What size is acceptable for carry on luggage

This article is in collaboration with American Tourister. Thanks to their continued tradition of quality and design at a great value, American Tourister offers a wide selection of travel products including luggage items as well as casual, and business bags.

What size is acceptable for carry on luggage

As a general rule, all airlines have a weight limit of 7kg for carry-on luggage. A few allow for slightly more, and the standout airlines in this regard are British Airways which lets you take on 23kg (so long as you can put the bag in the overhead lockers unassisted) and United which has no carry-on luggage weight limit.

Carry-on luggage restrictions

Nearly all airlines allow you one bag plus a smaller one, such as a handbag or laptop bag. China Airlines and Emirates, however, make no mention of a second bag on their websites, while Flyscoot stands out from the rest of the low-cost carriers with a hand carry limit of 10kg.

Hand luggage dimensions for international flights

The size of bags you’re allowed to carry-on vary from airline to airline, although there are a few dimensions that occur more than once. From the airlines checked, Thai Airways was the most spacious, allowing bags of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm onboard.

The table below lists the full details of each airline for you to compare and check prior to packing.

What size restrictions are there for hand luggage on international flights?

Each airline has slightly different rules for hand luggage allowances on international flights, with the weight, size and even number of bags different from one company to another.

The standard size for cabin luggage — or the most common, at least — has a maximum length of 56 cm, width of 45 cm, and depth of 25 cm, including all handles, side pockets, and wheels. The 55cm American Tourister Bon Air Deluxe shown below falls under this category, with a size of 55cm x 40cm x 23(27)cm. It weighs 2.9kg with a volume of 37 – 45 litres.

American Tourister Bon Air Deluxe

The American Tourister Bon Air Deluxe suitcases are the perfect blend of quality construction, lightweight and attractive design. The range features a generous capacity; yet is compact and easy to manage on the go thanks to its 100% polypropylene shell that is light yet sturdy. The 4 spinner wheels and multi-height handle make it comfortable for travellers of all ages and sizes.

Airline

Allowance

Max Dimensions

Max Weight

AirAsia

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

56cm x 36cm x 23cm

7kg

Air New Zealand

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

Sum of length, width and height must not measure more than a combined 118cm

7kg

British Airways

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

56cm x 45cm x 25cm

23kg

Cathay Pacific

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

56cm x 36cm x 23cm

7kg

China Airlines

1 cabin bag

56cm x 36cm x 23cm

7kg

Emirates

1 cabin bag

55cm x 38cm x 20cm

7kg

Etihad Airways

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

50cm x 40cm x 25cm

7kg

Fiji Airways

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

55cm x 40cm x 23cm

7kg

Garuda Indonesia

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

56cm x 36cm x 23cm

7kg

Japan Airlines

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

55cm x 40cm x 25cm

10kg

Jetstar

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

55cm x 36cm x 23cm

7kg

KLM

1 cabin bag

55cm x 35cm x 25cm

12kg

Lufthansa

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

55cm x 40cm x 23cm

8kg

Malaysia Airlines

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

55cm x 35cm x 25cm

7kg

Qantas

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

48cm x 34cm x 23cm

7kg

Qatar Airways

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

50cm x 37cm x 25cm

7kg

Scoot

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

54cm x 38cm x 23cm

10kg

Singapore Airlines

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

Sum of length, width and height must not measure more than a combined 115cm

7kg

Thai Airways

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

56cm x 45cm x 25cm

7kg

United

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

56cm x 35cm x 22cm

No limit

Virgin Australia

1 cabin bag + 1 personal item

48cm x 34cm x 23cm

7kg

Personal items include handbag, briefcase, laptop computer, camera bag, crutches, umbrella, etc.

Table correct as of 30 September 2018

Hand luggage restrictions

When travelling with hand luggage alone it’s important to remember restrictions on liquids and other prohibited items.

Also if you’re not sure what size luggage you should take away with you, check out our cabin baggage guide which gives you an indication of the size of bag you need for the number of days you’re away.

What size luggage do you need for carry-on?

Whether you’re going away for a couple of nights or a couple of weeks, it’s entirely possible to travel with just hand luggage. If you’re not sure how much you’ll need to pack, this image gives an idea of the size of luggage you’ll need for carry-on, for trips of all lengths.


Plan a trip to your dream destination today! Get great flight deals or download our free mobile app for Android or mobile app for iOS for easy browsing and booking on the go.


Read more

  • How strong is your luggage? We put them to the test
  • How to deal with lost luggage: 10 tips
  • Best lightweight suitcases for 2017

Can a 24 inch luggage be a carry

Can a 24 inch luggage be a carry on? Unfortunately no, the standard carry-on size is typically 22” x 14” x 9”, so a 24 inch bag is too large to bring on board of most economy standard airlines. 2.

Are airlines really strict about carry

How Strict Are Airlines With Carry On Size? We've found that most airlines aren't too strict about the exact size of carry on luggage. In over 12 years we've never had our bags measured, although our luggage has been a little over the size restrictions of some airlines such as Ryanair.