Carry-On Luggage - What size will work in Europe in 2026?

Every airline gets to set their own size and they dont change it often so to be certain you have to know which airline you will travel. The three things you need to know are size for carry on, size for personal item and maxium weights.

A quick look, but do your own check, is that Lufthansa has the most restrictive size for your trip at 55 x 40 x 23. But if you want to get more use out of it in the future, without any guarntee, the most universally accepted maximum dimensions are 55 x 35 x 23 cm. But that wont work with one or two airlines and the discount carriers.

I believe that Travelpro has information about individual airlines size requirement on their website. I just purchased one of their carryons and will have to check it on ITA, the Italian airline.

Also remember to be careful weigh limits as well. We were flying business class on Lufthansa and they were still extremely picky. Our carry-on size was small enough (tiny!), but it weighted a little over the limit. I put a few things in my pockets to get weight down.

Lufthansa and Air Aegean are both 55 x 40 x 23 cm, and 55 cm = 21.654 inches, so even TravelPro's "compact" 20-inch model is too long by a few mm. Technically.

Malta Air is 55 x 40 x 25 cm, so it allows deeper bags, but the length is still an issue.

Will they enforce that extra 0.346 inch? Or does that fall under "wiggle room"/"close enough"? I have no idea.

Is there luggage out there that is safely within the 55cm limit? Or should we give up on the idea of "guaranteed" avoidance bag checking? (I read that if flights are particularly full, even carry-ons within the limits are often forced to be checked in).

If you want to make sure you don’t have to check your bag because it is oversized your carry on needs to meet the requirements of whichever airline you are using that has the smallest sized requirements, usually a discount airline’s size limits are the most restrictive but many also have weight limits ie. 7kgs. I find the weight limit harder than the size restrictions. We have found that sometimes it is easier and less expensive to pay to check the carry on bag for some flights. Monos has a great carry on roller bag. We have also used a Samsonite but the wheels are not as great. Also make sure your personal item meets size requirements too.

We are still traveling with decades old Briggs and Riley carryons that no longer meet the currently defined restrictions. But there has never been a second look, question or problem. Most recent trip was USA to Crete in September, 2025. Suggest you buy what works best for you and, worst case scenario, you have to check.

I have been traveling with an IT carry-on spinner that is 55 x 35 x 20 and weighs under 5 lbs. It's 33 liters and holds everything I need. No problem carrying on with SAS which has the same size and weight limits as Lufthansa.

Odds are the 0.364 inches won't make a difference. But that's the odds. Not a guarantee. You are at the mercy of the gate agent. And you can't fight the gate agent. Personally, it's the weight that's the hardest to meet. Most of the Travelpro Maxlites come in at about 5lbs. That's 2.67kg when you only have 7 or 8kg to play with.

This gives me a headache which is why I keep putting off a purchase. If I google "TravelPro Maxlite 5 dimensions in cm," I see several sources (may be AI) that list the International model as 55.2 cm and the Compact model as 55 cm with wheels and handles included but when you start with inches and then convert to cm, you seem to get a fractionally larger size after the conversion. I recently saw a good price on a supposedly 21" Maxlite Pilot 2 at Nordstrom Rack but when I checked the dimensions including wheels and handle online it was actually listed as 24".

It's much, much better to shop for luggage in person, with a measuring tape in your hand. However, not everyone has easy access to a bunch of stores carrying luggage, and there's no guarantee any of your local outlets will stock a particular bag you've read about and would like to see.

I would tend to trust the measurements on the TravelPro website if they specify wheels and handle are included, but I'd still measure the bag.

For myself I would not risk it, not with 20 inches.

My packing is set when I approach check-in, part of the packing goes into carry-on, most into the check-in spinner, obviously, also for reasons of weight, usage priority , and especially for efficiency.

My carry-on is 19 inches, never been questioned as to its length (or weight for that matter), at check-in or at the gate just prior to boarding, let alone going through Security by TSA

Maybe " they" look at it, maybe "they" don't," who knows, I don't and actually don't care as long nothing becomes of it.

October of 2024, we flew Swiss Air from San Francisco to Zurich to Venice. Our RS Ravenna carryons
21x14x9 were fine from SFO to Zurich. From Zurich to Venice the gate agents insisted we gate check our bags because they were too big. So we ended up at the baggage carousel anyway. I’m beginning to think the airlines are getting to the point where a carryon that will hold a week or so of clothes is going to be a thing of the past and we will be again checking our bags. I do have to admit that loading and disembarking the plane was quite quick without everyone stuffing or pulling big bags out of the overhead bins.

Buying a bag that meets the "European" measurements is hard in the US because US airlines mostly have a larger limit. So the bag manufacturers cater to US domestic travelers.

However, in Europe, it's easy to find bags that meet European Airline carry on dimensions.

As an example, I bought a Samonsite Airea from a UK store. It's 55 x 35 x 23 cm and weighs just over 4 lbs. I've had it for years and it has held up fairly well.

If you're interested in buying a bag from the UK, I suggest looking at Selfridges. For $35, they will ship the bag to the US. It only takes a few days. The down side, if you want to return it, it will cost a fortune in shipping.

BTW, the Airea has been replaced by the RE-Lite.

Another place to look is Amazon UK or Amazon.de. They may ship to the US as well.

As Frank said, the Samsonite Airea "Spinner S" looks like it has a Europe-friendly size:

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0C4CVZQC7
- 55 x 35 x 20 cm
- 38 L (expandable to 43.5 L)
- 1.8 kg

(There's another "Airea" which is wider: 55 x 40 x 20)

Does the 55 x 35 x 20 Airea sound like a better choice than the TravelPros?

Frank can probably give you a better answer of which is a better choice since he used to review luggage.

IMO , while the Travel Pro is probably better built than today's Samsonites, if I could easily get the Area, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Those dimensions plus saving almost 1½ lbs. in weight over the Travel Pro would be a big plus since I am almost always carry-on.

While I want my luggage to last a while, I don't care or expect it to last forever. I'm happy that newer technologies allow bags to be made lighter and lighter. I'm always looking for better and lighter for all my packing.

I'm stalled on this.

I've read that the Samsonite Airea has some quality issues for some people (deteriorating fabric and locks that won't open) and since we can't easily return things from New Zealand, that's a concern for me.

So I went back to looking at TravelPro, but none of those seem to be the ideal size (55 x 35 x 20 cm). Either they're slightly too tall, or too wide. Nothing seems to fall strictly within those dimensions.

So, if we can't get a perfect fit, then should we at least stay strict about the length (55cm) and allow for some larger sizes in the other dimensions, so something like this:

55 x 40 x 20
or
55 x 35 x 23

?

Also, we will likely be doing quite a bit of walking, not just in airports, but from train stations to lodging and back, in multiple cities. On those European streets and sidewalks, would 2 wheels be better than 4?

And finally, what would you recommend in terms of hard vs soft? Considerations would be durability (especially if we have to check), security (which ones are more frequently targeted?), and likelihood of it being accepted as a carry-on (are soft ones easier to cram into packed overhead bins than hard ones?)

I think you are going at this the wrong way

You are focusing on an American company--Travelpro--that caters mostly to Americans and Canadians who mostly travel domestically. They are making bags for those limits. (I realize that people here travel to Europe but the majority of Americans are traveling within North America.)

Instead of focusing on an American brand, look for bags in New Zealand made for New Zealand, or even Australian, travelers. The size dimensions for you is pretty much similar to many European airlines. (Although the weight limit for Air NZ is even lower than most European carriers.)

Take the bag I use. It's perfect for much of the European market but small for the American market. So, Samsonite doesn't even sell it in America.

Look at Amazon for New Zealand. Look at luggage stores in your area. They will have what you need. Don't worry about the brand right now. Find some bags you like and then research the brand.

By the way, I apologize for not realizing you were from New Zealand in my earlier post.

Thanks for the advice. I'll stop focusing on TravelPro.

NZ doesn't really have its own brands (we import almost everything except food), so most of the reviews and recommendations I've read about luggage have been focused on US and UK brands. I'll try to find some other reputable brands that have trickled their way down to NZ/Australia.

(By the way, I live in a small resort town with limited shopping options, so I buy almost everything online, with no chance to measure things in person first. That's part of why I'm so dependent on reviews.)

The Airea is expensive (about 500 NZD from either Australia or the UK) and I need to buy three of them. So that's 1,500 NZD. Yikes!

As for dimensions, wheels, and hard-vs-soft, what are your thoughts?

I dont want to own a lot of luggage so the 22 x 14 x 9 is my preference because it works with the most airlines.

Wheels? Not touching that one.
Hardside? Not touching that one.

But my go to bag is a hardsided spinner (4 wheel), just easier for me. Its six pounds which leaves enough for the way I pack when there is a max weight limit (its usually a 17 lb limit). If I had a soft 4 lb bag I could pack one more pair of jeans and one more shirt within the 17lbs. My trick is to put the heavy stuff in the personal item. Oh, now thats another thing you have to decide on; the personal item.

You don't have to have brands made specifically for NZ. If there are bags that are marketed to NZ, Australia or the UK, you will probably be on target for European dimensions and size.

As for dimensions, wheels, and hard-vs-soft, what are your thoughts?

Wheels? It's personal preferance. Two , four or no wheels.

dimensions? That's what we've been discussing. Of the three airlines you mention, Lufthansa is the most restrictive with a maximum cabin bag of 55 x 40 x 23 cm plus a maximum weight of 8 kg. If you can find a bag that fits those dimensions and weights you'll be fine on the other two.

Hard vs soft? Also personal preference.

Right now, hard sided, four wheeled luggage is the most popular. You'll find more options in that category.

As to where to buy, check department stores, Kmart, The Outlet, and others like that. If you're in a resort town, there will be places selling luggage because visitors quite often look to buy replacement bags or extra bags for purchases.

Do you need 3 identical bags? Will all of the travelers be getting the same usage from their luggage in the coming years? Maybe you could save some $$$ on one of the bags.

The bags are for my teenager daughters and me. We'll be flying from NZ to Europe for 5 weeks with my partner, who will bring a normal-sized suitcase.

For 3 of the weeks the girls and I will travel with my parents in Italy, Greece, and Malta. And it's during the trip-within-a-trip that smaller luggage will come in handy, since we'll be using it so often (with trains, planes, and ubers).

It would be awesome if we could get carry-on bags which are small or flexible enough to fit inside normal-sized luggage. Then we can bring big bags to Europe, and use the smaller bags on the 3 week trip with my parents.

Is it wishful thinking to hope that teenage girls will accept living out of a carry-on (and day pack) for 3 weeks?

While it is possible to buy carry-on or cabin bags that will fit inside checked luggage (many sets are packaged that way), why do this?

There are many posters on this forum that travel for several months with 1 carry-on/cabin bag and a personal item.

Pack in layers, chose your items wisely (lighter, less bulky) and plan to do laundry every 10 days or so.

It seems the most restrictive size in inches is 22x16x8. This is the measurements for Vueling and Ryanair. None of this reflects charges for carry-on. That is a different subject.

I use the RS Rolling Carry-On that is 21x13.5x9. So far, no issue on the extra inch. Maybe lucky. I think most of these restrictions are to stop the much larger carry-ons. Worse that can happen is gate check. I also carry a very small day pack with meds and other essentials just in case my bag and I should not see each other for a while.

I can't see going to any smaller bag for a trip of any length of time in Europe. Traveling light shouldn't mean always traveling without.

Threadwear. You are correct, Ryan and Wizz came up with unique sizes. Most Americans will never fly them and will do fine with the 22 x 14 x 9 on just about every flight. I do fly Wizz and Ryan from time to time and it wasnt until this year that I bought a compliant bag. Wizz and Ryan just dont check that often, nothing like Lufthansa who has checked a few bags on most every flight I've had with them. I got my hard side spinner Wizz and Ryan compliant bag at a Vietnamese Nail Salon / Massage Parlor / Luggage Outlet for about $23. Its built well too.

Hi, I have another question, and this might be a show-stopper for the whole carry-on luggage idea:

When you fly with a carry-on luggage, are you also allowed to bring a normal backpack? I'm talking about a day pack like the one in Rick's picture here:

https://d3dqioy2sca31t.cloudfront.net/Projects/cms/production/000/030/065/article/5e867fc3e1cb7123d1aba3e5861189d0/article-seatac-rick-airport.jpg

Or does the backpack count as a second carry-on?

Up until now, we've always flown with one backpack and one big suitcase each. The suitcase always gets checked, and we bring the backpack on the plane with us, tucking it under the seat in front of us. So the question of whether the backpack "counts" as a carry-on has never come up... until now.

I always put my key electronics (laptop, tablet, camera, battery packs) in my backpack, and I keep that backpack with me at all times. I don't want to put those electronics in separate carry-on luggage, because there's always a chance that the carry-on-luggage will have to be checked, and I'm not going to allow my precious electronics to get checked! (I've seen too many bags thrown around, and experienced too many multi-day delays in getting bags to the destination).

So on European airlines like Lufthansa, Aegean, Malta, and SkyExpress... are we allowed one carry-on luggage (55 x 40 x 23 or whatever) and also our backpack, which we will stuff under the seat in front of us? Or are they only going to let us bring one, which means we will have to check the "carry on" luggage anyway?

Cabin baggage varies by airline and by seat class (basic economy, economy, premium economy, business class). So you really have to check each airline and consider which class you are traveling in. Then you need to look at whether you are allowed a carry -on bag (like the bags you've been asking about) and a personal item that will fit under the seat in front of you. The airlines tell you what size each bag may be. Anecdotally, I have seen Lufthansa on a Milan-Frankfurt flight require people to check their otherwise compliant roller bags because their backpacks were too big. Those backpacks were clearly not going to fit under the seat. But if your backpack complies then you should be fine.

Okay, I checked with the airlines:

Lufthansa: https://www.lufthansa.com/jo/en/carry-on-baggage
- carry-on baggage: 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 8 kg
- personal item: 40 x 30 x 15 cm

Aegean: https://en.aegeanair.com/travel-info/travelling-with-aegean/baggage/baggage-allowance/
- carry-on baggage: 55 x 40 x 23 cm (assuming turboprop), 8 kg
- personal item: "Women’s/men’s handbag or thin laptop case.", placed under seat
- NOTE: "A personal item (e.g., a handbag, laptop bag, or small backpack) is allowed but must fit under the seat in front of you."

KM Malta Air: https://kmmaltairlines.com/en/baggage-information/cabin-baggage-allowance
- carry-on baggage: 55 x 40 x 25 cm, 10 kg
- small bag: 40 x 34 x 18 cm

SkyExpress: https://www.skyexpress.gr/en/sky-experience/before-fly/fare-types
- carry-on baggage: 8kg or 13 kg (no dimensions???)
- personal item: 40 x 30 x 15 cm

So it sounds like all 4 airlines allow one piece of carry-on luggage (which is what we've been talking out) plus a "personal item" which will fit under the seat in front.

It sounds like to be safe, our bags should not exceed this:

• carry-on baggage: 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 8 kg
• personal item: 40 x 30 x 15 cm (just don't stuff the backpack)

I'm unsure about the weight limit for the personal item. I read somewhere that the total carry-on items cannot exceed 10 kg, but that would mean only 2 kg for the person item. Hmm...

Some airlines dont list a maximum weight limit on the personal item, some combine it with the carryon limit, maybe one or two has a seperate weight limit. Ocassionally I have had s few heavy things go in cargo pants pockets LOL

I see that there's lots of Samsonite luggage sold here in New Zealand, and I can get some good deals on it.

I can't get the Airea, but there's "Restackd" whicg is 55 x 40 x 20 cm and weighs 2.7 kg.

It doesn't look that great on the outside, but maybe that makes it less attractive to thieves:

https://www.samsonite.co.nz/restackd/spinner-55-exp/ss-150702-1041.html (I can get it for $223)

There's also "Nuon" which has the same dimensions and is a little lighter (2.5 kg):

https://www.samsonite.co.nz/nuon/spinner-55-exp/ss-134399-4804.html

And there's also the "Upscape" which I can get for $250:

https://www.samsonite.co.nz/samsonite/upscape/carry-on-55cm-expandable/ss-143108-1703.html

It's the same dimensions (55 x 40 x 20) and is even lighter (2.3 kg).

Each of these is about half the price of the Airea (for me).

Thoughts?

In the times that I didn't have to check-in luggage, I had an approximately 19-inch long travel bag with a single shoulder strap, and a Jansport school backpack.

On my last trip I had a 24-inch Jansport travel bag with a single shoulder strap that I had to check in, a Quechua backpack which unfortunately has a back panel that isn't flexible enough and doesn't fit under the seat in front of me on a plane but at least the padding is better than the Jansport bag, and a 3rd bag, a reusable grocery bag with a bit of food that I didn't want to risk getting crushed in my backpack. I bought the Quechua at an outdoor and camping store in Munich, Germany, the day I arrived, because I noticed a tear along a seam of my Jansport backpack, and I just wanted whatever bag I could find that was at a good price that would sort of do the job ok. The rip in my Jansport backpack was probably my fault for overstuffing the bag. A gate agent would only let me bring all my stuff on the plane if I squished everything into just two bags and it took some effort to zip my Jansport closed after I squished stuff into it at the gate. Rigid suitcases take up the same space even if you don't fill them all the way full. You might want to search e-bay, amazon, other websites, and/or a local outdoor store, sporting goods store, or army-navy store for a rather flexible travel bag without wheels that will squish into the allowed amount of space if the bag would be too big if you stuffed it all the way full. Focus on packing light and don't overstuff your bag. Any bag is likely to break if you stuff it too full and force the zipper closed. Jansport bags are medium-duty. They may work ok if you only stuff the volume 90% full or less and don't put in an excessive amount of weigh. I don't use wheeled luggage or rigid suitcases.

If there are weight limits on the personal item or if the weight limit combines both pieces of luggage, it will be noted on their carry on bag spec webpage.

I went ahead and ordered:

1) Samsonite Restackd - $223 NZD (for me)
2) Samsonite Upscape - $250 NZD (two of them, one for each girl)

They're all 55 x 40 x 20 cm (expandable to 23 cm).

The girls will enjoy the USB ports on the Upscapes. I'll use the Restackd, since I already carry a battery pack in my phone case and don't need yet another one in a suitecase. :) Plus, the Restackd comes with packing cubes, which will be interesting to see. And I think it looks a little better, at least in the marketing photos. I said "a little". They all look pretty weird to me, at least compared to the soft bags!

Anyway, the price of those bags in NZ is really good at the moment; they are 40% off (at select stores) until Monday, plus free shipping. Hard to beat that!

Another advantage of ordering from an NZ store is if there are any defects I can get a replacement.

Thanks for your help guys!

I will probably need it again when the girls say "OMG there's no way I can fit 5 weeks of clothes in THAT!"

Just be aware that the batteries will probably have to be removed from the suitcases during the flight.

It's time for them to start watching videos on how to pack a carry on.

I hope you enjoy your new luggage. Take a look at the packing forum here. You'll get all kinds of tips on layering, capsule wardrobes and laundry.

I have to say, I hate all the gimmicks like locks and chargers that are added to carry-on luggage. It just makes the bag heavier.

I agree about the gimmicks, which is why I'm getting the Restackd. The girls, however, are "too cool" to carry around battery packs, and it's annoying to try to find charging stations in airports and train stations, so for us the USB gimmick has a practical aspect.

The locks, though, I'm not sure about those. If someone desperately wants into a suitcase, they can get in, lock or no lock. So locks are supposed to deter "casual" or "low-effort" thieves? My guess is the locks are less for airports and train stations (where there's lots of security) and more for hotels. But that's what hotel safes are for, right? Locking bags in a hotel room might send an unfriendly message to the staff: "I do not trust you". But leaving bags visibly unlocked might send another message: "I'm so privileged I can afford to be over-trusting." Either way, someone might get offended. Or tempted. So built-in locks introduce some social complexity, and might actually increase the risk of theft instead of reducing it. Or not. I really don't know; the whole idea of locked luggage is new to me!

I will say this… if your standard sized carry on bag has wheels on it in Europe they will force you to check it. They won’t put it in a box to show you it’s too big (because it’s not too big). They will declare it too big- end of discussion. If you have a backpack on (the same exact size) they don’t bat an eye. I’m looking into a backpack with removable wheels. I’m thoroughly disgusted with European air travel. You can follow their guidelines perfectly and you end up having to open your bags on the airport floor and repack to their brand new made-up-just-for-your-inconvenience rules. I have seen some people get on the plane with those tiny spinner bags- 16”x13”x8” including wheels (23L), however.

if your standard sized carry on bag has wheels on it in Europe they will force you to check it.

Not necessarily true. It depends on the airline and the type of ticket you have. If your ticket allows you a carry on, and it both fits in the sizer and isn't over the weight limit if there is a weight limit, you will be allowed to take it on.

I'm with Frank. My carryon is right at the max for most of the airlines I fly in Europe, its never been looked at. The only airline I have seen checking bag sizes in the last 6 years has been Lufthansa and they put each in the sizer, wheels and all.

If your ticket allows you a carry on, and it both fits in the sizer and isn't over the weight limit if there is a weight limit, you will be allowed to take it on.

Unless the flight is full and you are in a later boarding group. Most planes do not have large enough overhead bins to allow every single person to put a suitcase in the bin. When you are on a full flight, you may have to gate check your bag even if it is within the size and weight limit.

Appears OP's trip was in April.

Be interesting to read about how it went, at least "luggage-wise"

Laura is correct, no guarantees. I havent flown a lot since COVID, maybe 12 transatlantic flights and as many local European flights. I always fly economy and am always in the last boarding group. I've been gate checked once but that was a little ATR-72 turbo prop plane. So it doesnt happen terribly often.

I know on every flight the chance exists but I am pretty okay with that. I do carryon only when I can because it means I dont have to mess with the checkin counter and that doesnt change with gate check.

OP here.

TLDR: It didn't matter.

Long answer:

To get from NZ to Italy we put our little suitcases inside our big suitcases. This let us bring extra stuff to Italy that we didn't need on the domestic flights.

For the domestic flights, we always ended up checking our little suitcases anyway! That's because we were traveling with my parents, who had brought big suitcases, so we would have to deal with baggage claims anyway. Since there was no extra cost for checking the little suitcases, we went ahead and did that. Less to lug through connecting airports.

There was one exception (to the "no extra cost") and that was flying from Malta to Catania. The Malta airline charged forced us to check in all our luggage, which would have been find if they were free, but they also made us pay extra for each one. I think when my dad had bought the tickets he didn't notice that any checked bags cost extra. So that kinda stunk. But it had nothing to do with the size of our bags.

So in the end, none of it mattered, in terms of airlines. We always checked them, and wouldn't have saved any money by treating them as a carry-ons. We could have just brought big suitcases... but that would have been more weight to pull around. And we would have more stuff to pack and unpack whenever we changed location. Also, it was a lot easier to fit our stuff in taxis.

I'm glad we "downsized" for this trip. It didn't matter for the flights, but it did matter in terms of minimising the overhead of travel.

So that's the after-action report in terms of luggage. In terms of the trip itself, I need to update the other topics I created on here for that, when I get a chance. (I have been organising photos and videos from the trip every single day since we got back and am still not done yet, so that's my priority at the moment).

In short, though, it was a great trip. Amalfi Coast was scenic but crowded. Tuscany was relaxing, Siena being my favorite place on the whole trip. Florence and Athens were crowded, but not nearly as bad as Amalfi Coast. Santorini was starkly scenic and full of cats (which we love). Malta was crowded, but I've been there before so it felt "easy". Catania is, well, Catania. A messy mix of life and decay, trash and tidiness, cold and warmth, chaos and tradition. I'm used to it, and have learned to focus on the positive things (and the things I can control) when I am there. Not that any of that matters, because this topic was just about luggage! :)

Tripecac, thank you for the time to do that. Much appreciated