Which budget airline has the best carry-on policy?

easyJet has the most passenger-friendly budget carry-on policy: it allows a full-size 56×45×25 cm bag with no weight limit included on all fares. Ryanair and Wizz Air are stricter — the full-size cabin bag requires a paid priority boarding fare or add-on.

Does Spirit Airlines charge for carry-on bags?

Yes. Spirit Airlines charges for overhead bin bags on all fares. Only a personal item (45×35×20 cm) that fits under the seat is free. Carry-on bags added online typically cost $35–$75 each way; at the gate they cost more.

What is the cheapest budget airline for carry-on travelers?

For Europe: easyJet includes a full-size cabin bag for free on all fares. For the US: Southwest Airlines (not technically a 'budget' airline in the LCC sense) allows two free checked bags and a free carry-on — the best deal in the US. Among US LCCs, Allegiant sometimes bundles carry-on access in its 'bundle' fares at lower combined prices than competitors.

Carry-On Rules for Budget Airlines Compared 2026

Budget airlines save you money on the base fare and then charge for almost everything else — including, in many cases, your carry-on bag. The specific rules vary wildly across carriers, regions, and fare tiers. This guide covers the 9 major budget carriers worldwide, showing exactly what is free and what costs extra on a base fare.

The Big Picture: Budget Airline Carry-On Models

Budget airlines use one of three models:

Free full-size carry-on: One standard overhead bag is included on all fares (rare)
Personal item only: Only a small under-seat bag is free; cabin bag requires a paid add-on
Bundle-based: Carry-on access is included in mid-tier fare bundles but not the cheapest ticket

European Budget Airlines

Ryanair

Fare	Free	Paid add-on
Regular fare	1 small personal item (40×20×25 cm) under seat	Priority + 2 bags (from ~€6) adds 10 kg cabin bag (55×40×20 cm)
Priority boarding fare	1 personal item + 1 cabin bag (55×40×20 cm, 10 kg)	Included in priority

Free on all fares: One personal item 40×20×25 cm that fits under the seat. That's it. To get a cabin bag (55×40×20 cm, 10 kg) in the overhead: Must book Priority & 2 Cabin Bags add-on. Price varies by route from ~€6–€30. Enforcement: Among the strictest in Europe. Bag sizers at most gates. Non-priority passengers caught with oversized personal items face €50+ gate fees.

easyJet

Fare	Free	Paid
All fares	1 cabin bag 56×45×25 cm (no weight limit) + 1 small bag	Extra checked bags

Free on all fares: One full-size 56×45×25 cm cabin bag in the overhead bin, plus one small under-seat bag. No weight limit on the cabin bag — one of the most generous LCC policies globally. Paid: Checked bags, Speedy Boarding (for priority overhead bin access), seat selection. Enforcement: Moderate. Size sizers exist but easyJet's larger allowance means fewer conflicts.

Wizz Air

Fare	Free	Paid
Basic	1 small bag (40×30×20 cm) under seat	Cabin bag (55×40×23 cm, 10 kg) from ~€8
Wizz Priority	1 under-seat bag + 1 cabin bag (55×40×23 cm)	Included in priority upgrade

Free on base fare: Only a 40×30×20 cm under-seat bag. Smaller than Ryanair's free option. To get a cabin bag: Must add Wizz Priority or a dedicated cabin bag add-on. Enforcement: Very active. Wizz is arguably more aggressive than Ryanair at enforcing the under-seat size at gates on some routes.

Volotea

Fare	Free	Paid
Basic	1 personal item (under seat)	Cabin bag (55×40×20 cm, 10 kg) from ~€12
Basic + Cabin Bag	Personal item + cabin bag	Included
Comfort	Both included	Included

Free on base fare: Under-seat personal item only. To get a cabin bag: Add on booking or in manage booking. €12–€30 online; €50+ at airport.

US Budget Airlines

Spirit Airlines

Fare	Free	Paid
All fares	1 personal item (45×35×20 cm) under seat	Carry-on (56×46×25 cm): $35–$75+ online; more at gate

Free on all fares: One under-seat personal item. Nothing in the overhead bin is free. Carry-on cost: Online prices start around $35 each way but vary by route and load factor (can reach $75+). At the gate, fees are significantly higher. Spirit Bundle: Purchasing the "Flight Flex" bundle adds a carry-on but the combined price often approaches or exceeds competitor fares that include carry-on.

Frontier Airlines

Fare	Free	Paid
Economy (no bundle)	1 personal item (35×45×20 cm) under seat	Carry-on (56×36×22 cm): from $39 online
Classic Plus / Premium	Personal item + carry-on	Included

Free on base fare: Under-seat personal item only. To get a cabin bag: Add online (cheapest during booking). Prices increase closer to departure and at the gate. Frontier Miles status (Elite levels) can include waived carry-on fees.

Allegiant Air

Fare	Free	Paid
Basic	1 personal item (under seat)	Carry-on (56×36×23 cm): from $10–$75
Total Package	Personal item + carry-on bundled	Included in bundle

Free on base fare: Under-seat personal item only. Allegiant Total Package: A bundled fare that includes carry-on + checked bag + seat selection. Sometimes competitive when combined price beats the a-la-carte sum. Weight limit: Allegiant publishes a 40 lb (~18 kg) carry-on weight limit — unusually generous.

Asian Budget Airlines

AirAsia

Fare	Free	Paid
Starter (base)	1 small personal item (under seat, no published size)	Cabin bag (56×36×23 cm, 7 kg): from ~RM30/~USD7
Value / Premium	Personal item + cabin bag included	Included

Free on base "Starter" fare: Only a personal item under the seat. No overhead bin access. Carry-on add-on: AirAsia sells cabin bag access per segment. On trunk routes (Kuala Lumpur–Bangkok, KUL–SIN), this is cheapest when booked early. AirAsia X (long-haul): Same model but cabin bag add-on prices are higher for long-haul sectors. Weight: 7 kg limit is strictly enforced. AirAsia is known for weighing bags at check-in.

IndiGo

Fare	Free	Paid
Saver (base)	1 cabin bag (55×35×25 cm, 7 kg)	Nothing — cabin bag is included
Flexi	1 cabin bag (55×35×25 cm, 7 kg)	More flexible changes/cancellations

Different model: IndiGo is unusual among Asian budget carriers in that a 7 kg cabin bag is included on all fares — there is no paid add-on just for the cabin bag. Checked bags cost extra. What IndiGo charges for: Checked baggage, seat selection, meals. IndiGo is India's largest carrier and a significant LCC that gives cabin bag access freely, aligning with its high-volume domestic India model.

Volaris (Mexico)

Fare	Free	Paid
Básico	1 personal item (under seat, 55×40×35 cm)	Carry-on: from MXN 299 online
Clásico	Personal item + carry-on (55×40×35 cm, 10 kg)	Included

Free on Básico fare: Volaris has an unusually generous free personal item size (55×40×35 cm) — this is close to a full carry-on size at some airlines. Carry-on (overhead bin): Not included on Básico. Add online or it is included in Clásico and higher fares. US routes: Volaris USA operates some US–Mexico routes; same general model applies.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Airline	Free on base fare	Free size	Overhead bag cost	Weight limit
Ryanair	Under-seat personal item	40×20×25 cm	~€6–30 (priority add-on)	10 kg (cabin bag)
easyJet	Full cabin bag ✓	56×45×25 cm	FREE	No limit
Wizz Air	Under-seat item	40×30×20 cm	~€8–25	10 kg (cabin bag)
Volotea	Under-seat item	No published size	~€12–30	10 kg (cabin bag)
Spirit	Under-seat personal item	45×35×20 cm	$35–75+	No published limit
Frontier	Under-seat personal item	35×45×20 cm	$39+	No published limit
Allegiant	Under-seat personal item	Not published	$10–75	40 lb (~18 kg)
AirAsia	Under-seat item	Not published	From ~$7	7 kg (cabin bag)
IndiGo	Full cabin bag ✓	55×35×25 cm	FREE	7 kg
Volaris	Large personal item	55×40×35 cm	From ~$15	10 kg (cabin bag)

The Bottom Line

Best budget carry-on policy globally: easyJet (EU) and IndiGo (Asia) — full-size cabin bag included on every fare, no extra charge.

Worst for carry-on travelers: Spirit Airlines. Nothing goes overhead for free. Ever.

Most confusing rules: Ryanair. The free item dimensions (40×20×25 cm) are confusing because the depth (20 cm) is listed second, not third as in most standards — and the paid cabin bag (55×40×20 cm) has a different depth orientation.

Best value when bundled: Allegiant's Total Package sometimes pencils out as the cheapest door-to-door when you account for carry-on + checked bag + seat selection.

Always compare the full-trip cost — add up the base fare plus carry-on fee plus any checked bag before assuming the cheapest base fare is the cheapest trip.