Airline luggage

Hi again.

IATA  says that cabin baggage should be "maximum length of 56 cm (22 inches), width of 45 cm (18 inches) and depth of 25 cm (10 inches) including all handles, side pockets, wheels etc."  However, it can vary from airline to airline and aircraft to aircraft:

Easyjet uses the IATA standard with no weight restriction.

Ryan air is different, they use 40 cm x 20 cm x 25 cm if you book online and check-in yourself.  However, if you pay for priority check-in, they increase it to 55cm x 40cm x 20cm with a maximum weight of 10kg.  They have been known to be very keen to surcharge you - so be careful.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Cynic

Very helpful indeed. Thanks

I dont understand this placing a bag under your seat.

Hi again.

If everybody turned up with an IATA size hand case, there is no way they will all fit in the overhead luggage lockers, hence the pile of small cases you see stacked by the front hold when this happens.

The original concept for luggage was you checked in your suitcase and that ladies handbags and gents briefcases went under the seat in front of you (you'll see a restraining bar there for that purpose).  Hat's and coats went in the overhead compartment - they were never meant for carrying weight, just to stop hats and coats from flying around the cabin.

60 years later, people and the market needs have changed, but the basic aircraft design hasn't.  Bags under the seat were originally meant to be a briefcase/handbag; but there is now an IATA standard, so all seats have a space under them 56 cm (22 inches) long, 45 cm (18 inches) wide and 25 cm (10 inches) deep.  Of course, not all can be used, those by an emergency exit or facing a bulkhead for example; although, some like them because of the extra leg-room, they forget they have no space for hand-luggage.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Cynic

Great information.  Thank you