Carry-On Rules for Scandinavian Airlines: SAS, Norwegian, Finnair

Carry-On Rules for Scandinavian Airlines: SAS, Norwegian, Finnair, Wideroe

Flying within or through Scandinavia means dealing with four distinct sets of carry-on rules across the region's main carriers. SAS and Norwegian use the same dimensions but differ on fare class restrictions. Finnair uses combined bag weight and distinguishes Superlight from Light. Wideroe's regional fleet imposes genuinely smaller limits. Here is what each airline allows.

SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)

SAS permits a 55×40×23 cm main bag up to 8 kg per piece and a 40×30×15 cm underseat bag (maximum 18 litres). Economy Light within Europe includes only the small bag unless a main bag is purchased; outside Europe Light includes one main bag. Standard/Flex include one. Premium/Business include one within Europe and two outside Europe. Check the ticket; no enforcement tolerance or universal 18 kg allowance is assumed.

Norwegian Air Shuttle

Norwegian LowFare includes a 40×30×20 cm underseat bag up to 10 kg. LowFare+ adds a 55×40×23 cm main bag with 10 kg combined; Flex allows 15 kg combined. Confirm the purchased fare.

Finnair

Finnair Economy Light/Classic/Flex includes one 55×40×23 cm main bag plus one 40×30×15 cm small bag, sharing 8 kg. Superlight includes only the small bag; Business includes one main and one small bag sharing 12 kg.

The small bag counts towards the total, as do airport purchases. Finnair Plus Silver/Gold/Platinum/Platinum Lumo members receive a main bag with European Superlight tickets. Otherwise check the price of adding one before travel. Excess or unentitled baggage collected at the gate is put in the hold for €60.

At Helsinki departures, liquids may total 2 litres in containers up to 100 ml. Helsinki transfer security uses one 1-litre bag with containers up to 100 ml. Check every airport; do not assume a connection time or a waived inspection.

Wideroe

Wideroe is a Norwegian regional airline serving airports across Norway, including many remote coastal and fjord destinations. It operates DHC-8 Dash 8 turboprops and Embraer E190/E195 jets on short sectors.

Carry-on allowance:

• 1 cabin bag: 45 × 35 × 25 cm, maximum 8 kg
• 1 small personal item under the seat

Why the smaller limit: Wideroe's regional aircraft have significantly smaller overhead bins than mainline narrow-body aircraft. The 45 × 35 × 25 cm limit reflects actual bin capacity — standard 55 × 40 × 23 cm carry-on bags physically do not fit. Bags that exceed these dimensions will be gate-checked.

Connecting with Wideroe: If your itinerary includes a Wideroe segment connecting from a SAS or Norwegian flight, your carry-on must fit Wideroe's limit. You may need to check your bag at the connecting airport. Plan for this when booking connections.

Scandinavian Airport Security Tips

Copenhagen Airport (CPH): CPH operates separate security lanes by fare class and frequent flyer status. The main security area processes high volumes during summer. Liquids and electronics must come out of bags. Arrive 2 hours before domestic departures and 3 hours before international departures in peak season (June–August).

Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN): Check Arlanda’s current terminal and security instructions. Do not infer fast-track eligibility from an old alliance label.

Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL): OSL has a straightforward single-terminal setup for most flights. Security lanes are efficient. Allow standard EU security processing times. Norwegian domestic routes use dedicated domestic security lanes that move faster.

Helsinki Airport (HEL): HEL enforces all liquids and electronics rules consistently. The airport operates smoothly with good signage in English. Schengen security is separate from non-Schengen — ensure you use the correct lane for your destination.

Comparison Table

For travel across multiple Scandinavian carriers on a single trip, size your carry-on to Wideroe's limits if your itinerary includes a Wideroe segment. Otherwise, a standard 55 × 40 × 23 cm bag works across SAS, Norwegian, and Finnair — but verify your fare class to confirm overhead bin access is included.

1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5.