Your guide to hand luggage

On many short trips, people decide not to check in luggage on just bring a carry on suitcase.
But as always, the question arises: How much – or how little – are you allowed to bring as hand luggage?

There is no simple answer, because it depends on each airline’s rules. Some companies have a fixed weight limit for cabin suitcases, and additionally the passengers can carry small handbags, laptop bags and camera bags. Other companies have a weight limit on the total amount of hand luggage, while others only allow one piece of hand luggage. There are companies that do not have weight limits, but a rule that the luggage must be within “reasonable limits”, and that it should be able to fit into the luggage rack on the plane.

If you have not familiarized yourself with the rules yet, here is your chance to see what policies the most popular airlines use and to make sure you will not have to pay for overweight next time you fly.

Air Berlin
Economy: 1 piece of luggage, max. 6 kg with a size of max. 55 x 40 x 20 cm.
Business: 2 pieces of luggage, max. 6 kg with a size of max. 55 x 40 x 20 cm plus a little handbag or laptop bag.

Air Canada
Common rules for Business and Economy- 1 piece, max. 10 kg. and max 55 x 40 x 23cm. Additionally you can bring 1 little bag, max 10 kg. with a size of max 30 x 24 x 14 cm.

Air France
Economy: 1 piece of luggage, max 12 kg. with a size of max. 55 x 35 x 25 cm. plus a handbag, laptop bag or camera bag.
Business: Maximum hand luggage of 18 kg. The weight can be shared into a standard bag: 55 x 35 x 25 cm. and a smaller bag with the size of 45 x 35 x 20 cm. in addition to a small handbag, laptop bag or camera bag.

British Airways
Common rules for Economy and Business- Total luggage must not exceed 23 kg. 1 piece not exceeding 56 x 45 x 25 cm. plus a handbag or laptop bag not exceeding 45 x 35 x 20 cm, which must be pushed under the seat in front, and one must be able to lift his luggage into the cabin luggage racks.

Delta Airlines
Common rules for Economy and Business- 1 piece of luggage, not more than 56 x 36 x 23 cm plus one handbag or laptop bag. There is no weight limit.

EasyJet
Only 1 piece of hand luggage, not more than 56 x 45 x 25 cm is allowed. No fixed weight limit, but “within reasonable limits”. You have to be able to lift luggage into the cabin luggage racks.

Emirates
Economy: 1 piece of hand luggage, not exceeding 7 kg and not more than 55 x 38 x 20 cm.
Business: 2 pieces of hand luggage, a total of 12 kg and not more than 55 x 38 x 20 cm, or a garment bag, which must not be more than 20 cm, plus a briefcase not more than 45 x 35 x 20 cm.

Iberia
1 piece of hand luggage, not more than 56 x 45 x 25 cm plus a handbag or a laptop, no larger than can be stored under the seat in front. There is no weight limit.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Economy: 1 piece of hand luggage, not more than 55 x 35 x 25 cm plus a handbag, briefcase, camera bag or laptop bag. Total weight may not exceed 12 kg.
Business: 2 pieces of hand luggage, with one not more than 55 x 35 x 25 cm and the other not more than 45 x 35 x 25 cm. Plus a handbag, briefcase, camera bag or laptop bag. Total weight may not exceed 18 kg.

Lufthansa
Economy: 1 piece of hand luggage, not exceeding 8 kg and not more than 55 x 40 x 23 cm or a garment bag not exceeding 57 x 54 x 15 cm.
Business: 2 pieces of hand luggage, not exceeding 8 kg each and not more than 55 x 40 x 23 cm and a garment bag not exceeding 57 x 54 x 15 cm.

Ryanair
1 piece of hand luggage, not exceeding 10 kg and not more than 55 x 40 x 20 cm. Small handbags, laptop etc. must be placed in the same piece of luggage.

SAS
Economy: 1 piece of hand luggage, not exceeding 8 kg and not more than 55 x 40 x 23 cm plus a small handbag or laptop bag.
Business: 2 pieces of hand luggage, not exceeding 8 kg each and not more than 55 x 40 x 23 cm.

Swiss International Air Lines
Economy: 1 piece of hand luggage, not exceeding 8 kg and not more than 55 x 40 x 23 cm. Or a garment bag 57 x 54 x 15 cm. In addition, a handbag or a laptop bag not exceeding 40 x 30 x 10 cm is allowed.
Business: 2 pieces of hand luggage, not exceeding 8 kg each and not more than 55 x 40 x 23 cm. Or at garment bag 57 x 54 x 15 cm. In addition, a handbag or a laptop bag not exceeding 40 x 30 x 10 cm is allowed.

Thai Airways International
Common rules for economy and business class. 1 piece of hand luggage, not exceeding 7 kg and not more than 56 x 46 x 25. In addition, a small bag not exceeding 1.5 kg and not exceeding 37.5 x 25 x 12,5 cm (or the sum of the three sides not exceeding 75 cm) is allowed or a laptop bag under the same rules plus small camera bag.