Airline baggage allowance: How to avoid the nasty luggage fees!

There is nothing more annoying than turning up for your flight and releasing your luggage is too big! This tends to a be a particular problem when flying with low cost carriers such as easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air. These type of carriers tend to be the cheapest when you fly hand luggage only but they real pain lies with the fact they all have different hand luggage sizes and allowances. It is critical that you make sure you check the dimensions and weight restrictions before flying to ensure you do not get sung by some ludicrous excess luggage charges for exceeding your baggage allowance.

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• Airline baggage allowance chart

However, at Holiday Pirates you need not worry we provide a comprehensive service, by not only sharing cheap travel solutions, which include flights, packages and days out but also tips and tricks to saving money when travelling abroad. So we have decided to compile a list of hand baggage allowances with all the major airlines. You can now be sure the next time you fly out you will pack smart and avoid the absurd excess baggage fees.

When flying with low cost cost carriers they often have some crazy cheap offers but any saving can be wiped out if you exceed the luggage allowances so next time you go on a cheap flight make sure you meet their criterias. More importantly if you are a person who always purchase always purchases hold luggage on a low cost carrier you may want to consider becoming a hand luggage only traveller. The saving can often be huge unless of course you are a frequent flyer on a scheduled carrier and your fares generally come with hand and hold luggage, mean you are not worried about exceeding you baggage allowance.

When travelling with hand luggage you have to to bare in mind there are strict regulations when it comes to packing liquids, you are allowed to carry a maximum of 100ml per container in a plastic bag measuring 20cm by 20cm with a maximum capacity of 1 litre. If you are carrying baby milk/food or medication (prescription) this will not be an issue and will not need to comply with the 100ml policy. However, you will need to clear security checks so you should pack this in a hand place. When travelling with medication you should also always carrier your doctors prescription with you just incase you need to show it to a security officer. You can purchase liquids from duty free shops once clearing security and these will not need to comply with the 100ml policy make sure you keep the receipts of these purchases incase you need to show them to any security officers.

When purchasing duty free you will need to make sure you do not exceed your allowance alcohol, tobacco and perfume may have strict policies depending on where you are travelling to so always make sure you do not exceed your duty free allowance. We have produced a list of the major airlines and their cabin luggage allowances below so you do not need to spend time searching for cabin baggage policies.

Airline baggage allowance chart

*As long as you can install and remove the hand luggage safely in the overhead locker unaided

Below we have left some samples of luggage solutions that you may consider when travelling aboard to meet your baggage allowance, we have included a range of ingenious travel solutions from wearable and trolly luggage to the more traditional hold and hand luggage. Generally if you are a frequent flyer it makes cost effective sense to purchase some good quality luggage. The 4 wheel suitcases certainly are very useful when having to manoeuvre your luggage around, another thing to consider is your locks make sure you purchase TSA Approved locks if and when travelling to the US.