British Airways 2026 Baggage Allowance: New Hand Luggage & Checked Bag Rules Explained
British Airways can feel like that mate who’s generous with the snacks… but only if you know where they’ve hidden them. On the surface, BA looks simple: you can bring two items into the cabin, and you’re sorted. Then you book a “Basic” fare, assume you’ve got a checked bag, and suddenly you’re doing suitcase Tetris at the bag drop while a queue forms behind you like an angry conga line.
This guide is here to stop that. You’ll get clear rules on hand baggage sizes, what “personal item” actually means in BA-world, which fares include checked bags (and which absolutely do not), plus the fee traps that sting the most. We’ll also talk heavy bags, oversize sports kit, family travel, status perks, and the small packing tweaks that save big money. 🧳✈️
British Airways Baggage Allowance: Quick Facts at a Glance
✅ Free hand baggage allowance: 1 cabin bag + 1 personal bag
✅ Cabin bag size: 56 x 45 x 25cm (includes wheels/handles)
✅ Personal bag size: Usually 40 x 30 x 15cm, but BA sometimes shows 45 x 36 x 20cm on some routes, so check your booking
✅ Standard checked bag size: Up to 90 x 75 x 43cm
✅ Standard checked bag weight: Usually 23kg per bag (then cabin/fare/status can bump it)
✅ Biggest fee triggers: Basic (hand baggage only) fares, extra checked bags, heavy bags 23–32kg, oversize/out-of-gauge items
✅ Best quick win: Measure + weigh at home, then add bags online early (airport prices hurt)
✅ Who this guide is for: Anyone flying BA who wants zero surprises at check-in
🤚 Must-do: Take 60 seconds to check your fare name (Basic vs not-Basic). That one word decides most of the drama.
Quick British Airways Baggage Allowance Q&As
What is British Airways baggage allowance?
In most cases: 1 cabin bag + 1 personal bag in the cabin, plus checked bags depending on your fare and cabin.
What size cabin bag does British Airways allow?
56 x 45 x 25cm, including wheels and handles.
What size personal item does British Airways allow?
BA often shows 40 x 30 x 15cm, but some routes/pages show 45 x 36 x 20cm. Check the allowance shown for your specific trip.
Does British Airways Basic include a checked bag?
Typically no. Basic is hand baggage only, so any bag in the hold is an extra cost.
How much is an extra checked bag on British Airways?
It varies by route and when you add it. Online is cheaper than the airport, and prices can change.
What happens if my bag is over 23kg?
If it’s 23–32kg, you’ll usually pay a heavy bag charge. Over 32kg is a hard no.
What counts as oversize/out-of-gauge baggage?
Anything bigger than standard checked bag dimensions, but within BA’s max size limits, often needs the out-of-gaugedrop-off lane and extra time.
👉 Good to know: BA can put your cabin bag in the hold on busy flights, so keep essentials in your personal bag.
British Airways baggage allowance 2026: the quick answer (free vs paid, in plain English)
Here’s the simple version: BA is a “two-bag” airline in the cabin. You usually get one cabin bag (the overhead locker one) and one smaller personal bag (the under-seat one). That part is generous, and it’s the reason people love flying BA for short trips.
The confusion starts with checked baggage. Some fares include it, some don’t, and “Basic” is the big trap door. Add in heavy bags, oversize sports gear, and the fact that extra bag prices depend on your route, and suddenly it’s less “I’m going on holiday” and more “I’m doing admin”.
Your BA baggage mindset:
- Cabin: 1 cabin bag + 1 personal bag (free on most tickets)
- Hold: depends on fare/cabin/status, and extra bags cost more at the airport
- The fee traps: Basic fares, extra checked bags, heavy bags (23–32kg), oversize items
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Treat “Basic” as “Bare Minimum”. If you need a checked bag, assume you’ll pay unless your fare clearly says it’s included.
✈️ Official British Airways Cabin Bag Sizes and faqs
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Hand baggage rules: the cabin bag size that matters (and why wheels count)
BA’s cabin bag allowance is friendly, but it’s also… specific. The key detail people miss is that the size includes handles and wheels, meaning your “56cm bag” can quietly become a “57.5cm problem” if the wheels are chunky. And yes, that can be enough to get attention at the gate on a full flight.
Another very real rule: you must be able to lift your cabin bag into the overhead locker unassisted. BA also warns that on busy flights your cabin bag may be placed in the hold, especially if overhead space runs out. That’s not the end of the world, unless you packed your passport and your laptop in there like a chaotic gremlin.
Cabin bag basics:
- Max size: 56 x 45 x 25cm (including wheels/handles)
- Must be liftable by you, no help needed
- Can be checked into the hold on busy flights
💡 Fact: BA advises you not to pack valuables, electronics, or essential medicines in the bigger cabin bag, because it might end up in the hold.
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Personal item rules: what counts, what gets flagged, what’s ‘safe’
Your personal bag is the bag that saves your trip when BA decides your cabin bag is going downstairs to the hold. Think of it as your “I can still function as a human” kit: passport, meds, chargers, valuables, and anything you’d cry over if it vanished for 48 hours.
Size-wise, BA commonly shows 40 x 30 x 15cm for the personal bag, but on some routes/pages BA shows 45 x 36 x 20cm. That’s why people swear they’ve “seen different rules”. They have. The safest play is to check what’s shown for your booking, then pack like you’re trying to avoid attention.
Safe personal items:
- Small backpack, handbag, laptop bag
- Sling bag that fits under the seat
Risky personal items:
- Big tote bags that bulge
- “It’s a small backpack” (it is not a small backpack)
👉 Good to know: BA’s personal bag is meant to fit easily under the seat. If it looks overstuffed, it’s more likely to get measured.
Fare types explained: Basic vs ‘includes a checked bag’ (BA’s biggest confusion point)
If BA baggage rules had a villain, it would be the word Basic. “Basic” is BA’s hand-baggage-only fare on many routes, which means no checked bag included. So if you rock up with a suitcase for the hold, you’ll be paying extra, and you’ll be paying more if you left it until airport day.
The easiest way to spot it is right at booking: the fare name will usually include “Basic”, and the baggage section will show hand baggage only. If you’re comparing fares, don’t just look at the headline price. Look at what it includes, because a slightly pricier fare with a checked bag included can be cheaper than Basic plus baggage added later.
How to avoid the Basic trap:
- Check the fare name: Basic usually means hand baggage only
- Look for “checked bag included” in the fare summary
- If you need the hold, price it upfront
🤚 Must-do: Screenshot your fare inclusions after booking. It’s weirdly calming at the airport.
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Checked baggage allowance by cabin: how many bags and what weight
Once you’re into the hold baggage world, BA’s rules become much more “it depends”, but there are clear patterns by cabin. The easiest mental shortcut: Economy checked bags often sit at 23kg per bag, then premium cabins can jump to 32kg per bag. There’s also a hard stop at 32kg for any single bag, no exceptions.
Here’s the clean version of the standard cabin-based allowances you’ll see on BA:
- Economy (with a checked bag included): typically 1 x 23kg
- Premium Economy: typically 2 x 23kg
- Business: typically 2 x 32kg
- First: typically 3 x 32kg
Standard checked bag size and weight:
- Max size: up to 90 x 75 x 43cm
- Weight: commonly 23kg, or 32kg in some cabins/status situations
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: If you’re close to 23kg, don’t “just wing it”. That’s how you end up donating money to the airline and rage-eating crisps at the gate.
Extra checked bags: how BA prices it and how to get the cheaper rate
BA does not have one universal “extra bag price”. It depends on your route, your fare, how many bags you already have, and when you add them. BA’s own messaging is clear on the one thing you can control: online is cheaper than the airport, and once you’ve checked in it becomes airport-only.
BA also allows you to pay for up to 10 extra checked bags online (as long as they’re for personal items, not commercial stock). You can often pay by card, and on some bookings you can use Avios too, but after check-in it’s airport payment only and Avios won’t apply.
Fees at a glance (BA-style reality check)
| Scenario | Typical fee | Who can avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Adding an extra checked bag | Varies by route and timing | Anyone who packs carry-on only, or chooses a fare with a checked bag included |
| Adding bags after check-in | Airport-only pricing | Anyone who adds bags before check-in |
| Paying for extras with Avios | Not available after check-in | Anyone who pays online before check-in |
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Overweight bags 23–32kg: the fastest way to donate £65 to the airline
This is the one fee that feels designed to catch people on tired travel days. If your checked bag is over your allowance (often 23kg), but still under 32kg, BA applies a heavy bag charge per bag, per one-way journey. It’s the classic “I only added a few things” mistake, except the “few things” were jeans, toiletries, and a book you never read.
The heavy bag charge commonly shows as £65 / €75 / $100 / CAD100 per bag, one-way. And no, you can’t “split” your allowance across multiple bags. If one bag is 26kg and another is 20kg, the 26kg one is the problem child.
Quick fixes that actually work:
- Move dense items into your other checked bag (if you have one)
- Shift heavy stuff into your cabin bag if practical (and liftable)
- Use a luggage scale at home, not vibes at the airport
🤚 Must-do: Aim for 22.5kg, not 23kg. Airport scales and home scales rarely agree, and they love drama.
Oversize and out-of-gauge: golf bags, skis, and the special drop-off lane
Oversize items usually get handled via the out-of-gauge lane, which is basically the airport’s “special handling” conveyor belt. If you show up late, you can end up with your bag missing the flight while you arrive at your destination like a confused penguin.
BA’s max size for oversize/out-of-gauge items is often listed as 190 x 75 x 65cm. Sports equipment like skis and snowboards can often travel as part of your checked baggage allowance if they fit within that limit and are packed properly. BA also advises telling them in advance for some items, and arriving early for out-of-gauge drop-off.
Out-of-gauge survival checklist:
- Confirm your item is within 190 x 75 x 65cm
- Pack it in a protective bag
- Leave extra time at the airport for the special drop
👉 Good to know: BA’s guidance often recommends arriving earlier for out-of-gauge items (think 90 minutes minimum as a baseline, and more for long-haul).
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Flying with kids: what’s free, what’s allowed, what’s a faff
Family travel is where BA can be genuinely helpful, as long as you know the rules. Children with their own seat generally get the same free baggage allowance as adults on the same fare type. Infants (under 2) often get a checked bag allowance on fares that include checked baggage, but Basic fares can remove checked baggage allowances, including for infants travelling with you.
On top of that, BA allows children and infants to check in two items free of charge from a set list, like a collapsible pushchair, a car/booster seat, a travel cot, or a baby back carrier. That’s a big win for parents who already feel like they’re moving house for a weekend.
Family-friendly BA basics:
- Kids with a seat: generally same baggage allowance as adults on the fare
- Infants: checked bag allowance depends on fare (Basic can remove it)
- 2 baby items can often be checked for free (from BA’s approved list)
- Find more info in BA Family section
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Put a full change of clothes for the smallest human in your personal bag. Spills happen at the speed of light.
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Status perks: BA Club and oneworld baggage benefits (and who else on your booking gets them)
Status can turn BA baggage rules from “stress” to “a mild breeze”. BA Club and oneworld tiers can increase your checked baggage allowance, and the perk can apply to people travelling on your booking reference too. The big headline is that higher tiers can get 32kg per checked bag, and additional checked bag entitlements.
BA’s FAQs also make a key point: these status baggage perks typically do not apply to Basic fares if there’s no baggage allowance included in that fare. So status helps, but it doesn’t magically turn Basic into a full-service fare.
Plain-English status takeaways:
- Higher status can mean more checked bags and up to 32kg per bag
- It can apply to companions on the same booking reference
- Basic fares can still be the exception that ruins your day
Codeshares and partner flights: when BA’s rules don’t apply
This is the sneaky one, especially on long-haul routes with connections. You might book on the BA website, have a BA flight number, and still be flying on a partner airline. In that case, baggage rules can change, and it’s the operating airline’s policy that matters for what actually happens at the airport.
The most important thing to check is the phrase “operated by”. That tells you who’s actually flying the plane. If it’s not BA, your cabin bag sizes, checked bag counts, and even sports equipment rules can differ. It can also affect how bags are tagged on connections.
How to avoid codeshare baggage chaos:
- Find “operated by” on your booking
- Check baggage rules for the operating airline too
- If you have multiple tickets (separate bookings), treat each flight as a separate journey for baggage
🤚 Must-do: If you’re connecting on separate bookings, leave extra time. You may have to collect and recheck bags even if every flight has a BA flight number.
Avoiding baggage fees: the real-world packing plan
Here’s the part that saves money and sanity. Most BA baggage fees happen because people leave decisions too late: they don’t check their fare type, they don’t weigh the bag, or they assume the personal item can be a full hiking backpack. The fix is boring, but it works.
Start by picking the right bags. A cabin bag that’s truly within size, plus a personal bag that slides under the seat without a wrestling match. Then plan your “hold bag or not” decision before check-in, because BA’s own guidance is clear that airport is pricier for extras.
Bag sizing and packing (quick cheat sheet)
| Bag type | Best for | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin bag | Weekend trips, light packers | Wheels/handles push it over the size limit |
| Personal bag | Essentials, valuables, tech | Overstuffed tote that won’t fit under the seat |
| Checked bag | Longer trips, liquids, bulky items | Packing right up to 23kg and hoping for mercy |
Baggage problems: delayed, damaged, missing (what to do fast)
If your bag doesn’t show up, your job is to move quickly while you’re still in the airport. Don’t leave and “deal with it later” unless you enjoy complicated forms and vague timelines. Report the issue as soon as you realise the bag is delayed or damaged, keep every receipt, and write down the exact details of your luggage (brand, colour, any tags, and any weird stickers you forgot to remove from 2019).
This is also where having travel insurance is less “responsible adult” and more “thank goodness I did that”. Baggage delays, missing bags, and emergency essentials are the exact situations that turn a small admin headache into a chunky cost.
Do this first:
- Report the problem immediately at the airport
- Keep baggage tags and boarding passes
- Take photos of damage before you leave the desk
- Save receipts for essential purchases
- Claim Compensation via CompensAIR
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Common airport mistakes that trigger surprise fees
Airports are designed to make you tired and suggestible. That’s why the most expensive baggage decisions often happen when you’re hungry, slightly sweaty, and holding a coffee you didn’t even want. The good news: the common mistakes are predictable, which means they’re avoidable.
The biggest one is not checking your fare type. Basic catches so many people because “Basic” sounds like “standard”, not “hand baggage only”. The second big one is weight. A bag at 23.8kg is not “basically 23kg”. It’s overweight, and the fee won’t care that you’re charming.
The greatest hits of baggage errors:
- Assuming Basic includes a checked bag
- Packing valuables in the cabin bag (then it gets checked)
- Overstuffing the personal bag so it won’t fit under the seat
- Not leaving time for out-of-gauge drop-off with sports kit
- Adding bags after check-in, then paying airport pricing
FAQs about British Airways Baggage Allowance
Is a carry-on free on British Airways?
In many cases, yes. BA typically allows a cabin bag plus a smaller personal bag in the cabin. The key is staying within the size limits and keeping essentials in the personal bag in case the cabin bag gets checked.
What size cabin bag is allowed on British Airways?
BA’s cabin bag size is commonly listed as 56 x 45 x 25cm, including wheels and handles. If you’re buying a new bag, aim slightly under that to allow for chunky corners and zips.
Does British Airways Basic include a checked bag?
Usually not. Basic is commonly a hand-baggage-only fare, meaning any checked bag in the hold costs extra. Always double-check your fare inclusions before you assume.
What happens if my checked bag is over 23kg?
If it’s between 23–32kg, BA typically applies a heavy bag charge per bag, per one-way journey. If it’s over 32kg, it won’t be accepted as checked baggage.
How do I avoid baggage fees on British Airways?
Check your fare type first, then decide carry-on only vs checked baggage before check-in. Weigh your bag at home, leave room under 23kg, and add any needed checked bags online early rather than at the airport.
Final Thoughts
BA baggage rules are totally manageable once you use the simple strategy: confirm your fare type, stick to the cabin sizes, weigh your checked bag at home, and add any extra hold bags online before check-in. Keep your passport, meds, valuables and tech in your personal bag, because your cabin bag might get sent to the hold on busy flights.
If you want a second pair of eyes on your setup, tell me your route, fare type, and what bags you’re bringing, and I’ll help you sanity-check it. And if you’re in planning mode, have a scroll through the flight and packing guides on TheTravelTinker.com for more “pay less, panic less” travel wins. Also, arriving with heavy luggage? An airport transfer can be a small luxury that feels huge at midnight. And if you need data the second you land, grab an eSIM.👇🗣️
Adventure on,
The Travel Tinker Crew 🌍✨
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Nick Harvey
Hi, I am Nick! Thank you for reading! The Travel Tinker is a resource designed to help you navigate the beauty of travel! Tinkering your plans as you browse!
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