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.

Three KONO cases to compare for your BA journey

These options use the individual product listings' specifications, not independent performance tests or BA endorsements. Start with the allowance on your booking, then choose the size and layout that suits your packing. Confirm the full exterior measurements, including wheels and handles, before buying.

For overhead cabin packing: K1997L 20-inch in Cream

This case is listed at 55 × 40 × 20cm and 2.64kg empty. Those stated dimensions are within the 56 × 45 × 25cm larger cabin-bag maximum above, but exceed the smaller hand-bag allowance: this is not an under-seat option for that entitlement. Check the current rules and every operating airline on your journey rather than relying on its cabin-size label.

Consider it if you want a polypropylene shell and separate packing sections. Clothing straps secure one side; a zipped opposite section with two mesh pockets gives smaller items their own place. Four swivel wheels and top and side carry handles provide rolling and lifting options, but you still need to be able to manage the packed case.

View the KONO cabin case’s current price and availability.

For medium checked-bag packing: K1997L 24-inch in Black

If your belongings need more room and your booking includes a suitable checked bag, consider this medium option before moving to a larger case. Its listed dimensions are 65 × 46 × 27cm and its empty weight is 3.33kg. Its polypropylene shell, packing straps, zipped compartment and two mesh pockets offer organised storage, with four swivel wheels and top and side lifting handles.

The case itself counts towards your booked weight allowance. Choose around what you need to pack and can comfortably handle, not an assumed number of nights.

View the KONO medium case’s current price and availability.

For a larger packing list: KSK2594 28-inch in Beige & Brown

This option is listed at 76 × 51.5 × 31.5cm, approximately 114 litres and 4.9kg empty. Consider it when the additional space is useful and you have a suitable checked-bag allowance. It weighs more empty than the medium case above, so less of the same weight allowance remains for your belongings.

Cross-straps, mesh pockets and a zipped divider help separate clothing and accessories. Expansion provides up to 15% additional packing space, not additional baggage entitlement; confirm its expanded exterior dimensions before using that feature. More capacity is only useful if you can keep the packed bag within your allowance and manage it during transfers.

View the KONO large case’s current price and availability.

If the smaller case holds what you need and meets your booking requirements, there is no need to choose more space. Use the linked product pages to compare current details before deciding.

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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