TUI Baggage Allowance 2026: Hand Luggage and Hold Bags
The TUI baggage allowance catches people out in two specific ways. First: a lot of travellers still expect the old 15 kg hold bag because that’s what TUI charged until May 2024. The standard package holiday allowance is now 20 kg, and some holidays include 25 kg — but the tier that qualifies matters. Second: most articles miss the personal item entirely. You get a cabin bag AND a second underseat bag on TUI, which most competitors do not allow on their base fares.
I’ve flown TUI to the Canaries, Turkey, and Greece multiple times. Below is the full 2026 picture, verified against TUI’s own pages.
TUI baggage allowance at a glance — checked March 2026
Hand luggage Personal item Hold bag Dimensions 55 x 40 x 20 cm 40 x 30 x 20 cm 158 cm total Weight limit 10 kg Fits under seat 20 kg or 25 kg Included with All fares All fares Package holidays only
Hand luggage: 55 x 40 x 20 cm
Every TUI ticket includes one hand luggage bag for the overhead locker.
Dimensions: 55 x 40 x 20 cm (including handles and wheels)
Weight: 10 kg maximum
Children aged 2 and over get the same allowance as adults. Children under 2 travelling on a lap ticket receive no hand luggage allowance.
TUI does weigh cabin bags at check-in, particularly on busy departures. The 10 kg limit is enforced — if your bag is over, you will be asked to move items to your hold bag or pay to check it into the hold. Use a lightweight bag and you immediately free up a kilo or more of usable weight.
Personal item: 40 x 30 x 20 cm (underseat)
In addition to the overhead cabin bag, TUI allows a small personal item under the seat in front of you.
Dimensions: 40 x 30 x 20 cm maximum
Weight: No published weight limit — unlike the 10 kg cabin bag limit, the personal item has no stated weight restriction
Examples: Handbag, laptop bag, small backpack
This genuinely is a second bag, and it is not widely advertised. Most TUI travellers I have spoken to at the airport do not know about it. Pack your laptop, documents, and anything you need during the flight in here and save your overhead allowance for clothes. Because the personal item has no weight limit, it is also worth putting heavier items (laptop, power bank, books) in here rather than in the cabin bag that is weighed at check-in.
Recommended: Cabin Max Metz 30L Backpack
The Cabin Max Metz 30L at 45 x 36 x 20 cm fits comfortably inside TUI’s 55 x 40 x 20 cm overhead cabin bag allowance with room to spare. At just 0.5 kg empty, you have nearly the full 10 kg weight limit available for your stuff. Opens flat like a suitcase for easy packing, with a padded laptop compartment and organiser pockets. Showerproof recycled polyester.
Hold baggage by holiday type
Whether your hold bag is free, and how much it weighs, depends entirely on what you have booked.
The May 2024 policy change
If you have seen another article saying TUI allows 15 kg, that was the old rule. From 1 May 2024 (applying to bookings made from 21 December 2023 onwards), TUI raised the standard package holiday hold allowance from 15 kg to 20 kg. If you booked after that date, you get 20 kg as a minimum.
Hold bag by booking type
| Booking / holiday type | Hold bag included |
|---|---|
| Standard TUI package holiday | 20 kg per person |
| TUI BLUE hotels | 25 kg per person |
| Sensatori by TUI BLUE | 25 kg per person |
| Holiday Village | 25 kg per person |
| A La Carte hotels | 25 kg per person |
| TUI River Cruises (TUI Airways both ways) | 25 kg per person |
| TUI Marella Cruises | 20 kg per person |
| TUI Wedding Packages | 25 kg per person |
| Premium long-haul upgrade | 25 kg per person |
| TUI Lakes and Mountains (ski holidays) | 20 kg (ski equipment charged separately) |
| Children under 2 (package holiday) | 10 kg |
| TUI flight only | Nothing included — must purchase |
Pooling rule: Passengers on the same booking can pool their combined hold allowance. If you have two adults each with 20 kg, that’s 40 kg total — it does not matter how it is split between bags. No single bag may exceed 25 kg.
Check your booking confirmation for your exact allowance. It will specify the figure that applies to your holiday type.
Hold baggage: flight only
If you have booked TUI flights without a package, no hold bag is included. You need to add it online.
Adding a bag online:
| Bag size | Online price (at booking) |
|---|---|
| 15 kg | From around £40 |
| 20 kg | Varies by route and season |
| 25 kg | Varies by route and season |
Add bags through flightextras.tui.co.uk or during online check-in. Prices increase the closer you get to departure.
Adding a bag at the airport:
| Bag size | Short/mid-haul (<7 hrs) | Long-haul (>7 hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 kg at airport | £55 | £75 |
Only one bag can be added per customer at the airport. Maximum accepted at check-in is 25 kg. The gap between online and airport prices is substantial — always add bags when you book.
Excess baggage fees
If your hold bag exceeds its weight limit at check-in:
| Excess | Short/mid-haul | Long-haul |
|---|---|---|
| Overweight hold bag | £14 per kg | £18 per kg |
| Max weight per bag | 25 kg | 25 kg |
Bags over 25 kg are not accepted as a single item — you must repack into two bags.
Overweight hand luggage: Staff will ask you to move items to your hold bag. If the hold bag is already at its limit, you may be charged to check the cabin bag into the hold.
Sports equipment and special items
Ski and snowboard equipment
Ski carriage is not covered by your standard hold baggage. It must be pre-booked separately.
- Price: From £60 per set (one bag of skis or one snowboard)
- Maximum weight: 15 kg per set
- Two sets: Can go in one bag; maximum combined weight 23 kg
- Ski boots: NOT included in the ski carriage fee. They must go in your normal hold luggage allowance.
- Pre-booking required: Call at least 8 weeks before departure: 0203 451 2688
The ski boot exclusion catches a lot of people. A pair of ski boots weighs 3–5 kg. Factor that into your 20 kg hold allowance before you leave.
Diving equipment
Show a valid diving certificate at check-in and TUI adds an extra 5 kg free to your hold allowance — no pre-booking required. This applies on all routes.
Golf and other sports
Golf clubs, surfboards, windsurf equipment, and other sporting gear can be carried but must be pre-booked by phone (0203 451 2688). Space is limited and not guaranteed. Fees apply and vary by route.
Musical instruments
- Small instruments that fit within 55 x 40 x 20 cm: free in the cabin as hand luggage
- Larger instruments: fees apply; contact TUI for arrangements
- Hoverboards, Segways, and e-scooters with lithium batteries: banned entirely from cabin and hold
Pushchairs and car seats
Both travel free in the hold. You can take a collapsible pushchair all the way to the aircraft steps (it goes in the hold there and is returned at the gate or baggage reclaim at the destination). Car seats are collected at baggage reclaim.
A compact pushchair weighing under 10 kg that fits within 55 x 40 x 20 cm can be taken in the cabin as your hand luggage.
CPAP machines
CPAP and APAP sleep therapy machines are permitted free in the cabin and do not count against your hand luggage allowance. Carry a doctor’s letter. Contact TUI before travelling to confirm battery requirements for your specific device.
Travelling with infants and children
Children under 2 (lap ticket):
- No hand luggage allowance
- 10 kg hold bag included on package holidays (nothing on flight-only)
- One pushchair: free
- One car seat: free
- The baby change bag counts as the infant’s personal item — no additional bag is provided
Children aged 2 and over:
- Full adult hand luggage allowance (55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg)
- Personal item (40 x 30 x 20 cm)
- Hold bag as per booking type
Family pooling: This is genuinely useful. A family of four on a standard package (20 kg each) has 80 kg combined. You can put it all in two large cases rather than four medium ones, as long as no single bag exceeds 25 kg.
TUI vs other airlines
| Airline | Hand luggage | Size | Free hold bag? |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUI | Cabin bag + personal item | 55 x 40 x 20 cm (10 kg) | With packages |
| Jet2 | Cabin bag + personal item | 56 x 45 x 25 cm (10 kg) | With packages |
| British Airways | Cabin bag + personal item | 56 x 45 x 25 cm (23 kg combined) | Depends on fare |
| easyJet | Cabin bag only | 45 x 36 x 20 cm (15 kg) | No |
| Ryanair | Personal bag only | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No |
TUI and Jet2 are the most comparable: both package-focused, both include hold bags with holidays, both allow a personal item in addition to the cabin bag. Jet2’s cabin bag is slightly larger (56 x 45 x 25 cm vs TUI’s 55 x 40 x 20 cm), though in practice most bags that fit TUI will fit Jet2 too.
Tips for flying TUI
Check your booking confirmation. The exact hold allowance is shown there. Do not rely on general articles — the figure varies by holiday type.
Weigh your cabin bag at home. The 10 kg limit is enforced. A luggage scale costs £10-15 and removes all guesswork — see our luggage scales guide.
Use the personal item. The 40 x 30 x 20 cm underseat bag is a genuine second free item. Pack your laptop, camera, and in-flight essentials in here. It is not advertised, but it is allowed.
Pack ski boots in your hold bag. The ski carriage fee from £60 covers your skis or board only. Boots must go in your normal 20 kg allowance.
Add bags when you book. Online prices are substantially lower than airport prices (£40 online vs £55 at the airport for a 15 kg bag on short-haul).
Use the pooling allowance. Families on the same booking can combine their hold allowance. Fewer, heavier bags are easier to manage than many small ones.
Wear your heaviest items. Boots and a heavy coat on the plane do not count toward baggage weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TUI hand luggage size for 2026?
55 x 40 x 20 cm including handles and wheels, 10 kg maximum. Plus a personal item under the seat (40 x 30 x 20 cm).
Does TUI include hold luggage with package holidays?
Yes. Standard TUI package holidays include 20 kg per person since May 2024. TUI BLUE, Sensatori, Holiday Village, A La Carte, TUI River Cruise, and Wedding Packages include 25 kg.
What happened to the old 15 kg TUI allowance?
From 1 May 2024, TUI raised the standard package holiday hold allowance from 15 kg to 20 kg. If you booked after 21 December 2023, you get the new allowance.
Is hold luggage included on TUI flight only?
No. Flight-only bookings with TUI do not include hold luggage. You must add it online before travelling — prices start from around £40 for 15 kg.
Can I take two bags on TUI?
Yes — one hand luggage (55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg) for the overhead locker and one personal item (40 x 30 x 20 cm) under the seat. Both are free on all TUI fares.
How much is the TUI excess baggage fee?
£14 per kg on short/mid-haul flights (under 7 hours) and £18 per kg on long-haul. Maximum accepted weight per bag is 25 kg.
Can I pool TUI luggage allowance with my family?
Yes. Passengers on the same booking can pool their combined hold allowance. No single bag may exceed 25 kg.
Are ski boots included in TUI ski carriage?
No. The ski carriage fee (from £60) covers one set of skis or a snowboard only. Ski boots must go in your normal hold luggage allowance.
How much does TUI ski carriage cost?
From £60 per set. Must be pre-booked at least 8 weeks before departure by calling 0203 451 2688.
What does a TUI infant get for baggage?
Under 2s on a lap ticket get no hand luggage allowance but do receive 10 kg hold luggage on package holidays. One pushchair and one car seat travel free in the hold.
Is the TUI diving certificate allowance still available?
Yes. Certified divers presenting a valid diving certificate at check-in receive an extra 5 kg added to their hold allowance, free, on any route.
Can I take a CPAP machine on TUI?
Yes. CPAP machines are permitted free in the cabin and do not count against your hand luggage. Carry a doctor’s letter and contact TUI before travelling regarding battery requirements.
