If you book a cheap flight, you’re often faced with the question of which luggage is included. Unfortunately, most airlines introduced a tariff jungle with high additional fees a few years ago. Unfortunately, luggage often costs more these days than the flight with a budget airline.
So, if you want to save costs and only want to start your next family vacation with hand luggage, you will find some information about hand luggage guidelines and our personal recommendations for luggage items here.
What hand luggage is permitted for our family vacation?
How big can my hand luggage be?
Most airlines allow hand luggage with a maximum size of 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm (including wheels and handles) and a maximum weight of 7-10 kg. It is important to comply with these size restrictions, as larger or heavier items are usually treated as checked baggage and may incur additional fees.
How many pieces of luggage can I take with me?
How many liquids can I pack?
Prohibited items
Special regulations
Different types of hand luggage
Most airlines divide hand luggage into two categories:
small hand luggage
Small hand luggage is often also called a personal item and can be a handbag, laptop bag or a small backpack.
As a rule, all airlines allow you to take a personal item with you free of charge.
It is important to note that personal items should generally be smaller than the main piece of hand luggage and must usually be stowed under the seat in front of you.
large hand luggage
The large hand luggage can be a small trolley, a large backpack or a large bag.
As a rule, you have to book this item of luggage additionally with the budget airlines. For medium or long-haul flights, it is sometimes included.
Either you have to hand in the large hand luggage when boarding and it will be transported in the cargo hold, or you can take it into the cabin, where you have to stow it in the overhead compartment above the seats.
Hand luggage guidelines for European airlines
Each airline now has its own guidelines on the number of pieces of hand luggage as well as the maximum size and weight. Each airline also sets its own prices for hand luggage.
We have summarized the information about permitted hand luggage of the 7 most popular airlines for you in a clear graphic.
You can take a personal item on board free of charge with all airlines. Depending on the tariff booked, a large piece of hand luggage is sometimes included, sometimes you have to pay a surcharge for it. So, find out about the current hand luggage guidelines in advance to avoid unnecessary additional costs.
Hand luggage - our personal recommendation
We, Alexander and Fabienne, have been flying around the world for years with our beloved Thule Enroute Backpack* as hand luggage. It has a good size for the small piece of hand luggage and has been accepted by all airlines as a personal item so far, even if it is officially a little too high in terms of dimensions. The backpack has room for our laptop, charging cable, summer clothes for about a week, light shoes and a bag with liquids.
If we are traveling for a longer period of time and need a large piece of hand luggage, we use the Samsonite Lite-Shock hand luggage trolley*. This hand luggage suitcase is very light and, with a size of 55 x 40 x 20 cm, fits into almost all airline hand luggage guidelines. Due to the low weight of only 1.7 kg, you can fill the trolley well without it becoming too heavy. We like to pack our beach shelter, more clothes and shoes, and our snorkeling equipment in the large hand luggage.
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