Dimensions, weight, contents: there are many limitations that airlines impose on luggage to be loaded in the overhead bin. Here’s a guide on how it works
How many times have we seen the scene of people who are refused boarding of a trolley or backpack that is too heavy or too bulky, thus having to pay for it to be put in the hold? And how many times have we been asked to board ours hand luggage why is the flight full? This is certainly an issue that generates apprehension among travellers, who must always carefully plan which type of fare to purchase, whether it includes checked baggage or not, and what to put in the luggage to be loaded in the overhead bin and discussions with ground or flight staff. Unfortunately, despite some common safety rules for everyone, there is no unanimity among airlines on the rules for hand luggage, so we have tried to reconstruct a guide to avoid the most common problems and arrive prepared when boarding.
Size and weight
—
The first issue to consider when preparing hand luggage to be placed in the overhead bin is the maximum dimensions allowed. In general, all companies allow you to bring a small bag on board 40x30x20 cm to be stored under the seat, with minimal variations between the various companies on these measurements. However, low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, EasyJet or Wizz Air consider this to be the only baggage included in the basic fare, so the second overhead bin trolley is paid extra. Flag carriers, on the other hand, usually include it in their basic fare, which does not include the hold suitcase. The most common measurements for hand luggage are 50-55x40x23-25 cmalso slightly variable depending on the company, with a maximum of 56x45x25 prescribed by the International Transport Association (Iata). Finally, for this second baggage the weight is also a decisive factor, with a limit that goes from 7 to 10 kg always on the basis of the company, or in some cases up to 12 kg combining it with the small bag.
Content
—
The rules on what you can carry in the cabin are very specific. It is not allowed no type of firearmammunition, toy or compressed air weapons, as well as bows, crossbows and fireworks. All the flammable objects are prohibited in the cabin, as well as dangerous ones and sharp such as knives, cutters, scissors with blades over 6 cm, razor blades, drills and saws. Even the blunt sports equipmentsuch as baseball bats or fencing swords, must be stowed in the hold. A July 2025 rule instead modifies the rules on liquids: in airports equipped with new generation scanner it is possible to bring liquids on board in containers of up to two liters, without removing them from your baggage at the checks. However, not all Italian or European airports are equipped with this technology: for now they are present in Milan Malpensa (Terminal 1) and Linate, Rome Fiumicino, Bologna and in some lanes of Turin. Where the new scanners are not present, the total maximum capacity of one liter remains, divided into containers of up to 100 ml to be placed in a transparent bag and removed at checks. The liquids in question also include viscous or semi-solid substances such as toothpastes, creams, shower products, cosmetics, yogurt and soft cheeses. Finally, it should be remembered that the maximum limit of power bank to be brought on board is two units, strictly in the cabin, but only those with a maximum capacity of 160 Wh.
Travel with Gazzetta Motori, experience the most anticipated circuits of the summer as a protagonist
New rules
—
The news came in mid-June that the EU had updated the regulation for the protection of air passengers. The innovations, in addition to expanding protection in the event of cancellations and delays, focus on cost transparency. According to this rule, the default base rate from now on will have to must include cabin baggagein addition to the bag to keep under the seat, while those wishing to board with only the latter will be able to have a cheaper discounted rate available. This will especially affect low-cost ones, which as a rule always show the base price for the backpack only, while to add the cabin trolley it is necessary to switch to a higher rate which often includes other advantages.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED