Luggage for British Airways 2026: UK Size & Weight Guide

Flying from the UK with British Airways? Check the baggage allowance for your cabin, fare, route and membership before choosing luggage. The figures below cover British Airways, BA Cityflyer and BA Euroflyer flights. Partner-airline rules may differ, and you should check BA's latest guidance before travelling.

Hand bag and cabin bag

BA lists one hand bag up to 40 × 30 × 15cm that fits under the seat in front. It can carry essentials such as medication, passports and electronics and is guaranteed in the cabin. BA also lists one cabin bag up to 56 × 45 × 25cm, including wheels and handles. You must be able to lift it into the overhead compartment unassisted, unless an applicable accessibility arrangement is in place. The cabin bag may need to travel in the hold, so keep valuables, electronics and essential medicines in the smaller hand bag.

Checked baggage by fare and cabin

• Economy Basic: no checked bag included.
• Economy with checked baggage: one bag up to 23kg and 90 × 75 × 43cm. Do not assume two bags are included.
• Premium Economy: generally two bags up to 23kg each and 90 × 75 × 43cm, but a limited number of routes have a one-bag limit.
• Business: two checked bags up to 32kg each and 90 × 75 × 43cm per bag.
• First: three checked bags up to 32kg each and 90 × 75 × 43cm per bag.

BA Club, oneworld and AerClub membership can change these allowances. Qualifying Gold, Silver, Emerald, Sapphire, Platinum or Concierge members travelling in Economy may have two checked bags up to 32kg each; qualifying members in Premium Economy can have different bag counts and weights. In Business, qualifying Gold, Emerald or Platinum members may have three checked bags, while Silver, Sapphire or Concierge members may have two, up to 32kg per bag. In First, qualifying Gold, Emerald or Platinum members may have four, while Silver, Sapphire or Concierge members may have three, up to 32kg per bag. Some benefits do not apply to group bookings or infants without their own seat. Check your exact entitlement in Manage My Booking or BA's baggage calculator rather than assuming a membership benefit applies.

Before buying or packing a case, check your BA booking and the latest BA baggage guidance for your flight, especially if a partner airline operates any leg. Compare the full external case dimensions, including wheels and handles, and weigh every packed bag.

Choosing a case

For cabin travel, compare a case's full dimensions against the 56 × 45 × 25cm cabin-bag maximum or the smaller 40 × 30 × 15cm hand-bag maximum, depending on which allowance you intend to use. The KONO and British Traveller cabin cases in our selection are options to compare; a '20-inch' label is not airline approval.

For the hold, a medium or large case may work if its published dimensions and packed weight stay within your actual checked-bag allowance. Browse our hardshell suitcase selection and check each live listing for measurements, features, price and availability. A larger case does not increase the weight allowance on your booking.

Practical checks before departure

• Check whether you booked Economy Basic or a fare with checked baggage.
• Check route and membership exceptions in Manage My Booking.
• Keep essential items in your guaranteed under-seat hand bag in case the larger cabin bag travels in the hold.
• Check the operating airline for any connecting or partner flight.
• Measure and weigh the bag in the condition you will travel with it.

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