This summer, airlines are expected to enforce strict hand luggage restrictions which could lead to hefty fines for travellers who don’t check their tickets before they fly. 

With Britain’s most popular airlines including Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and TUI all offering varying allowances, passengers should expect to see their carry-on luggage weighed and measured before boarding.  Unlucky travellers whose bags are too large or too heavy could be landed with fines of as much as £70 per bag. 

While most tickets include hand luggage in the price of the fare, some carrier restrictions are noticeably smaller than others.  Ryanair, for example, only allows bags measuring no more than 40 x 20 x 25cm and passengers who want to carry more would need to upgrade to Priority before they travel. 

It’s not just hand luggage that could see sunseekers out of pocket at the airport either. Passengers with checked-in luggage will still need to adhere to specific rules to prevent additional fees at the check-in desk. 

To help get an idea of how much stuff you can take with you, we’ve compiled a summary of the essential hand luggage guidelines for the UK’s most used airlines.

Aer Lingus

• For regional flights, passengers are permitted one piece of cabin baggage with a weight limit of 7kg and maximum dimensions of 48x33x20cm.
• For all other flights, Aer Lingus permits one piece of cabin baggage with a weight limit of 10kg and maximum dimensions of 55x40x24cm.
• Passengers can also bring a smaller piece of hand luggage into the cabin, such as a laptop, with maximum dimensions of 25x33x20cm.

For more information, visit the Aer Lingus website here. 

British Airways

For more information, visit the British Airways website here.

EasyJet

• One cabin bag measuring no more than 45x36x25 and weighing no more than 15kg.
• Passengers can book an additional large cabin bag measuring no more than 56x45x25. Prices start from £5.99
• EasyJet Plus members and passengers who have booked a FLEXI fare are also entitled to bring a large cabin bag onboard

For more information visit the easyJet website, here.

Emirates

• Economy customers are permitted one piece of carry-on baggage that must not exceed 55x38x20cm and must weigh no more than 7kg.
• First Class and Business Class customers are allowed two pieces of carry-on baggage: one briefcase plus either one handbag or one garment bag. The briefcase may not exceed 45x35x20cm; the handbag may not exceed 55x38x20cm; garment bags can be no more than 20cm thick when folded. The weight of each piece must not exceed 7kg.

For more information visit the Emirates website, here.

Jet2

• One piece of hand luggage is free of charge, as long as it weighs no more than 10kg and is no larger than 56x45x25cm.
• Passengers can also bring a small, personal item on board.
• Anyone travelling with small children can bring along a collapsible pushchair, car seat and/or travel cot free of charge, up to a total weight of 10kg

For more information, visit the Jet2 website here.

Ryanair

• All fares include one small personal bag which can be brought on board, such as a handbag or laptop bag (40x20x25cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you.
• Priority and 2 Cabin Bag customers can bring a small personal bag measuring no more than 40x20x25cm, which must fit under the seat in front of you and a 10kg bag measuring no more than 55x40x20cm onboard.

For more information, visit the Ryanair website here.

TUI

Flight-only cabin bags

• One piece of hand luggage measuring no more than 55x40x20. It must weigh no more than 10kg and be able to be lifted into the overhead locker.
• One small personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag must be able to fit under the seat in front.

Package holiday cabin bags

• One piece of hand luggage measuring no more than 55x40x20. It must weigh no more than 10kg and be able to be lifted into the overhead locker.
• One small personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag must be able to fit under the seat in front.

For more information, visit the TUI website here.

Virgin Atlantic

• All tickets include hand baggage measuring no more than 23x36x56cm as well as a small handbag or laptop bag. They must not weigh more than 10kg

For more information, visit the Virgin Atlantic website here.

Wizz Air

• All passengers are entitled to bring on 40x30x20cm bag onboard for free. The bag must weigh less than 10kg and fit under the seat in front.
• Large cabin bags measuring no more than 55x40x23cm can be purchased with Wizz Priority.

For more information, visit the Wizz Air website here.