Baggage allowances
Guide to carry-on and checked in luggage allowances for major UK airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet and Jet2, plus list of baggage charges where applicable.
Every airline flying from the UK has different rules on what you’re allowed to take on a plane and what they’ll charge you for it. This page summarises the allowances and charges for Ryanair, Easyjet, Jet2, Flybe, BMI, BMIbaby, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Thomson and Thomas Cook.
Ryanair baggage fees and allowances
Ryanair’s table of fees is pretty complex, but to summarise…
Check in one bag for a one way flight, and you’ll pay £15 for up to 15kg or £25 for up to 20kg. This is for off-peak flights. For peak season flights (basically summer and the Christmas period) this goes up to £20 and £30 respectively. Some routes – all in the Canary Islands plus Kos, Rhodes, Volos and Larnaca – attract higher fees. For these destinations, one 15kg bag will cost you £20 off-peak or £25 during peak season. A 20kg bag will cost £25/ £35.
You’re allowed to take one bag on board – that doesn’t mean one bag and a handbag or one bag and a laptop case – ONE bag. It can weigh up to 10kg and the maximum dimensions are 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
Easyjet baggage fees and allowances
Easyjet doesn’t put a specific weight restriction on hand baggage, although you’re expected to be able to lift it into the overhead compartment. Carry-on bags can be up to a maximum size of 56 x 45 x 25cm.
For checked baggage, Easyjet doesn’t actually display the figure on its website until you get to the booking stage, but expect to pay £14.50 each way for 20kg.
Flybe baggage fees and allowances
Flybe’s hand baggage allowance is one bag weighing 10kg, with dimensions of 50 x 35 x 23cm. If checking in, it’s £11.99 each way for a 15kg ‘small’ bag and £12.99 each way for a 20kg ‘medium’ bag.
Jet2 baggage fees and allowances
With Jet2, you’re allowed to take one bag weighing up to 10kg on board with maximum dimensions of 56 x 45 x 25cm. The check-in bag charge varies depending on flight length – from Manchester to Tenerife it’s £18.49 each way. You do get a 22kg allowance for that money, however.
BMIbaby baggage fees and allowances
Check bags in with BMIbaby and it costs £13.99 each way for a 22kg allowance. The hand luggage allowance is one piece, weighing up to 10kg and measuring a maximum 55 x 40 x 20cm.
Thomson baggage fees and allowances
If you book flight-only through Thomson, you have to pay to check in bags (maximum weight 20kg). It’s £12.50 each way for short haul, £14 each way for medium haul and £20 each way for long haul routes. You’re also allowed a single bag weighing up to 5kg on board. The dimensions for that bag cannot exceed 55 x 40 x 20cm.
If you’ve booked the flight as part of a package holiday through Thomson, then you get a free 15kg check-in allowance. If it’s any heavier, you’ll have to pay.
Thomas Cook baggage fees and allowances
Thomas Cook allowance one piece of hand luggage, measuring up to 43 x 28 x 23 cm and weighing a maximum of 5kg. With checked in bags, it’s £16 per flight for short haul routes and £28 per flight for long haul. If booked as part of a package, a free hold baggage allowance of between 15kg and 30kg is available, depending on the route you’re flying.
BMI baggage fees and allowances
BMI doesn’t apply a weight limit to hand baggage, although you must be able to lift it into the overhead locker unaided. You’re allowed one piece – maximum dimensions 55 x 40 x 23cm – plus one personal item “such as a small handbag, purse, small briefcase, laptop in a thin satchel or baby-changing bag.”
You can also check in an unlimited number of bags, but keep the combined weight below 20kg to avoid additional charges. This weight limit is higher for a few routes – mostly in Africa and India.
Virgin Atlantic baggage fees and allowances
Virgin Atlantic allows you to take one bag weighing up to 6kg on board – with maximum dimensions of 56 x 36 x 23 cm. You’re allowed to check in one bag for free, as long as it doesn’t weigh over 23kg.
British Airways baggage fees and allowances
BA allows you to check in up to 23kg, but the on-board allowance is generous. You’re allowed to take one bag measuring a maximum of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm and another ‘laptop case’ or ‘handbag’ that measures a maximum of 45cm x 36cm x 20cm. Weight isn’t really an issue – you’re allowed up to 23kg on board.
All data correct as of 01 November 2011.
