European Airline Carry-On Rules Compared (2026)

European air travel involves a patchwork of carry-on rules that differ significantly between low-cost carriers and full-service airlines. Ryanair's famously strict approach shares a continent with British Airways' relatively generous combined allowance and easyJet's no-weight-limit policy. Understanding where your airline sits in this spectrum — and the practical implications for your packing — is the most important pre-flight research you can do.

The Key Distinction: LCC vs. Full-Service Carrier

The biggest variable in European carry-on rules is carrier type:

Low-cost carriers (LCCs): Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Norwegian, Vueling, Transavia. These carriers typically restrict free allowances to an under-seat personal bag and charge extra for overhead bin access. Enforcement is more consistent.

Full-service carriers (FSCs): British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Swiss, Finnair, SAS, Iberia. These carriers include a carry-on bag in all fares. Weight limits apply but enforcement is less aggressive than LCCs.

European LCC Carry-On Rules

Ryanair

Ryanair operates the strictest — and most financially consequential — cabin bag system in Europe.

Fare Type	Allowance
Standard (no Priority)	40 × 20 × 25 cm personal bag only; under seat
Priority Boarding / Cabin Bag add-on	55 × 40 × 20 cm cabin bag (overhead) + 40 × 20 × 25 cm personal bag
Combined weight limit (Priority)	10 kg

Gate fees for non-compliant bags: £/€50–80. Enforcement uses physical size templates at many airports. Ryanair's free personal bag allowance (40 × 20 × 25 cm) is among the smallest in European aviation.

easyJet

easyJet is more generous than Ryanair on cabin bag dimensions and applies no weight limit.

Fare Type	Allowance
Standard / cheapest seat	45 × 36 × 20 cm small bag; under seat
FLEXI fare / upfront / extra legroom seats	56 × 45 × 25 cm large cabin bag (overhead) + small bag
Weight limit	None

The 56 × 45 × 25 cm allowance for premium seats is the largest cabin bag allowance of any European LCC. Gate check fees: approximately £/€48.

Wizz Air

Wizz Air's system closely mirrors Ryanair's two-tier approach.

Fare Type	Allowance
Standard	40 × 30 × 20 cm personal bag; under seat
Wizz Priority / Cabin Bag Plus	55 × 40 × 23 cm cabin bag (overhead) + 40 × 30 × 20 cm personal bag
Combined weight limit (Priority)	10 kg

Gate fees: £/€50–90 (varies by airport and route). Wizz Air enforcement is among the most consistent in European aviation at its hub airports.

Norwegian

Norwegian takes a slightly different approach — a single carry-on bag included in higher fares.

Fare Type	Allowance
LowFare	45 × 35 × 20 cm personal bag under seat
LowFare+ and above	55 × 40 × 23 cm cabin bag (overhead)
Weight limit	10 kg

Norwegian's LowFare+ fare is often only marginally more expensive than LowFare and includes the overhead cabin bag — a better deal than many travelers realize.

Vueling

Vueling (IAG group, sibling of British Airways and Iberia) applies LCC-style restrictions on its cheapest fares.

Fare Type	Allowance
Basic fare	Personal bag under seat
Optima, TimeFlex, Top	55 × 35 × 25 cm cabin bag (overhead), 10 kg

Transavia

Transavia (Air France/KLM group) offers a small free bag and charges for overhead access.

Fare Type	Allowance
Base	Personal bag under seat (45 × 35 × 20 cm)
With cabin bag add-on	55 × 40 × 20 cm, 12 kg

European Full-Service Carrier Carry-On Rules

British Airways

British Airways applies a unified and generous baggage policy across all cabin classes.

Class	Carry-On Allowance
Economy (Euro Traveller/World Traveller)	56 × 45 × 25 cm + 45 × 36 × 20 cm personal item
Combined weight	23 kg across all cabin bags

British Airways is notable for its 23 kg combined cabin baggage weight limit — one of the most generous in global aviation. This effectively removes weight as a practical concern for the vast majority of passengers.

Lufthansa

Class	Carry-On Allowance
Economy	55 × 40 × 23 cm, 8 kg
Premium Economy	55 × 40 × 23 cm, 13 kg
Business	55 × 40 × 23 cm, 16 kg (2 bags)

Lufthansa enforces its 8 kg economy carry-on weight more consistently than many full-service peers, particularly on transatlantic and long-haul routes.

Air France

Class	Carry-On Allowance
Economy	55 × 35 × 25 cm, 12 kg
Premium Economy	55 × 35 × 25 cm, 14 kg
Business	2 bags, 18 kg combined

Air France's 12 kg economy limit is more generous than Lufthansa's 8 kg.

KLM

KLM (same group as Air France) applies very similar rules:

Class	Carry-On Allowance
Economy	55 × 35 × 25 cm, 12 kg
Business	2 bags, 18 kg combined

Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines

All three are part of the Lufthansa Group and apply broadly similar policies to Lufthansa: 55 × 40 × 23 cm, 8 kg in economy, with higher limits in premium cabins.

SAS

Fare	Allowance
SAS Go	55 × 40 × 23 cm, 8 kg
SAS Plus	Same size, plus personal item
SAS Business	18 kg, 2 bags

Iberia

Iberia (IAG group) allows a relatively large carry-on with no weight limit:

Class	Carry-On Allowance
Economy	56 × 45 × 25 cm, no weight limit
Business	56 × 45 × 25 cm, no weight limit (2 bags)

Summary Comparison Table

Airline	Free Base Allowance	Overhead Bag (Paid or Included)	Weight Limit
Ryanair	40 × 20 × 25 cm (under seat)	55 × 40 × 20 cm (paid)	10 kg combined
easyJet	45 × 36 × 20 cm (under seat)	56 × 45 × 25 cm (paid/upgraded)	None
Wizz Air	40 × 30 × 20 cm (under seat)	55 × 40 × 23 cm (paid)	10 kg combined
Norwegian	45 × 35 × 20 cm (under seat)	55 × 40 × 23 cm (LowFare+)	10 kg
British Airways	45 × 36 × 20 cm personal	56 × 45 × 25 cm (all fares)	23 kg combined
Lufthansa	—	55 × 40 × 23 cm (all fares)	8 kg
Air France	—	55 × 35 × 25 cm (all fares)	12 kg
KLM	—	55 × 35 × 25 cm (all fares)	12 kg
Iberia	—	56 × 45 × 25 cm (all fares)	None

EU Security Rules for Cabin Baggage

Regardless of which airline you fly, EU airport security applies consistent rules to liquids and prohibited items in cabin baggage:

Liquids rule (applies across EU):

• Maximum 100 ml per container
• All containers fit in one transparent, resealable bag of maximum 1 litre (approximately 20 × 20 cm)
• One bag per passenger

Prohibited in cabin (selected items):

• Scissors with blades over 6 cm
• Knives and cutting implements
• Firearms, replica weapons
• Flammable liquids and gases
• Sporting equipment usable as a weapon (baseball bats, hockey sticks)

UK-specific note: UK airports were planning to update their liquid rules to allow larger quantities through new CT scanners at some airports. Implementation has been uneven — always check the specific airport's website before travel for current liquid rules.

Tips for Flying in Europe

Always verify your fare's bag inclusion. European airline websites vary in how clearly they display bag inclusions during booking. Look for a dedicated baggage summary page before completing your purchase.

Arrive early at Ryanair and Wizz Air gates. Enforcement happens at the gate, not check-in. Arriving early reduces the chance of being singled out during a rush enforcement period.

Consider buying the cabin bag add-on for European LCC routes. For trips of more than 2 nights, the overhead bag add-on typically costs less than the hassle and uncertainty of fitting everything in a personal bag.

Use the size comparison tool before booking. If you're deciding between airlines on a competitive route, your bag's compatibility with each carrier's free allowance can meaningfully affect the total cost of your ticket.

The Bottom Line

European carry-on rules split sharply between LCCs and full-service carriers. Ryanair and Wizz Air have the strictest free allowances and highest gate fees; easyJet is more generous on dimensions and has no weight limit. British Airways, Air France, and KLM are the most traveler-friendly full-service options. The best strategy is to check your specific airline's current rules before every trip — European carriers update their policies more frequently than most.