Carry-on only: what actually fits the rules

Travelling with carry-on luggage only sounds like a simple way to skip baggage fees and move faster through the airport — until you actually compare size and weight limits across airlines, which vary more than most travellers expect.

Cabin bag dimensions aren't standardised globally. Some airlines allow a larger bag but weigh it strictly at the gate; others are more relaxed on weight but stricter on size, and low-cost carriers in particular tend to enforce both closely. What fits comfortably for one airline can get gate-checked — sometimes for a fee — on another.

"Personal item" rules add another layer: most airlines allow one small additional bag (a backpack or handbag) alongside your main cabin bag, but the allowed size for that second item varies just as much, and some budget carriers charge for it entirely.

The most reliable approach is to check the specific airline's published cabin baggage policy before you pack, rather than assuming your bag that worked on one airline will pass on another — this is exactly the kind of detail that's easy to overlook until you're already at the gate.