UK Airline Baggage Allowance Guide

Not sure if your Madlug bag fits in the overhead locker, or under the seat in front? Airline cabin bag rules vary a lot — and a bag that's a couple of centimetres too big can mean an unwanted fee at the gate. Here's a quick, honest comparison against the UK's most-flown airlines, so you know exactly where your Madlug bag stands before you fly.

The Classic Backpack

Madlug bag dimensions at a glance

30cm Width
40cm Height
20cm Depth

These are the Classic Backpack's dimensions. Other Madlug bags vary slightly in size — check the individual product page if you're travelling with a different style.

How airlines compare

Scroll sideways on mobile to see the full table.

Airline Allowance Size limit Weight limit Cost Fits Madlug bag?
Ryanair Free small bag 40 × 30 × 20cm No set limit Free
Ryanair Priority (large bag) 55 × 40 × 20cm 10kg Paid add-on
easyJet Free under-seat bag 45 × 36 × 20cm 15kg Free
easyJet Large cabin bag 56 × 45 × 25cm 15kg Paid add-on*
British Airways Cabin bag (all fares) + small bag included 56 × 45 × 25cm 23kg combined Free
British Airways Personal item (included) 40 × 30 × 15cm 23kg combined Free
Wizz Air Free personal item 40 × 30 × 20cm 10kg Free
Wizz Air Priority (larger bag) 55 × 40 × 23cm 10kg Paid add-on
Jet2 Cabin bag (all fares) + small bag included 56 × 45 × 25cm 10kg Free
Jet2 Personal item (included) 40 × 30 × 20cm No set limit Free
TUI Airways Main hand luggage (all fares) + small bag included 55 × 40 × 20cm 10kg Free
TUI Airways Under-seat bag (included) 40 × 30 × 20cm No set limit Free
Aer Lingus Cabin bag (fare-dependent) + small bag included 55 × 40 × 24cm 10kg Free on some fares
Aer Lingus Personal item (included, all fares) 33 × 25 × 20cm No set limit Free

Airline baggage policies change from time to time and can vary by fare type and route. Always check the airline's own website close to your travel date.

Which airlines let you bring a small extra bag, free?

Some airlines include a second, smaller bag on top of your main allowance at no extra cost. Others only give you one free bag — a second bag means paying for an upgrade.

Includes a free extra bag

  • British Airways
  • Jet2
  • TUI Airways
  • Aer Lingus

One free bag only (extra costs)

  • Ryanair
  • easyJet
  • Wizz Air

An EU proposal would require every airline to allow a free personal item plus a small hand-luggage bag, but this isn't due to take effect until 2027 — check the airline's current policy before you fly.

Does it fit? A quick visual check

Ryanair free small bag limit
30 × 40 × 20cm

Madlug Classic Backpack
30 × 40 × 20cm

The Classic Backpack fits within Ryanair's free small bag limit, size for size.

Fits free, at a glance

  • Ryanair
  • easyJet
  • British Airways
  • Wizz Air
  • Jet2
  • TUI Airways
  • Aer LingusCabin bag — fare dependent

Shows whether the Classic Backpack fits each airline's free allowance. See the table above for paid upgrade options and exact size limits.

Frequently asked questions

Does my Madlug bag count as a personal item?
It depends on the airline's own terminology. On Wizz Air, British Airways, Jet2 and Aer Lingus, its size fits comfortably within their "personal item" allowance. Ryanair, easyJet and TUI Airways don't use that term — instead the Classic Backpack fits their free "small bag" / "under-seat bag" allowance, which works the same way: one bag, free, under the seat in front of you.
Can I bring a second small bag as well as my Madlug bag?
With some airlines, yes, at no extra cost — British Airways, Jet2, TUI Airways and Aer Lingus all include a genuinely separate small bag (like a handbag or laptop bag) alongside your main cabin bag as standard. Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air only include one free bag today — a second bag means paying for a Priority or large-bag upgrade. See the "small extra bag" section above for the full breakdown.
What happens if my bag is slightly over the limit?
It varies by airline, but budget airlines in particular check bags at the gate with a sizer, and an oversized bag is usually charged as a priority/large-bag fee on the spot — sometimes £70 or more with Ryanair specifically. It's always worth double-checking against the specific airline you're flying with before you travel, especially if your bag is packed full.
Do these measurements include wheels or handles?
For most airlines, yes — the stated size limit includes any wheels, handles or external pockets, measured as the bag actually is. Madlug bags don't have wheels, so this isn't something you need to account for separately with a Madlug bag.
Does the weight limit include what's inside the bag?
Yes — weight limits apply to your bag once it's packed, not the empty bag on its own. If you're travelling with an airline that has a cabin bag weight limit (most budget airlines do), it's worth weighing your bag once it's fully packed before you leave for the airport.

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