What is British Airways’ hand baggage allowance?

British Airways has one of the most generous hang baggage policies of all major airlines. Even basic economy passengers are permitted to bring a small bag (i.e. a handbag or laptop bag) and a cabin bag on board included in the ticket price.

Here’s a breakdown you’re allowed to bring on board when flying with BA:

What is British Airways’ checked luggage allowance?

The amount of hold luggage drastically changes, based on your ticket. It all depends on the route you’re flying and what ticket type you’ve purchased. British Airways offers free checked baggage on most long-haul flights from the UK, but there are different ‘classes’ of travellers and in some cases, you will need to pay extra for checked bags. It’s worth doing this before you get to the BA check in, as fees can double if you pay at the airport.

Here’s a summary of British Airways’ baggage allowance rules:

• Economy with no checked bag (Euro Traveller or World Traveller basic) tickets: depending on your destination and departure airport, you’ll pay between £65 and £140 online in advance per checked bag, and at least £75 per bag at the airport.

• In general, hold luggage can be no bigger than 90×75×43cm in size.

• Any passenger can add up to 10 additional hold bags for a fee, depending on your destination and the amount of extra luggage you wish to take

• To check your allowance or fees, log in to your booking on the BA website or type in the details of the BA flight and ticket type you’re interested in, to see what would apply in your case.

Below is an outline of what free baggage is included in each class.

How can I make the most of the British Airways hand luggage allowance?

If you’re determined to travel light, read on for our top tips on getting all of your luggage on board:

1. Measure your hand luggage bags

All airlines have slightly different luggage restrictions. That’s why you should always measure your hand luggage bags well before flying, especially when travelling with an airline for the first time. If your cabin bag is bigger than 56×45×25cm (22×18×10in), you will have to check it in. Remember, British Airways’ baggage allowance includes handles and wheels, so don’t get caught out by that awkward baggage gauge at the last minute. If you’re in danger of exceeding the limitations, look for a new cabin bag. Most luggage stores now make it easy to find ‘cabin-approved’ rucksacks and suitcases.

2. Weigh your hand luggage and checked bags

If your cabin bag is heavier than 23kg (51lbs), you will also have to check it in. And if your ticket doesn’t allow for more free checked baggage allowance, you’ll have to pay a heavy bag charge which amounts to £65 (€75) per overweight bag and one-way journey. Note that this weight limit is per bag and can’t be split between multiple bags. However, if your journey includes a connecting flight with another airline, their allowances may be different. Check our FAQ section for more info. Here’s everything you need to know about avoiding excess baggage fees at the airport.

3. Shop around for a deal

British Airways is not a budget airline. It has an impressive range of airfare grades, meaning you don’t have to struggle with the zip on your tiny suitcase. On short-haul BA flights, Economy comes with four options: Basic, Plus and Semi-Flex and Fully-Flex. While Basic is the ‘hand luggage only’ option you may be looking for, Plus comes with free checked baggage and Semi-Flex and Fully-Flex allows flexibility if your schedule changes. Alternatively, British Airways Premium Economy (World Traveller Plus) is available on some international flights. This option lends you a little more legroom for your oversized handbag, plus two pieces of hold luggage (23kg each) included in the price.

4. Use those extra centimetres

The BA cabin bag allowance is bigger than Ryanair’s maximum dimensions for cabin baggage. So that’s a whole more space you can make the most of. Sure, you might have paid a little more for a British Airways flight. But that gives you a valuable bit of room for those little luxuries you thought you couldn’t squeeze in, whether that’s your favourite perfume or slipper socks for the journey.

5. Join the Club

While British Airways’ Club Europe and Club World tickets may sound like you have to be an international jet-setter and criss-cross the Atlantic several times a week to join, membership is actually free. Registering will put you in the basic ‘Blue’ Tier, in which you’ll automatically start collecting Avios (the airline’s version of reward points) on flight purchases as well as member offers and the chance to rack up Tier points in order to progress to the next level.

Make it to the Bronze Tier (3500 Tier points on BA and partner flights) and you’ll start getting perks like priority check-in and boarding, as well as being able to select a seat a whole week before you fly. Silver Tier (7500 points) comes with extra luggage allowance among other things, while the Gold Tier (20,00 points) pretty much guarantees you a First class experience, complete with exclusive lounges and bonus rewards. You don’t even need to be a British Airways frequent flyer to start earning points.

6. Fly with another airline

Not many airlines can match the BA baggage allowance. Even big names like Air France and KLM (55×35×25cm, 12kg combined weight) stipulate a slightly smaller hand luggage size. But if you have heavier items, like an SLR camera or sports equipment to transport, consider companies like Delta (56×35×23cm) which has no weight restrictions on hand luggage apart from at selected airports. For a full round-up of cabin bag restrictions across major airlines, see our comparison table.

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