Carry On Baggage Dimensions

We flew on AF in 2023 in Premium Economy. My recollection is that the carry-on dimensions were the same as regular economy. Business class, I don't know. However, I plan for the smallest dimensions and take a bag for that. Why get a bag that is a bit bigger and qualifies for one airline and take a chance with possible flights on a different airline? The dimension totals you mention go from 114 to 118, not a great difference in what you can pack. Suppose you go with the bigger bag and your flights/airlines change? Will you have to gate-check?

(Personally, we are now of an age that we check our carry-on size bags because it is too difficult to put our bags in the overhead bin and get them down. Even having bags lost for 4 days a few years back on a trip to Kenya, we still enjoy the freedom not dealing with carry-on affords. Of course, we are in our 80's and our traveling style is not what it was 20 years ago.)

"I don't want to risk our carry on being rejected"

No matter what advice you might read, having a bag that exceeds the clearly stated limits means risking rejection and being forced to check it for an extra fee.

Might Air France reject a bag that Delta or Lufthansa would find acceptable?

Yes, because they have established their standard, which is more restrictive than those of Delta and Lufthansa.

With Air France, you also need to be very cognizant of their weight restriction - the total of your carry-on and personal item together can only be 12 kg.

I don't want to risk our carry on being rejected, but then again I really don't want to have to buy a bag just to fit Air France specifications.

Then check the bag if it exceeds the specifications. The days of assuming that a difference of a few centimeters wont make a difference are long gone. Either use a bag that meets the most restrictive specs, if flying multiple airlines, or limit your airlines to those with larger allowances.

If you are flying on Air France, it is their rules that are pertinent.

What some other airline defines as acceptable is irrelevant.

Cabin baggage allowance
In the Economy cabin, 0 to 1 hand baggage depending on the fare chosen + 1 small bag (maximum total weight: 12 kg/26.4 lb.)
In the Premium cabin, 2 hand baggage items + 1 small bag (maximum total weight: 12 kg/26.4 lb.)
In the Business and La Première cabins, 2 hand baggage items + 1 small bag (maximum total weight: 18 kg/40 lb.)
Hand baggage dimensions
The maximum dimensions for your hand baggage are 55 x 35 x 25 cm (21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 in.), including pockets, wheels, and handles. You must store this bag in the overhead compartment above your seat.
https://wwws.airfrance.fr/en/information/bagages/bagage-cabine-soute

How close is your bag to compliance? If you have just one bag that is just a bit over, it would take a pretty nasty gate agent to ding you, when you could have brought two bags of a slightly smaller size. ( My opinion is worth what is cost)

I did buy a bag several years ago to meet the AF dimensions and also got the lightest one I could afford (4.5#) so I would also meet the weight requirements Kim mentions.

How much does your bag weigh empty? That might be the deciding factor to me for buying a new bag.

And I agree they specify dimensions and weight and at any time can enforce them even if no-one on the forum has had that happen to them.

editing to add: It looks like you already figured this out but always go by the metric measurements. The inch measurements are rounded - some luggage companies seem to round up, some down so the metric measurement is more accurate.

I err on the side of caution. My travel companion "knew" that since Delta and AF are codeshare, AF would honor Delta. After a meltdown at the gate, his luggage was checked last minute. And lost for days. Those cms are just not worth it.

I also found out the hard way to re-check close to your travel date. I tend to book earlier than most and have had a couple of flights where the baggage restriction was decreased (of course) between booking and travel. One time a couple of days out. I was fortunate to catch it.

It definitely is confusing and highly annoying. Some years back, when we started traveling abroad more, I researched carry-on dimensions and bought a bag that fit the smallest allowance of the airlines I thought we might be likely to use. The smallest -- Air France. And I can tell you it was not a trivial task to find a bag that fit those dimensions that I liked and was willing to pay for. (If I'd been ok dropping $300-400 on a bag it probably would have been easier.) The bag I wound up with (and still use) was maybe not so coincidentally made in France (Delsey).

Just so you're aware, AF & Delta are in the Sky Team Alliance, LH is in the UA Star Alliance, so I would definitely be checking the Air France / Delta dimensions. I've seen some bigger bags on SAS (another one of AF's partner airline) but do you really want to risk it boarding a flight?? PS, wow, some great comments above came in as I was typing! I had a similar issue flying LH, went with a super light weight, smaller sized Samsonite bag for a week trip to Germany, NOT cheap, 4.5# as mentioned by Pam, I will use it for years!

Here is a simple rule of thumb that I have followed for years:

You follow the baggage rules of the name of the airline on the metal.

Meaning......whichever airline is operating the plane is the airline's rules you have to follow. It doesn't matter if it is codeshare or your ticket says another airline, whatever airline's name is on the plane is the one you follow.

Now...are there exceptions. Sure. The gate agent may be lazy, the gate agent may not care, etc. But you can't guarantee that. And if someone says....my bag was the size of Mt. Everest and they allowed me to take it....well...then....he should consider himself lucky.

I've told this story many times.

I flew JFK-CDG-JFK during Covid, Oct 2021. And I had a tiny 15" Delsey rolling carry on (the quilted one) and another personal item.

And even on my HALF full return flight (I had my own row), AF sized my bag at CDG (before I even got to security, no less).

In addition to bag size be aware of the weight of your bag when packed.

Does anyone here have a suggestion for the absolute lightest carryon? I am flying to Paris on Jet Blue from Boston in October, and back from Nice on American via Philadelphia. Have not traveled since our trip to Lake Como/Switzerland a few years ago because family health issues, and I feel like a newbie. I have been to AMsterdam, Belgium, ITaly five times, France twice before, China twice, etc etc. I am older now, but feel very nervous going into this trip, and the last thing I want is luggage trouble at the airports. Thanks so much !

Susan, you might want to start your own thread. But first, search this site, particularly in the "Packing" section. To answer your question, we need to know what type of bag you want to use. The "absolute lightest" bag is a likely to be an unstructured backpack without a hip belt, which may not be what you're after.

In my experience, AF was the most stringent in adhering to the specs (what I witnessed was due to weight). But I personally can't understand why anyone would need anything larger than what is allowed for carry on while on the plane. Just check everything you don't absolutely have to have with you on the flight. That's why there are separate luggage and passenger compartments.

SUSAN , Given the more stringent luggage regulations ,and advanced age ( while I travel very light , I'm still able to cut back ) I retired my backpack this year and replaced it with this - https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/126140?page=llbean-stowaway-pack&bc=50&feat=50-GN0&csp=f&attrValue_0=22&pos=63 . In addition , my personal ( under seat bag is this .) https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/20010023?page=adventure-duffle-70-liters&bc=50&feat=50-GN0&csp=f&attrValue_0=46399&pos=126 perfectly fits the Air France limits with room to spare . Going over late this September

I could really use some help here. I am more than a little frustrated. My wife and I are taking our first overseas journey for a river cruise in March 2027 currently researching two small carry-ons for us for change of clothes toiletries flattened, backpack, iPad, charging cubes and cables. Looking at the following travel, pros and I’m just absolutely at my wits end between the travel pro 4011767- the Max light five compact international spinner and the 4011762- the Max light five compact. I chatted with travelpro, and they told me only the international version would fit on Air France, i’ve also viewed videos on YouTube where the US version of the compact would fit. I could really use some feedback here for those who have either had this debate or those who have flown on Air France in the economy. Class to let me know which one I should get. I’m leaning towards the compact international spinner.

erock34, you need to compare the airline's baggage specifications against the manufacturer's stated dimensions. If both fit, I would next look at weight because some airlines set a weight limit for carryon bags. And some airlines set a combined weight limit for carryon and personal item. Again, check your airline.

We looked into this same issue. Height of both versions falls within limits for US and int'l airlines. The International version exceeds US width limit by 1,75". Domestic Compact version exceeds international depth limit by 1,25". If the outer pooch is not packed densely (eg. take out your coat and wear it onto the plane) there's a fair likelihood it will compress depth-wise 1,25" to fit the int'l sizing box. However the structure of these bags is such that it's virtually impossible to compress the width of the Int'l version to fit a domestic sizer box.

That said, we decided against the Maxlite 5 due to the skeletonised single-wheel-per-corner design...done ostensibly for weight-reduction and perhaps of no significant consequence in the setting of tiled airport floors but which we feel makes them less rubust in face of the rigours of rough and uneven pavement. No doubt there are anecdotal accounts offered as "proof" the forgoing should not be of concern, but I'm inclined to trust the science of physics.

The specs are the specs. With that said, I would guess you may get some wiggle room since you're in Business. I personally think a soft sided but not overstuffed looking case (do not use expansion zipper) is also more likely to get you the pass. Conversely, I think passengers with gigantic overstuffed personal items are more likely to get a second look of their carry on luggage. And with all that said, I have moved my stuff from my preferred taller carry on (definitely few cm/inches over the specs) to my shorter wider carry on (just within specs if I cross my eyes when placing tape measure against it :-D when flying internationally. Put absolute necessities in your personal item, just in case you have to gate check. I've also recently noticed non US airlines tagging cabin luggage (and sometimes capping the number allowed) so check in at the counter early!

I am a stickler for having a carryon and personal item that meets the rules. The carryon is easy, its the personal item that can be challenging. I have two sizes for each and one of the two always fits the standards.

I've also recently noticed non US airlines tagging cabin luggage (and
sometimes capping the number allowed) so check in at the counter
early!

One of the reasons I enjoy flying without checking a bag is I dont have to deal with the counters. I go straight to the gate.

Maybe I have had a blessed life but with 2 or 3 trips a year, almost always Basic Economy or Standard Economy putting me in Boarding Group 4, 5 or 6, I have never not been able to find room for my bag above my seat or on the way to my seat.

Also I have never been measured or weighed. Probably because my bags are obviously legal.

My spouse's weight- and dimension-compliant (including wheels and handles) spinner has been forcibly gate-checked on every flight (major airline, coach seat, 1-free-carryon allowed) we've made in the last two years originating in the US...along with everyone's wheeled bag apart from those in the first couple groups. Truly makes no sense as the overhead appears designed for one bag per seat, and observationally I always see loads of personal items and outerwear placed in the overhead bins. Meanwhile my fully-laden RS back-door backpack has sailed through without so much as a glance.

7Thr only US carrier ive bern in tge last few years was American. No problem. Before I moved here I flew who ever was cheap and never had an issue. But I knoe it the luck of tgr draw.

Over here ive seen Lufthansa and Austrian checking bag sizes but never mine .... so far. The only other local flights I've been on recently are Wizzair, Ryanair and Air Serbia. They all have better things to do than check bag sizes.

But! Follow the rules and have the satisfaction of knowing you arent the problem.

They all have better things to do than check bag sizes.

That is not entirely accurate in the case of Ryanair; in fact, it is quite the opposite for the 200,000 passengers per year who end up paying an extra fee because their luggage is identified as being too large at the time of boarding.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99mdv3y431o

Okay, you are correct.

With every ticket you can carry a personal item, but not a full size carryon. The full size carryon is an upgrade. Their target market is Europeans on short trips, so it apparently is okay with most of their clients.

They divide the boarding line so those who paid for a carryon can be verified. If you didnt buy the upgrade you become one of the 200.000 statistic. So its a bit different than your carryon was too big.

But even if it was more than that, 200.000 is 0.095% of all passengers (over 210 million a year).

Thats why follow the rules and dont worry.

JoLui, I'm glad the EU is starting to standardize and regulate "Carry On Baggage Dimensions"-- even if it makes Ryanair angry.

Happy travels

Edit: I thought I was making clear I was glad the EU is starting to standardize and regulate this stuff and that I appreciated JoLui correcting someone else’s misinformation and I also appreciated that someone admitting their mistake. You see someone brought up Ryanair as they are prone to do— nothing really wrong with that.

Anyway, even happier travels!

"Follow the rules and have the satisfaction of knowing you aren't the problem."
D'accord, Mr. E!

David, by "stuff" I assume you mean the thread title "Carry On Baggage Dimensions"

So, since the OP expressed "I find it confusing to compare the permissible dimensions for carry on bags for business class passengers," please post the new EU baggage size standards, its probably going to be on point and helpful to the topic.

EDIT
David, your edit does clarify it. Excellent. I've been looking and still can't find the new EU carry on baggage size standards. Could you post them. I cant find Ryanair or any airline complaining about the new EU carry on size standards. But would not surprise me as the guy is sort of an arse. But he has figured out everytime the airline is mentioned, good or bad, it helps his business. The law is the law and that sort of squabble is off topic anyway or I would ask what you found.

“I've been looking and still can't find the new EU carry on baggage size standards”

What makes you think that the EU has set hand baggage size standards? They have not. According to the new rules, each passenger is allowed to bring on one personal item free of charge. To qualify as a personal item a bag must have maximum dimensions of 40 × 30 × 15 cm or be capable of fitting beneath the seat immediately in front of the passenger. The maximum dimensions are put in place so that a passenger can’t claim some huge suit case as their personal item.
The EU has further decided that the advertised fare should include the cost of a piece of hand baggage. This is so that passengers can compare fares of different airlines more easily. Airlines can still offer a lower fare to passengers that don’t wish to bring a piece of hand baggage on board. The EU has set no size standards for this piece of hand baggage. The airlines can still determine those themselves.

This article does a pretty good job of explaining the new rules; https://www.diplomacyandlaw.com/post/eu-hand-luggage-rules

Dutch-traveler,

“What made me think that the EU had set baggage standards”. Well, the post above made that statement of course. But I think he was just trolling.

As for your analysis of personal items, in the context of your statement, I think you are incorrect and I think the article you posted has some inaccuracies in it as well (as just about every article I have read has). We will all find out in January. It’s a fair discussion and in the last one on the topic I learned a lot, but not appropriate on this thread I think.

As for your comment on the advertising. I don’t think it accomplishes anything and in fact makes it harder for most of the discount airline passengers. But they can read and get to the second screen of the website and choose the cheaper ticket. So, the legislation changes nothing and there is no harm.

To be honest I would be ecstatic if the airlines would get together and standardize bag sizes. Maybe for the first 5 years give a 5€ discount on the ticket if you use the new standard size to give people time to adapt. Maybe put an approved logo on them so at the gate the gate agents wouldn’t dare go near you with a measuring tape.

Judy

Two things get me in trouble on the forum. First, my advice to obey the rules and the laws; second, my questioning everything that I read.

“ As for your analysis of personal items, in the context of your statement, I think you are incorrect and I think the article you posted has some inaccuracies in it as well”

Can you please tell me why you think my statement is incorrect? Please elaborate.

The EU has a Q&A about the new law on their website;
https://transport.ec.europa.eu/background/questions-and-answers-revised-eu-air-passenger-rights_en

Question #7 is about hand baggage and personal items. I will copy it here

“7. What has been agreed in terms of hand luggage? Is there now a commonly agreed EU standard?
The new rules do not introduce a commonly agreed EU standard for hand luggage size. However, they define a common minimum standard for the personal item which every passenger may bring with them on board (40 x 30 x 15cm).

They also improve the transparency and comparability of air fares, including on hand baggage. By introducing a requirement for airlines to display the cost of an air fare with hand baggage included, passengers will be better able to compare offers across airlines and booking platforms. At the same time, airlines remain free to display airfares which do not include hand baggage. These rules apply also to intermediaries and metasearch engines.

At the same time, airlines retain the freedom to determine their own pricing structures: there is no obligation to include an item of hand luggage in every fare.“

The official new law can be found here;
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202602202

In the new law, a personal item is defined as follows (on page 15);

“personal item” means a piece of unchecked baggage, which complies with security and safety requirements, and either with maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15 cm or on the condition that it fits under the seat in front of the seat in which the passenger is sitting”

Article 11a on page 29 deals with personal items and hand luggage and says this;
“‘Article 11a
Personal item and hand baggage
1. Without prejudice to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006, operating air carriers shall permit passengers to carry a personal item into the cabin and at no extra cost.
Without prejudice to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006, operating air carriers shall, subject to the capacity of the aircraft cabin, permit passengers to carry a piece of hand baggage into the cabin.
Whenever air fares are offered or published, air fares including allowance for a piece of hand baggage shall be displayed by default before the start of any booking process.
This paragraph shall not prevent air carriers or intermediaries from offering commercially differentiated offers to passengers who voluntarily choose to travel without hand baggage.
2. In cases where specific reasons, such as safety reasons, capacity reasons or a change of the aircraft type since the booking was made, preclude the carriage in the cabin of a personal item or a piece of hand baggage referred to in
paragraph 1, the operating air carrier may require at check-in or at the gate, as appropriate, that unchecked baggage be carried in the hold of the aircraft, but at no further cost to the passenger.
3. This Article does not affect the restrictions on unchecked baggage established by Union rules, such as those laid down in Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council () and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1998 (*), or those established by international security and safety rules.”

Dutch_traveler, too far off topic. I sent you a PM

"I cant find Ryanair ... complaining about the new EU carry on size standards. But would not surprise me as the guy is sort of an arse."

No problem. I googled it for you. Here you go:

https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryanair-criticises-latest-eu261-rules-which-force-airlines-to-advertise-higher-fares-which-include-2nd-cabin-bag-when-over-50-of-passengers-will-choose-lower-fares-and-no-2nd-cabin-bag/

RYANAIR CRITICISES LATEST EU261 RULES WHICH FORCE AIRLINES TO
ADVERTISE HIGHER FARES (WHICH INCLUDE 2ND CABIN BAG) WHEN OVER 50% OF
PASSENGERS WILL CHOOSE LOWER FARES AND NO 2ND CABIN BAG 2 mins read 16
JUN 2026 NEWS

Lots of other google results if you're interested in reading more. Google AI has tons of stuff too! Michael O'Leary is quite the character.

Happy travels!

RYANAIR CRITICISES LATEST EU261 RULES WHICH FORCE AIRLINES TO
ADVERTISE HIGHER FARES (WHICH INCLUDE 2ND CABIN BAG) WHEN OVER 50% OF
PASSENGERS WILL CHOOSE LOWER FARES AND NO 2ND CABIN BAG 2 mins read 16
JUN 2026 NEWS.

Michael O'Leary doesnt strike me as a good individual. But thats not the topic.

That title is not the topic you responded to, and baggage sizes are not once mentioned in the article you provided.

A reminder you said "I'm glad the EU is starting to standardize and regulate "Carry On Baggage Dimensions"-- even if it makes Ryanair angry."

Post a link to Ryanair's comment (anger) on the subject of your comment and of the thread.

Too much off topic here.

ignoratio elenchi.

The EU let me down. I want standards for hand luggage in Europe. .

I'm lost. I was reacting to JoLu's post where she corrected you about Ryanair. But my latest was responding to a question you posed to me or so I thought. We needn't discuss it further.

Anyway, carry on baggage dimensions! Wow! "I find it confusing" to quote the OP. Me too ! I love standards! We need the EU to step up and regulate these "arses", huh?

Happy travels!

Still regarding the official text, and specifically about carry-on baggage, the preamble (45) states:

"Given the diversity of the air carriers’ policies, it is appropriate that in the review of Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008, the feasibility of setting up uniform minimal rules for hand baggage should be assessed."

This means that the EU intends to harmonize "carry-on" baggage rules in the future, something that is not currently mandated by the existing text.
In legal terms, this sentence functions as a "review clause" ("future-action clause"). The EU will propose a separate new law to compel airlines to adopt identical maximum dimensions for bags placed in overhead compartments.

Therefore, I would be surprised to see standardized dimensions for carry-on baggage before November 2027.

I hope this wasn't off-topic !

Now I am confused David. You say "I'm glad the EU is starting to standardize and regulate "Carry On Baggage Dimensions"-- even if it makes Ryanair angry." but now it isnt what you meant? I was hoping you were accurate and not just ... whatever. You even suggested i wasnt looking hard enough for support, but your link in support of your post missed the mark completely. Maybe a mistake. Can you find the right link?

We went through an interesting process to reach this point, but I suspect we can now agree that there is no change in carry on baggage policy beyond certifying current airline policy (free personal items) and no anger over hand luggage sizes from any airline.

A big circle to come back to the OP and say unfortunately there is no stsndard EU carryon size coming in January so you gotta follow the size policy established by your airline.

I see a breakthrough! Shared confusion! The good news: we agree carry on baggage dimensions are not standard and that this is vexing to travels. We agree we are confused! We agree some airlines — like Ryanair— are critical of making new standards and that these guys can be arses. We appear to disagree as whether is it appropriate to conclude that their criticism is enough to say they are “angry” and nor does there appear to be complete agreement on how we should fix this. We agree on standards but I strongly advocate that the EU should be doing this and you’re, I take it, rather skeptical of that. Also, you are a big fan of Ryainair’s low prices and love their services as millions do and take great exception to anyone suggesting they aren’t tops.

On happy note, let’s agree on one more thing (make it two): one travel! It’s great! Two, let’s move on to new better subjects such as the great things to see in Budapest — a city described by many as having it all!

Happy travels!