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Accept cookies and close this message.Your free hand baggage allowance, i.e. the total number of bags, size and weight, varies depending on the airline that is operating your flight.
These allowances also apply on our hand baggage only (Basic) fares, available on selected British Airways short and long haul flights.
Adults, young adults and children | 1 handbag/laptop bag (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 45 x 36 x 20cm / 18 x 14 x 8in) plus 1 additional cabin bag (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 56 x 45 x 25cm / 22 x 18 x 10in) |
Infants (under 2) | 1 cabin bag for items required during the flight (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 56 x 45 x 25cm / 22 x 18 x 10in) |
Adults, young adults and children |
1 handbag/laptop bag (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 40 x 30 x 15cm / 16 x 12 x 6in) plus 1 additional cabin bag (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 56 x 45 x 25cm / 22 x 18 x 10in) |
Infants (under 2) | 1 cabin bag for items required during the flight (max. 23kg / 51lb and up to 56 x 45 x 25cm / 22 x 18 x 10in) |
To help you put your baggage away safely and quickly on board, and get to your destination on time, we'll attach a yellow tag to your handbag or laptop bag. This is the cabin bag that we guarantee you can take into the cabin. These yellow tags are also available from our bag-drop desk or from a member of British Airways staff.
Place your smaller cabin bag with the yellow tag under the seat in front of you. If you are travelling in First, Club World, Club World London City, or if you sit in an exit row or bulkhead seat at the front of the cabin, this bag must go into an overhead locker.
Your additional cabin bag goes into the overhead locker. If we do not have space on board, this bag may need to be checked in the aircraft hold. For this reason, please make sure you have no valuables or essential medication packed in this larger cabin bag.
We guarantee that you can take your handbag/laptop sized bag with you on board, provided that the yellow tag is attached and visible for boarding and that your bag is within your hand baggage allowance.
If any of your hand baggage is over the size or weight limit, or you have more hand baggage than your allowance, you will need to check it in and it will count towards your checked baggage allowance. If this then takes you over your free checked baggage allowance, or if you are travelling on a hand baggage only (Basic) fare, you will need to pay for extra baggage at the airport rate.
If your bag also exceeds the weight limit of your checked bag allowance, you may need to pay an overweight bag charge as well.
We recommend to place any essential items you may need during your flight into your hand baggage. However, there are a number of rules and restrictions about what you can carry in your hand baggage.
If you are travelling with gifts, please ensure they are unwrapped. Security staff may need to open items to inspect them.
Airport security may ask you to turn on any electronic devices, e.g. mobile phones, tablets or laptops, so please ensure they are charged.
Your free hand baggage allowance, i.e. the total number of bags, size and weight, varies depending on the airline that is operating your flight.