Michael Turner
All tickets include one small personal item up to 40×20×25 cm (fits under the seat). A larger cabin item (standard allowance 55×40×20 cm, maximum 10 kg) is permitted only with a Priority add-on or specific fare bundles. Oversized or overweight items are typically moved to the hold at the gate and incur a fee higher than the pre-booked upgrade.
Measure externally: include pockets, wheels and any rigid frames when checking dimensions. Use a soft-sided daypack or slim rucksack to gain millimetres of extra room. Weigh packed items on a home scale – gates may spot-check weight and tag bags that exceed 10 kg.
Packing priorities: keep documents, medication, phone, chargers and valuables in the small personal item; place bulkier clothing or shoes only in the larger cabin item if you have purchased Priority. Place liquids in 100 ml containers inside a single clear 1 L bag to comply with security rules.
Buy the cabin-bag upgrade during booking or before airport arrival – online prices are almost always lower than pay-at-gate charges. Before travel, confirm the carrier’s current allowances on its official site and on your booking confirmation to avoid surprises at boarding.
Rucksack: small personal item or cabin-sized bag for this airline?
Use a rucksack as the free small personal item only when external measurements are no larger than 40 x 20 x 25 cm; any rucksack exceeding those dimensions must be treated as the cabin-sized bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm) and requires Priority boarding or the paid 10 kg cabin allowance.
Gate staff routinely measure items at boarding. Non-Priority passengers presenting an oversized rucksack can be asked to check it in at the gate for a supplementary fee (often in the €40–€60 range). Soft-sided designs that compress fit under the seat more reliably than rigid frames or wheels.
Practical steps: measure the packed external dimensions before travel, remove external straps or clips that increase size, keep valuables and essential documents in the under-seat item, and buy Priority or the cabin-bag add-on in advance when the rucksack is near or over the small-item limit.
Quick examples: a laptop rucksack at 38 x 20 x 24 cm qualifies as the complimentary small personal item; a travel rucksack at 45 x 30 x 20 cm requires the 55 x 40 x 20 cm cabin allowance or Priority purchase.
Measure and weigh your daypack packed exactly as you will bring it on board: it must fit within 40×20×25 cm for the small personal item or 55×40×20 cm for the cabin-size item.
Quick checklist: measure height, width and depth including external pockets, wheels, handles and any protruding straps; weigh the item fully packed; leave a 1–2 cm clearance per dimension to pass a sizer.
Measuring technique
Use a rigid tape measure or a boxed template. For the boxed method, build or borrow a rectangular frame/box that matches the target internal dimensions (40×20×25 cm and 55×40×20 cm). Place the daypack inside with all external straps tucked in and any detachable items attached as you would board. If the item bulges, compress soft contents and try again until it sits flat within the frame. Measure: height = top to bottom, width = left to right, depth = front to back. Include external attachments (bottle holders, laptop sleeves, rigid panels) in all three measures.
Weighing method and practical tips
Weigh the item in the configuration you’ll carry using a digital luggage scale (hook-style) or a bathroom scale: for a bathroom scale, weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the packed item and subtract. If your fare or add-on includes a weight allowance for the cabin-size item, target under 10 kg unless your ticket states a different limit. Redistribute heavy objects close to the center/back panel to reduce perceived bulk. Remove or relocate non-essentials (liquids, spare shoes, heavy chargers) to checked items or wear them (coat, shoes) to reduce on-board weight.
Additional checks: zip all compartments and fasten compression straps before measuring; test the packed item in an airline sizer at the airport if you have doubts; keep fragile and valuable items in a smaller accessible pouch that you can remove quickly during gate checks.
Which pack features (hard frames, external pockets, shoulder straps) commonly make it exceed airline size limits?
Recommendation: pick a frameless daypack with tuck-away straps, flush external pockets and a slim laptop sleeve to stay comfortably below the 40×20×25 cm small-bag or 55×40×20 cm cabin-bag dimensions.
Rigid frames and internal frame sheets – rigid inserts add 3–10 cm to depth and prevent the bag from compressing. Remove stiff frame sheets before measuring and, if removable, leave them out for flights with strict size checks.
Padded back panels and laptop compartments with rigid padding increase both depth and height by about 2–8 cm depending on padding thickness. Swap rigid laptop inserts for a thin sleeve or carry the laptop separately if you are close to the limit.
External zip pockets and water-bottle sleeves – empty they lie flat (+0–2 cm), filled they typically add 3–6 cm per side. Collapsible bottles and stuffing small pockets inside the main compartment reduce outward bulge.
Top lids, flap closures and roll-tops can add 4–10 cm height when fully closed. Use roll-top designs rolled tightly, remove detachable lids, or compress with straps to lower overall height before measuring.
Shoulder straps, sternum straps and hip belts protrude if not stowed and can add 2–6 cm to measured depth or height. Choose models with tuck-away strap systems or fold and secure straps against the back panel for measurement and boarding.
External attachment points (tripod straps, bungee cords, daisy chains, MOLLE) and oversized buckles create local bulges of 1–5 cm. Unclip, tuck or remove modular accessories and use recessed hardware when possible.
Wheels and telescopic handles add 5–10 cm and almost always push a carry item over cabin limits; avoid wheeled daypacks if the goal is to meet strict small-bag dimensions.
Practical measurement routine: pack exactly as you will travel, tighten all compression straps, stow straps and hipbelt, remove removable frames, then measure width×height×depth at the largest points. If any single dimension is within 1–2 cm of the limit, reconfigure or downsize: flatten pockets, move items to another bag, or swap to a slimmer model.
Sensible target: aim for at least a 3 cm margin under the applicable limit after packing and strapping; that margin accounts for measurement variation and protruding features not apparent when empty.
Yes – laptops, cameras and duty‑free purchases can be carried inside your small personal item if they meet size and safety limits
Pack strategy: place a laptop in a slim sleeve and lay it flat against the inner panel to minimise added depth; put a camera body in a padded compartment or wrap it in clothing to avoid protrusion; keep duty‑free purchases in the sealed tamper‑evident bag (STEB) on top so gate checks or security inspections are quicker. If the sealed bag or electronics make the item exceed permitted external dimensions, the carrier may require gate check or a paid upgrade.
Batteries, power banks and spare cells
All lithium batteries and power banks must travel in the cabin/ personal item. Limits follow IATA rules: up to 100 Wh – no airline approval required; between 100 Wh and 160 Wh – airline approval required and normally limited to two spare batteries; above 160 Wh – prohibited. Protect terminals (tape or original packaging) and never place spare cells in checked baggage. Approximate conversion for common cells: 100 Wh ≈ 27,000 mAh at 3.7 V.
Duty‑free liquids, aerosols and gels
Liquids bought airside and supplied in a sealed tamper‑evident bag with receipt are usually allowed in addition to standard liquid rules; keep the STEB visible and present the receipt if asked. If your personal item already fits tightly, transfer duty‑free bottles into a secondary approved bag (inside the item) to avoid exceeding dimensions – otherwise expect a gate check. Cigarettes and alcohol purchased in duty‑free follow the same procedure but must still comply with destination import limits.
Accessories (chargers, cables, spare memory cards, filters, lenses) should go inside internal pockets or organiser pouches; avoid bulky external pockets that increase measured size. For unrelated product research see best aquarium filter for goldfish.
If gate staff judge your rucksack oversized: immediate options, paid upgrades and likely fees
Immediately either reduce volume so the item fits under the seat or accept gate-checking: managers typically allow a last-minute hold-tag at the gate for a fee, or will permit redistribution into an approved small item if possible.
Immediate actions at the gate
- Compress and redistribute: remove liquids, shoes, jacket, camera or laptop into pockets or a coat; place dense items in worn jacket or on your person.
- Use a secondary carry item: transfer essentials to a tote, duty-free bag or a compact day-sack sold at the terminal; buying a simple airport tote often costs €5–€20 and avoids higher fees.
- Ask staff for a gate tag (hold): staff will tag the item for the hold and place it in the hold free of queue priority; retrieval is at baggage reclaim or the aircraft door on some routes.
- Refuse and re-pack: if time permits, step aside, reorganise contents and return for a re-check by staff–this can avoid any charge if the item then fits approved dimensions.
Paid upgrades and expected charges
- Gate-tag (checked at aircraft door): typical on-the-spot fee range €35–€60; amount varies by airport and staffing. Paying at the gate is usually the most expensive immediate option.
- Buy a checked-bag allowance before boarding via app/website: prices commonly run lower–example ranges: 10 kg from €10–€40, 20 kg from €20–€60 depending on route and purchase timing. Add-on purchased online or at kiosk before reaching the gate is cheaper than gate payment.
- Priority/cabin upgrade to include an extra cabin bag: advance upgrade fees can be modest (often €6–€30 when bought early), but purchasing at the airport or desk may be higher; check the carrier app for live pricing.
- Excess-size fines vs. checked-bag purchase: paying the gate fine is often comparable to or higher than buying a small checked allowance in advance–if staff advise a fee, ask for the price of buying a standard checked allowance instead and choose the cheaper.
- Payment methods: cards accepted at counters/gates; cash acceptance varies by station.
Practical checklist to present at the gate: demonstrate compacted dimensions by placing the item on the sizer board, request the exact gate-tag price, ask for the code to buy an allowance on the app (cheaper), and move irreplaceables (passport, medicines, electronics) into a carried tote before they tag the main item.
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