The packing course of could be some of the anxious components of flying, particularly for those who’re attempting to cram the whole lot right into a carry-on to keep away from checking a bag.
No matter whether or not you might be flying with a U.S. or worldwide provider, the dimensions and quantity of baggage you may convey on board depends upon the particular airline’s coverage. We have outlined lots of these insurance policies on this information, together with measurement necessities and weight restrictions.
Learn on for all you want to learn about touring with carry-on luggage.
What measurement is carry-on baggage?
As you’ve got probably noticed, most home airways enable passengers one private merchandise that matches beneath the seat in entrance of them and one bigger carry-on bag appropriate for the overhead bin.
Some airways specify measurement necessities for each objects, whereas others solely prohibit the overhead baggage. Simply keep in mind that a provider’s coverage for the bigger carry-on accounts for the dimensions of your complete bag, together with handles and wheels.
Typically, objects like coats, books, umbrellas, meals bought on the airport, duty-free objects, diaper luggage, toddler automotive seats and strollers don’t depend towards your carry-on or private merchandise allowance.
The usual measurement limitation throughout the board for many home airways to your bigger carry-on is round 22 by 14 by 9 inches, in order that’s rule of thumb to bear in mind.
Listed here are the carry-on insurance policies damaged down by U.S. airways:
Southwest Airways
Carry-on objects saved overhead have to be no bigger than 24 by 16 by 10 inches. Your private merchandise — akin to a briefcase, laptop computer laptop case, backpack, pillow, blanket or digicam — should match below the seat in entrance of you. Neck pillows don’t depend towards the carry-on restrict.
Each day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Delta Air Traces
The mixed size, width and peak of carry-on baggage needs to be lower than 45 inches. Particular person objects have to be lower than 22 by 14 by 9 inches. Private objects have to be sufficiently small to suit below the seat in entrance of you.
American Airways
Overhead objects for American Airways passengers ought to measure not more than 22 by 14 by 9 inches, whereas private objects can measure 18 by 14 by 8 inches.
United Airways
Bigger carry-on objects can’t exceed 22 by 14 by 9 inches; under-seat private objects on United should measure not more than 17 by 10 by 9 inches.
JetBlue
Like most different home carriers on this listing, JetBlue requires overhead objects to be no bigger than 22 by 14 by 9 inches. Private objects should measure lower than 17 by 13 by 8 inches.
Alaska Airways
Alaska Airways requires overhead objects to be a most of twenty-two by 14 by 9 inches. Private objects should match beneath the seat in entrance of you.
Alaska Airways carry-on coverage
Hawaiian Airways
Carry-on objects aboard Hawaiian Airways flights can’t exceed 22 by 14 by 9 inches. Private objects should match below the seat in entrance of you.
Hawaiian Airways carry-on coverage
Carry-on sizes for worldwide carriers
Carry-on measurement limits for worldwide carriers are extra diversified than for home airways.
Listed here are the carry-on insurance policies for economic system passengers on main worldwide carriers:
Learn extra: Your important information to duty-free purchasing on the airport
Can I convey a carry-on and a private merchandise?
As talked about, all airways differentiate between smaller private objects and bigger carry-on objects. In case your carry-on bag suits below the seat in entrance of you, it is thought of a private merchandise; this contains small backpacks, purses, briefcases and laptop computer luggage.
Bigger luggage, together with suitcases that match within the overhead compartment, are labeled as bigger carry-on objects.
Southwest as soon as stood out amongst carriers for permitting passengers two free checked luggage, a carry-on and a private merchandise, no matter fare kind. Nevertheless, in 2025, the provider determined to finish this allowance and begin charging for checked baggage.
Most home airways enable passengers a carry-on bag and a private merchandise freed from cost, relying on their fare kind.
Associated: The best way to inform in case your backpack counts as a private or carry-on merchandise
The most affordable fare kind on United (fundamental economic system) restricts flyers to 1 private merchandise that may match below the seat in entrance of them. Equally, for those who ebook with an ultra-low-cost airline like Frontier Airways or Spirit Airways, the fundamental fare solely features a private merchandise.
Amongst many worldwide carriers, your fare kind additionally determines whether or not you might be eligible to convey one or two carry-on objects, so you’ll want to take note of baggage allotments when reserving.
Carry-on baggage weight limits
Although airways care about measurement, most home airways shouldn’t have weight restrictions for carry-on luggage. Some implement weight limits for particular routes, although. For instance, Delta restricts passengers flying to and from Beijing and Shanghai to a 22-pound carry-on, and it restricts luggage to and from Singapore to fifteen kilos.
Low-cost airways Frontier and Solar Nation each have 35-pound limits, whereas Spirit’s is a little more beneficiant at 40 kilos. Hawaiian Airways limits its carry-on luggage to a restrictive 25 kilos.
Exterior of those, you will not discover a blanket weight coverage for carry-on luggage for home carriers.
Alternatively, the vast majority of worldwide carriers specify weight necessities for carry-on luggage depending on the fare kind. For economic system fares, carry-on weight limits differ amongst main carriers, together with:
- Emirates, Singapore Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand: 15 kilos
- Turkish Airways: 17 kilos
- Virgin Atlantic, ANA, Korean Air, Japan Airways: 22 kilos
- La Compagnie: 39 kilos
- British Airways: 51 kilos
What’s allowed in a carry-on bag?
The U.S. Transportation Safety Administration displays carry-on luggage simply because it displays checked baggage; TSA prohibits sure objects, together with firearms, lithium batteries and different doubtlessly hazardous objects outlined right here.
Inside these confines, you are additional restricted to liquids lower than 3.4 ounces per the 3-1-1 rule; this limits objects like toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and lotion to three.4 fluid ounces inside a quart-size bag. TSA recommends packing full-size liquids in your checked baggage.
Associated: This is what to pack in a carry-on bag each time you journey
Your carry-on is the most secure place to your most dear objects, akin to your purse, electronics, passport, jewellery and medicines.
For inbound worldwide flights to the U.S., you may keep it up liquids exceeding 3.4 ounces for those who bought them within the duty-free part they usually stay of their safe, tamper-evident luggage. You may additionally need to maintain onto your unique receipt to indicate you made the acquisition throughout the previous 48 hours, as TSA might request this for screening.
Different worldwide border businesses have comparable guidelines prohibiting the transport of sure objects on airplanes, so you’ll want to examine together with your particular person airline relating to these guidelines.
Backside line
Relying in your fare kind, most home airways typically allow vacationers to hold on two objects — one that matches beneath the seat in entrance of them (sometimes known as a private merchandise) and a second bag that matches overhead. Nevertheless, the luggage should meet sure dimension thresholds, which differ by airline.
Private objects embrace small backpacks, purses, briefcases and laptop computer luggage. Bigger luggage — together with suitcases that match within the overhead bin compartment — are labeled as bigger carry-on objects.
Carry-on insurance policies differ tremendously amongst worldwide carriers, relying on the fare kind. The fare kind additionally determines the load necessities for carry-on luggage. Nevertheless, U.S. airways typically shouldn’t have weight restrictions for carry-on objects.
Associated studying:
