TUI Carry-On Rules & Bag Size Guide 2026

TUI (operating TUI fly and its various national subsidiaries) is Europe's largest integrated travel group, combining package holidays, hotels, and airlines under a single brand. TUI fly operates in several European countries under slightly different entity names: TUIfly (formerly Tuifly) in Germany, TUI Airways in the UK, TUI fly Belgium, TUI fly Netherlands, and TUI fly Nordic in Scandinavia. Despite the national variants, core carry-on policies are consistent across the group. TUI flights operate primarily on leisure and holiday routes — the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Caribbean, long-haul beach destinations — which means its passengers and airports have distinct characteristics from business travel carriers.

TUI Carry-On Allowance at a Glance

Fare Type	Carry-On Bags	Size Limit	Weight
Standard fare	1 bag	55 × 40 × 20 cm	10 kg

TUI does not operate a tiered fare structure with a separate personal item on its standard fares. All passengers receive one carry-on bag. Some fare bundles or package holiday inclusions may add additional allowances — always check your specific booking documentation.

Cabin Bag Dimensions in Inches

Measurement	Centimetres	Inches
Length	55 cm	21.7 in
Width	40 cm	15.7 in
Depth	20 cm	7.9 in

The 40 cm width matches Ryanair and many standard cabin bags, which is more accommodating than Transavia's 35 cm limit. The 20 cm depth remains the key constraint. Most standard 40-litre cabin bags measure 23–28 cm in depth and will not comply. A purpose-built slim-profile cabin bag is needed.

Personal Item Policy

TUI's standard cabin allowance does not include a personal item separate from the carry-on:

• Standard fare: One carry-on bag (55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg) — no separate personal item
• Handbags, laptop bags, and small backpacks must fit inside the carry-on bag
• Package holiday bookings may include enhanced baggage entitlements — check your TUI holiday booking confirmation
• TUI Extra (seat + bag) upgrades may provide additional cabin or hold options depending on the route

This is an important distinction from easyJet and many other European carriers, which allow a separate under-seat item on most fare types.

Fee Structure for Oversized or Overweight Bags

TUI fee structures vary by country of operation. As indicative benchmarks for TUI UK:

• Pre-booked additional hold bag: From approximately GBP 25–65 per flight depending on route and timing
• Gate excess baggage: Significantly higher than pre-booked — can be GBP 50–150 at busy holiday airports
• Non-compliant carry-on redirected to hold: Charged at the gate rate for the applicable flight
• Package holiday bundles: TUI package holidays typically include checked baggage — check your holiday confirmation for the exact allowance

Enforcement at Holiday Airports

TUI's reputation for carry-on enforcement is particularly well established at certain high-volume leisure airports:

• Palma de Mallorca (PMI): Multiple TUI departures per day in peak summer; gate sizers and bag weighing are commonplace
• Tenerife South (TFS) and Lanzarote (ACE): Canary Island airports see TUI among the dominant carriers, with consistent enforcement
• Antalya (AYT) and Dalaman (DLM): Turkish holiday airports with high TUI volumes and active gate checking
• Hurghada (HRG) and Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH): Egyptian Red Sea airports where TUI carries significant volume

The pattern is consistent: full aircraft, high passenger numbers, and a commercially motivated reason to enforce carry-on limits. If you are flying TUI from any major holiday airport in summer, assume your bag will be measured and weighed.

Tips for TUI Passengers

The 20 cm depth is the key dimension. Holiday travellers unfamiliar with the depth constraint frequently arrive at check-in with bags that are 25–28 cm deep — standard dimensions for most medium cabin bags. Buy a bag specifically rated for 20 cm depth. Many low-cost carrier compliant bags are sold at 55 × 40 × 20 cm or smaller.

Package holiday baggage is different from flight-only baggage. If you booked a TUI package holiday (flights + hotel), you likely have checked luggage included. Read your holiday confirmation carefully — the baggage terms for package holidays can be more generous than flight-only fares. Do not assume the cabin allowance alone applies if you booked a full package.

Weigh the bag at home. TUI enforces the 10 kg limit seriously at busy airports. Holiday packing — sunscreen, shoes, beach kit — adds up quickly. A kitchen or luggage scale check before leaving for the airport costs nothing and avoids an expensive surprise at the gate.

TUI Airways uses Gatwick heavily. TUI UK's primary hub is London Gatwick (LGW), particularly South Terminal. Gatwick South has improved significantly in recent years, but departures during peak summer (July–August) require an early arrival. TUI also operates from Manchester (MAN), Bristol (BRS), Birmingham (BHX), and a dozen other UK regional airports.

Long-haul TUI routes. TUI operates long-haul services to the Caribbean, Florida, Mexico, and Indian Ocean destinations on Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners. On these longer routes, the same 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg carry-on rules apply, and they are still enforced — don't assume a leisure long-haul flight will be more relaxed.

Book hold luggage early for package trips. The TUI booking system often offers discounted hold luggage when added at the time of initial booking. If you are considering adding luggage, do it immediately — the price increases significantly as the departure date approaches.

The Bottom Line

TUI fly's carry-on policy is competitive on weight (10 kg) but strict on the 20 cm depth, with no personal item on standard fares. Enforcement is notably active at peak holiday airports — if you fly TUI to Mallorca in August, assume your bag will face scrutiny. The solution is simple: buy a genuinely compliant bag, weigh it at home, and pre-book any hold luggage you need at time of booking. Package holiday travellers should read their confirmation carefully, as included checked baggage often covers the need that flight-only passengers try to solve with a large carry-on.

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Rules change — always verify with TUI before you fly.