Are vueling strict on hand luggage

This carrier normally includes one small personal item sized at 40×30×20 cm free of charge. Passengers who purchase cabin-bag rights get an extra piece up to 55×40×20 cm and 10 kg. Place the small item under the seat in front to meet gate checks.

Gate staff use rigid sizers and occasional weight checks; oversized or overweight cases get moved to the hold and trigger a fee. Purchasing the cabin-bag option during booking or via online check-in usually costs much less than paying at the airport desk or gate.

Measure your case with a tape, weigh it on a luggage scale at home, and prefer soft-sided bags that compress into the sizer. Wear bulky clothing or carry heavy items on your person to shift weight. Store liquids in containers ≤100 ml inside one clear 1‑litre pouch and keep that pouch accessible for screening.

At boarding, show a boarding pass that lists the cabin-bag allowance; without it, combine items into the under-seat bag or expect to check a piece and accept the associated charge. Keep valuables and travel documents in the under-seat item to avoid checked-bag exposure.

If dimensions or weight look marginal, add priority or the cabin-bag add-on when buying tickets to avoid last-minute airport fees and longer processing at the gate.

Cabin allowance enforcement: concise guidance

Purchase Priority or Optima if you need a full-size cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm, maximum 10 kg); otherwise keep to the complimentary small item that fits under the seat (40 x 30 x 20 cm) to avoid on-the-spot charges.

Expect gate staff to use rigid sizers and scales during boarding. Non-compliant items are usually gate-checked with an immediate fee (commonly €40–€60) or refused access to the overheads until payment is made.

Measure and weigh before travel: use a tape and a home scale; when your packed dimensions hit 55 x 40 x 20 cm on a soft bag the airline will usually accept slight compression, but rigid cases must strictly match limits.

Packing tactics that reduce risk: choose a soft-sided cabin bag, use compression cubes, place heavy items in checked hold bought in advance, keep liquids in 100 ml containers in a clear 1-litre bag, and carry passports/valuables in the under-seat item.

Purchasing Priority online is almost always cheaper than paying at the gate; add it during booking or via the app rather than waiting until airport arrival.

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Carry-on allowances: exact dimensions, weight and differences by fare type

Carry a single small item up to 40 x 30 x 20 cm on Basic fares; choose Optima, Family, TimeFlex or Excellence to include an additional cabin bag up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm (including wheels and handles) with a 10 kg weight limit.

Small personal item: maximum 40 x 30 x 20 cm, must fit under the seat in front. Measure including external pockets, straps and any rigid attachments. Recommended for valuables, travel documents and a compact laptop or tablet.

Cabin bag: maximum 55 x 40 x 20 cm including wheels, handles and side pockets. Maximum mass 10 kg; weight can be checked at boarding. Soft-sided bags are more likely to squeeze into tight overhead bins than hard-shell suitcases.

Basic fare specifics: only the small personal item is included. To bring the cabin-sized piece you must add the Cabin service or upgrade the fare; without an add-on the larger bag is typically checked at the gate for a fee if overhead space is full.

Optima, Family, TimeFlex, Excellence: both pieces included – personal item + cabin bag (55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg). Some premium fares also offer priority boarding, which reduces the risk of gate-checked cabin bags when the flight is full.

Measurement and packing tips: measure with wheels and handles extended, weigh your packed cabin piece at home using a luggage scale, distribute weight into the small personal item if one piece marginally exceeds 10 kg, secure liquids in a clear resealable bag meeting aviation rules, and pack fragile/valuable items in the item that stays under the seat.

Overweight or oversize bags: expect a gate or check-in fee and possible forced transfer to the hold. Fees vary by route and purchase moment; prepaying added carry-on allowance online is usually cheaper than paying at the airport.

How the airline enforces carry-on at the gate: bag sizers, scales and boarding group checks

Purchase a priority or cabin-bag-included fare if you must keep a full-size cabin bag with you during boarding.

Gate sizer procedure

Agents use rigid frames or cage-style sizers to verify cabin items fit the published allowance. Soft-sided bags that compress often pass more easily than hard-shell cases. If an item does not fit the sizer it will be tagged for the hold; staff rarely negotiate dimensions at the gate. Keep a collapsible tote or thin foldable daypack for last-minute transfer of essentials.

Scales and weight checks

Scales are used sporadically–typically when a bag looks overfilled or the passenger’s fare type limits bag weight. Expect a weight check if multiple items are presented as cabin items. Weigh carry items at home and move heavy electronics, chargers and liquids into a permitted personal bag to avoid gate weighing. If a bag exceeds permitted weight and no paid option applies, agents will require gate-checking or payment at the counter.

Boarding group controls which passengers may bring larger cabin items. Boarding passes are scanned and agents match your group to the entitlement printed on the pass; non-entitled travellers are routinely asked to leave oversize bags at the gate. If you’re told to gate-check, remove valuables, medication and travel documents before handing the tag to staff–the bag will usually be returned at the baggage belt or curbside depending on the airport.

Practical tips: measure and weigh bags before travel, carry a small inflatable or soft backup bag, keep essential items in a clearly separate personal bag, present your boarding pass immediately if questioned and consider upgrading at online check-in to avoid gate intervention.

Personal item vs cabin bag: specific examples of what fits and how to pack to avoid gate checks

Keep one compact under-seat item for valuables and immediate needs; place bulk, liquids over 100 ml and spare clothing in the overhead-sized piece to prevent a gate check.

• Typical personal item contents (fits under seat):

  • 13″ laptop in slim sleeve (approx. 30 x 22 x 2 cm) + slim charger.
  • Tablet or e-reader (25 x 17 x 1 cm) and a paperback book.
  • Clear toiletry pouch with up to five 100 ml bottles (zip-top bag ~20 x 15 cm).
  • Passport, wallet, boarding pass, prescription meds, small power bank (<100 Wh).
  • Foldable lightweight rain jacket or scarf rolled flat.
  • Small mirrorless camera or compact point-and-shoot in soft pouch.

• Typical overhead bag contents (kept in bin):

  • 2–4 folded outfits, one pair of shoes (trainers or dress shoes), underwear and socks.
  • Larger toiletry kit with >100 ml liquids, full-size perfume, shaving kit.
  • Electronics with bulky chargers, travel adapters, compact tripod.
  • Shopping/ duty-free purchases, souvenirs, extra gifts.

• Packing examples for common trips:

  1. 48-hour business trip

     • Personal item: laptop, documents, phone, slim toiletry bag, one shirt.
     • Overhead bag: suit jacket wrapped in garment sleeve, folded trousers, shoes, toiletry with >100 ml items.

  2. Weekend city break

     • Personal item: camera, guidebook, small water bottle (empty through security), sunglasses.
     • Overhead bag: 2 casual outfits, trainers, compact towel, souvenirs space left.

  3. Return with purchases

     • Personal item: keep an empty folding tote or packable daypack (stows flat) to move overflow.
     • Overhead bag: compress clothes with packing cubes to make room for bought items.

• Practical packing techniques to avoid gate checks:

  • Use soft-sided bags and compression packing cubes; they compress to fit into sizers more easily than hard shells.
  • Place heavier items near the base/wheels of the overhead bag so it sits squarely in the sizer and does not bulge.
  • Keep liquids in a single clear 1-litre zip bag inside the personal item for easy access at security and to show gate staff if asked.
  • Measure and weigh at home: a tape measure and a bathroom scale are sufficient–adjust before leaving for the airport.
  • Bring a lightweight foldable tote (20–40 L) inside the personal item to transfer a small number of items if boarding staff request a reduction.
  • Wear bulky items: put on a coat and heavier shoes through the terminal to free space in the overhead piece.
  • Board earlier when possible; late arrival increases chance of bins filling and subsequent gate checks.
  • When packing shoes: stuff socks or chargers inside to save space and maintain shape.
  • Keep a slim multipurpose pouch for cables and power banks so electronics don’t inflate the main compartment.

• Items that commonly trigger gate checks (avoid placing in the under-seat item):

  • Oversized boarding items that bulge past seams (soft bags are better than rigid but still must sit flat).
  • Multiple duty-free bottles or large liquid purchases without an emptied spot elsewhere.
  • Large sports equipment, full-size camera bags with excessive padding, and bulky souvenirs.
  • Excessively packed overhead bags left with no compressible space for other passengers’ items.

Final rule of thumb: show a neat, compact under-seat bag at the boarding gate and leave visible space in the main bag for compression; carry a foldable spare to move 2–3 items if staff request downsizing.

Buy a paid cabin allowance or repack at the desk – this typically costs less than a gate oversize surcharge.

Immediate steps at check-in or boarding:

• Repack: move bulky items into your personal item, wear heavy clothing, transfer laptop and liquids to the smaller bag.
• Purchase an upgrade through the airline app or website; online add-ons usually carry the lowest tariff.
• Check the bag into the hold at the counter instead of paying a gate oversize charge.
• Request a supervisor and photograph the scale or sizer before paying, then obtain a written receipt showing the fee breakdown.

Typical fee ranges (examples)

• Pre-booked checked bag (online): €8–€40 per bag depending on route and timing.
• Airport/desk purchase for checked bag: €30–€70.
• Gate oversize surcharge for cabin item exceeding permitted dimensions: €40–€80.
• Overweight fee for checked baggage (per bag): €40–€100 depending on excess kilos.
• Gate check for passengers without allowance: sometimes free for priority fares, otherwise €20–€60.

Practical remedies and cost-saving tactics

• Move contents to a permitted personal item and keep liquids within 100 ml to avoid a surcharge entirely.
• Use compression cubes to consolidate items into a single bag that fits the cabin gauge.
• Buy the cheapest checked-bag option online before arrival; expect savings of roughly €15–€40 versus airport purchase.
• If an immediate fee is unavoidable, pay by card and keep the transaction receipt and boarding pass for disputes.
• Consider switching bulky items to a travel partner’s checked allowance if available; sharing can cost less than separate oversize fees.

If a fee looks incorrect, file a complaint with photos of the sizer/scale, boarding pass and payment receipt within 7–14 days; include a clear request for refund or adjustment. Status holders and priority-fare customers frequently receive additional cabin allowance, so present proof before making a payment.

Permitted liquids, batteries and items likely to trigger refusal or additional screening

Pack liquids in containers of 100 ml or less and place them in a single clear resealable plastic bag (maximum 1 litre capacity); one bag per passenger in cabin carriage. Present medications, baby food and special dietary liquids separately at security with supporting documentation or a physician’s note.

Duty-free purchases containing liquids must remain inside the tamper-evident bag with receipt visible; if connecting through an airport enforcing the 100 ml rule, expect secondary screening or confiscation unless the security seal and receipt remain intact.

Spare lithium batteries and power banks: carry only in the cabin. Lithium-ion batteries up to 100 Wh are allowed without airline approval. Batteries rated between 100 Wh and 160 Wh require written airline approval and are typically limited to two spares per passenger. Cells or batteries over 160 Wh are prohibited in both cabin and checked carriage. Tape exposed terminals or keep batteries in original packaging; protect devices from accidental activation (power off, use a case).

E-cigarettes, vaporizers and power banks must not be placed in checked baggage; they are accepted only in the cabin. Installed batteries in devices (laptops, cameras, phones) are normally permitted in checked baggage but carrying those devices in the cabin reduces risk and speeds incident handling.

Items most likely to lead to refusal or extra screening: aerosols or pressurised cans above permitted volume; large quantities of gels/creams; sharp objects (knives, razor blades, scissors with blades longer than ~6 cm); tools (screwdrivers, pliers, crowbars); sports equipment usable as an impact weapon (bats, clubs, ski poles); flammable liquids and fuels (paint thinners, lighter refills); compressed gases and extinguishers; self-defence sprays. Firearms and replica weapons require prior approval and declaration and are normally transported as checked and secured items only with permits.

For flights to/from the United States: powder-like substances in carry items exceeding 350 ml are subject to additional screening and may be refused at security – place large quantities of powders in checked baggage if allowed by destination rules.

Organise liquids and batteries in separate compartments or pouches to speed screening: liquids bag at the top of the cabin carry-on for easy removal; battery pouch with taped terminals. Consider a structured rolling briefcase for business travel or a well-organised travel pack for backpacks; examples: best rolling briefcase for lawyers and best backpack for backpacking southeast asia.

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