You may get a nasty shock when traveling internationally.

Carry on baggage limits are much more restrictive than within the US, and are enforced more severely.

International Airline Carry On Luggage Allowances
	The carry on bags of yester-year were small and light, weighing only a few pounds. Today's wheeled monsters can sometimes weigh more, empty, than the total carry-on weight allowance of some international airlines!

If you're traveling internationally in coach class, you can find yourself confronted with cripplingly restrictive carry-on baggage policies.

As the table below shows, some airlines limit the weight of your carry-on to as little as 11 lbs.  A modern wheeled carry-on suitcase can weigh as much as 12-14lbs - empty!

Enforcement of such policies is uneven, but it is a major potential problem and a factor to consider when choosing which carrier to fly with.

General Luggage Policies

Note that when maximum size measurements are shown as a total number of inches (eg 45") this is the total of the length, width and height of the piece. There are standard sets of dimensions that go to make up these totals (for example, 22 x 14 x 9 is the standard for 45") and if you have a bag that is an unusual shape but still within the total number of inches, you may find it being rejected.

Is Your Carry-On Bag Legal?

Many luggage stores sell suitcases described as 'carry-on', but these suitcases are sometimes larger than the size most airlines will accept.

The safe maximum size is 45", in the form of a 22" x 14" x 9" bag.  Some airlines allow up to as much as 55", but most do not.

Not only do luggage stores and manufacturers not always tell you if their bag is legally sized or not, but they also frequently mis-measure their bag.  Their measurements generally are for the inside of the main compartment, and assume that any external pockets are of zero thickness, rather than stuffed full of things (which can easily add another inch or more) and ignore any external framing such as wheels and carry handle (which can also add another couple of inches).

If you should be very unlucky and find yourself forced to try and squeeze your carry-on into an unforgiving luggage template by the gate, even one extra inch - if your bag is already at the maximum - will be enough to mean it doesn't fit and you have to check the bag.

More Size Problems

So you get on board with your large but legal sized carry on item.  However, what happens if there is no space remaining in any of the overhead bins, and you're forced to place it under the seat in front of you?

Guess what?

Although your carry on item might be within the size guidelines issued by the airline, that does not guarantee it will fit under the seat in front of you!  It seems that the space under the seat in front of you is getting smaller and smaller, particularly with some airlines (most notably on international flights) adding bulky electronic boxes under each seat to control the at-seat video entertainment systems, and with more closely spaced seats that are, themselves, thinner than before.

Even if there isn't a blocking box, due to the design of the seat frame and supports, you'll find there might be the least amount of space under the aisle seat, a bit more space under the wing seat, and most space underneath the center seat.  At last - something good to say about getting stuck in a middle seat!

Even if, in theory, your bag could fit under the seat in front, you might find the geometry of the space and angles is such that you can't manage to fit the bag into the space (unless you add a hinge to the middle of the bag - a feature not yet offered!).

For many reasons - your own convenience, and courtesy to fellow passengers, we recommend you focus more on bringing the smallest carry-on you truly need rather than the largest carry-on with you!

Personal Items

The standard allowance typically provides for a bag of up to a certain size plus one or more 'personal items'.

What is a personal item?  Some airlines give examples, and suggest that a personal item may be :

• Briefcase

• Camera

• Handbag/Purse

• Laptop (in carry bag)

• Other items not exceeding 36" in total dimension

• Reading Matter

• Small book-bag style backpack

• Umbrella

Still More Exemptions

In addition to generally allowing you to carry on one bag plus one personal item, many airlines may also allow you to carry on other items such as coats, hats and other 'outer clothing' items, 'assistive devices' such as crutches/canes and wheelchairs, diaper bags and approved child safety seats.

Unlike checked luggage, where you can pay extra to carry heavier or bigger or more items, with carry on, there are no extra charges.  If the airline enforces its carry-on rules, then your only option is to have the disallowed items checked.

Domestic and International Carryon Luggage Policy variations

International flights often have much stricter carry-on policies, particularly with regard to the weight of carry-on bags.

Although most domestic airlines have no limit on carry-on bag weight, internationally, you will find that some airlines set such ridiculously low carry-on weight limits (sometimes as little as 11 lbs) that the weight of an empty carry-on bag is more than the total weight you're allowed to take with you!

You need to be aware of these rules, or else the next time you see someone desperately unpacking and repacking their luggage on the floor by the checkin counter, that person might be you!

International airlines may have smaller size limits on your carry on bags, too.  If you want a bag that is always accepted on both domestic and international flights, you'll need to choose a size or two smaller than the maximum allowable domestic sizes.

If your flight is on a really small plane, you might find that your luggage allowances for both checked and carry-on items are substantially reduced.  For example, some light aircraft operators limit passengers to 20lbs of luggage (both carry on and checked).

Quick Note about International Checked Baggage Policies

There are two major systems for checked baggage allowances.

For flights to/from the US, most airlines operate on a 'two piece' system - you can have two pieces of luggage checked, each weighing up to about 70lbs.

For flights in the rest of the world, most airlines operate on a weight system.  Coach class passengers are limited to a maximum weight of 20kg/44lbs in total.  Business class passengers get 30kg/66lbs and first class passengers get 40kg/88lbs.

Some airlines make it even worse by adding the weight of your carry-on luggage to the weight of your checked bags for determining the total weight of your baggage.

This weight based system is massively more restrictive than the piece system.  Be sure to check your international tickets to see which system applies for your travels.

General Notes about the Luggage Information Below

This information has been taken from the various airline websites.

Policies do change.  The information in the table below is shown as of 3/25/09.

Baggage rules can be complicated, and what is shown is a simplification and may not apply to your particular flight.  For the absolutely most accurate information, you should phone the airline and get exact confirmation of your luggage entitlements before your flight.

The airlines are also moderately free to vary their carry-on rules as it suits them, and they sometimes do this, particularly on full flights.  One reader told a story of being on an American Airlines flight where the gate agent announced that absolutely no wheeled items of any kind would be allowed on the flight!

This information primarily applies to coach class international travel.  More generous allowances usually exist for business/first class travel, and different policies often apply with a foreign airline's domestic flights in its home country.

The appropriate page of each airline website is linked to the airline name in the tables below to make it easy for you to conveniently check the current accuracy of the information shown here.  If you should find something out of date, please let us know so we can correct and update this information.

International Airline/Flight Policies - Carry On Luggage

Related Articles, etc

If so, please donate to keep the website free and fund the addition of more articles like this. Any help is most appreciated - simply click below to securely send a contribution through a credit card and Paypal.

Originally published 2 July 2004, last update 30 May 2021

You may freely reproduce or distribute this article for noncommercial purposes as long as you give credit to me as original writer.