![Supermini-Scale](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Supermini-Scale.jpg)
The term hand luggage or cabin baggage (normally called carry-on in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
) refers to the type of
luggage
Baggage or luggage consists of bags, cases, and containers which hold a traveler's personal articles while the traveler is in transit. A modern traveler can be expected to have packages containing clothing, toiletries, small possessions, trip ...
that passengers are allowed to carry along in the passenger compartment of a vehicle instead of a separate cargo compartment. Passengers are allowed to carry a limited number of smaller bags with them in the vehicle, which typically contain valuables and items needed during the journey. There is normally storage space provided for hand luggage, either under seating, or in overhead lockers. Trains usually have luggage racks above the seats and may also (especially in the case of trains travelling longer distances) have luggage space between the backs of seats facing opposite directions, or in extra luggage racks, for example, at the ends of the
carriage
A carriage is a private four-wheeled vehicle for people and is most commonly horse-drawn. Second-hand private carriages were common public transport, the equivalent of modern cars used as taxis. Carriage suspensions are by leather strapping an ...
(train car in American English) near the doors.
Commercial air travel
Hand baggage allowance is a topic frequently discussed in the context of commercial air travel. On the one hand, passengers may want to have more of their possessions at hand during flight, skip the often time-consuming
baggage claim
200px, Baggage carousel
In airport terminals, a baggage reclaim area is an area where arriving passengers claim checked-in baggage after disembarking from an airline flight. The alternative term baggage claim is used at airports in the US and ...
process, and avoid the risk of having their
checked baggage
Checked baggage is luggage delivered to an airline or train for transportation in the hold of an aircraft or baggage car of a passenger train. Checked baggage is inaccessible to the passenger during the flight or ride, as opposed to carry-on bagga ...
lost or damaged. On the other hand,
safety concerns,
takeoff weight limitations, and financial incentives (e.g. charging for checked bags) cause airlines to impose limits on how much and what passengers can take into the aircraft cabin. A large amount of hand luggage also slows the security screening of passengers, and can slow boarding as it takes longer to find space in cabin storage areas.
Studies have found that passengers often pause to retrieve cabin baggage during an
emergency evacuation
Emergency evacuation is the urgent immediate egress or escape of people away from an area that contains an imminent threat, an ongoing threat or a hazard to lives or property.
Examples range from the small-scale evacuation of a building due t ...
, despite instructions to the contrary in
pre-flight safety briefings. This is not a new phenomenon, as it was observed during the evacuation of
a Boeing 737 that caught fire in 1984. At least one passenger re-entered
a Boeing 777 that crashed in 2008 to retrieve personal belongings. Video of the evacuation of
a Sukhoi Superjet that caught fire on landing in 2019 clearly shows passengers on the emergency slides with large suitcases, raising questions as to whether this contributed to the loss of life. Remote locking of overhead baggage bins is being considered as a solution to the issue.
Allowances
The
International Air Transport Association
The International Air Transport Association (IATA ) is a trade association of the world's airlines founded in 1945. IATA has been described as a cartel since, in addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organized tariff ...
(IATA) sets guidelines for cabin baggage/hand luggage/carry-on luggage size. As of 2022, the IATA recommends a maximum size of 56 cm × 45 cm × 25 cm (22 in × 18 in × 10 in), including protuberances like wheels, handles, and pockets.
The IATA guidelines are voluntary; the actual size and weight limits of cabin baggage imposed by airlines differ widely. In some cases they are dependent on the aircraft model being used, in other cases it depends on the booking class.
![comparison_hand_luggage_allowance](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Comparison_hand_luggage_allowance.svg)
Dimensions are sometimes listed as "linear", meaning that when added together, height, width, and length are not to exceed a certain total number.
* -
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited () is the flag carrier airline of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 20 domestic and 30 international destinations in 18 countries, primarily around and within the Pacific ...
* -
Hainan Airlines
Hainan Airlines Co., Ltd. (HNA, ) is an airline headquartered in Haikou, Hainan, People's Republic of China. The airline is rated as a 5-star airline by Skytrax. It is the largest civilian-run and majority state-owned air transport company, ma ...
Business class, first class passengers and holders of high level mileage club members are often allowed to carry on a second bag of a similar or smaller size and weight.
On smaller sized aircraft, sometimes the hand baggage can be carried to the aircraft door, where it is collected by baggage handlers for stowing in the cargo area and returned to the passenger right after landing.
Security restrictions
Following the increase in restrictions imposed on flights from UK airports and to the US after the events of August
2006 transatlantic aircraft plot
The 2006 transatlantic aircraft plot was a terrorist plot to detonate liquid explosives, carried aboard airliners travelling from the United Kingdom to the United States and Canada, disguised as soft drinks. The plot was discovered by British M ...
, hand baggage on such flights was restricted to one cabin bag no bigger than 45 cm × 35 cm × 16 cm (17¾" x 13¾" x 6¼") effective since 15 August 2006. On 21 September 2006, the
British Airports Authority
Heathrow Airport Holdings is the United Kingdom-based operator of Heathrow Airport. The company also operated Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport, Edinburgh Airport and several other UK airports, but was forced by the Competition Commission to se ...
advised that from the following day, the allowable size of the single item of hand baggage on outgoing flights from the UK would be increased to 56 cm × 45 cm × 25 cm (approx. 22 in × 17.75 in × 9.85 in), the IATA guideline size. Most UK airports still have a strict limit of one piece of cabin baggage per passenger, including business class.
European Union
![Vending machine for carry-on luggage plastic bags at MUC](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Vending_machine_for_carry-on_luggage_plastic_bags_at_MUC.jpg)
A common regulation for cabin baggage restrictions was introduced on 6 November 2006 in European Union and in Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.
* Restrictions on liquids:
** only liquids with max 100 ml (3½ fl. oz.) per piece
** all pieces assembled in a single zippable plastic bag of max 1000ml (1 quart)
** the plastic resealable bag must not exceed 20 cm by 20 cm (8" x 8")
** maximum of 1 plastic bag per passenger
** liquids include gels and lotions (shampoo, tooth paste), lip sticks, moist paper tissue, contact lens solution
** Exceptions:
*** prescribed medicine of any size, non-prescribed medicine-only items
*** baby milk and other items for infants
*** nutrition for diabetes diet
* Restrictions on dangerous objects:
** weaponry, including imitations and sports utilities (e.g. archery)
** sharp objects, even small ones, including dart arrows and razor blades
*** The recommendation allows for light knives and scissors with blades up to 6 cm (2") but some countries do not accept these either (e.g. nail care items)
** blunt objects, clubs and all larger sticks, including sports utilities (e.g. skateboard)
** inflammable objects, including ethanol, alcoholic beverage above 70%, some match sticks
** toxic chemicals, including pepper spray, liquid batteries, blood samples
United States
The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has introduced a series of restrictions effective since 26 September 2006 under the name "3:1:1" for liquids.
* Restrictions on liquids:
** 3.4 ounce or smaller of containers for liquids and gels (100 ml)
** 1 quart-size clear plastic zip-top bag holding the liquid contents (approx. 950 ml)
** 1 bag per traveler shown openly in the security bin
** the TSA guidelines explicitly ''accept'' the metricized portions of 100 ml / 1 liter as defined later in the European Union
** the list of exceptions for liquids (baby milk, diabetes diet) is identical to EU guidelines.
The TSA has additional restrictions for security searches: for example, the baggage should not be locked (except with a special
luggage locks that TSA staff can open), gifts should not be wrapped, and shoes may be required to be taken off during body search with the metal detector. Food items in the luggage may be mistaken for dangerous material triggering an intensive search.
See also
*
Suitcase
A suitcase is a form of luggage. It is a rectangular container with a handle typically used to carry one's clothes and other belongings while traveling. The first suitcases appeared in the late 19th century due to the increased popularity of ma ...
*
Checked baggage
Checked baggage is luggage delivered to an airline or train for transportation in the hold of an aircraft or baggage car of a passenger train. Checked baggage is inaccessible to the passenger during the flight or ride, as opposed to carry-on bagga ...
*
Baggage allowance
On the commercial transportation, mostly with airlines, the baggage allowance is the amount of checked baggage or hand/carry-on luggage the company will allow per passenger. There may be limits on the amount that is allowed free of charge, and ha ...
Notes
References
External links
Carry-On Luggage Size Chart by AirlineAllowed cabin sizes per airlineHand luggage size and weight restrictions by airline
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hand Luggage
Luggage