Cabin baggage sizes can be very confusing, especially because so many airlines have different measurements, so you may not always be able to use the same bags.
Travelling is becoming increasingly expensive with inflation and the cost of accommodation, entertainment and food rising.
Baggage costs can often rack up too, sometimes costing almost as much as the original airline ticket.
In order to help keep costs down, many passengers opt to travel lightly with hand baggage only. This is much easier to do in summer when you can take lighter and less bulky clothes and footwear.
While you still have to pay for cabin baggage on most airlines operating in Spain, there are many airlines which will allow you an additional smaller under-seat bag for free.
The most confusing part about it all, however, is that many airlines have different rules and different sizes of bags that you’re allowed, so unfortunately if you buy one piece of hand luggage, it’s not guaranteed to be able to be used on all airlines.
Here are some popular airlines operating in Spain and what their hand baggage sizes are.
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Vueling
On Spanish budget airline Vueling, hand luggage must be a maximum of 40x30x20 cm while cabin luggage must not exceed 10 kg and 55x40x20 cm.
Iberia
The Spanish national carrier allows cases of up to 56x40x25 cm and up to 10kg of weight for carry-on luggage.
Ryanair
The Irish low-cost carrier has increased the baggage allowance on board with its cheapest ticket this August to 40x25x30 cm, up from the previous size of 40x20x3cm. It has also increased capacity from 20 litres to 24.
EasyJet
Popular budget airline easyJet allows passengers to take a small piece of hand luggage on board free of charge, which has a maximum size of 45x36x20 cm (including handles and wheels). It must fit under the seat and can weigh up to 15kg.
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Air Europa
The maximum permitted size for a small item like a handbag is 40x30x15 cm while the maximum permitted size for a carry-on bag is 55x35x25 cm.
Jet2
Hand luggage cannot exceed 10kg or measure more than 56x45x25 cm.
Wizz Air
The Hungarian budget airline allows one free piece of hand luggage, which must be placed under the seat and not exceed 10kg in weight. It must measure 40x30x20 cm or less.
Volotea
One small under-seat bag can measure a maximum of 40x30x20 cm and the carry-on bag cannot exceed 55x40x20 cm. The total weight of both items must be no more than 10kg.
Binter
Canary Island carrier Binter allows one item weighing 8 kg, plus personal belongings, with maximum dimensions of 45x35x25 cm on its ATR fleet, and 52x40x25 cm for its Embraer fleet.
Eurowings
Small hand luggage items are free and must not exceed 40x30x25 cm.
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It’s important to note that in June of this year lawmakers voted in favour of a proposal which would allow passengers to bring a small carry-on bag weighing up to 7kg on board free of charge.
It would mean being able to bring one cabin bag on board measuring up to 100 cm, as well as an under-the-seat bag with a maximum size of 40x30x15 cm at no extra cost.
The proposal still needs to be approved by member states, however, so the regular rules and sizes still apply for now.
Last year, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs fined four airlines – Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet, and Volotea – €150 million for charging passengers for hand luggage, following complaints received from various consumer associations.
