When flying, travelers always try to carry as many things as possible with them. Then they will be under reliable supervision and will not get lost along the way, which can happen with checked baggage. But the size of the suitcase is for hand luggage on the plane is limited. Let's find out how much and why.
First, let's look at the very concept of hand luggage. This is any baggage that a passenger carries with him in the cabin. At the same time, he is responsible for the safety of his belongings. Traditionally, the maximum permissible size of such a suitcase should not exceed 55 cm in length, 40 cm in height and 20 cm in width. In total, all these parameters should be equal to 115 cm.
It is worth noting that this is the so-called gold standard. Some airlines set their own permitted sizes. They may differ by 3–6 cm. This means that you need to inquire in advance about the requirements of your carrier.
A suitcase 55x40x20 is one piece of hand luggage. Airlines usually provide it free of charge for economy class passengers. The first one is entitled to 2 places per person.
Many budget low-cost airlines divide the baggage allowance on the plane into large - 56x45x25 and small - 42x32x25. The latter can be carried with you for free, but for the larger one you will need to pay. For example, at Wizzair such payment will be 9 euros.
Luggage in the cabin can only be placed on the top bunk or under the front seat. Even the most strict airlines usually allow you to board the plane with additional items in addition to your main carry-on luggage:
- a small women's handbag or purse;
- outerwear, umbrella;
- camera or binoculars;
- laptop, newspaper for reading on board;
- cane, crutches.
When flying with children who are under 2 years old, you can take a child's bag with the necessary accessories - 55x40x20 - into the cabin. And also a cradle and a car seat.
Control severity
If the bag is noticeably large, it will definitely be checked. There are special iron frames for this. They are stationary and portable. A bag is inserted into this design. It should fit perfectly. Even the legs and wheels of the suitcase are taken into account.
If your hand luggage cannot be placed in the frame, it will be confiscated and sent to the luggage compartment of the aircraft. In this case, you will have to pay an additional impressive amount: from 50 to 150 euros. It will be the same story with an advantage.
Low-cost airlines are worth special mention. Trying to make money on everything, they control the dimensions very tightly. Before boarding a plane, you may be screened three times: at check-in, at the security checkpoint, and before the boarding gate.
Why size matters
Suitcase size standards for carry-on luggage were not invented in vain. Everything is done for the convenience and safety of passengers. Dimensions are calculated for luggage compartments above the seats. Only 4 bags can fit on one shelf. There are usually only two such shelves for 9 places. It turns out that there is not enough space for one passenger. And if we take into account that someone relied on chance and weak control, taking a larger handbag, then several more people may lose their legal places to transport things.
In addition to the permitted size of a suitcase for carry-on luggage, its weight is also important. Each aircraft has its own tonnage, which cannot be exceeded. In addition, the fact that a person can independently lift his bag to put it on top is taken into account. The weight requirements are usually the same, the standard is 8–10 kg. But, as in the case of dimensions, it is better to check with the airline in advance. For example, Thomas Cook limits the weight to five kg, and Iberia does not impose any weight restrictions at all.
For most passengers, both newbies and those who have never flown in their lives, the topic of cabin luggage still remains relevant. Airline regulations may change every year, so you should always pay attention to the rules and regulations for carrying hand luggage on an airplane.
So, what is hand luggage on a plane? These are things that travelers take with them into the cabin without putting them in the luggage compartment. The ticket type implies a limit on the number of seats hand luggage per passenger. For economy class, one piece of cabin baggage is provided, business class and first class - two pieces.
If we talk about carry-on luggage, this does not mean that you can only take a handbag with you. In fact Both two and three bags are allowed, but so that they do not exceed a certain size and weight. Low-cost airlines set stricter rules for transporting items on board an airliner.
Important! If you want to know the weight of your luggage, you can weigh it at the airport and check the size.
What is allowed to be carried on board
Let's figure out what you can take with you on the plane? Carry-on luggage has a certain weight limit, so if you have a lot of bags, You only need to take into the cabin what is valuable and necessary for the flight.. For example, money, credit cards, gadgets, laptops, fragile items and jewelry.
As for the rest, you can take what is allowed by the rules established by the air carrier.
You can always find all the information about transporting items on the air carrier’s website. As for safety standards, they apply to everyone.
Aeroflot cabin baggage allowance
- Carry-on luggage on an airplane - dimensions and weight Aeroflot has established bag dimensions for cabin transportation - up to 115 cm (55 x 40 x 20) the sum of 3 dimensions.
- Business class includes hand luggage weighing up to 15 kg.
- Comfort and economy classes – up to 10 kg.
Perfume is carried in the cabin up to 100 ml in a transparent file with a zipper.
New rules prohibit bringing on board baby food, medicines, liquids, gels, inhalers, hygiene products, cosmetics, perfumes and so on.
Concerning medical supplies, they are allowed to be taken on board only if the passenger has a medical certificate proving the need to take these drugs on the airliner.
Parents with children under 2 years old may carry only the amount of food needed during the flight. These provisions apply to air carriers and airports in the Russian Federation.
Rules for transporting fruit on board an aircraft
If you are flying domestically, You can bring fruits and airlines have no ban on their transportation.
The main thing is that everything is at normal weight. That is, both in the luggage compartment and in the cabin with you, you can fill it with apples and pears, for example, even to the top, as long as it’s did not exceed 20 and 10 kg, respectively. If you are carrying grapes, they will leak in the luggage compartment and ruin the luggage of other travelers.
It is better to transport such fruits in dense containers.
Fruit on international flights
The laws here are different due to customs legislation. First of all, you need to read the rules for importing and exporting fruits of the countries you will visit.
Often, no one ever had any difficulties with export, but regarding import, not everything is so smooth here anymore. Since plants, fruits, vegetables are regulated goods, their import is carefully monitored by sanitary services.
If you are importing fruit from other countries to Russian territory, then remember that per person there are up to 5 kg of agricultural products.
The only thing is that it is prohibited to import fruits into the territory of the Russian Federation from the countries of the European Union, Australia, Turkey, Canada, the USA, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Norway, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.
If import smuggled fruit into the country, they will be confiscated and imposed fine of 500 rubles. Confiscation is carried out only of regulated products. Repeated violation involves a fine in 1000 rubles.
Features of transporting fruits in the cabin
There are also restrictions on fruits for transportation on board.
Often fruits can be carried in hand luggage on a plane and are carried. But you can carry as much as you need to eat during the flight.
If you are transporting a trunk with exotic fruits, then they will take it away from you, if it’s a couple of kilograms, then they won’t pay attention to them.
If you are flying from Thailand, it is prohibited to transport durian due to its specific smell.
The lack of factory packaging may also be a refusal for transportation, but people may turn a blind eye to this if the fruit is in small quantities.
In general, fruits are allowed to be transported in the cabin of an airliner, but within reasonable limits.
How much space is available for cabin luggage?
Here we will take a closer look at the standards for transporting hand luggage in the cabin of the airliner, dimensions, weight and what cannot be considered hand luggage.
As was previously said, Economy class assumes one place for transporting things in the cabin, A business and first class – 2. A handbag and briefcase are not included in the baggage carried in the cabin, as well as clothes in a case, a suit, a dress, a laptop, and an umbrella.
However, they have strict restrictions on the carriage of luggage in the cabin, that is, 1 person - 1 piece of cabin luggage. This does not include strollers or outerwear. Duty Free packages are allowed.
The weight and dimensions of luggage and hand luggage must be taken into account
Carry-on luggage - dimensions and weight
Cabin baggage weight and size may vary based on the rules established by the airline, ticket class and travel distance.
The standards relate to the sum of 3 dimensions not exceeding 115 cm (55×40×20cm). Hand luggage – 5-10 kg. You can always weigh your luggage at the check-in counter, and you can transfer any excess from the cabin bag to your luggage.
If you are flying only with cabin baggage, there is no need to transfer things to the luggage compartment. Therefore, it is better to weigh your luggage at home on scales or specially designed ones.
Low-cost airlines inspect the suitcase in a specific frame, which must fit with wheels and a handle. For example, Wizzair assumes the weight of cabin luggage is 10 kg, and its size is no more than 42x32x25cm.
Issues related to baggage acceptable for air transportation are quite worrying for many. After all, the rules are constantly changing, some of them becoming stricter. And for many passengers, the size of luggage on an airplane is of fundamental importance. Therefore, it is worth studying the issue in advance so that later, when checking bags into luggage and when weighing hand luggage, no serious problems arise.
Today, carriers use two systems, accepted as the main ones, which allow final calculations for the transportation of bags and suitcases. This:
- Weight system
- By number of seats
The first option is often used on flights departing to CIS countries and Asia.
An important point in the measurement system is permissible weight, i.e. the one that is carried free of charge. The gradation of the number of kilograms directly depends on the class of ticket. The following rules apply today:
- 20 kg per 1 passenger in economy class
- 30 kg – in business
- 10 kg per child under 2 years old
In the first system for calculating how much luggage you can take on board, the following principle works: a passenger can take as many bags as he wants, but their weight should not exceed the permissible standard. You will have to pay for all the extra kilos.
The second system implies that the minimum free kilograms must be packed in only one bag or two, if this is provided for by the class of the ticket. That is, if a suitcase is filled by 10 kg, it will already take up the allowable number of seats, and for a second suitcase or travel bag that is not hand luggage, even if it is filled by 5 kilograms, you will still have to pay. This calculation option is used mostly in America. From Russian companies Aeroflot recently introduced a similar scheme. In such a payment system, the bonus is the fact that here free rate slightly more baggage allowance:
- For economy – 23 kg
- For business – 32 kg
It is important to understand here that if passengers go on a trip together, their luggage cannot be added up. Everyone is responsible for themselves. As a result, if the bottom one has an advantage, and the other one has a shortage of kilograms in his suitcase, the first one will have to pay extra for the excess.
There is also a bonus for regular customers airlines - they provide benefits on membership cards and for miles in the form of providing an additional number of seats on board the aircraft, or the option of adding a kilogram to the total weight of baggage is allowed.
Luggage dimensions
The dimensions of luggage, even for transportation in a special compartment of the aircraft, must be taken into account. Thus, a suitcase whose total width, length and height is equal to 1.58 m is considered standard and acceptable for transportation without any additional procedures other than weighing. This measure is valid for a system that takes into account the number of seats. In the weight system, this indicator should be equal to 2.03 m.
If your luggage is beyond the scope, for example, you are taking skis, a bicycle and other oversized items with you, you will have to check them in at a separate counter, and in some cases you will even have to pay extra. Baggage on an airplane has the same parameters in terms of size and weight in 2018, but it is worth remembering that the situation may change.
After all, the principles for determining the luggage allowed on board are determined by the carrier himself. And it’s worth regularly checking the corresponding section on the airline’s website or calling the hotline to avoid getting into trouble.
Excess baggage
Baggage that exceeds the limits stipulated by the ticket in terms of weight or number of pieces is called excess baggage. And in most cases you will have to pay extra for it. There are, of course, carriers who allow a slight excess - a kilogram or two - without additional payment. But for the most part, you will have to pay money for every kilogram in excess. The cost of excess baggage varies from carrier to carrier. It is worth clarifying in advance how much money you will have to pay for an excess of things if there is no opportunity or desire to shell out the excess.
Heavy luggage
Special attention is paid to luggage that weighs over 30-32 kg. This one is called heavyweight. This also includes those options that go beyond the permissible dimensions:
- Skis and sports equipment
- Musical instruments such as guitar or double bass
- Household appliances, such as an oven or refrigerator
Such cargo can only be transported by agreement with the carrier - he must be notified in advance. On the day of departure, you must arrive early, because... Checking in such luggage takes some additional time. It is worth understanding that the air carrier may refuse to carry luggage, for example, if the luggage compartments are small or there is no space in them.
Fragile luggage
There may be a need to carry fragile luggage - glass, decorative elements, paintings, etc. In this case, you will also have to register it separately and put a corresponding mark on the cargo. If your luggage fits the dimensions of hand luggage, the optimal solution would be to carry it with you into the cabin - this will ensure the integrity of your items.
The issue of carrying hand luggage in 2018 does not lose its relevance. Moreover, the data on it is constantly changing. Changes made to the law are now in effect. Previously, hand luggage included up to 10 kg of free weight, now from 5. But at the same time, air carriers independently determine how much weight they allow to be carried on board. Thus, the country's major airlines announced that they will remain at 10 for now - both for regular tickets and for non-refundable ones.
In general, on average, the following options for carrying hand luggage apply:
- In business class – 1 piece weighing 15 kg
- Economy – 1 piece 10 kg
It is important to consider the dimensions of the bag so that it fits all restrictions. So, hand luggage must be packed in a bag 55 cm high, 40 cm wide, 20 cm thick. Some carriers, such as Aeroflot, plan to check compliance with dimensions using special limiting frames, which will allow you to immediately determine all the necessary parameters.
We take you to the salon without registration
Carry-on and other baggage options include the following items:
- Costume
- Laptop
- Video and photo cameras
- Mobile phone
- Books, newspapers and magazines
- Outerwear
- Ladies handbag
- Briefcase
- Cane and crutches
- Umbrella
You can also take baby food and a baby carrier with you to the salon without any registration.
Packing hand luggage
The following are checked in as carry-on baggage in the aircraft cabin:
- Glasses repair tools
- Pacemaker
- Pharmaceutical devices that you can only keep on your person
- Robot toys
- Razors
- Eyelash curler
- Oxygen cylinders for medical purposes, etc.
Carefully study the baggage allowance to avoid any troubles with their transportation. And if you have any doubts about a particular baggage item, it is better to arrive at the airport in advance to arrange everything correctly, pay for it, or set aside any excess.
In law Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia dated June 28, 2007 No. 82 (as amended on January 14, 2019) “On approval of the Federal Aviation Rules” General rules air transport passengers, baggage, cargo and requirements for servicing passengers, shippers, consignees" (registered with the Ministry of Justice of Russia on September 27, 2007 No. 10186)
at any Russian airline You can carry up to 5 kg of things on board free of charge. There are carriers that allow you to take 10 or 15 kg.
As a rule, the more expensive the ticket, the more things you can carry in the cabin. Typically, for economy class flights, one piece of hand luggage is provided, and for business class flights, two. But here everything depends on the carrier: some companies have their own standards for each fare, route, aircraft, while others have a single standard for everyone.
Dimensions are not specified in the law, so each carrier can set its own rules. Typically, bags with dimensions of 55 × 40 × 20 cm or with the sum of three dimensions equal to 115 cm are allowed on board. Such a suitcase will fit in the overhead luggage rack along with the hand luggage of other passengers.
You can also take a handbag, briefcase or backpack with things in excess of the norm. It is assumed that you will place them under the seat in front, so the permitted weight and dimensions may be less than for carry-on luggage. For example, up to 3 kg and no more than 80 cm in the sum of three dimensions.
Carefully read the rules on the company’s website: if the weight is not indicated there free luggage above the norm, check this on the website or by phone.
Also, instead of an additional bag, briefcase or backpack, you can take for free:
- bouquet of flowers;
- outerwear;
- baby food for the child during the flight;
- suit in a suitcase (check weight and dimensions);
- a device for carrying a child (cradle, chair, stroller) - provided that you are flying with a child and can fit these things on a shelf or under the seat;
- medications, special dietary needs in the amount required for the duration of the flight;
- crutches, canes, walkers, rollators, a folding wheelchair, if you can fit them in the cabin on a shelf or under the seat;
- goods from Duty Free, if they are suitable in weight and dimensions and are sealed in a sealed bag (check weight and dimensions).
The basic rule: what you are going to take into the cabin must fit on a shelf or under the seat. Ask the carrier in advance how much excess hand luggage he will allow you to carry.
How to check hand luggage at the airport
If your hand luggage looks bulky, it will be weighed at the airport and the dimensions will be checked using a special frame. This is a plastic container or two walls that your suitcase should fit into. In this case, everything should fit in, including handles and wheels.
Frame for checking carry-on baggage sizes / consumerreports.org To avoid having to pay extra for hand luggage, choose soft bags or a backpack with drawstring straps that reduce the size of the already packed travel accessory.
It is well known that the airplane is one of the fastest and most reliable vehicles. Flight safety is achieved through the introduction of certain rules and international standards that control flight standards. Controlling the permitted weight of baggage per person is one of the important principles of airplane flight safety.
Restrictions on baggage carried during flights sometimes put a person in a dead-end situation; one has to either pay a tidy sum to the airlines for exceeding the weight limit, or not take much-needed personal items with them on the road.
The baggage itself carried by the passenger is conventionally divided into 3 categories.
Before checking in for a flight, you should familiarize yourself with the airline's transportation rules and clarify all the relevant details of the baggage transportation rules. This will help save nerves and time.
Video - Safe luggage: what to take and what not to take on board
General rules for transporting baggage on an airplane
If you want to know and also get acquainted with general rules transportation, you can read an article about this on our portal.
Weight restrictions on baggage are set by the airline depending on the flight direction and the class of service chosen by passengers for air transportation. Until recently, all companies carrying passengers allowed free luggage with a total weight of no more than 20 kg (in business class - 30 kg).
On this moment New rules have appeared for the transportation of goods and personal belongings. Thus, one passenger is given exactly 1 piece of luggage, even if the weight of the items being transported is less than the established norm. In other words, it will not be possible to hand over two 10 kg suitcases to the registration office. For such luxury you will have to pay a considerable amount of money.
The weight system for transporting personal belongings, baggage and hand luggage is used by airlines in the CIS countries, Europe, and Asia. According to the norms of such a system, each passenger has the right to transport the following number of things (in kilograms) without additional payment:
- in economy class - 20 kg per person;
- business class - allows you to carry up to 30 kg of luggage for one passenger;
- If you are traveling with a child on the plane whose age does not exceed 2 years, then you are additionally allowed to carry another 10 kg of luggage. This advantage is easily used by passengers with small children.
Sometimes airlines conduct bonus programs, the participants of which have a privileged right to transport additional items. What else is good about the weight transportation system? It, for example, allows family members, friends or relatives who are traveling on the same flight to combine their luggage. Often a married couple or people who know each other well fly together. Then it becomes convenient to fold and check in several luggage as one common one.
One of the disadvantages of the baggage weight system can be noted - overpayment even for a slight excess. The airline determines how much extra a passenger must pay for each extra kilogram of baggage carried. It is for this reason that people often refuse flights that offer a weight system for transporting things.
Video - Airplane baggage allowance
Quantitative baggage transportation system
The rules established by the quantitative air transportation system allow passengers to transport baggage strictly according to the number of pieces, depending on the class of service. In economy class you are allowed to take 1 piece of baggage space; business and luxury class passengers are allocated 2 pieces for this purpose.
But there are still weight restrictions; they are discussed in detail in the table below.
When the total weight of transported baggage and hand luggage does not exceed 10 kg, the passenger is allowed to occupy an unlimited number of seats, of course within reasonable limits. For example, if you are flying economy class using the quantity system, and your total baggage is less than 10 kg, you are allowed to carry it in 3 suitcases, thereby occupying 3 seats.
Bonus promotions that are sometimes held will provide the opportunity to take an extra 1-2 pieces of luggage. Rules for participation in such profitable events should be clarified with the airline management.
If you compare the weight and quantity transportation systems, then you need to use the one that is convenient for you. The air transportation system based on the number of seats makes it possible to transport luggage several kilograms more than its weight, but the ticket price may be more expensive.
When using a quantitative transportation system, it is important to consider the size of your luggage. The total width, height and length of the suitcase should not exceed 158 cm; the weight system increases this figure to 203 cm.
Rules for the carriage of hand luggage
The weight of carried hand luggage in various airlines ranges from 5 to 12 kg, each passenger is provided with 1 piece for this purpose. Securities, money, bank cards belong to personal belongings, you don’t have to worry about their transportation, since it is not hand luggage. You can also take items of clothing with you in the aircraft cabin (a coat, jacket, raincoat in the hand of a passenger is equivalent to his personal belongings; it is not necessary to hand them over to the cargo hold).
When transporting things to the cabin vehicle It is necessary to take into account not only the weight of hand luggage, but also its dimensions. The width, length, height of the luggage carried inside must comply with established standards, otherwise the airline will prohibit the carriage of hand luggage.
Rules for the transportation of certain types of goods
Transportation of baggage that does not comply with the recommended dimensions is carried out with the consent of the airline management. If a person wants to put a home theater, sports equipment weighing more than 32 kg, or a refrigerator in the cargo compartment, they must inform them in advance. Not every aircraft, due to its design, can transport such cargo.
What should you do when transporting easily breakable dishes, glassware, dinnerware or an expensive vase? In such situations, the passenger must indicate in advance during check-in that the items being carried may break during transit. The service personnel will mark the cargo with a special sticker. But if the thing does break, the airline declines responsibility for what happened. Therefore, it is better to transport fragile or valuable items and gold jewelry inside the vehicle.
What is prohibited from being carried on airplanes?
There is a ban on the transportation of certain goods, which significantly increases the safety of flights. Regardless of the country you are flying to, the following items will not be allowed on airplanes:
- corrosive (caustic) and destructive substances - devices that contain alkali, mercury, acid;
- Gases in any form (poisonous, flammable, compressed, liquefied) are strictly prohibited from being transported on airliners;
- solid or liquid substances that can catch fire (matches, gasoline, lighter, varnish, paint, etc.);
- explosive substances - cartridges from any weapon, pyrotechnic products, firecrackers, detonators, weapons;
- materials with increased radioactivity, poisons and toxic substances are also strictly prohibited;
- bags, briefcases with a built-in alarm device.
The specified items and substances cannot be transported either in the cargo compartment of the aircraft or in its cabin.
Prohibited substances and items
Regarding hand luggage and personal belongings carried by passengers, the prohibition applies to means that can be equated to edged weapons, or are such. No airline will allow you to carry in the cabin: knives, swords, sabers, scissors, razors. Sometimes the service staff may even confiscate a nail file from a passenger. All these measures are taken as a precaution.
When planning to fly on an airplane, you should not think that the rules for limiting the weight of carried luggage were invented by the airline in order to increase profits from air transportation, or to cause inconvenience to passengers. Weight control during transportation is designed to protect passengers from emergency incidents, because flying on an overloaded aircraft is always a risk, and an unjustified one.
Video - Baggage and hand luggage on an airplane
