Baggage allowances are often a hidden cost of air travel, with many airlines charging additional fees to bring on hand luggage and put bags in the hold.
It’s a bone of contention among passengers and one which saw some budget airlines – including Ryanair and EasyJet – recently fined £150,000,000 for ‘abusive’ baggage fees in Spain.
With airlines often changing the rules or using different guidelines for different routes and classes of tickets, it can be hard to keep up.
We’ve looked at the policies of the major airlines flying to and from the UK, to find out which offers the best baggage allowance.
Here is what you need to know.
What are the different kinds of airline baggage?
There are generally three different types of luggage passengers can take on a flight.
- A personal item, also known as a small bag, must be able to fit under the seat in front of you and is usually no bigger than 40x30x20cm.
- Cabin bags must be stored in the overhead locker, usually weighing up to 10kg and no bigger than 56x45x25cm.
- A checked bag is a larger bag that must be checked in at the desk when arriving at the airport. These are kept in the hold during the flight and usually have a maximum weight limit of 23kg.
Which airlines have the best baggage policy?
The airlines with the best baggage policies are Air France, Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines.
These three airlines all offer one free personal item and one free cabin bag, plus a free checked bag weighing up to 23kg with all fare types and routes.
Emirates and Qatar Airways offer a similar deal with all their fare types and routes, but with only up to 20kg of checked luggage.
This means you won’t have to spend extra money on top of the cost of your ticket to take luggage on your flight, as long as you are able to stick to the size and weight restrictions.
Which budget airline has the best baggage policy?
Budget airlines rarely allow more than a small bag that fits under the seat included in the price of the ticket.
But Jet2 is the exception to the rule, allowing one piece of carry-on luggage for free with a weight of up to 10kg, as long as it is no bigger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm. This is included alongside a personal item.
In terms of the other airlines:
- easyJet: One small cabin bag with a maximum size of 45x36x20cm is included with each ticket. Large cabin bags are free for easyJet Plus members. Customers must purchase all checked baggage.
- Ryanair: One small bag is included with each ticket, with maximum dimensions of 40x20x25cm. Cabin baggage weighing up to 10kg and checked baggage weighing either up to 10kg or up to 20kg are available to purchase.
- Vueling Airlines: All Vueling passengers can take on board a cabin bag with a maximum dimension of 40x30x20cm. Customers travelling with Fly or Fly Grande bundles have a 10kg cabin bag included. Fly Grande also includes one 25kg checked bag per passenger.
- Wizz Air: One small cabin bag with a maximum size of 40x30x20cm is included with all tickets. Wizz Priority passengers can also take on board a 10kg cabin bag, while checked baggage is available to purchase.
What are the rules for flying with smart bags?
British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair have all banned smart bags.
These are bags with an electronic element, which allows them to do things like charging devices, becoming a Wi-Fi hotspot, and connecting to Bluetooth.
The rules vary by airline, so make sure to check before you fly.
For example, BA will not allow any smart bags in either the hold or the cabin if you cannot take the battery out of it.
You can leave the battery in the bag if it’s coming with you into the cabin, but if it’s going in the hold it must be removed.
Meanwhile, Ryanair and easyJet will not allow the battery to be connected to the bag, whether it is placed in the cabin or in the hold.
If you can’t take the battery out of the bag, you won’t be permitted to fly.
Consider swapping your smart bag for something less high-tech that can fit perfectly under a plane seat.
What not to pack in airline luggage
Knowing what you can and can’t pack in your luggage isn’t easy – the list is long and differs depending on whether you are taking your bag into the cabin or checking it into the hold.
Remember that there are rules on how much liquid you can take in your hand luggage, and be sure to check the guidance for the country you are travelling to, because different parts of the world have different rules.
Below is a list of prohibited items you cannot pack in any luggage you take on a plane:
- Flammable liquids and solids
- Oxidisers such as bleaching powders
- Organic peroxides
- Tear gas devices or any gas cylinders
- Infectious substances such as live virus materials
- Wet-cell car batteries
- Magnetrons and instruments containing mercury
- Instruments containing magnets
- Fireworks and pyrotechnics
- Non-safety matches
- Firelighter, lighter fuel, paints, thinners
- Poisons, arsenic, cyanide, weedkiller
- Radioactive materials, acids, corrosives, alkalis, caustic soda
- Creosote, quicklime, oiled paper
- Vehicle fuel system components which have contained fuel
- Explosives, ammunition, detonators and related equipment
- Smoke canisters and smoke cartridges
Suitcase packing tips
To make the most of your baggage allowance, travel experts have revealed their top suitcase packing tips to Metro:
- Roll up clothing items inside each other to save room – a pair of socks with two pairs of knickers inside, bras folded inside dresses and try a zip lock bag for swimwear
- Pack footwear that can be worn for more than one occasion. For example, flip flops cute enough to double as evening shoes, and trainers that can be used in the gym
- Pack multiple lighter layers instead of bulky knitwear if travelling to a cooler destination
- Pack multi-use beauty products to save on your liquid allowance
- Wear layers on the plane to leave more room in your bag
- Don’t bother packing toiletries if you’re staying in a hotel that provides them
- Be aware that some viral packing hacks can backfire – make sure to do your research on what your airline allows
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