Airline Cabin Bag Size Comparison 2026 - All Major Airlines in One Table

Why carry-on rules differ so much by airline

Cabin bag allowances are commercial design choices, not just technical limits. Low-cost carriers often set tight basic allowances because baggage upsells are a predictable margin stream. A smaller included personal item creates a clear path to selling priority boarding, extra cabin allowance, or checked bag bundles during checkout. This is intentional pricing architecture: the base fare looks competitive, then the basket value grows as travellers add what they actually need.

Legacy carriers usually follow a different model. Many include a standard carry-on in the base fare because their product positioning bundles more service into the headline ticket and competes on network, schedule, and convenience rather than unbundled ancillaries alone. That does not mean aircraft overhead bins are larger on legacy fleets. It means revenue strategy differs, so baggage inclusion differs too.

LCC versus legacy: compare total trip cost, not base fare

For carry-on-only travellers, comparing base fares in isolation is often misleading. An LCC fare can look cheaper at first glance, but once a larger cabin bag upgrade is added, the total can meet or exceed a legacy fare that already includes a full-size carry-on. On some routes, the apparently higher legacy price can be cheaper in final checkout terms after baggage add-ons are considered.

The practical method is simple: price both options to the same luggage outcome. If you need a larger cabin bag, include that add-on before comparing. If you truly fit within a basic personal-item limit, then the low base fare may remain genuinely cheaper. This table helps by showing allowance differences and fee context side by side so you can decide based on likely final spend, not marketing headline price.

How to measure your bag the way airlines do

Always measure external dimensions on a fully packed bag, including wheels, handles, frame bulges, and protruding pockets. Sizer cages test the outer shell, not internal compartment labels. Soft-sided bags are especially risky because they expand when full and can exceed depth limits even if empty measurements looked compliant. The correct approach is to pack as you would for travel, then measure compressed external size.

If your bag is close to a threshold, assume no tolerance and either repack lighter or choose a safer bag profile. A few centimeters can be the difference between smooth boarding and a gate charge. This is particularly important on carriers and airports with high enforcement patterns.

What “not published” means in this table

“Not published” does not mean unlimited allowance. It means the airline has not publicly committed a specific figure in accessible policy documentation for that field at the time of verification. Enforcement may still exist through staff interpretation, fare conditions, or route rules that are not surfaced clearly in one static policy statement. Treat these entries as unknown, not permissive.

When a field is not published and your bag is borderline, use the official policy link in the table and re-check current fare conditions before flying. If uncertainty remains, choose the conservative option. In baggage planning, unknowns are risk signals, and conservative decisions are usually cheaper than resolving disputes at the gate.