Best Cabin Bags for easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways & TUI in 2026

Cabin bag rules in 2026 are stricter than they’ve ever been. Ryanair is known for strict cabin bag enforcement and oversized bags may be charged at the gate. easyJet’s free allowance sounds generous until you realise it only covers what goes under the seat. British Airways lets you bring more than most people realise. And TUI, often overlooked but still a widely popular choice in the UK, has one of the cleaner policies of the lot.

The right cabin bag isn’t just about size. It’s about knowing which airline you’re flying, what their sizers actually measure and what happens if your bag doesn’t fit. This guide covers all of the four airlines most used by British travellers, with a verified bag recommendation for each. Browse the full airline-approved cabin bags if you want to see everything in one place!

Our cabin bag recommendations are based on airline size requirements, product measurements, customer feedback and real-world usability checks including packing capacity, wheel durability and ease of fitting bags into airline sizers.

Best Cabin Bag for easyJet 2026

easyJet’s standard fare includes one free underseat bag up to 45 × 36 × 20 cm including handles and wheels, with a 15 kg weight limit. That’s the most generous free allowance of any UK budget airline and is significantly larger than Ryanair’s. If you want an overhead locker bag, you’ll need to add the large cabin bag option (56 × 45 × 25 cm), which is a paid add-on unless you’re on a FLEXI fare or have easyJet Plus membership. Check the current rules on easyJet's website before you travel.

On the more practical side, the standard fee gets you one free bag to slide under the seat. It doesn’t go in the overhead locker. Our suggestion? Getting the Jetset Cabin Bag in Cream & Brown that sits comfortably within easyJet's free underseat allowance at 45 × 33 × 20 cm. ABS hard shell, TSA lock, four spinner wheels. It's easyJet-approved and sized to slot under the seat without drama.

If you prefer to travel without wheels, the Lugg Travel Backpack is cabin-approved and fits within easyJet's free allowance too, with a dedicated laptop compartment and wet bag for the journey home.

Best Cabin Bag for Ryanair 2026

Ryanair’s free underseat bag is 40 × 30 × 20 cm, no weight limit. That’s it. No overhead locker access, no personal item on the side. If you want a larger cabin bag in the overhead locker, you need to purchase Priority & 2 Cabin Bags, which gives you a second bag up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm at 10 kg. Without it, turn up with a bigger bag and you're looking at a gate fee of up to £70. Not the best way to start a holiday.

Ryanair’s gate staff use a metal sizer and yes, they really do check. The bag that’s “probably fine” usually isn’t. If you’re using a softer fabric suitcase that’s most likely to be overstuffed, measure it when it’s full, not empty.

Check the current rules on Ryanair's website before you travel.

The Jetset Underseat Bag in Cream & Brown is built to Ryanair’s exact free underseat dimensions: 40 × 30 × 20 cm. It’s made in ABS hard shell and features removable wheels - a genuinely useful feature when you need every centimetre and want to be certain the bag clears the sizer without the wheels adding depth. Just put the wheels in a small pouch after security.

If the flight is a long one and Ryanair’s seats are typical, the Memory Foam Travel Neck Pillow is worth tucking into your underseat bag. 100% memory foam, ergonomic support, comes with a drawstring bag so it stays compact. It’s a small thing but it’ll make a noticeable difference on a two-hour flight with restricted legroom.

Best Cabin Bag for British Airways 2026

Every BA fare (including the cheapest, Economy Basic) includes both a cabin bag (56 × 45 × 25 cm) and a personal item (40 × 30 × 15 cm), for the overhead locker and under the seat respectively. Combined weight limit is 23 kg across both. That’s a significantly bigger allowance than either Ryanair or easyJet and it’s included as standard rather than as a paid add-on.

Worth knowing: BA tightened cabin bag enforcement at Heathrow and Gatwick during 2025. Airports may use bag sizers to check compliance, so travelling with the correct dimensions helps avoid unexpected fees. Check the current rules on British Airways' website before you travel.

The Air Glide Cabin Suitcase in Teal is well-suited to BA’s overhead allowance. At 55 × 38 × 23 cm it sits comfortably within the 56 × 45 × 25 cm limit with room to spare. Polycarbonate hard shell, TSA-approved lock, 360° ultra-smooth double spinner wheels, fully lined interior with compression straps and a zippered divider. It comes with a five-year warranty. It’s the kind of bag that looks good when you’re city-hopping and actually does the job.

If you’re travelling for longer and checking a hold bag on British Airways, the Solo Explorer 28" in Metallic Silver is worth considering. At 75 × 52 × 31 cm it sits well within BA’s checked bag dimensions. 106 litres, dual compartments with compression straps on both sides, zip-free aluminium frame and dual TSA locks. Unpack once, find everything the first time around. That's the dream and it’s called Solo Explorer.

Best Cabin Bag for TUI 2026

TUI's cabin bag allowance is 55 × 40 × 20 cm at 10 kg, included on every booking at no extra charge. Unlike Ryanair, that's a full overhead locker bag included as standard. TUI also allows a personal item of 40 × 30 × 20 cm under the seat in front. That's another free bag that the majority of passengers don't know about. Most TUI package holidays also include 20 kg of hold luggage per person as standard. Check the current rules on TUI's website before you travel.

TUI is almost always a package holiday, which means a checked hold bag is part of the deal. The cabin bag question is really about what goes in the overhead locker on the way there. For the hold bag, the Vacay Medium Suitcase in Sky Blue is a natural fit. At 66.5 × 44 × 25.5 cm it’s sized for checked luggage on TUI and all major airlines. Made in polycarbonate hard shell and featuring a TSA lock, 360° double spinner wheels and a water-resistant finish; it’s everything you need from a holiday suitcase that goes in the hold and comes back in one piece.

Since TUI holidays usually take you somewhere with a pool, the Waterproof Phone Pouch 2-Pack is worth throwing in before you zip up. Two pouches per pack, touchscreen compatible. Your family’s phones will stay dry and you still get good photos out of the holiday.

UK Airline Cabin Bag Size Comparison 2026

All dimensions include handles and wheels. Airline policies change — always check your airline’s website before you travel.

For a full airline-by-airline breakdown including Wizz Air, Jet2, Virgin Atlantic and more, see our cabin luggage size guide.

FAQs About Cabin Bag Sizes for UK Airlines