British Airways carry-on: 56 × 45 × 25 cm

Last checked: 7/27/2026 IATA: BA ICAO: BAW

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Not a binding baggage approval: fare, route, aircraft or operating carrier can vary. Check the linked official sources before booking and departure.

Carry-on for the overhead bin

Included in fare

Dimensions H×W×D
Carry-on for the overhead bin: Dimensions H×W×D
UnitHWD
cm564525
in221810
Weight
No published limit
  • One cabin bag up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm (22 × 18 × 10 in) including wheels and handles is included in every fare.
  • No published weight limit, but passengers must lift it into the overhead bin unaided.
  • On busy flights the bag may need to go in the hold.
  • Valuables, electronics and essential medicines should not be packed in the cabin bag.
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Source for this section: Baggage essentials

Personal item

Included in fare

Dimensions H×W×D
Personal item: Dimensions H×W×D
UnitHWD
cm403015
in16126
  • One hand bag (handbag, backpack or laptop bag) up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm (16 × 12 × 6 in) is included in every fare.
  • It must fit easily under the seat in front and is guaranteed to stay in the cabin.
  • Medication, phones, other electronics and passports may be carried in this bag.

Source for this section: Baggage essentials

Checked baggage

Weight (standard limit per piece)
23 kg / 50 lb
  • Maximum checked dimensions are 90 × 75 × 43 cm (35 × 30 × 17 in).
  • Economy fares with checked baggage normally include 1 bag at 23 kg; Premium Economy normally includes 2 at 23 kg, with a one-bag limit on a small number of routes.
  • Club World includes 2 bags at 32 kg and First 3 at 32 kg.
  • Economy Basic includes no checked bag.
  • British Airways Club, oneworld and AerClub status benefits depend on tier and cabin, so the baggage calculator or booking remains decisive.
  • Up to 10 extra bags can be purchased, subject to availability; allowances cannot be pooled.

Source for this section: Baggage essentials

Overweight & excess baggage

  • Bags between 23 and 32 kg incur a heavy bag charge of 65 GBP / 75 EUR / 100 USD / 100 CAD per bag per one-way journey.
  • No checked bag may exceed 32 kg.
  • Oversize bags up to 190 × 75 × 65 cm are accepted as out-of-gauge items; notify BA at booking or at least 48 h before departure and check in at the out-of-gauge drop 90 minutes before flight.
  • Extra bags are route-priced; book online for the best rate.

Source for this section: Baggage essentials — excess baggage

Liquids in carry-on

Varies

  • Rules depend on the security checkpoint.
  • Some London airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, use scanners at appropriately equipped checkpoints that permit containers up to 2 litres to remain in cabin bags.
  • At other UK airports each container is limited to 100 ml and all containers must fit in one transparent resealable bag up to 20 × 20 cm with about 1 litre capacity.
  • Check every departure and connection airport.
  • Powders to the US are capped at 350 g.
  • Checked-baggage toiletries are limited to 500 ml per item and 2 litres per person.
  • Alcohol below 24% has no quantity limit; 24–70% is limited to 5 litres; over 70% is prohibited.

Source for this section: Liquids and restrictions

Pets

Pet transport

Allowed

Ordinary pets travel in the hold and are not accepted in the cabin; transport from the UK is arranged through PetAir UK and transport to the UK through IAG Cargo.

More details
  • Entry and Pet Travel Scheme requirements depend on the destination and remain the passenger's responsibility.
  • An eligible assistance dog can travel free in the cabin, while an emotional-support dog must travel under the ordinary pet process.

Source for this section: Travelling with pets

Special baggage

Sports equipment

Allowed

Sports equipment counts toward the checked allowance; an extra-bag charge applies when the allowance is absent or used.

More details
  • Non-motorised, non-electric bicycles may use a hard-shell box or padded bike bag up to 190 × 95 × 65 cm.
  • Golf and snow-sport bags should be reported more than 72 hours ahead and dropped at the out-of-gauge belt at least 3 hours before long-haul or 2 hours before short-haul departure.
  • A protected surfboard up to 240 × 75 cm or small kayak with paddles under 190 cm may travel under 23 kg except via London City.
  • Firearms require at least 72 hours' approval, cost 125 GBP per case each way and allow up to 5 kg of ammunition.

Source for this section: Sports equipment

Musical instruments

Allowed

A small instrument in a case up to 80 × 45 × 25 cm may replace the cabin bag while the personal item remains available.

More details
  • Instruments 80–140 cm cannot travel as ordinary cabin baggage; they must be checked or have an extra seat booked at least 48 hours before departure.
  • A seated instrument needs a rigid case and may measure up to 140 × 46 × 46 cm.
  • Hold instruments over 23 kg may incur the heavy-bag charge; the maximum is 45 kg.
  • Soft cases are not accepted in the hold, and BA asks for at least 24 hours' notice for large or over-32-kg instruments.

Source for this section: Musical instruments

Medical equipment

Allowed

BA asks passengers to request disability or mobility assistance at least 48 hours before departure.

More details
  • Battery-powered mobility aids must fit the aircraft limits and be registered with their dimensions, weight, battery type and isolation method; removable lithium batteries travel protected in the cabin under the published watt-hour limits.

Source for this section: Assistance available — mobility and medical

Prohibited items in the cabin

  • Javelins, pole vaults, hang gliders, canoes/kayaks over 190 cm, and windsurfing boards are banned from both cabin and hold
  • Small electric leisure vehicles (hoverboards, e-scooters, Segways, e-skateboards, e-bikes) are not permitted
  • Power banks and spare batteries are forbidden in checked baggage and must travel in cabin baggage subject to the battery limits
  • Drinks above 70 % alcohol by volume are completely prohibited
  • Explosives, fireworks, sky lanterns, detonators, acids, bleaches, peroxides and toxic chemicals are banned
  • Stun guns, Tasers, pepper sprays, mace and tear gas are not allowed
  • Knives and scissors with blades over 6 cm, swords, tools with shafts over 6 cm, and baseball bats are prohibited in the cabin
  • Power banks up to 100 Wh are cabin-only and limited to two per person.
  • Their capacity must be visible; keep them in a seat pocket or under-seat bag rather than the overhead bin, and do not recharge them from the aircraft power supply.
  • Firearms may only travel as checked baggage with at least 72 hours' advance approval and a 125 GBP charge per case each way.
  • Christmas crackers are hold-only, limited to two unopened commercial boxes per person on eligible UK departures, and prohibited on all flights to or from the US.
  • Camping stoves must meet BA's empty-fuel-container conditions.
  • Ink or toner cartridges over 500 g are hold-only on UK routes that do not involve a US airport; cartridges over 453 g are prohibited on flights to or from the US.
  • See the official restricted-items page for the full list.

Source for this section: Liquids and restrictions

Official source

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