Baggage Allowance Guide for UK Airlines
- Owen Marshall Dungworth
- Sep 21
- 7 min read
A simple summary for UK airlines as of 2025
We all take luggage on holiday and our trips. Whether you're a savvy packer and can fit everything into a rucksack or need 50kg just for a weekend away. We know that baggage rules can be confusing and they vary between airlines so we have created this handy guide to hopefully clear it up so you don't get caught out and potentially get charged a fortune!
Before we dig into each airline, it helps to know what’s meant by cabin baggage (also called hand luggage) and checked baggage (or hold luggage).
Cabin baggage / hand luggage is what you bring on board with you onto the aircraft. There are often two parts: a larger bag that goes in the overhead bins and a smaller “personal item” that needs to fit under the seat in front of you (a laptop bag, handbag etc). Size and weight limits are strictly checked by airlines because of space and you can be charged a hefty fee at the gate if they don’t meet the requirements.
Checked baggage / hold luggage is the baggage you give at check‑in (or bag drop) and it goes in the aircraft hold to be collected at your destination. This has its own size and weight limits, and often there are fees unless your ticket or package includes allowance.
Below we will break into the following UK airlines. You can use them to navigate to that section easier:
Jet2
Cabin Baggage
Every passenger gets one piece of hand luggage free. It must weigh up to 10 kg and be no larger than 56cm × 45cm × 25cm (this includes wheels and handles).
In addition you can bring a small personal item (handbag, laptop bag, or something from duty free) that must fit under the seat in front. The limit for that is 40cm × 30cm × 15cm.
Checked Baggage
If you need to check a bag, Jet2 allows up to three 22 kg checked bags per person on Jet2.com flights (excluding infants) at a cost. As with most airlines, cost varies depending on weight and route.
No single item of checked luggage may weigh more than 32 kg.
Again, like most airlines, if you add checked baggage earlier (during booking or Manage My Booking) it tends to be cheaper than at the airport.
Package Holiday / Jet2Holidays
For customers on package holidays (through Jet2Holidays or Jet2CityBreaks), the rules are a little more generous. The package usually includes 22 kg hold baggage plus the standard 10 kg cabin baggage. Make sure you diuble check on your booking information.
Ryanair
Cabin Baggage
All fares include one small personal bag free. It must fit under the seat in front. The current dimensions are 40cm × 30cm × 20cm.
If you purchase the Priority & 2 Cabin Bags option which may be included in your fare type, you can also bring in an additional larger cabin bag (up to 10 kg, dimensions 55cm × 40cm × 20cm) into the overhead locker.
Checked Baggage
You can add checked bags, in 10 kg or 20 kg options. There is also a 23 kg option for some routes.
Some fares include checked bags so check if yours does.
Up to three checked bags may be added under certain fare types.
No single item of checked luggage may weigh more than 32 kg.
Again, like most airlines, if you add checked baggage earlier (during booking or Manage My Booking) it tends to be cheaper than at the airport.
If you’re travelling with family or friends on the same flight and booking, you can pool your total weight allowance.This means that the total weight allowance can be split among the total number of bags booked, as long as no single item weighs more than 32kg.
easyJet
Cabin Baggage
Free allowance includes one small cabin bag (fits under the seat in front). Exact size is 45cm × 36cm × 20cm (including handles and wheels).
If you book 'Up Front' or 'Extra Legroom seats' or buy a large cabin bag option, you can bring a larger cabin bag (up to 56cm × 45cm × 25cm).
Checked Baggage
Each customer including children and infants can buy up to three hold bags. A standard hold bag is 23kg. You can buy extra weight in 3kgs units, up to a maximum of 32kg per bag.
If you’re travelling with family or friends on the same flight and booking, you can pool your total weight allowance.This means that the total weight allowance can be split among the total number of bags booked, as long as no single item weighs more than 32kg.
TUI
Cabin Baggage
On TUI Airways flights you get one piece of hand luggage free (excluding infants). Up to 10 kg, size 55cm × 40cm × 20cm.
Plus a small personal item (laptop bag, handbag etc) which must fit under the seat in front of you.
Checked Baggage
If you book a package holiday with TUI, you often get 20kg of checked‑in baggage included. For certain holiday types (TUI BLUE, Sensatori, Holiday Village, A La Carte, River Cruises etc) the included allowance may be 25kg.
If your booking is flight‑only, you need to pay extra for checking baggage and the options and costs depend on route and fare type.
Wizz Air
Cabin Baggage
Every passenger gets one free carry‑on bag (under‑seat bag) included in all fares. It must be no larger than 40 × 30 × 20 cm, and weigh up to 10 kg.
If you buy WIZZ Priority, you can also bring a second cabin bag up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm (handles/wheels excluded, but wheels can add up to 5 cm) also up to 10 kg.
Checked Baggage
Basic fares do not include any checked baggage. To get checked baggage you need to pay extra or have a fare/bundle that includes it (e.g. WIZZ Go or WIZZ Plus in some cases).
Options for checked baggage weights are typically 10 kg, 20 kg, 26 kg or 32 kg.
Size limit for checked bags is up to 149 × 119 × 171 cm in total dimensions.
British Airways
Cabin / Hand Baggage
All BA passengers are allowed a handbag or laptop bag (personal item) that fits under the seat. Size up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm.
An additional cabin bag (overhead locker) with dimensions up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm. Weight up to 23 kg in many fare types.
Be aware: on very full flights or with certain booking types, BA might ask you to check your cabin baggage into the hold (at no extra cost) if there is no room in the overhead lockers. Make sure essentials are in your smaller personal item. This is very frequent and may be done right before you go through security last minute.
Checked Baggage
What is included depends on your fare class:
Economy Basic / hand baggage only fare = no free checked baggage.
Standard Economy with checked baggage = usually 1 bag up to 23 kg.
Premium Economy = 2 bags of 23 kg each.
Business / Club cabins = 2 bags, up to 32 kg each.
First Class = 3 bags up to 32 kg each.
Bag size in the hold must be within a certain volume: BA’s standard dimension for a checked‑bag is up to 90 × 75 × 43 cm.
Virgin Atlantic
Cabin Baggage
All tickets include hand baggage in some form. That means you’ll always get to bring at least one carry‑on item and a small personal item. What is included depends on your fare class:
For Economy (Light, Classic & Delight) and Premium, you can bring:
1 cabin bag weighing up to 10 kg with maximum dimensions 56 × 36 × 23 cm (overhead locker)
1 smaller personal item (handbag, small rucksack etc) that fits under the seat in front of you. Size for that is 40 × 30 × 15 cm
For Upper Class, you get more:
Up to 2 carry‑on bags, with a combined weight limit of 16 kg (one bag up to 12 kg, the extra small item making up the rest)
Plus the same small under‑seat item.
For infants (0‑23 months without their own seat), there is an allowance of one bag up to 6 kg
Checked Baggage
What you get for checked baggage depends on your fare.
Economy Light ticket = no checked bags included and you’ll need to pay extra if you want to check luggage.
Economy Classic and Delight fares = one checked bag up to 23 kg
Premium tickets = two checked bags of 23 kg each
Upper Class passengers = two bags, each can weigh up to 32 kg.
The size limit for all checked bags is the same 90 × 75 × 43 cm (length × width × height), so make sure your bags fit within those dimensions to avoid extra fees.
Loganair
Cabin Baggage
Fly and Fly Flex customers are permitted to carry one cabin bag weighing up to 6 kg, with maximum dimensions of 40 × 35 × 18 cm.
Additionally, a small handbag is allowed.
Fly Flex + customers enjoy the same cabin bag allowance but may also bring a slimline laptop bag.
Checked Baggage
Fly customers receive a total baggage allowance of 21 kg, split as 15 kg for hold luggage and 6 kg for cabin luggage.
Fly Flex customers are entitled to 23 kg of hold luggage.
Fly Flex + customers can check in 30 kg of hold luggage.
The maximum weight per individual bag is 25 kg, regardless of fare class or excess baggage fees.
Inter/Island Flights
For flights to/from Barra, Tiree, Campbeltown, or within the Orkney Isles, the total luggage allowance is 15 kg, across unlimited pieces. Passengers must re-check at Glasgow or Kirkwall when connecting flights.
Aer Lingus baggage allowance
Cabin Baggage
All passengers are permitted one cabin bag with a maximum weight of 10 kg and dimensions not exceeding 55 × 40 × 24 cm.
Additionally, one small personal item, such as a handbag, laptop bag, or baby changing bag, is allowed with maximum dimensions of 25 × 33 × 20 cm
For Aer Lingus Regional flights, the cabin baggage allowance is reduced to one bag weighing up to 7 kg with dimensions not exceeding 48 × 33 × 20 cm, along with one small personal item.
Checked Baggage
Passengers traveling on the Saver fare type are not entitled to a free checked baggage allowance. However, they can purchase checked baggage options in advance or at the airport. The available options are:
20 kg: €25 online, €35 at the airport
25 kg: €30 online, €40 at the airport
40 kg (2 bags): €65 online, €75 at the airport
Plus, Advantage, and AerSpace Fares: These fare types include one checked bag weighing up to 20 kg. Additional bags can be purchased as follows:
25 kg: €30 online, €40 at the airport
40 kg (2 bags): €65 online, €75 at the airport
The maximum dimensions for any single checked bag are 158 cm (length + width + height). No individual piece can weigh more than 32 kg.
If you’re travelling with family or friends on the same flight and booking, you can pool your total weight allowance.This means that the total weight allowance can be split among the total number of bags booked, as long as no single item weighs more than 32kg.
Passengers traveling with an infant are allowed to bring one fully collapsible stroller free of charge, in addition to one of the following items: car seat, booster seat, or travel cot.
