Which European budget airline has the most generous carry-on policy?

Jet2 is consistently the most generous budget carrier for cabin bags, allowing a 56×45×25 cm bag with no separate weight limit stated, and a small personal item in addition. Norwegian also allows a 10 kg paid bag.

What is the smallest free carry-on allowed in Europe?

Ryanair's free small bag (40×20×25 cm) is the smallest standard allowance in Europe — smaller than many laptops. Wizz Air's free bag (40×30×20 cm) is similarly restrictive.

Which airlines enforce carry-on size rules most aggressively?

Ryanair and Wizz Air are the most aggressive enforcers, regularly using metal sizers at gates and charging fees of £50–70 for non-compliant bags. easyJet enforcement is inconsistent and generally less strict.

Does paying for a seat upgrade affect my carry-on allowance?

On most budget carriers, carry-on upgrades are tied to Priority or Plus fare bundles, not seat upgrades. Check the specific bundle inclusions — buying a better seat does not automatically give you a larger bag on Ryanair or Wizz Air.

Can I bring a personal item in addition to a carry-on on budget airlines?

It depends on the carrier. Norwegian and Jet2 allow a personal item in addition to the carry-on. Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet allow only one cabin bag in the overhead (plus the small free bag or personal item under the seat, depending on fare tier).

European Budget Airline Carry-On Comparison 2026

Budget airlines in Europe save passengers money on the base fare — and recoup much of it through baggage fees. Understanding exactly what each carrier allows for free, what you can pay to bring, and how strictly they enforce it is the starting point for any carry-on-only strategy. This guide compares 10 major European budget carriers across the dimensions that matter.

Free Carry-On Allowances: The Full Table

The "free bag" column refers to what is included without purchasing any additional baggage option or bundle.

Airline	Free Bag Dimensions	Free Bag Weight	Overhead Bin?
Ryanair	40×20×25 cm	None stated	No — underseat only
Wizz Air	40×30×20 cm	None stated	No — underseat only
easyJet	45×36×20 cm	None stated	No — underseat only
Vueling	40×30×20 cm	None stated	No — underseat only
Norwegian	55×40×23 cm	10 kg	Yes (hand baggage)
Jet2	56×45×25 cm	None stated	Yes (in all fares)
Transavia	45×35×25 cm	10 kg	Yes
Pegasus	40×30×15 cm	None stated	No — underseat only
TUI	55×40×20 cm	10 kg	Yes
Flybe (Eastern)	45×36×20 cm	None stated	No (basic fare)

Key finding: Ryanair's free bag (40×20×25 cm) is the smallest in Europe — not large enough to hold most standard handbags. Wizz Air's free bag (40×30×20 cm) is similar. Both carriers design the free allowance specifically to be too small for real luggage, driving paid upgrades.

Norwegian and Jet2 stand out as genuinely generous. Norwegian includes an actual carry-on bag (55×40×23 cm, 10 kg) in all fares. Jet2 includes a 56×45×25 cm bag in all fares — the same size as what British Airways considers a full carry-on.

Paid Carry-On Upgrades: Priority Bags and Cabin Bag Add-Ons

Most budget carriers offer a paid upgrade that moves your bag to the overhead bin and increases the size allowed.

Airline	Paid/Priority Bag Dimensions	Paid Bag Weight	Approx Online Cost
Ryanair Priority	55×40×20 cm	10 kg	£6–14 per flight
Wizz Air Priority	55×40×23 cm	10 kg	£7–18 per flight
easyJet Cabin Bag (paid)	56×45×25 cm	15 kg	£8–20 per flight
Vueling Cabin Bag	55×35×25 cm	10 kg	£10–25 per flight
Norwegian (included)	55×40×23 cm	10 kg	Included in fare
Jet2 (included)	56×45×25 cm	—	Included in fare
Transavia Cabin Bag	55×35×25 cm	10 kg	£8–16 per flight
Pegasus Cabin Bag	55×40×20 cm	8 kg	£7–15 per flight
TUI (included)	55×40×20 cm	10 kg	Included in fare

easyJet's paid cabin bag (56×45×25 cm, 15 kg) stands out for its weight limit — 15 kg is exceptionally generous for a cabin bag, well above the typical 7–10 kg most carriers set. For heavy packers who need a cabin bag, easyJet's paid option offers the most flexibility per kilogram.

Ryanair's Priority bag (55×40×20 cm) is the narrowest paid upgrade in Europe. The 20 cm depth is the same as an A4 sheet of paper. Standard rolling suitcases typically run 22–25 cm deep and do not fit without compression.

Personal Item Rules

Airline	Personal Item Allowed?	Size
Ryanair	Yes — with Priority only	Included as the "small bag" (40×20×25 cm) for non-priority; Priority passengers get the full 55×40×20 cm plus the small bag underneath
Wizz Air	Yes — with Priority	Similar to Ryanair
easyJet	No — one bag in overhead	56×45×25 cm OR 45×36×20 cm depending on fare
Norwegian	Yes — plus hand baggage	Purse/laptop bag under seat
Jet2	Yes	Handbag or small personal item under seat
Transavia	Yes — small item	40×30×15 cm under seat
Vueling	Limited	Small personal item on some fares

Norwegian and Jet2 are the most generous for passengers who carry a laptop bag or daypack in addition to their main carry-on. Both allow a true second bag under the seat in addition to the overhead carry-on.

Enforcement Reality

Policy and enforcement are different things. Budget airlines vary significantly in how consistently they apply their stated rules.

Most aggressive enforcement:

Ryanair — uses metal bag sizers at gates regularly, particularly on popular routes. Ground staff are trained and incentivized to identify non-compliant bags. Gate fees (charged when a bag is rejected at boarding) run £50–70. Enforcement is more aggressive at base airports (Dublin, Stansted) than at outstations.

Wizz Air — similarly aggressive, particularly at Budapest, Warsaw, and Luton. Sizers are present at many gates. The free small bag (40×30×20 cm) is checked visually and sometimes physically. Carries a reputation among frequent fliers as the strictest Eastern European carrier.

Inconsistent enforcement:

easyJet — policy states clear limits, but gate enforcement varies dramatically by airport, route, and time of day. Busy routes at peak times see more checking. Gatwick generally stricter than smaller airports. Many passengers report carrying bags 2–3 cm over limits without challenge.

Vueling — moderate enforcement. Stricter at Barcelona and Madrid than at outstations.

Low enforcement:

Norwegian — generous policy combined with relatively low enforcement. Weight checking of carry-ons is rare.

Jet2 — extremely generous policy and minimal enforcement. Broadly the least stressful carry-on experience among European budget carriers.

Transavia — moderate. Routes from Amsterdam and Paris CDG more likely to be checked.

Buying the Upgrade: Online vs at the Airport

Airline	Online Price (approx)	Airport Price (approx)	Uplift
Ryanair	£6–14	£25–45	3–5x
Wizz Air	£7–18	£30–50	2–4x
easyJet	£8–20	£48	2–4x
Vueling	£10–25	£40+	2–3x
Pegasus	£7–15	£30–40	2–3x

The airport uplift is significant on every carrier. If you need a paid cabin bag, buying it online at the time of booking or within 24 hours of booking typically costs the least. The fee increases as the flight date approaches and spikes at the airport itself.

Which Airline Should You Choose?

If carry-on policy is the deciding factor:

Best free policy: Jet2, Norwegian, TUI
Best paid policy value: easyJet (15 kg paid bag)
Easiest enforcement: Jet2, Norwegian
Most punishing if you get it wrong: Ryanair, Wizz Air
Best for carry-on only travel: Jet2 — carry-on included, personal item included, minimal enforcement

For routes served by multiple carriers, comparing bag fees as part of the total ticket price often reveals that the "cheapest" fare is not the cheapest once carry-on is added.