Carry-on, Checked and Personal Items:
Comparison of the Main Airlines

The three types of baggage: what changes from airline to airline

Before comparing individual airlines, it is essential to understand the difference between the three types of baggage, because each carrier uses different terms and the rules vary significantly. Knowing this distinction is the first step to avoiding unpleasant surprises at the airport.

• Personal item (personal item / small bag): this is the smallest bag allowed on board — a handbag, day backpack or laptop bag. It must be stored under the seat in front of you. It is free with almost all airlines, but maximum dimensions vary: from 40×30×15 cm on Lufthansa and Air France to 45×36×20 cm on EasyJet.
• Carry-on baggage (cabin bag / hand luggage): this is the trolley bag or large backpack stored in the overhead compartment above the seat. The most common standard dimensions are around 55×40×23 cm, but not all airlines include it for free. Low-cost airlines (Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air) charge for it or include it only with higher fares or priority boarding.
• Checked baggage (checked baggage / hold luggage): this is the suitcase handed over at check-in and loaded into the aircraft hold. Full-service airlines (Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, ITA Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar) often include it in the Economy ticket price, while low-cost airlines always charge separately.

Personal item comparison (under the seat)

The personal item is the only piece of baggage included for free in all fares, even the cheapest ones. However, maximum dimensions vary significantly between airlines, and exceeding them may result in additional costs or refusal of boarding.

Carry-on baggage comparison (overhead compartment)

Carry-on baggage stored in the overhead compartment is the biggest difference between airlines. Low-cost airlines almost always charge for it, while full-service and international airlines generally include it in the ticket price. Pay attention to dimensions too: a difference of just a few centimetres can determine whether a bag is accepted or rejected at the gate.

Comparison of hold luggage

Checked baggage is the element that has the biggest impact on the total cost of a trip, especially with low-cost airlines. The difference between an airline that includes it for free and one that charges for it can be €40-80 per flight — a cost that often exceeds the price of the ticket itself.

Analysis by airline category

Low-cost airlines: Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air

Low-cost airlines adopt an "unbundled" model: the ticket price includes only the essentials — the personal item under the seat — and every additional service is sold separately. This approach allows them to keep base fares very low, but it can lead to high total costs if the trip is not planned correctly.

Ryanair is the most restrictive: the free personal item measures 40×30×20 cm. To bring a trolley bag into the overhead compartment, you need to purchase Priority Boarding, which starts at around €6 but can reach €20 or more per flight during peak season. Checked baggage starts at around €10 for 10 kg, but prices increase quickly as the flight date approaches.

EasyJet is slightly more generous with its personal item (45×36×20 cm, up to 15 kg), but the large cabin bag still requires payment. Checked baggage prices start at around €9-10 for 15 kg online, but increase quickly. The advantage compared to Ryanair is the very generous weight limit for the small bag.

Wizz Air has the same free baggage dimensions as Ryanair (40×30×20 cm), with a maximum weight of 10 kg. Checked baggage costs vary significantly depending on the route and how far in advance you book: from around €8 to over €87 for 20 kg.

European legacy airlines: ITA Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, Iberia

Legacy airlines generally include more baggage in the ticket price, but they have also introduced "Basic" or "Light" fares that exclude carry-on baggage or checked baggage. It is essential to carefully check what is included in the fare you purchase.

ITA Airways always includes carry-on baggage (55×40×23 cm, 8 kg) in all Economy fares. Checked baggage is included from Economy Standard onwards. It is one of the most transparent legacy airlines when it comes to baggage.

Lufthansa is the only legacy airline that does not include an overhead cabin bag in its cheapest fare (Economy Basic): in this case, only the personal item (40×30×15 cm) is allowed. From Economy Light onwards, carry-on baggage (55×40×23 cm, 8 kg) is included. Adding checked baggage outside the allowance can cost between €60 and €110.

Air France always allows a personal item (40×30×15 cm) and a carry-on bag (55×35×25 cm) with a combined maximum weight of 12 kg, but checked baggage is included only from Economy Standard. The Light fare includes neither carry-on baggage nor checked baggage.

British Airways is among the most generous legacy airlines: it always includes both the personal item and cabin baggage (with a combined weight of up to 23 kg), and 23 kg checked baggage is included in Economy Standard. The Basic fare does not include checked baggage.

Iberia always includes both the personal item (30×40×15 cm) and carry-on baggage (56×40×25 cm, 10 kg) in all Economy fares. Checked baggage is included from Economy Standard.

International airlines: Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways

Major international airlines are generally the most generous overall, especially when it comes to checked baggage. Choosing them can be worthwhile even when the ticket price appears higher compared to a low-cost airline.

Turkish Airlines always includes both the personal item (40×30×15 cm, 4 kg) and carry-on baggage (55×40×23 cm, 8 kg) in Economy, plus 20-23 kg of checked baggage depending on the route. An excellent baggage policy for passengers travelling with larger bags.

Emirates is among the most generous airlines in the world: in Economy, it includes carry-on baggage (55×38×22 cm, 7 kg) and as much as 35 kg of free checked baggage (weight concept). A huge advantage compared to low-cost airlines, making Emirates often more affordable than expected when considering the total trip cost.

Qatar Airways includes carry-on baggage (50×37×25 cm, 7 kg) and checked baggage of 23 kg (piece concept) or 20-30 kg (weight concept) depending on the destination. Like Emirates, it is an excellent choice for passengers who need to carry heavy luggage.

5 practical tips to save on baggage

• Book baggage online, never at the airport. Airport fees can be 3-5 times higher than booking online in advance. With Ryanair, a 20 kg bag costs around €20-40 online but can reach €80-100 at the gate.
• Check the exact dimensions before buying a suitcase. Dimensions vary between airlines: a 55×40×23 cm suitcase works for Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, but exceeds Ryanair's limits (55×40×20 cm) in depth.
• Make use of combined weight where possible. Air France and British Airways calculate the combined weight of the personal item and carry-on baggage: if your trolley bag weighs 5 kg, you can put up to 7 kg in your personal bag (BA, 23 kg total limit).
• Be careful with "Basic" or "Light" fares from legacy airlines. Lufthansa Economy Basic does not include an overhead cabin bag: if you purchase this fare and arrive at the airport with a trolley bag, you may have to pay up to €60-110 to check it in.
• With Emirates and Qatar, the ticket price already includes a lot. Even if the ticket appears more expensive, Emirates' 35 kg of free checked baggage or Qatar's 23 kg allowance can make these airlines more convenient than expected compared to a low-cost airline with paid checked baggage.

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