British Airways carry-on: 56 × 45 × 25 cm
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 Unit H W D cm 56 45 25 in 22 18 10 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.
Will my bag fit?Compare your bag's dimensions and weight with the airline figures
Enter the finished outside measurements of your packed bag. This compares numbers only and is not a baggage approval; fare, route, aircraft and operating-carrier conditions still apply.
Source for this section: Baggage essentials
Personal item
Included in fare
- Dimensions H×W×D
Personal item: Dimensions H×W×D Unit H W D cm 40 30 15 in 16 12 6
- 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
AllowedOrdinary 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
AllowedSports 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
AllowedA 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
AllowedBA 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
- Carry-on baggage: Baggage essentials
- Personal item: Baggage essentials
- Checked baggage: Baggage essentials
- Overweight & excess baggage: Baggage essentials — excess baggage
- Liquids in carry-on: Liquids and restrictions
- Pets: Travelling with pets
- Special baggage: Sports equipment
- Musical instruments: Musical instruments
- Medical equipment: Assistance available — mobility and medical
- Prohibited items in the cabin: Liquids and restrictions
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