Carry on luggage size with british airways- trip to Scotland from US/Boston

If in coach that 24" length unlikely to fit the correct way in the overhead bin. Having it sideways will be a big give away that is is too big and may get it checked. ( assuming you even get it on the plane.)

If is biz class or better you might get away with it.

British Airways has one of the more generators carry-on sizes at 56 cm instead of 55 like most European airlines. But a 24’ bag is way over that and I doubt it will work for you. We travel Business Class on BA and I have never even tried to carryon my 24’ roller bag. I check it because it has hiking poles.

My 21 inch TravelPro ultra light swivel wheel carry on bag is large enough to travel indefinitely using Rick Steve's packing list with slight modifications. If I can do it, anyone can do it.

I've had some lost bags over the years on airlines, and I no longer check any luggage. My luggage max. weight is 22 lbs.

You'll have to check a 24" bag. Last time we flew out of Venice, cruise ship passengers were in line at the airport. I just remember all those full size 45 lb. suitcases and the poor husbands trying to lug them around.

Last summer, because the flights we were on were full, BA were checking carryon sizes out of Seattle. Check your bag or they will probably check it at the gate on full international flights.

When British Airways tells you the size limits, believe them. You will likely be required to put your bag in a sizer. If it doesn't fit, you'll have to check it. If your flight is non-stop, that may not be a big deal. If you have to change planes it could be.

Beyond that, having to deal with a bag that large on public transportation could be a real hassle. You don't say how long you'll be gone or how heavy that bag is empty. Your bag is about 3360 cubic inches or 55 liters. Yikes! That's about 45% larger than the bag I carried on for a 5-week trip to the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales in the summer of 2022.

I flew round trip on British Airways from Seattle to Heathrow and on the same ticket, I flew Aer Lingus to Dublin one way from Heathrow. The bag I carried on is 2-wheeled, slightly smaller than 20x16x8, with a capacity of 38L and weighs 4 lbs. 11 oz. empty. Full it weighed my limit of 20 lbs. It fit perfectly in their overhead bins and I was able to put it in them and take it out on my own.

One problem with a larger bag is that you'll have a tendency to fill it up, making it quite heavy. And remember that you'll need to be able to manage your luggage on your own, no matter where you go or how you get there.

Here's the link to BA's Baggage Essentials: https://www.britishairways.com/en-us/information/baggage-essentials Note the information provided about weight as well as size.

Believe any airline's baggage size and weight restrictions. They are there for a reason.

We’ve flown BA when the agent was lenient and other times when the size was strictly enforced.

I've had this bag for a very long time and never had issues in the past as a carry on. I purchased it for carry on many years ago. I guess airlines have really gotten strict now. It's frustrating that different airlines, have different sizes. What size would you purchase to cover them all. It's strange that British Airways has such a big width size -18 inches. I'd doubt you could get that down the aisle. I can't remember if I could fit in overhead w/o going sideways.I never payed any attention in the past. I can manage to fit all my clothing etc. But I wanted to bring room for presents, hiking poles etc. Was thinking of bringing a duffle so we could pay for one way checked bag 70.00 versus both ways. I guess i'll have to buy a new bag or think about paying to check or just bring a larger back all together and check both ways to leave room for gifts. Does anyone purchase scotch, gin, sweaters etc? My kids asked to bring home sweaters as gifts! We are going for 22 days.

BA, like every other airline, specifies what size bag you can take as a carry on. If your bag is near but over their limit no doubt many times you will get away with it but what will you do on those times they apply the rules strictly?

Bringing drinks home in a carry on limits you to buying at the airport, which will greatly limit your choice and increase the price. We have all sorts of artisanal gins and the like these days but virtually none of them will be on sale at the airport.

Could you either take a bag which will fold down on the way out or buy one here and then fill with whatever for the way back and just check it one way?

Yes I'm considering bringing a foldable duffle to bring home gin/scotch/wool/sweaters--not sure how good that will be on protecting glass bottles? Or just biting the bullet, and checking both ways a larger piece of luggage (140.00) and buying a new carry on--though those larger bags quickly reach the 50lb limit--especially I'm guessing if you are carrying liquor. We are renting a car for 3 weeks, so we won't have to deal with public transit and hauling extra bags. Scotch will be a new experience for us. I do love gin! Hendrick's is my favorite!

Regarding how to bring back glass bottles. My husband and I each travel with a carry on sized backpack. When we were in Scotland in 2019 we bought or received as gifts a total of 4 liters of liquor. All but one of the bottles came in a cardboard box. We stuffed socks and t-shirts around the bottles inside the boxes, wrapped the boxes in other clothes and bought bubble wrap for the 4th unboxed bottle. Then we checked the one backpack bag. Everything made it back just fine. Of course your experience may be different. And yes, we declared everything at US immigration and customs. No duty was assessed.

salabbas, we always bring back wine or olive oil in a checked duffle bag. There is protective padded packaging made for this (WineSkins is an example) that we've used. Strategically placed clothes packed tight around the bottles helps too.

My experience is that the scrutiny airlines, including British Airways, place on luggage size is a strong function of which cabin and ticket class one has. Flying business or first, they just don't care; carry aboard whatever you please. Basic economy coach, they care a lot. I don't have experience in premium economy.