Baggage is the hidden cost of air travel, with many airlines charging additional fees for hand luggage and putting bags in the hold.
It’s a bone of contention among passengers that even saw some budget airlines — including Ryanair and easyJet — fined £150,000,000 for ‘abusive’ baggage fees in Spain last November.
And in recent months, there’s been a lot of moving and shaking.
In June, the transport committee of the European parliament voted to give passengers the right to an extra piece of free hand luggage weighing up to 7kg, though this rule still needs to be passed by the wider EU parliament.
In response to this new EU standard, Ryanair is planning to increase its ‘personal bag’ size by 20%. This means Ryanair will accept free bags one third bigger than the new EU minimum size limit.
But with airlines changing rules and using different guidelines for different routes and ticket classes, it can be hard to keep up.
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Metro has looked at the policies of major airlines flying to and from the UK, to find out which offers the best baggage allowance. Here’s everything you need to know.
Which airline has the best baggage policy?
The airlines with the best baggage policies are Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways.
All offer one free personal item and one free cabin bag, plus a free checked bag on their cheapest fares for most routes.
Etihad offers up to 23kg of checked luggage for economy passengers, while Emirates and Qatar Airways include up to 20kg free on their cheapest economy fares.
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 adhere to size and weight restrictions.
What are the different kinds of airline baggage?
There are generally three different types of luggage passengers can take on a flight.
- 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.
- 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.
Which budget airline has the best baggage policy?
Budget airlines rarely allow more than a small bag that fits under the seat without additional charges.
Jet2 is the exception to the rule, allowing one piece of carry-on luggage for free with a weight of up to 10kg, provided it’s smaller than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm. This is included alongside a personal item with a maximum size of 40 x 30 x 15cm.
In terms of the other budget airlines:
- easyJet: One small cabin bag with a maximum size of 45 x 36 x 20cm is included with each ticket. Large cabin bags are free for easyJet Plus members only. Customers must purchase all checked baggage.
- Ryanair: One small bag is included with each ticket, with maximum dimensions of 40 x 20 x 25cm. Cabin baggage weighing up to 10kg and checked baggage weighing either up to 10kg or up to 20kg are available to purchase. Under the new EU standard, the airline is set to raise the limit to dimensions of 40cm x 30cm x 20cm, provided the bag weighs less than 10kg and can fit under the seat in front of you.
- Vueling Airlines: All Vueling passengers can carry a cabin bag with a maximum dimension of 40 x 30 x 20cm. 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 40 x 30 x 20cm is included with all tickets. Wizz Priority passengers can carry a 10kg cabin bag, while checked baggage is also 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 charge devices, become a Wi-Fi hotspot, and connect 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 that have contained fuel
- Explosives, ammunition, detonators and related equipment
- Smoke canisters and smoke cartridges
Metro’s top 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. For example, a pair of socks with two pairs of knickers inside, bras folded inside dresses and a zip lock bag for swimwear.
- Pack footwear that can be worn for more than one occasion. Such as flip flops cute enough to double as evening shoes, and trainers that can be used in the gym and out and about.
- 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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