UK Airline Baggage Allowance Comparison 2026
I priced up a return flight from London Stansted to Malaga for two people in July — one checked case each, one cabin bag each. Ryanair’s headline fare was £58. Add Priority for two (£14 return each) and two 20 kg checked bags return (£70 total) and it came to £212. Jet2 on the same dates with bags included: £178.
That is the version of the uk airline baggage allowance comparison most comparison sites do not show you.
Below is the full picture for 2026 — all 10 major UK airlines with verified data, total cost worked examples, and what actually happens at the gate.
UK Airline Baggage: Quick Comparison (All 10 Airlines)
| Airline | Free cabin bag | Overhead bin? | Free personal item | Free checked bag? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | Yes | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | Most fares (not Basic) |
| Jet2 | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | Yes | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No (22 kg with holidays) |
| Virgin Atlantic | 56 x 36 x 23 cm | Yes | Fits under seat | Economy Classic+ |
| TUI | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | Yes | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No (included with packages) |
| Aer Lingus | 55 x 40 x 24 cm (Plus+) | Yes | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | Plus/Flex fares |
| KLM | 55 x 35 x 25 cm (Standard+) | Yes | 40 x 30 x 15 cm | Standard/Flex |
| Vueling | 55 x 40 x 20 cm (Fly+) | Yes | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | Optima only |
| easyJet | 45 x 36 x 20 cm (underseat) | Sometimes | No separate item | No |
| Wizz Air | 40 x 30 x 20 cm (underseat) | No | No separate item | No |
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 cm (underseat) | No | No separate item | No |
⚠️ Personal item depth trap: Both BA and KLM limit their personal item to 15 cm depth — significantly shallower than the 20 cm allowed by every other airline. A bag packed to 20 cm depth will not fit the BA or KLM personal item spec.
Free cabin bag size comparison
| Airline | Width | Height | Depth | Approx. volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jet2 / BA | 56 cm | 45 cm | 25 cm | ~63 litres |
| Virgin Atlantic | 56 cm | 36 cm | 23 cm | ~46 litres |
| Aer Lingus | 55 cm | 40 cm | 24 cm | ~53 litres |
| TUI / Vueling | 55 cm | 40 cm | 20 cm | ~44 litres |
| KLM Standard | 55 cm | 35 cm | 25 cm | ~48 litres |
| easyJet (paid/large) | 56 cm | 45 cm | 25 cm | ~63 litres |
| easyJet (free, underseat) | 45 cm | 36 cm | 20 cm | ~32 litres |
| Wizz Air / Ryanair | 40 cm | 30 cm | 20 cm | ~24 litres |
Jet2 and BA offer nearly three times the free bag volume of Ryanair and Wizz Air. The easyJet free bag (underseat) is the size of a large backpack — enough for a weekend, not a week.
Recommended: Cabin Max Metz 30L Backpack
The Cabin Max Metz 30L (45 x 36 x 20 cm) fits within easyJet’s free cabin bag allowance, works as Priority cabin bag on Ryanair and Wizz Air, and fits easily within Jet2, TUI, BA, and KLM limits. At 0.5 kg, it maximises your usable weight.
Paid cabin bag upgrade options
| Airline | Add-on | Bag size | Weight | Typical online price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | Priority & 2 Cabin Bags | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10 kg | £6–10 |
| Wizz Air | Wizz Priority | 55 x 40 x 23 cm | 10 kg | £10–25 |
| easyJet | Large cabin bag | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 15 kg | £6–30 |
| Aer Lingus | Cabin bag access (Saver fares) | 55 x 40 x 24 cm | 10 kg | €10–35 |
| KLM | Cabin bag add-on (Basic/Light fares) | 55 x 35 x 25 cm | 12 kg combined | €15–35 |
easyJet: The large cabin bag is no longer included with Upfront or Extra Legroom seats (removed June 2023). It must be purchased separately.
Ryanair Priority is usually the better buy over a checked bag for short trips — you get the overhead cabin bag, priority boarding, and no baggage reclaim wait.
Checked bag prices
Prices vary by route and booking timing. These are typical ranges booked online at time of booking:
| Airline | 10 kg | 15 kg | 20 kg | 22–23 kg | 26 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | £9–20 | — | £20–35 | £25–45 | — |
| easyJet | — | £7–28 | — | £9–38 | — |
| Wizz Air | £12–20 | — | £15–35 | — | £25–45 |
| Aer Lingus | — | — | £25–40 | £30–50 | — |
| TUI | — | £20–30 | £25–40 | — | £35–50 |
| Jet2 | — | — | — | ~£10–25/way | — |
| KLM | — | — | — | €25–240 (route-dep.) | — |
| Vueling | — | €8–25 | €10–35 | €12–45 | €15–55 |
| Virgin Atlantic | — | — | — | From £45 (Eco Light) | — |
| British Airways | — | — | — | Included (most fares) | — |
Jet2holidays packages include 22 kg per person — this is the biggest checked bag value in UK aviation for package holiday buyers.
Gate fees: what you pay if caught out
| Airline | Unbooked overhead cabin bag | Overweight checked bag |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | ~£70 | £13/kg |
| Wizz Air | €65 | €13/kg |
| Vueling | €110–140 | Route-dependent |
| easyJet | Free to hold (or £50 fee) | £12/kg |
| Aer Lingus | €35 | €10/kg (Eur) / €75 flat (transatlantic) |
| TUI | Gate-check required | £14–18/kg |
| Jet2 | Gate-check required / £45 same-day | £12/kg |
| BA | Varies | £65 per bag |
| KLM | Added via My Trip (up to 4 hrs before) | €75–300 per bag (fixed, not per kg) |
| Virgin Atlantic | £65 | £65 per bag |
Ryanair has the harshest visible gate fee at ~£70 for a bag that is too big for the sizer. Vueling has the highest overhead cabin bag gate fee of any airline here at €110–140.
KLM does not charge per kilogram for overweight bags — it charges a fixed fee of €75–300 per bag depending on route. Several guides state a per-kg rate. That is wrong.
Best airline by trip type
Carry-on only — city break
Best: Jet2, TUI, or British Airways
All three include a full-size overhead cabin bag plus a personal item for free. Jet2 and BA give you the largest free cabin bags (56 x 45 x 25 cm, ~63 litres).
For budget carriers, Ryanair Priority or Wizz Priority adds a 10 kg overhead bag for £6–25 — fine for a 2–3 night trip.
One-week European holiday (cabin + hold bag)
Best overall value: Jet2 (especially for packages with 22 kg included)
Budget route: easyJet or Ryanair with a 20 kg bag booked at time of purchase. The total (base fare + bag) is often comparable to Jet2 if you book early.
Family of 4 (two adults, two children, hold bags, pushchair)
Best: Jet2holidays
22 kg per person = 88 kg total checked allowance across a family of 4. Pushchairs are free at every airline. Jet2 handles these straightforwardly.
Ryanair for a family of 4 with 4 x 20 kg bags (8 bags return) can easily add £150–200 to the headline fare. Run those numbers before assuming the budget fare is cheaper.
Transatlantic (USA, Canada)
Best: Virgin Atlantic or British Airways
Both include checked bags on most Economy fares and have large cabin bag allowances. Aer Lingus via Dublin adds the benefit of US pre-clearance — you clear US immigration before boarding, saving significant time on arrival.
Business travel (cabin only, laptop)
Best: British Airways
23 kg combined cabin + personal item weight, no check-in, largest cabin bag allowance. BA business travel is seamless.
Ski or sports equipment
Best: Jet2 or Aer Lingus
Jet2 and Aer Lingus both have reasonable sports equipment fees and clear policies. KLM includes skis/snowboard free within checked allowance (no surcharge). Ryanair’s gate fees for oversized ski bags can be severe.
Airline-by-airline breakdown
Ryanair
Free bag: 40 x 30 x 20 cm, no weight limit — underseat only
Priority add-on: 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg overhead cabin bag — from £6 online
Checked bags: 10 kg from ~£9.49 / 20 kg from ~£20 / 23 kg from ~£25 online
Gate fee for oversized bag: ~£70
Ryanair increased the free personal bag from 40 x 20 x 25 cm to 40 x 30 x 20 cm in mid-2025. The base fare looks cheap but Priority is close to essential for anything beyond a day trip.
Full Ryanair cabin bag guide | Full Ryanair baggage guide
easyJet
Free bag: 45 x 36 x 20 cm, 15 kg — underseat (may go in hold if cabin is full)
Large cabin bag (paid): 56 x 45 x 25 cm, 15 kg — from £6 online
Checked bags: 15 kg from £7 / 23 kg from £9 online
Gate fee for oversized bag: Free to hold or £50
easyJet sits between budget and generous. The free bag is large enough for a weekend. If the cabin is full, it goes into the hold free — not a punishment, just inconvenient.
Full easyJet baggage guide | easyJet cabin bag guide
Jet2
Free bag: 56 x 45 x 25 cm, 10 kg — overhead bin guaranteed
Personal item: 40 x 30 x 20 cm (underseat)
Checked bags: 22 kg included with Jet2holidays / from ~£10/way for flights
Same-day airport add: £45 per item
The most generous budget airline in the UK for cabin baggage. Jet2holidays packages include 22 kg checked per person — a genuine differentiator for families and week-long holidays.
TUI
Free bag: 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg — overhead bin included
Personal item: 40 x 30 x 20 cm (underseat)
Checked bags: Included with TUI holidays (15–25 kg depending on package) / purchased for flight-only from £20
Overweight fee: £14/kg short/mid-haul, £18/kg long-haul
TUI works like a package carrier. The baggage is generous if you are booking a holiday. Flight-only bookings are treated like standard budget airline fares.
British Airways
Free bag: 56 x 45 x 25 cm — overhead bin
Personal item: 40 x 30 x 15 cm (depth is 15 cm, not 20 — the shallowest personal item of any airline here)
Combined cabin weight: 23 kg (most generous weight allowance of any airline)
Checked bags: Included on most Economy fares / not on Economy Basic
Overweight fee: £65 per bag (fixed)
BA’s personal item depth of 15 cm trips up frequent travellers used to the 20 cm standard elsewhere. The combined 23 kg cabin weight allowance is the most generous available.
Virgin Atlantic
Free bag: 56 x 36 x 23 cm, 10 kg — overhead bin
Personal item: One small bag under the seat (no published dimensions)
Checked bags: Not included on Economy Light / 1 x 23 kg on Economy Classic and Delight / 2 x 23 kg on Premium / 2 x 32 kg on Upper Class
Overweight fee: £65 per bag (fixed)
Virgin Atlantic is a long-haul specialist. Their cabin bag is 56 cm tall — same as BA — but notably narrower (36 cm vs 45 cm) and shallower (23 cm vs 25 cm). Less volume despite the same height.
Full Virgin Atlantic baggage guide
Wizz Air
Free bag: 40 x 30 x 20 cm, 10 kg — underseat only
Wizz Priority: 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 10 kg overhead cabin bag — from £10 online / €55 at airport
Checked bags: 10/20/26/32 kg from ~£12 online
Gate fee: €65 for oversized underseat bag
Wizz Air has the most extreme online vs airport price gap of any UK airline — Priority bought at the gate is €55 versus ~£10 booked online. Book everything before you fly.
Aer Lingus
Free bag (all fares): Personal item 40 x 30 x 20 cm (underseat)
Cabin bag (Plus, Advantage, Flex fares): 55 x 40 x 24 cm, 10 kg
Saver fares: Personal item only — add cabin bag for €10–35 online
Checked bags: 20 kg included with Plus / 23 kg with Flex / nothing with Saver
Gate fee (unbooked cabin bag): €35
Aer Lingus Saver fares behave like budget carriers. The unique advantage is US pre-clearance through Dublin — worth considering for transatlantic routes.
KLM
Free bag (Basic/Light): 40 x 30 x 15 cm underseat only (15 cm depth — the shallowest of all airlines here)
Cabin bag (Standard/Flex): 55 x 35 x 25 cm + personal item, 12 kg combined
Checked bags: 1 x 23 kg with Standard/Flex / nothing with Basic or Light (Europe)
Overweight fee: Fixed €75–300 per bag (NOT per-kg)
KLM introduced Economy Basic in mid-2025 — more restricted than Light, no overhead bin, no checked bag included. The 12 kg combined weight limit (cabin + personal item together) is worth understanding before you pack two heavy bags.
Vueling
Free bag (all fares): 40 x 30 x 20 cm underseat
Cabin bag (Fly fares): 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg — BUT Fly fare gives you a choice of cabin bag OR checked bag, not both
Cabin bag + checked bag: Optima fare only
Checked bags: 15/20/25/30 kg from €8 online
Gate fee (overhead bag, not booked): €110–140 — highest of any airline here
Vueling’s Fly fare is commonly misunderstood. You get either a cabin bag or a 15–20 kg checked bag, not both. If you want both, you need the Optima fare.
Total true cost: worked examples
Two adults, London to Malaga, July — one week, one 20 kg hold bag each
| Airline | Approx. return base fare (x2) | Cabin bag | Hold bags (2 x 20 kg rtn) | Approx. total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jet2 (holidays incl. bags) | ~£180 | Included | Included (22 kg) | ~£180 |
| British Airways | ~£220 | Included | Included | ~£220 |
| easyJet | ~£120 | Free (underseat) | ~£60 | ~£180 |
| Ryanair | ~£90 | +£28 Priority (x2 rtn) | ~£70 (4 segments) | ~£188 |
| TUI (flight-only) | ~£140 | Included | ~£80 | ~£220 |
| Vueling | ~£110 | Optima fare extra | ~£50 | ~£190+ |
These are approximate ranges based on typical July prices booked several weeks in advance. Exact prices vary significantly by date and departure airport.
The lesson: Ryanair’s headline fare can end up similar to or more than Jet2 once bags are factored in. The gap narrows as you add more bags.
Tips for any airline
Compare total cost, not the base fare. A £30 Ryanair fare plus Priority (£14 return) plus a 20 kg bag return (£35) is £79. A £65 Jet2 flight with bags included wins.
Book everything when you book the flight. Prices go up significantly when added separately, and airport prices are often double online.
Measure and weigh at home. A luggage scale (£10–15) and a tape measure save you from gate fees. Soft bags compress at the sizer; rigid cases that are borderline fail it.
Wear the heavy items. Coat, boots, and heavy jumper on the plane cut 2–3 kg from your bag instantly.
Check your booking confirmation. Screenshot it. If there is any dispute at the gate about what you paid for, you have the evidence.
Aer Lingus Saver is not actually Saver if you need bags. Run the Plus fare price first — it usually wins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which UK airline has the most generous free baggage?
Jet2 and British Airways. Both include a 56 x 45 x 25 cm overhead cabin bag plus a personal item free. BA adds a combined 23 kg weight limit — the most generous of any airline here.
Which UK airline is the strictest about bag sizes?
Ryanair. Smallest free bag, highest gate fee (~£70), and bag gauges used actively at busy airports.
Is easyJet more generous than Ryanair for baggage?
Yes. easyJet’s free bag (45 x 36 x 20 cm) is larger than Ryanair’s (40 x 30 x 20 cm), and if the cabin is full it goes in the hold free rather than incurring a gate fee.
Which airline is cheapest once bags are included?
It depends on the route and how many bags you need. For packages with hold luggage, Jet2holidays is consistently the best value. For carry-on only, Jet2, TUI, and BA give you the most free.
Does KLM charge per kg for overweight bags?
No — this is frequently misreported. KLM charges a fixed fee per overweight bag (€75–300 depending on route), not a per-kilogram rate.
Can I take a pushchair for free on UK airlines?
Yes, on every airline listed here. Pushchairs and prams travel free in addition to your normal baggage allowance on all UK carriers.
What is the personal item size for UK airlines?
Most use 40 x 30 x 20 cm. British Airways and KLM use 40 x 30 x 15 cm — the depth is 5 cm shallower than the standard. A bag that fits everywhere else may not fit these two.
Related
- Ryanair Cabin Bag Size and Baggage Allowance
- Ryanair Baggage Allowance Guide
- easyJet Baggage Allowance
- easyJet Cabin Bag Size
- Jet2 Baggage Allowance
- TUI Baggage Allowance
- British Airways Baggage Allowance
- Virgin Atlantic Baggage Allowance
- Wizz Air Baggage Allowance
- Aer Lingus Baggage Allowance
- KLM Baggage Allowance
- Vueling Baggage Allowance
- Luggage Scales
- Cabin Bag Backpacks
