Updated: 15 September 2026
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Which Airline Has the Best Baggage Allowance? UK Airlines Compared
Airline baggage allowances vary significantly between UK airlines, particularly on the cheapest fares. Some airlines include a personal item, cabin bag and even checked luggage, while others charge extra for almost everything beyond a small under-seat bag.
We’ve compared the baggage allowances of eight airlines popular with UK travellers — British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, Virgin Atlantic and Wizz Air — to find out which offers the most generous baggage policy and where you’ll pay extra.
Which Airlines Came out on Top Overall for Baggage?
| Airline | Cabin | Hold | Our take | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways |  |  | Excellent all-round baggage policy with free cabin bag and generous checked luggage on most fares |  |
| easyJet |  | | Excellent free personal bag and competitive paid baggage, but cabin bags cost extra on basic fares | |
| Jet2 | | | One of the most generous low-cost airlines with free cabin bag and competitive sports equipment charges | |
| Loganair |  | | Free checked luggage on every fare and excellent sports equipment prices, but no large cabin bag | |
| Ryanair | | | Low headline fares but restrictive cabin baggage policy and potentially expensive extras | |
| TUI | | | Reasonable allowances, especially on package holidays, but less generous on flight-only bookings | |
| Virgin Atlantic | | | Generous baggage allowance on most fares, although Economy Light excludes checked luggage | |
| Wizz Air | | | Competitive fares but among the least generous baggage policies with expensive add-ons | |
Key: Included | Extra charge | Not available | inclusion varies by fare or booking type.
The headline allowances only tell part of the story, as bag dimensions, weight limits and additional charges vary considerably between airlines. Below, we compare each type of baggage in more detail.
Personal Item / Small Cabin Bag Allowances
| Operating Airline | Maximum size (cm) | Weight limit | Cost | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 40 x 30 x 15 | none | Free | Must fit under seat in front |
| Easyjet | 45 x 36 x 20 | 15 kg | Free | Must fit under seat in front |
| Jet2 | 40 x 30 x 20 | none | Free | Must fit under seat in front |
| Loganair | 40 x 35 x 18 | 6 kg | Free | - |
| Ryanair | 40 x 30 x 20 | none | Free | Must fit under seat in front |
| TUI | 40 x 30 x 20 | none | Free | Must fit under seat in front |
| Virgin Atlantic | 40 x 30 x 15 | none | Free | Must fit under seat in front |
| Wizz Air | 40 x 30 x 20 | 10kg | Free | Must fit under seat in front |
Best in category: Easyjet
All airlines give a free personal bag, which must generally fit under the seat in front, although some are far less generous than others. Easyjet is the standout performer here offering the largest bag size although this is still far smaller than a standard carry-on case. British Airways and Virgin only allow smaller bags, although all their tickets also allow a large carry-on bag as well.
Note that baggage size limits usually include handles and wheels.
Cabin Baggage / Hand Luggage Allowances
| Operating Airline | Maximum size (cm) | Weight limit | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 56 x 45 x 25 | Must be able to lift bag into the overhead unassisted | Free |
| Easyjet | 56 x 45 x 25 | 15 kg | Varies, some fares have carry on included |
| Jet2 | 56 x 45 x 25 | 10 kg | Free |
| Loganair | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ryanair | 55 x 40 x 20 | 10 kg | £12-£36, some fares have carry on included |
| TUI | 55 x 40 x 20 | 10 kg | Free |
| Virgin Atlantic | 56 x 36 x 23 | 10 kg | Free |
| Wizz Air | 55 x 40 x 23 | 10 kg | Varies, some fares have carry on included |
Best in category: British Airways & Jet2
BA, Easyjet and Jet 2 all allow a good sized carry on bag, although BA & Jet2 are the only ones to also offer it for free, even on the cheapest tickets. The 20cm wide bag restrictions of Ryanair and TUI are narrower than most standard sized carry-on wheelie cases and you will run the risk (on Ryanair especially) of being asked at the gate to check your back into the hold for an additional charge.
Expect to pay at least £22.99 extra for a carry-on case with Easyjet, £12.00-£36.00 on Ryanair and from £36.15 on Wizz Air, although all three low-cost Airlines all also offer higher priced fares with inclusive checked baggage (and priority boarding) which may end up being better value for money.
As with personal bags, maximum baggage sizes for large carry-on bags include handles and wheels.
Checked Baggage / Hold Luggage Allowances
| Operating Airline | Maximum size | Weight limit | Cost | Weight pooling allowed | Overweight baggage charge | Absolute maximum weight | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 90 x 75 x 43 | 23 kg | Free | No | £65 per bag | 32 kg | Not included on Basic Economy fares |
| Easyjet | <275cm (L+W+H) | 15kg, 23kg, 32kg | Cheapest we found: £21.99 | Yes | £12 per kg | 32 kg | |
| Jet2 (flight only) | - | 22kg | Cheapest we found: £39 | Yes | £12 per kg | 32 kg | Holidays include checked bag |
| Loganair | - | 15kg, 23kg, 30kg | Free | Unclear | £30 per bag | 25 kg | |
| Ryanair | 120 x 120 x 80 | 10kg, 20kg, 23kg | £9.49-£80.99 | Yes | £13 per kg | 32 kg | |
| TUI (flight only) | - | 20 kg | Cheapest we found: £27 | Yes | Short-Mid Haul: £14/kg, Long Haul: £18/kg | 25 kg | Holidays include checked bag |
| Virgin Atlantic | 90 x 75 x 43 | 23 kg | Free | No | £65 per bag | 32 kg | Not included on Economy Light fares |
| Wizz Air | 171 x 149 x 119 | 10kg, 20kg, 26kg, 32kg | Cheapest we found: £16.28 | No | €13 per kg | 32 kg |
Best in category: British Airways & Virgin Atlantic
Network carriers British Airways and Virgin Atlantic both offer a 23kg luggage allowance on all tickets (with the exception of Basic Economy (BA) and Economy Light (Virgin) tickets.
Loganair also give free checked luggage on all tickets, although the weight limit depends on the ticket type.
Other airlines charge anything from £9.49 to more than £80 for a large case, with the exact amount dependent on the exact route and the demand on the day, however you should expect to pay £20-30.
If you are booking a package holiday with Jet2 or TUI, each passenger will usually get a checked bag included in the price.
Airline status
If you have earned frequent flyer status in an airline, you will generally get an additional luggage allowance on your flights with that airline or others in the same alliance.
If you are a Gold or Silver in British Airways Club or an AerClub Platinum or Concierge member, you and any travelling companions on your booking get 2 bags checked into the hold, up to 32kg per bag (as long as you are not on an Economy Basic fare).
Gold and Silver Virgin Flying Club members get 2 bags checked into the hold (as long as they are not on Economy Light fares).
Easyjet plus members get a large cabin bag at no additional charge on all flights.
Premium Cabins
Furthermore, if you are flying in Premium Economy, Business or First Classes, you will usually be entitled to check-in additional bags. These extra allowances can often be higher for status passengers.
Bikes, Skis and Golf Clubs
| Operating Airline | Skis (each way) | Bicycles (each way) | Golf Clubs (each way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | Starting at £80 | Starting at £80 but can be used as part of checked allowance | Starting at £80 but can be used as part of checked allowance |
| Easyjet | £45 | £55 | £45 |
| Jet2 | £40 | £40 | £40 |
| Loganair | £30 | £30 | £30 but can be used as part of checked allowance |
| Ryanair | £45 | £60 | £40 |
| TUI | £60 | £30 | £27 |
| Virgin Atlantic | Starting at £80 but can be used as part of checked allowance | Starting at £80 but can be used as part of checked allowance | Starting at £80 but can be used as part of checked allowance |
| Wizz Air | £58.77 | £58.77 | £58.77 |
Best in category: Loganair
All airlines charge additional amounts for sporting equipment but Loganair and Jet2 have the most competitive charges.
BA and Virgin allow you to use your checked baggage allowance for large items but otherwise are the most expensive if you are heading off to the slopes or the golf course. Of course if you are a silver/gold status member of the airline or are flying in a premium cabin, you can use your additional luggage allowance for your skis, bike or golf clubs as well as a checked bag.
Spaces for large sports equipment can be limited on planes so it is best to book in advance, you will also usually pay higher prices at the airport.
Luggage Tips
Compare the baggage-inclusive fare with the cost of adding bags separately. A higher fare bundle may include priority boarding, seat selection and luggage for less than purchasing each extra individually.
Check the operating airline. On codeshare journeys, the baggage rules of the airline actually operating the flight will usually apply. If you have a connecting itinerary which includes multiple carriers, remember that each airline may have different baggage limits
Check whether baggage allowances can be pooled. This can be valuable for families, but not every airline permits it
Book baggage online and early. Airlines commonly charge more if luggage is added at the airport or shortly before departure.
- Put small, heavy items in your hand luggage in order to minimise the weight of your hold luggage at check-in
Weigh your bag at home before you leave to avoid getting a nasty financial shock at the airport. We find that it is easiest to weigh yourself on the bathroom scales whilst holding the suitcase, then weigh yourself without, then deduct one from the other to get the weight of the bag on its own
Our Take
There is no single airline that wins every category, but there are some clear stand-out performers.
British Airways offers the most generous and fairest overall baggage policy for many travellers, combining a free full-size cabin bag with a 23kg checked bag on most fares. Jet2 also performs exceptionally well thanks to its generous cabin baggage allowance and competitive charges for sports equipment. Meanwhile, Loganair punches well above its weight by including checked luggage on every ticket and offering some of the cheapest prices for bikes, skis and golf clubs.
Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, EasyJet and Wizz Air can still offer excellent value, but only when you travel light. If you know you will need a cabin case or checked bag, always compare the total cost of your trip rather than just the advertised airfare.
Also, if you are a status member, you can use your additional luggage allowance to save significantly on extra bag charges or when travelling with sports equipment.
Spending a few minutes checking the baggage rules before booking really could save you both money and stress at the airport.
