If you are flying and aim to travel (relatively) light, buying a bag or suitcase designed as carry-on luggage, which can be put into overhead lockers, is a bit of a no-brainer.
Aerolite sells a whole range and its website lets you shop by airline and maximum cabin-size allowance. For example, it sells a £49.99 expandable case (55 x 40 x 20cm), suitable for Ryanair priority boarding and Tui flights.
Ryanair priority customers can bring on a small bag up to 40 x 20 x 25cm and a carry-on suitcase up to 55 x 40 x 20cm.
The Aerolite case can also be expanded to 55 x 40 x 23cm, bringing it up to the maximum size for more carriers.
Cabin Max allows you to shop by airline to select the biggest bag you can take. Its Anode 30L (£46.95) is 45 x 36 x 20cm, the exact spec to take free on easyJet flights.
Its Metz 20L Hybrid (£39.95) can be taken free on Ryanair flights, and is also compatible with other big airlines. Its hybrid design means it can be used as a trolley bag or backpack and weighs 1.3kg and measures 40 x 20 x 25cm.
Eastpak’s Travelpack (£95) can be carried as a holdall or a backpack and has a built-in laptop sleeve. It is cabin size for many airlines at 51 x 33 x 23cm.
EasyJet allows customers to select seats that come with a free large cabin bag, or to pay separately for the extra case. The Travelpack would qualify.
Priority customers with airlines such as Wizz Air could also bring the bag on board but it does not fit the free luggage requirement for non-priority passengers.
The Atlanta cabin case is £99 at John Lewis, and at 54.5 x 37 x 19.5cm, it would be fine for Jet2, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, among others, and priority bookings on Wizz Air and Ryanair.
Antler’s Brixham cabin case, at £170, is its lightest option, weighing 1.9kg. At 55 x 35 x 20cm, it can be taken on Jet2, BA, Tui and Virgin Atlantic flights. It is also fine for Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet priority travellers.
The Lykke cabin bag from IT Luggage (£50) is 55 x 35.5 x 22cm, with an extra 5cm expansion space. It weighs 2.31kg and is suitable hand luggage on Jet2, Virgin Atlantic and BA flights. Passengers who pay extra on easyJet and Wizz Air could also bring it on board.
IT Luggage also does a smaller range suitable for taking on some other airlines for free. Its Bewitching underseat bag – £45 – is 45 x 33 x 20cm, free on easyJet.
DK Luggage’s hard shell case £36 is 55 x 38 x 20cm. This meets the size restrictions for Jet2, BA, Virgin Atlantic and Tui. Ryanair and Wizz Air priority customers could use it as hand luggage, or for those who pay for a larger bag allowance with easyJet.
Before you buy a bag, double-check whether the maximum measurements include wheels and handles or not, as you could be caught out by this.
Airlines also have maximum weight specifications, so weigh your bags before heading to the airport to avoid being hit with extra charges.
