How many kg is hand luggage for british airways

Pack your main cabin bag at or below 10 kg and keep the personal item under 5 kg. BA publishes no official weight cap on cabin pieces; gate staff expect passengers to be able to lift items into overhead lockers unassisted.

Main cabin bag maximum external dimensions: 56 x 45 x 25 cm (including wheels and handles). Small personal item maximum: 40 x 30 x 15 cm. Most tickets allow one of each; premium fare types may permit an extra cabin piece.

Standard checked allowance on economy tickets: one piece up to 23 kg. Club and First cabins: checked piece limit 32 kg each. Overweight fees apply at the airport; buying additional kilos online ahead of travel is usually cheaper than paying at departure.

Practical tips: use a portable scale at home, shift heavy items into checked bags, place dense items close to wheels to meet size/weight balance, and keep liquids in 100 ml containers inside a resealable clear pouch in the personal item. When uncertain, confirm the exact allocation shown on your booking or the carrier’s website under “Baggage”.

Cabin weight allowance on BA: kg limits and practical tips

BA publishes no explicit kg limit on overhead cabin bags; keep main cabin pieces under 10 kg and small personal items under 5 kg to avoid gate check.

Main cabin bag maximum dimensions: 56 x 45 x 25 cm. Small item maximum: 40 x 30 x 15 cm. Standard allowance: one main bag plus one small item per passenger; some fare types permit an additional cabin piece – verify on the booking confirmation.

Checked-bag standards: Economy fares typically permit 23 kg per piece; premium cabins allow up to 32 kg per piece. Specific routes and tickets may use piece- or weight-based rules.

Packing tactics

Weigh bags at home with a compact scale; move dense items into the small item or wear heavier layers to reduce the main bag mass. Place chargers and power banks in the small item to meet carry-on restrictions.

Stow a compact folding umbrella inside the small item: best personal rain umbrella.

What is the carry-on weight allowance on BA by fare class?

Direct answer: BA does not publish a fixed kilogram limit for cabin items; allowances are defined by piece count and size, while checked-bag weight is specified by fare – see table below.

Practical recommendations

Pack cabin items so you can lift them into an overhead locker without assistance; airlines may refuse oversized or excessively heavy pieces at the gate. If minimizing bulk matters, consider a compact option such as this best backpack for european travel.

When checked-bag kg differ

Regional short-haul fares and some promotional tickets may alter checked allowances or remove complimentary checked bags; always verify the allowance shown on your booking or on BA’s official website prior to departure.

Exact size & weight limits: cabin bag vs personal item

Keep the overhead carry at 56 x 45 x 25 cm (measurements must include handles, wheels and external pockets); the under-seat item should not exceed 40 x 30 x 15 cm. Practical target weights: overhead piece ≈ 10 kg or less, under-seat item 4–5 kg.

Measure height × width × depth with zippers closed and wheels/handles in their usual position. Use a digital scale to confirm weight at home; if the overhead piece exceeds the practical target, redistribute dense objects into the under-seat bag or check one item to the hold at the airport. Gate staff may require oversized pieces to be placed in the hold without compensation.

Pack strategy: place fragile and frequently used items in the under-seat item, heavy bulk items low and centered in the overhead piece, and keep toiletries within the 100-ml/1-l clear bag limit. Quick reference on ingredient swaps while planning in-cabin snacks: can i substitute red wine vinegar for rice vinegar.

Measure and weigh cabin bag at home to meet BA limits

Use a portable digital scale and target at least 0.5 kg (500 g) margin below BA allowance; measure with wheels, feet and handles tucked into normal travel position.

Measure external dimensions with a flexible tape measure: place case on flat floor, zip fully closed, record height including wheels, width at widest point and depth at the thickest zipper bulge. Measure along outermost points; if a wheel protrudes, include it.

Weighing methods: (a) portable hanging scale: attach strap to top handle, lift straight up until display stabilises, read value; (b) bathroom-scale technique: place scale on flat surface, weigh yourself, then weigh while holding the packed case and subtract; (c) kitchen scale: use for small items or to check toiletry bottles.

Verify scale accuracy using a known weight such as a 1 L water bottle (1.00 kg) or a dumbbell. Replace batteries if readings jump or fail to stabilise. Use the tare/zero function when possible to remove strap weight.

Packing adjustments to reduce mass: move heavy electronics or chargers into the smaller personal item, swap printed books for e-books, decant toiletries into travel-size bottles, remove duplicate clothing, and wear the heaviest shoes and jacket during departure. Place dense items against the wheelbase to improve balance.

If the packed case exceeds target margin, repeat weighing after removing single items and reassigning them between carry items and checked case. Re-weigh after each significant change until below target.

Keep a quick checklist: tape measure, portable scale, 1 L test bottle, notebook to record measurements and final weight, spare batteries. Photograph the scale display and the packed case weight as evidence of pre-departure compliance when needed.

Pay online before travel to reduce charges

Buy an extra checked piece via Manage My Booking or during online check-in; pre-purchase rates almost always cost less than airport or gate fees and avoid last-minute surprises.

Typical fee ranges and overweight rules

• Short-haul (UK, Europe): online add-on usually £15–£40; airport or gate purchase commonly £40–£120.
• Long-haul: online add-on typically £30–£150; airport or gate purchase commonly £80–£250.
• Overweight surcharge: when a checked item exceeds the booked weight allowance, expect an overweight charge or requirement to pay for an additional piece – commonly £60–£150 per overweight item.
• Maximum allowed weight per checked piece is normally 32 kg; items heavier than 32 kg may be refused or need to travel as cargo, with substantially higher handling charges.

Upgrade paths and immediate airport options

• Add an extra piece online: cheapest route; available during booking, via Manage My Booking, or during online check-in.
• Purchase a higher weight allowance: some routes permit upgrading a single bag from 23 kg up to 32 kg at a lower cost than buying a second piece.
• Fare-class upgrade: moving to the next cabin often includes a larger baggage allowance; compare the fare difference against separate baggage fees before purchasing.
• Status benefits: elite members typically receive additional pieces or higher weight limits as part of their entitlement; check membership terms prior to travel.
• Gate options: staff may gate-check an item on presentation; expect immediate payment at the desk and carry a card to complete the transaction.

Practical steps to avoid charges: weigh bags at home using a luggage scale, shift heavy items into a permitted personal item or a companion’s allowance, pre-purchase extra allowance online when weight is borderline, and confirm maximum permitted weight and refusal thresholds on booking documents.

Special rules: infants, children and mobility aids

Notify BA at least 48 hours prior and declare any infant items and mobility devices.

Infants (lap passengers): One fully collapsible pushchair or pram may be gate‑checked at no charge; a single baby bag (nappy bag) is usually permitted in addition to the accompanying adult’s cabin allowance. When a seat is purchased and assigned to the child, the child’s cabin entitlement matches the paid fare class and is treated the same as an adult’s allowance.

Car seats: Approved child restraints may be used aboard when a seat is purchased; label with booking reference and present at check‑in. Items taken to the gate are subject to inspection and may be stowed in the hold if they cannot fit in the cabin.

Mobility aids and wheelchairs: Manual wheelchairs and non‑powered mobility aids are accepted free and do not count toward checked bag allowance. Powered wheelchairs and mobility devices with batteries must be declared in advance; expect check‑in inspection and specialist handling.

Battery guidance: Note the watt‑hour rating on the manufacturer label (Wh = volts × ampere‑hours). Installed batteries that remain attached to the device are usually permitted when secured. Spare lithium‑ion batteries must be carried in the cabin, have terminals protected, and be individually packaged. Up to 100 Wh normally allowed without approval; 100–160 Wh require carrier approval; >160 Wh are prohibited. Limit spare batteries to two when approval is granted.

Practical checklist: contact BA reservations or special assistance at least 48 hours prior; attach a label with booking reference to prams and car seats; carry battery specs and any medical documentation; present mobility aids at check‑in and arrive early to allow time to complete inspection and special handling.

FAQ:

How many kilograms is hand luggage for British Airways?

British Airways does not publish a fixed weight limit for cabin baggage. Instead, the rule is that your main cabin bag must fit within the maximum dimensions of 56 x 45 x 25 cm (including handles and wheels) and you must be able to lift it into the overhead locker by yourself. A smaller personal item (for example a laptop bag or small handbag) is also allowed and should not exceed 40 x 30 x 15 cm. If you cannot lift your bag or it does not fit the size limits, staff may require it to be checked into the aircraft hold.

Am I allowed to bring two pieces of hand luggage on British Airways and are there weight limits for each?

Yes. Standard cabin allowance is one main cabin bag plus one small personal item per passenger. The main bag’s maximum outside dimensions are 56 x 45 x 25 cm and the small item should not be larger than 40 x 30 x 15 cm. There is no specific published kilogram limit for either item, but both must be stored safely: the main bag in the overhead locker, the small item under the seat in front of you. Some routes, codeshare flights, or specific fare types may impose different restrictions, so it is wise to check the booking details or BA’s route information before travel. Remember to consolidate heavy items into checked baggage if you expect difficulty lifting your cabin bag into the locker.

What happens if my hand luggage is too heavy or too large at the gate, and how can I avoid extra charges?

If a bag exceeds the permitted dimensions or you cannot lift it into the overhead locker, cabin crew or ground staff will normally ask for it to be placed in the hold. That may result in an excess-baggage fee at the airport; the amount depends on the route and the fare rules. To reduce the chance of charges: weigh and measure your bag before leaving home with a luggage scale, use a soft-sided bag that compresses into the locker more easily, redistribute items between your two allowed cabin pieces, or pre-purchase extra allowance or checked baggage online (which is usually cheaper than paying at the airport). Also avoid packing sharp, heavy or restricted items in cabin luggage to prevent removal at security or by crew.