Michael Turner
Immediate recommendation: purchase Priority Boarding if you plan to bring a 55 x 40 x 20 cm carry case up to 10 kg; without it, bring only a small personal item that fits 40 x 20 x 25 cm or expect your case to be placed in the hold or subject to a gate charge.
Concrete rules to follow: the free allowance for non-priority travellers is a personal item no larger than 40 x 20 x 25 cm. Priority holders may also bring a larger cabin case sized 55 x 40 x 20 cm with a mass limit of 10 kg. At BRS staff commonly use boarding-gate sizers and check dimensions; excess or oversized pieces are frequently moved to the aircraft hold.
Typical costs and timing: buying Priority online in advance usually costs from around £6–£20 (varies by route and sales). If a bag is refused at the gate it may incur a gate-check fee generally in the range of £40–£60 or be checked with standard hold fees – paying for Priority before arrival is almost always cheaper.
Practical tips: measure your case with a rigid board or sizer before leaving, use a luggage scale or household scale to confirm mass, pack valuables and essentials in the small personal item, and wear heavier footwear or jackets during travel to reduce packed mass. During busy departures at BRS enforcement tends to be stricter; if you need certainty, upgrade to Priority at booking or at online check‑in.
Do they check carry-on at BRS?
Buy Priority or ensure the carry-on obeys two limits: main cabin bag 55×40×20 cm and max 10 kg, plus one small under-seat item 40×20×25 cm; otherwise gate staff at BRS regularly measure and may move non-compliant items to the hold for a fee.
| Allowance | Dimensions (cm) | Weight | Typical action if non-compliant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small personal item (free) | 40 × 20 × 25 | no separate weight published | must fit under seat or will be refused at gate |
| Priority carry-on (paid) | 55 × 40 × 20 | up to 10 kg | board with you if within limits |
| Non-priority extra bag | any larger than allowed | any | gate check to hold; typical fee £30–£60 (variable) |
Practical checks: weigh your packed cabin bag at home with a hand scale and target 9–10 kg for the larger allowance; measure external dimensions including wheels and handles. Use a soft-sided carry item to compress into the measuring frame at the gate.
Packing tips: place dense/heavy items (toiletries, chargers, books) in checked travel bags when possible, distribute weight low and close to wheels, and avoid rigid cases that exceed the external measurement. Purchase Priority during booking or via the app if you need the second bag guarantee.
Arrival strategy: arrive at the gate with compliant bags; staff at BRS commonly use a measuring gate frame and a scale at boarding. If offered to gate-check, accept immediately to avoid higher airport-administered charges and boarding delays.
Carrier size and mass limits for carry-on on BRS routes
Recommendation: Travel with only a small personal item (max 40 x 20 x 25 cm) unless you have Priority, in which case add one larger cabin bag up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm with a maximum mass of 10 kg.
Dimensions and permitted mass
Small personal item: 40 x 20 x 25 cm – must fit under the seat in front. Larger cabin bag (Priority only): 55 x 40 x 20 cm; the operator enforces a 10 kg maximum mass for that item. Measurements must include wheels, handles and external pockets. Oversize or over-mass items will be taken at the gate and placed in the hold for a fee.
Practical compliance tips
Measure external dimensions on the packed item (height includes wheels/handle). Check mass on a luggage scale at home and keep heavy items in checked baggage when possible.
Soft-sided bags are easier to compress into sizers; place liquids and electronics near the top for quick security checks. If you expect to exceed the cabin limits, pre-purchase a hold bag online before travel – online fees are lower than gate charges.
Where and when airport or airline staff inspect cabin items
Bring a compact scale and a collapsible bag and expect routine checks at specific touchpoints: check-in desks, automated drop counters, security lanes and the departure gate.
At check-in counters staff place items on visible scales and may pass them through a metal sizing frame; automated drop machines can scan dimensions and flag oversize items for manual inspection. Security officers use trays and x-ray conveyors to screen carry-on goods; oversized or dense items are diverted for secondary checks that can include measuring dimensions and placing the piece on a scale.
Gate agents commonly confirm cabin items immediately before boarding if the flight is full or cabin space is limited; they use rigid sizers for quick dimension checks and handheld or bench scales for mass checks when space pricing or priority seating is enforced. Random spot inspections occur at bag-drop and near boarding doors during peak hours or late-stage boarding.
If an item is flagged, options are: transfer contents into an approved smaller bag, place the item in the hold (fee may apply), or change how you carry bulky items (wear heavier garments or consolidate into a personal item). Keep bulky baby gear collapsible and clearly labelled to speed processing. See a recommended compact model: best umbrella stroller for older kids.
For pet transport, arrive early to confirm carrier dimensions and under-seat compatibility; if a carrier is oversized you may be asked to gate-check the animal. Recommended carrier options are listed here: best cat backpack for large cats.
Practical tips: weigh and measure items at home, keep one compact bag for cabin use only, label collapsible gear, and allow extra time at check-in or bag-drop during busy periods to avoid last-minute repacking or fees.
How the carrier enforces carry-on limits at BRS: check-in desk versus boarding gate
Buy priority boarding or pre-pay a cabin-to-hold drop online to avoid on-the-spot charges at the gate.
Check-in desk actions
- Primary focus is checked-bag mass and payment processing: staff at the counter use scales to confirm booked hold items meet paid allowances and will add tags and routing labels.
- If a carry-on item is clearly oversized, counter staff will typically offer to accept it into the hold for an additional fee rather than measure it precisely; fees bought at the desk are usually higher than online rates.
- Counters will accept payments by card; receipts and bag tags should be retained for any later queries.
- Arrive at the desk at least 90–120 minutes before departure for scheduled flights to allow time for paid changes and re-tagging.
Boarding-gate actions
- Gate staff carry metal/mesh sizers and perform size checks immediately before boarding; this is the final control point and is enforced strictly.
- Non-compliant items are either required to be checked into the hold at that moment (airport fee applied) or blocked from the aircraft; staff at the gate have discretion over acceptance if the cabin is full.
- Random spot checks for mass and prohibited contents are common; failure to comply can result in immediate bag transfer to the hold or a gate fine in the typical £40–£60 range (amounts vary by route and timing).
- Priority customers or those who purchased a cabin allowance are less likely to be redirected at the gate, provided the items match the entitlement purchased.
Practical, step-by-step recommendations
- Measure and test your item at home against the carrier’s published allowances; use a compact household scale for mass and a belt sizer or frame for dimensions.
- Purchase priority or add a hold allowance online during booking or pre-departure; online purchases often save 50%–70% versus airport fees.
- If packing fragile or valuable items, place them in a small personal item kept under the seat rather than the larger cabin piece that might be sent to the hold.
- At check-in, present receipts for any pre-paid allowances; if staff offer to move a piece to the hold, confirm the fee and keep the bag tag.
- During boarding, comply with gate staff direction immediately to avoid delays; if asked to check an item, consolidate contents into a purchased hold allowance where possible.
Likely outcomes and risks
- Pre-purchased allowances: minimal intervention at gate, preferred boarding, lower total cost.
- No pre-purchase and oversized at gate: immediate fee, possible loss of overhead bin access, or refusal to board with that item until moved to hold.
- Unchecked oversized items can cause boarding delays and additional charges; if the flight is full, staff may refuse to accept extra cabin items into the hold.
Options and fees if your carry-on exceeds limits at BRS
Buy an additional hold bag via the carrier’s website or app before you arrive – that typically costs the least and avoids gate penalties.
Pre-flight options and typical costs
Purchase an extra checked bag online: common prices range from £8–£40 for a 10–20 kg allowance on short European legs, depending on route and season. Upgrade to a priority/extra-cabin option (if offered) to bring a larger cabin item – expect £6–£35 if added in advance. Use the mobile app to add allowances; screenshots/confirmations speed up processing at the desk.
Repack into another passenger’s allowance or a smaller carry item: no fee if the other traveller has spare entitlement. Wear bulky items (coat, boots) to reduce the bag’s measured mass and volume.
At-airport and gate charges
Check-in desk add-ons are more expensive than online pre-purchase: typical desk fees sit around £25–£60. If staff at the gate determine the item exceeds permitted dimensions, a forced transfer to the hold usually incurs a gate handling charge of about £45–£60. Overweight charges for already checked bags commonly run £10–£20 per excess kilogram.
Cards are accepted at desks and gates; carry the booking reference and payment method. Airport staff can issue a receipt showing the paid charge – keep it if you dispute a fee later.
Quick tactics to avoid charges: measure bag with a tape measure and a portable luggage scale at home, shift non-essential items into a second small bag that meets cabin rules, or pre-buy the exact weight allowance you need via the carrier’s booking tools. Check live prices on the operator’s site before arriving, because airport and gate tariffs are consistently higher than web rates.
How to measure, check and repack your carry-on before flying from BRS
Bring a compact digital scale and a flexible tape measure and verify size and mass at home at least 24 hours before departure.
Measuring external dimensions correctly
Measure length, width and depth with the bag fully zipped and any wheels, feet and extended handles in their travel positions. Measure from the extreme points: top of the handle (or zipped top) to the bottom of the wheels for height, widest outer points for width, and deepest outer points for depth. Record results in centimetres and inches; round each measurement up to the nearest whole cm/inch to allow a margin. For soft-sided designs, compress the material gently while measuring to simulate the compression that occurs in overhead bins.
Checking mass and final packing steps
Preferred mass checks: use a handheld hanging scale clipped to the main handle; or the bathroom-scale method – weigh yourself, then step on the scale while holding the packed bag and subtract. Use a kitchen scale for small items and to confirm mass of individual heavier items (camera, laptop, shoes). Always test with pockets and removable items placed exactly as they will be at departure (documents, charger, water bottle). If the digital device has a tare function, zero it with straps or small packing cubes attached so the reading reflects only packed contents.
Packing tactics to reduce measured mass and bulk: place the heaviest items low and centered near the wheels or base; fill hollows inside shoes with socks or cables; use lightweight packing cubes to separate dense items and prevent over-compression of clothes; move rarely-used heavy items to checked baggage or wear them (jacket, heavy boots). Keep liquids in travel-size containers inside a clear resealable plastic bag to avoid last-minute removals. If using vacuum or electric compression equipment to reduce volume, follow safety guidance – see how to prevent your air compressor from tripping the breaker – and avoid overcompressing fragile items.
Final checklist before leaving home: dimensions measured and rounded up, total mass measured twice by two methods, heavy items redistributed, essential documents and electronics in an easy-access pocket, and chargers/power banks placed where they can be removed quickly for inspection.
