Airlines shrink hand luggage - will your suitcase get on the plane this summer?

British holidaymakers are being warned to brace themselves for the cabin bag changes (Image: Getty) As the busy summer travel season rapidly approaches, British holidaymakers are being warned to brace themselves for an ongoing battle with airlines over the size of their carry-on luggage. Over the past several years, major carriers have steadily reduced the maximum dimensions allowed for cabin bags, putting increased pressure on passengers to either pay extra fees or risk having their suitcases denied at the gate. A BBC investigation recently found that low-cost carriers Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air have all cut the dimensions of hand luggage that's included within the base fare of a flight ticket since 2018 by half.

Ryanair has seen the most drastic reduction, with the maximum volume of a free cabin bag shrinking by 55% from 55 x 40 x 20cm in 2018 to just 40 x 20 x 25cm today. This makes Ryanair's current free carry-on allowance the smallest among the major UK airlines surveyed. easyJet, meanwhile, previously allowed passengers a free carry-on of 56 x 45 x 25cm, but the permitted size is now 45 x 36 x 20cm - still one of the more generous policies among budget airlines.

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