Travelling with hand luggage only is quicker and cheaper: no waiting at the carousel, no risk of losing your bag and no checked baggage fee. The trick is to make good use of the two items you’re usually allowed: the carry-on suitcase and the personal item that goes under the seat.

What each airline allows

Full-service airlines usually include a carry-on suitcase (around 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 7–10 kg) plus a handbag or small backpack. Many low-cost airlines only include the small item for free (around 40 × 20 × 25 cm or 40 × 30 × 20 cm) and charge for the carry-on suitcase.

Always check the exact sizes for your fare before packing: they vary from airline to airline and change over time.

Important: hand luggage dimensions vary by airline and fare. Check them in your booking right before you pack.

The backpack: your personal item

If your fare only includes the small item, a backpack that makes the most of those dimensions lets you travel for two or three days without paying anything extra. If you’re also bringing a suitcase, the backpack is where everything you need during the flight goes.

In the backpack (under the seat):

  • Documents, wallet and phone.
  • Medicines and glasses.
  • Electronics: laptop, tablet, chargers and power bank (batteries never go in the hold).
  • The clear bag with your liquids, so you can take it out quickly at security.
  • A light jacket, snacks and an empty bottle to refill.

In the carry-on suitcase (in the overhead bin):

  • Clothes and shoes.
  • Toiletry bag with no liquids, or with the ones you don’t need at security.
  • Everything you won’t use until you arrive.

How to make everything fit

  • Roll your clothes instead of folding them: they take up less space and crease less.
  • Wear your bulkiest items: boots, jacket and thick jumper, worn on the journey.
  • Use packing cubes: they keep clothes tidy and compact.
  • Fill the gaps: socks inside shoes, chargers in the corners.

For winter clothes, compression bags save the most space.

Tip: weigh your hand luggage at home. Many airlines allow between 7 and 10 kg, and excess weight at the gate is expensive.

On the day of the flight

At low-cost airline gates, it’s common for staff to check bag sizes with a sizer. A soft backpack you can squeeze is easier to fit than a rigid one. And if the overhead bins fill up and you’re asked to check your suitcase at the gate, take out the batteries and anything you’ll need first.

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