Comparing UK airline baggage allowances before you book can save you serious money. Picking the right airline for a trip isn't just about the fare -- it's about the total cost once you add the luggage. I've pulled together the baggage policies for every major UK carrier in one place so you can compare them properly before you commit.

Master comparison table for UK airline baggage

Airline	Free Cabin Bag Size	Free Hold Bag?	Max Free Hold Weight	Extra Hold (pre-book)
Ryanair	40x30x20cm	No	--	From ~£9 (10kg)
easyJet	45x36x20cm	No	--	From ~£7 (15kg)
Wizz Air	40x30x20cm	No	--	From ~£12 (20kg)
British Airways	56x45x25cm	Yes (most fares)	23kg	From £65 (extra bag)
Jet2	56x45x25cm (10kg)	Yes	22kg	From ~£20
TUI	55x40x20cm (10kg)	Yes (package)	15-20kg	From ~£20
Virgin Atlantic	56x36x23cm	Yes (most fares)	23kg	From £65 (extra bag)
Vueling	40x20x30cm	No (basic)	--	From ~£15 (20kg)
Loganair (regional)	40x35x18cm (6kg)	No (most routes)	--	From ~£15

All figures are approximate for 2025/2026. Check the airline's website for current and route-specific pricing.

Budget airlines ranked by generosity

If you're flying on a no-frills fare and want to know which budget carrier lets you carry the most for free:

1. easyJet -- 45x36x20cm free underseat bag. The biggest free allowance of the budget carriers.
2. Wizz Air -- 40x30x20cm. Slightly smaller than easyJet but a wider footprint than Ryanair.
3. Ryanair -- 40x30x20cm. The strictest free allowance. The 20cm height limit means most backpacks won't fit without squeezing.
4. Vueling -- 40x20x30cm. Similar to Ryanair in practice.

For a deep dive into the two most popular, see our Ryanair vs easyJet baggage comparison.

Full-service and charter airlines ranked

1. Jet2 -- The standout. 10kg cabin bag plus 22kg hold included on standard fares. Best overall for UK leisure travellers.
2. TUI -- Strong on package holidays: 10kg cabin bag plus 15-20kg hold. Weaker on standalone bookings.
3. British Airways -- 23kg hold bag included on most fares. World Traveller Plus and above get 2 bags.
4. Virgin Atlantic -- Matches BA broadly, with Economy Classic and above getting at least 1 x 23kg hold bag. Economy Light is typically hand baggage only -- check Virgin Atlantic's website for your specific fare.

What does "free" actually mean?

Budget airlines advertise "free" cabin baggage, but the word is doing a lot of work. Ryanair's free bag (40x30x20cm) fits under the seat in front -- not in the overhead locker. It can't accommodate a standard laptop bag plus a change of clothes.

To use the overhead locker on Ryanair or easyJet, you need to pay for Priority boarding or a higher fare tier. Always factor that in when comparing fares.

Checked hold baggage fee comparison

Airline	10kg Hold Bag (pre-book)	20-23kg Hold Bag (pre-book)	Gate price (if not pre-booked)
Ryanair	~£9-£18	~£12-£30	~£70-£75
easyJet	~£7-£15	~£9-£45	~£48+
Wizz Air	Not available	~£12-£35	~£65+
Jet2	Included	Included	Extra bag from ~£20
British Airways	Included	Included	Extra bag from ~£65

Gate fees are significantly higher than pre-booked fees on all budget carriers. Pre-book hold luggage at the time of booking your flight -- it's always the cheapest point.

Hand luggage size: which bags fit where?

Most standard cabin backpacks and bags sold as "cabin approved" target the typical 55x40x20cm or 56x45x25cm dimensions used by Jet2, BA, and TUI. These will not fit Ryanair, Wizz Air, or easyJet's free underseat allowance without an upgrade fee.

If you fly budget airlines regularly, a bag designed specifically for their strictest free allowance saves money on every trip. The Cabin Max Metz (B0C9QNYJD8) is sized to fit within Ryanair's free underseat allowance. It's the bag I use for Ryanair trips when I don't want to pay for Priority.

For a full review of bags sized for different airline allowances, see our best cabin baggage guide.

Which UK airline has the best baggage allowance overall?

For UK holiday travellers flying short-haul: Jet2. Their free 22kg hold bag plus 10kg cabin bag on most routes is genuinely exceptional compared to the budget carriers.

For long-haul: British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. Both include a 23kg hold bag on standard Economy fares, and premium cabins get substantially more.

For trips where you only need hand luggage: easyJet edges out Ryanair thanks to its larger free underseat bag.

Tips for getting the best baggage deal

• Book hold luggage at the same time as your flight -- it's always cheapest at that point
• Avoid adding luggage online close to departure or at the airport
• Use a vacuum compression bag to reduce bulky items (particularly on budget airlines)
• Weigh your bag at home before you leave -- kitchen scales work fine for hand luggage

For practical advice on reducing what you take, see our guide to how to avoid excess baggage fees on UK flights.

FAQ

Which UK airline gives the most free luggage? Jet2 is the most generous for UK leisure travellers. On most fares, you get a 10kg cabin bag plus 22kg hold luggage included at no extra cost. No other UK leisure carrier matches this at the standard fare level.

Do all UK airlines include a hold bag in their standard fare? No. Budget airlines (Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, Vueling) charge separately for hold luggage. Charter and full-service carriers (Jet2, TUI on packages, BA, Virgin) include at least one hold bag on most fares.

What are UK airline hand luggage size limits? They vary significantly by airline. Ryanair allows 40x30x20cm for free; easyJet allows 45x36x20cm. Jet2 and BA allow up to 56x45x25cm. See the full table above for all carriers.

Is it cheaper to pre-book hold luggage or add it at the airport? Always pre-book. Budget airlines charge £48-£75 or more for bags dealt with at the gate (Ryanair charges ~£70-£75; easyJet ~£48). Pre-booking at the time of your flight booking is consistently the cheapest option.

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For the full breakdown of each airline's policy including special items and family allowances, see our complete UK airline baggage allowance guide.