Commercial Airlines
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sets guidelines for cabin baggage/hand luggage/carry-on luggage size. They are not mandatory, however, and individual airlines can and do vary their requirements. The IATA guideline states:
Cabin baggage should have a 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.
Most low-cost airlines have smaller limits for the cabin baggage where one bag is commonly allowed at a size of 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. Still the maximum weight differs widely in the range of 5 kg to 12 kg. A second bag is mostly not allowed for low-cost travel. As an example these restrictions apply to:
Air Berlin (one bag max. 6 kg / for laptops max. 8 kg); BMIBaby (one bag max. 10 kg); Germanwings (one bag max. 8 kg); Lufthansa (one bag max. 8 kg / Exception: foldable garment bags 57 cm x 54 cm x 15 cm.) Ryanair (one bag max. 10 kg. 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm); Swiss International Air Lines (max. 8 kg. 55 cm x 40 cm x 23 cm/ plus some hand items as listed); Wizzair (one bag max. 10 kg)
The actual size and weight limits of cabin baggage can differ widely, in some cases they are dependent on the aircraft model being used, in other cases it depends on the booking class. As an example of the lack of standardisation, the maximum permitted cabin luggage restrictions of some airlines are:
| 48 cm x 36 cm x 20 cm | Aurigny class Regional (one bag max. 10 kg) or class Inter-Island (max. 6 kg) |
| 55 cm x 40 cm x 23 cm | Flybe (one bag max. 10 kg) |
| 50 cm x 45 cm x 20 cm | Jet Airways for ATR aircraft (one bag max. 7 kg) |
| 55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm | Jet Airways for Boeing/Airbus (one bag max. 7 kg); Air France (one bag plus one accessory like handbag, laptop, photocamera - overall max 12 kg) |
| 55 cm x 40 cm x 23 cm | Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines (one bag max. 8 kg) |
| 56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm | United Airlines; (sum < 114 cm)(One bag plus one personal item) |
| 56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm | Malaysia Airlines; (sum < 115 cm) (one bag max. 7 kg); Virgin Atlantic (One bag max. 6 kg); Delta Air Lines (One bag plus laptop bag); |
| 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm | (IATA size) British Airways (one bag plus laptop bag); EasyJet (one bag, no special weight limit); Finnair (one bag, max. 8 kg) |
Commercial airline pilots and flight attendants also comply with standards. Those standards are set by individual airlines under "uniform restrictions" which guide and maintain professional dress codes.
Business Class, First class passengers and holders of high level milage club members are often allowed to carry on a second luggage of same size and weight, or a smaller size and weight (except UK).
On smaller sized aircraft the hand baggage can be carried in the cargo area. In this case the baggage is collected when boarding the aircraft and is handed back to passengers right after landing.
Read more about this topic: Hand Luggage
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