat personal item only (30x40x20cm - max 10kg)
2. LowFare+ and Flex: 1 under-seat item plus 1 cabin trolley (combined allowance up to 15 kg)
3. Simple, clearly communicated rules across all fare types

Norwegian clearly defines what’s included in each of their fare types: A small personal item for LowFare, and a full trolley plus personal item for LowFare+ and Flex.

And their combined cabin allowance of up to 15 kg gives you flexibility without ambiguity. 

#4 Transavia:  11/15 - Ex Aequo

Transavia cabin baggage allowance (Economy fares):

1. 1 free under-seat bag – (40x30x20 cm - 10kg maximum) 
2. 1 cabin trolley – can be pre-purchased at reasonable rates
3. Consistent size and weight limits across all Transavia routes

With Transavia every passenger can bring a small under-seat bag for free, with the option to add a standard cabin trolley for an affordable fee. The airline’s clear, easy-to-navigate website explains exactly what’s included and what’s extra, without small-print surprises, making Transavia a solid choice if you prefer to plan ahead, especially during the busy Christmas season when overhead space can be tight and fees tend to rise.

#5 Eurowings: 10/15 

Eurowings cabin baggage allowance (BASIC fares):

1. 1 free under-seat item – maximum size 40×30×25 cm, 8kg max 
2. 1 overhead cabin trolley – available as a paid add-on for BASIC fares
3. Clear online communication with easy upgrade options

What makes Eurowings stand out is their transparency. Their website lays out every cabin bag option clearly, including upgrade pricing and size limits.

For travellers who like flexibility, Eurowings offers clear choices without hidden surprises. The policy might not be the most generous in Europe, but it’s refreshingly honest, which is a trait many holiday flyers will appreciate when packing gifts for the trip home.

The Naughty List: Where Cabin Space Comes at a Cost

At the bottom of the list we have Pegasus, SunExpress and Finnair, who score between 6 and 8 out of 15.  

These carriers typically include only one small under-seat personal item that’s roughly the size of a handbag or laptop case. To use the overhead bin, you have to pay for “priority boarding” or a higher fare bundle.

This might not seem like a big deal, but at Christmas, when nearly everyone travels with extra luggage, those paid add-ons can double in price on busy days. In other words, a “cheap” €40 fare can quickly become €80 once baggage fees are added.

Flop 3: The Least Generous Airlines (overall)

1. Pegasus Airlines — 6/15

Free very small and light personal item (40x30x15 cm, max 3kg); strict sizer enforcement at the gate. The risk of unexpected charges makes packing stressful for travelers.

2. SunExpress - 7/15 

Free small and light personal item (40x30x20cm, max 4kg), this is enough for a compact backpack or tote, but the low weight limit means travelers still need to pack carefully to avoid extra fees for anything beyond the essentials.

3. Finnair - 8/15

Despite being a legacy airline, Finnair’s Superlight fare only includes one small personal bag (40×30×15 cm) with a maximum weight of 8 kg, less than what many low-cost airlines offer today.

The Christmas Cabin Bag Survival Guide

Even if you’re flying with one of the “Nice List” carriers, security rules can still be a source of grief for travellers, especially over the holidays. Here’s what you should keep in mind when you’re packing.

1. What you can bring in your cabin bag

Solid foods like chocolates, biscuits, or panettone are fine to carry in your cabin bag, along with medication (even liquids, but remember to bring a doctor’s note) and anything you need if you’re flying with a baby or toddler, like breast milk and baby food. 

Fortunately, at several airports, the strict 100 ml liquid rule is starting to relax. In the UK, airports like Birmingham and Edinburgh have already introduced next-generation scanners so you can bring up to 2 litres of liquids in your hand luggage. A few major EU airports are also gradually adopting the same technology and lifting the old limits, which should make security screening a little faster and easier this Christmas.

2. What not to pack

The most common confiscated holiday items are food-based, non-solid items like cranberry sauce, cheese spreads, gravy, chutney, and jam.

Liquor or champagne bottles must be bought after security, inside the duty-free area. Things like snow globes almost never make it through because the liquid inside breaks the 100 ml rule.
Also, candles are technically allowed, but gel-filled or liquid ones are not. But whatever you do, don’t bring toy weapons in your cabin bag. Even better, let Santa deliver those.

3. How to avoid baggage fees and holiday stress

The easiest way to avoid last-minute charges is to check your fare type before travelling. Many “Light” or “Basic” fares now include only a small under-seat bag.

Use soft-sided carry-on bags because they’re easier to squeeze into tight airline size boxes than hard-shell cases and less likely to get rejected at the gate. Also, spread the weight between your personal item and your cabin bag to help you stay under each bag’s limit. And if your airline charges for overhead-bin access, remember that it’s almost always cheaper to buy it online ahead of time rather than paying extra at the airport.

It’s also a good idea to keep photos of what you packed and receipts for valuable gifts. Both are helpful with customs declarations as well as delayed, damaged or lost baggage compensation claims if something goes wrong.

If Your Checked Bags Don’t Arrive When You Do

Sometimes even the best-packed Christmas suitcase doesn’t arrive when you do. If your luggage is delayed, damaged, or lost, you’re protected under the Montreal Convention, which applies to most international flights.

Passengers can claim reimbursement for essential purchases while waiting for their bag, and compensation for lost or damaged belongings, up to approximately €1,920 per passenger.

So, this holiday season, pack smart, travel light, let your gifts fly free and remember that AirAdvisor has your back if your luggage doesn’t make it home for the holidays.

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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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