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Official July 2026 cabin-bag dimensions and weights for four major low-cost airlines, plus a reliable way to compare bare fares, bag bundles, checked luggage and gate risk.
A low-cost airline’s cheapest fare often answers only whether the passenger can travel—not whether a trolley bag, laptop backpack or checked case is included. Compare the amount you can actually buy:
Trip total = base fare + required bags + unavoidable seat/payment costs + change risk
This guide no longer maintains a ten-airline table mixing old policies with unverifiable gate anecdotes. It covers four airlines whose rules could be confirmed on official pages on July 13, 2026, then gives you a process that works for any other carrier. Your post-purchase itinerary remains the final evidence of what your ticket includes.
Four cabin-bag policies at a glance
| Airline | Base fare includes | Free/base dimensions | Weight | Common way to add an overhead bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Airlines 9C | One small cabin item | 20 × 30 × 40 cm | 7 kg | Cabin-bag upgrade or SpringPlus: 20 × 40 × 55 cm, 10 kg |
| AirAsia | One cabin bag plus one small personal item | 56 × 36 × 23 cm; small item 40 × 30 × 10 cm | 7 kg combined | Checked baggage products vary by booking; do not assume extra cabin weight |
| Ryanair | One under-seat personal bag | 40 × 30 × 20 cm | Must fit the sizer and under the seat | Priority & 2 Cabin Bags adds a 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg overhead bag |
| easyJet | One under-seat small cabin bag | 45 × 36 × 20 cm | Up to 15 kg; you must lift it yourself | A paid/included large cabin bag adds 56 × 45 × 25 cm, up to 15 kg |
The rows are not directly equivalent. AirAsia’s two items share 7 kg; Ryanair’s 10 kg bag is not a free base allowance; easyJet permits a heavier small bag but it must still fit under the seat.
Spring Airlines: identify the fare product
Spring Airlines’ 2026 conditions state that standard products include one unchecked bag up to 7 kg and 20 × 30 × 40 cm. A cabin-baggage upgrade or SpringPlus product permits one bag up to 10 kg and 20 × 40 × 55 cm. Anything exceeding the applicable limit must travel as checked baggage. (Spring Airlines 2026 conditions)
Free checked allowance depends on the fare product and sale date. Spring’s current baggage page shows no free checked bag for SpringSaver, a possible checked allowance in some SpringFlexi packages, and a SpringPlus allowance that has changed by sale date. “Economy” alone is not proof. (Spring Airlines baggage rules)
Before purchase, verify:
- SpringSaver, SpringFlexi or SpringPlus;
- whether the cabin-bag upgrade is already included;
- no checked bag versus an included kilogram allowance;
- the add-bag deadline and what happens after a change or refund.
AirAsia: two pieces share 7 kg
AirAsia’s official help page updated in April 2026 permits:
- one cabin bag no larger than 56 × 36 × 23 cm;
- one small item no larger than 40 × 30 × 10 cm that fits under the seat;
- 7 kg combined across both pieces.
A 7 kg trolley plus a laptop backpack can therefore exceed the allowance; it is not 7 kg for each item. Strapping separate bags together does not make them one compliant piece. (AirAsia cabin-baggage policy)
Checked-bag products and prices vary by route, currency, purchase time and bundle. Use the amount shown in the live booking instead of a blog’s fixed “15 kg costs X” figure.
Ryanair: the free small bag and 10 kg cabin bag differ
Every current Ryanair fare includes one 40 × 30 × 20 cm personal bag that must fit under the seat. Priority & 2 Cabin Bags adds a 55 × 40 × 20 cm, 10 kg bag for the overhead locker. (Ryanair official bag rules)
Priority’s commercial value is therefore not merely queue position—it changes the bags listed on the booking. Whether it is worthwhile depends on passengers, bag dimensions, checked-bag needs and the live price, not a fixed sterling range.
easyJet: a generous weight does not mean a trolley is free
All easyJet customers may bring one 45 × 36 × 20 cm under-seat bag weighing up to 15 kg, provided they can lift and carry it. Travellers who buy a large cabin bag or receive it through an eligible fare/membership may also bring one 56 × 45 × 25 cm overhead bag weighing up to 15 kg. The maximum is two cabin bags per person. (easyJet cabin-bag rules)
The 15 kg ceiling does not make an ordinary trolley free: a bag larger than the under-seat dimensions still needs the large-cabin-bag entitlement. easyJet also says buying bags online is cheaper than airport handling.
Add bags back before comparing fares
Use a worksheet with only costs relevant to your party:
| Cost | Flight A | Flight B |
|---|---|---|
| Base fare and unavoidable taxes | ||
| Required cabin bag per passenger | ||
| Checked bag outbound | ||
| Checked bag return | ||
| Seat fee required to sit together | ||
| Unavoidable airport/payment fee | ||
| Difference in change/refund terms | ||
| Comparable total |
Bag prices can change by route, date, sales stage and remaining capacity. Use the current checkout amount, never somebody else’s old screenshot.
Eight checks before ticketing
- Operating airline. A codeshare or connection can apply different rules to each sector.
- Every sector. An outbound bag does not prove the return or next flight includes one.
- Piece count. “7 kg” may mean one piece or a combined total.
- External dimensions. Follow whether the airline includes wheels, handles and pockets; “20-inch cabin case” is not a standard.
- Stowage. An under-seat item and overhead bag are separate products.
- Infants and children. Baby bags, strollers and seats have airline-specific rules.
- Purchase deadline. Check when online add-ons close and whether they transfer after a flight change.
- Gate outcome. An oversize or overweight cabin bag may be checked; separate non-checkable items first.
If a bag is taken at the gate
Ask whether the problem is size, weight or piece count and retain the charge/check-in receipt. Before surrendering the bag, remove:
- passport, wallet, medication and valuables;
- power banks and spare lithium batteries;
- e-cigarettes and any other cabin-only item;
- connection documents and essential overnight supplies.
Photograph the bag and keep the tag. Report a delayed or damaged checked bag at the arrival baggage desk before leaving the reclaim area and obtain the relevant PIR or written record.
Power-bank rules changed for 2026
The old article treated a “20 spare batteries” ceiling as if it applied to power banks. IATA’s 2026 passenger guidance now separates power banks: a passenger is limited to two power banks not exceeding 100 Wh, carried in the cabin only and individually protected against short circuit. Power banks above 100 Wh should not be treated like ordinary spare batteries and carried without confirmation. (IATA 2026 lithium-battery guidance)
China domestic flights add another rule: since June 28, 2025, power banks without a clear CCC mark, with an unclear mark, or belonging to a recalled model/batch are prohibited. (CAAC notice)
International routes, operating airlines and departure authorities may be stricter; comply with the strictest applicable rule.
Liquids and special items are not “budget-airline rules”
Security liquid limits come primarily from the departure authority, not the carrier’s business model. China CAAC guidance notes that international/regional passengers commonly use containers no larger than 100 mL inside one resealable transparent bag up to 1 litre; medication, infant supplies and duty-free liquids can require separate screening. (CAAC air-travel guidance)
Tools, sports equipment, smart luggage, e-cigarettes and medical mobility aids have separate transport conditions. Check the operating carrier’s special-baggage page for those items.
Frequently asked questions
Does a soft backpack get a pass if it exceeds the dimensions?
It may comply only if it can fit completely into the airline’s sizer or specified under-seat space without damaging the contents. The published dimensions remain the evidence; “it can be squeezed” is not a guarantee.
Can two passengers pool cabin-bag weight?
Do not assume so unless the airline explicitly permits it. Even where checked weight can be pooled, cabin piece count and per-item dimensions may still apply separately.
Is advance baggage always cheaper?
Several airlines say online purchase costs less than airport handling, but the booking’s live price controls. Establish the required kilograms first, then compare a bundle with a separate add-on.
Whose rules apply on a connection?
Check the operating airline and ticketed allowance for each sector. Separate self-connected tickets are especially likely to have different baggage rules and no protection after a delay.
Next step
Enter your real baggage needs before comparing fares, then judge total cost and change terms—not the lowest bare fare.
Compare current flight options
Continue with our China-based loyalty programme guide, airline refund policy guide, and airport lounge access guide. Check the operating airline’s official baggage page once at ticketing and again before departure.
