Airplane carry-on bag size

Carry-on luggage is usually called luggage that you do not check in, but take with you into the aircraft cabin. Because the Each air carrier sets rules in accordance with the legislation of its country, the permissible dimensions of bags and weight differ from each other. However, focusing on airline websites and the experience of tourists, it is possible to determine some general frameworks, remaining within the boundaries of which you can confidently enter the control zone.

What is a carry-on bag?

Since the weight and volume of things allowed for transportation in the aircraft cabin are limited by the company’s rules, there is a need to purchase a bag that will accommodate the optimal number of things and will not exceed the dimensions specified by the air carrier.

Relative The universality of airline requirements for the parameters of luggage for the aircraft cabin has opened a new niche for bag manufacturers: Today, almost every serious manufacturer provides its customers with a choice of special “packaging” for bags of appropriate sizes.They are made of fabric, leather, artificial materials, they can be soft or hard, with belts, straps, with handles and wheels - in short, you just have to set a goal and the need to measure and weigh your luggage will disappear by itself.

Important! Do not confuse the volume, that is, the capacity of the bag, with its carrying capacity. Please read the label carefully before purchasing.

What should be its maximum size and weight?

Each air carrier has certain requirements for hand luggage, so before traveling it is better to go to the company’s website and clarify the permissible parameters of the bag.

On average, it should weigh from 5 to 10 kg (low-cost airlines, as a rule, have lower weight standards). A number of foreign airlines have increased the norm to 13–18 kg. As for the dimensions, the sum of its three components (width, height and length) is generally limited to 115 cm, and for any exceeding the parameters you will have to pay extra at the carrier’s rate.

Important! When checking in for a flight, the additional payment for excess weight will be less than at the checkpoint.

Most airports in the world provide passengers with the opportunity to check the parameters of the items being transported: you just need to place the bag with luggage in a special container. If it fits without any problems, then your bag is what you need.

Russian standards

When buying a plane ticket, pay attention to the selected fare, since some companies, especially low-cost airlines, sometimes do not include luggage and hand luggage in the price of an economy class ticket or significantly limit their weight.

Among popular Russian air carriers, the maximum free weight of bags that can be taken on board is limited to 10 kg by the following:

• Aeroflot;
• Russia (on Aeroflot aircraft, flight letters “SU” on tickets);
• S7 Airlines;
• Yakutia.

If the bag weighs no more than 5 kg, the following airlines will not require additional payment:

• Ural Airlines;
• IrAero;
• Russia (on our own planes, flight letter “FV” on tickets);
• Yamal.

The permissible dimensions for all listed airlines are the same: 55*40*20 cm.

The recently popular low-cost carrier Pobeda does not include luggage in the price of the flight, so when purchasing a ticket from this company, be especially careful, study the baggage rules on the website and choose the most advantageous option for yourself: include certain weights and dimensions immediately in the ticket price or pay for luggage when checking in for your flight.

Important! If you fly business class, the free baggage allowance automatically increases by about 1.5-2 times.

Foreign carriers

If we talk about foreign airlines, the spread in parameters here is much wider than among Russian carriers. Let's try to systematize information about the most popular companies among our tourists, implying the standards for economy class passengers.

Almost all Asian carriers limit the weight of hand luggage to 7 kg:

• AirAsia;
• Emirates;
• Qatar Airways;
• Thai Airways;
• Singapore Airlines;
• Malaysia Airlines.

Europeans are more loyal in this regard and will allow you to bring up to 8 kg into the cabin:

• Lufthansa;
• Turkish Airlines;
• Czech Airlines.

The weight limit for “hand luggage” among the Finns is 10 kg, among the French and Koreans – 12 kg, among the British – up to 18 kg. EasyJet limits the weight only to the capabilities of the passenger himself, who must independently place the luggage on a special shelf, but China Southern Airlines will not allow more than 5 kg into the cabin.

As for the dimensions, they practically do not differ from those accepted in Russia, but this is not a reason to ignore the air carrier’s website, since flight and baggage rules may change.

A little about the rules for transporting items in hand luggage

On the airline's website you can find useful information not only about the parameters of bags, but also a list of items that you will not be allowed to take into the cabin, for example:

1. poisonous and toxic substances;
2. explosives (pyrotechnics, liquefied gas);
3. flammable substances (gasoline and other petroleum products, phosphorus, sodium, etc.);
4. weapons (carriers often include toy models that imitate real weapons);
5. lithium batteries;
6. any piercing or cutting objects (in some airlines this list includes a manicure set).

Allowed to be transported in the cabin:

• plastic container with liquid (hygienic products, drink) with a volume of no more than 100 ml (Volume restrictions do not apply to baby food);
• products (the permitted list can be found on the website);
• medications (if there are a lot of them or they are in the form of an aerosol or liquid, it is better to have a prescription).

In addition to hand luggage, you can take with you:

• umbrella;
• cane;
• baby stroller;
• laptop;
• camera;
• warm clothes;
• printed products.

These items are not weighed and their volume is not taken into account during control. This also includes a handbag.