Last Updated on January 11, 2026
Are you planning a trip by plane and want to save money? I fly very frequently due to my photography job and I’ve travelled to every country in Europe within my project European Peaks. Throughout the years I made many mistakes and paid unnecessary fees but it was a good learning process. Now I’m finally familiar with current airline trends and rules and I will share all practical tips in this article with you so you can save money and don’t repeat my mistakes. This guide will give you advice on choosing the right luggage size and weight. You will learn what to take on board, what to pack in your checked-in bag, and how to pack as efficiently as possible – no matter where you’re going. As a bonus, I also share many different packing lists including pictures for inspiration.
Why do frequent travellers fly with hand luggage only?
If you can, travel only with hand luggage! This approach can save you a significant amount of money and helps you avoid carrying unnecessary items that only become a hassle during transport. In addition, you will save a lot of time at the airport at your destination because you won’t have to wait until your checked-in bags show up. It can take up to an hour during the busiest times at the busiest airports!
If you plan a trip in Europe, you might have found a very cheap flight. But be careful. Nowadays, most low-cost airlines make a large part of their profit by charging high fees for luggage. In many cases, the baggage fees can cost more than the ticket itself. This applies mostly to European low cost airlines such as Ryanair, Wizzair, Eurowings or Easyjet. If you want to save money, definitely avoid travelling with checked baggage whenever possible.
What’s the difference between a small and large hand luggage?
Check out the dimensions and weight restrictions of your airline regarding hand luggage. Did you know that most airlines actually recognize two types of hand luggage these days? The first step to stress-free air travel is knowing the maximum allowed size and weight of hand luggage for your airline. These rules vary between airlines, so always check the exact requirements on the airline’s official website before flying. For instance, Ryanair distinguishes between small and large cabin baggage and your luggage must fit in metal frames at the gate before you board the plane. These are the required luggage dimensions by the largest low cost airline in Europe – Ryanair:
- Small bag: 40 × 30 × 20 cm (it must fit under the seat)
- Large carry-on: 55 × 40 × 20 cm
With most airlines, only the small bag is included for free. You usually have to pay extra for a larger carry-on or any checked baggage. Weight limits for cabin baggage are often 8 kg or 10 kg. Here are links showing you carry-on luggage sizes for the most popular European low cost airlines: Ryanair, Wizzair, Easyjet, Norwegian, Eurowings.
If you pay for the large carry-on luggage, the good news is that you can still bring a small bag. It means you can have one backpack or a small suitcase with you, and in addition one small personal bag, a purse, or a camera bag. Below, you can see that you don’t need a checked-in bag even if you travel to the mountains.
How strict are airlines with cabin bag size and weight in Europe?
From my own experience, bags are rarely weighed. It happened to me actually only once in more than 10 years of frequent flying. Size and number of bags are checked far more often. This is where you should be extra careful. Make sure that your luggage comply with the size restrictions. How is the luggage checked at the airport?
- Many airlines now check cabin bag size at boarding gates using sizers; bags that don’t fit are charged a “gate bag fee” and can be sent to the hold.
- Some carriers even incentivize staff to catch oversized bags- Ryanair, for example, increased bonuses for staff spotting non-compliant luggage.
- Weight checks are much less common than size checks on European flights, but if a bag looks overloaded it can be weighed.
Pay attention to checked baggage weight
I was mentioning that the size of the cabin luggage is most important. When it comes to the checked baggage on the other hand, the weight is crucial. Common limits are 15 kg, 20 kg, 23 kg or 32kg, and airlines charge heavily for exceeding them – sometimes up to €50 per extra kilogram. I strongly recommend buying a small travel scale to weigh your luggage at home and especially before your flight back home if you did a lot of shopping. Airlines usually tolerate up to about 0.9 kg extra, but once you exceed 1 kg, they tend to be very strict.
PRO TIP: If your bag is overweight, don’t pay immediately – you can put on some extra clothes instead. A brief moment of awkwardness at the airport is far better than paying an outrageous fee. Trust me, I’ve been there many times.
What to do if your checked-in bag is delayed or lost?
Another reason why it’s better to travel with just a carry-on bag is that your checked-in bag can get lost. The likelihood of your checked-in bag being delayed or lost is very small, but it can happen – especially if you travel with connections. My checked-in bag got delayed a few times and it caused a lot of stress. Luckily, I learnt what to do now based on these experiences so I can share with you my best tips:
- To stay stress-free, always pack your absolute essentials in your carry-on: computers, wedding outfits and rings, documents, medication, and anything you can’t easily replace.
- If your luggage is delayed in a flight within EU, you’re protected by EU passenger rights, which usually entitle you to compensation for essential purchases while you wait – keep all receipts and report the issue immediately at the airport.
- A small but incredibly helpful tip is to place an AirTag (or similar tracker) in your checked bag, so you can see where your luggage is at all times and share its location with the airline if needed.
Pro packing tips and tricks for travelling by plane in Europe
The key to efficient packing is not packing too much. Statistics show that over 30% of items packed for a trip are never used. Here are the packing rules I always follow – and they allow me to pack a single cabin bag even for long trips:
- Make a list: Write down everything you think you need. After your trip, review the list and remove what you didn’t use to improve future packing. Next time, you will save a lot of space.
- Use rolling techniques: Roll clothes instead of folding them. This saves space and reduces wrinkles.
- Use empty space: Store socks or small items inside shoes or other gaps.
- Minimise footwear: Shoes take up a lot of space. Limit yourself to versatile pairs.
- Avoid “what if” items: Pack only what you truly need.
- Use technology: Store documents, books, and tickets digitally instead of carrying paper copies.
Security restrictions for hand and checked baggage
Not everything can be taken on board. Prohibited items in your hand luggage include:
- Liquids over allowed limits (it can vary from airport to airport bu you can usually have up to 10 bottles of 100 ml each)
- Sharp objects
- Explosive, flammable, or dangerous items
- Weapons, replicas, stun sprays, and gas cartridges
On the other hand, power banks and large batteries are not allowed in checked baggage and must be carried in cabin luggage. Always check your airline’s website for a complete and up-to-date list of prohibited items. Some airlines allow drones, while others don’t.
How to transport a large hiking backpack?
During my bigger expeditions where I needed more equipment, I learnt an important lesson. If you’re travelling with a large hiking backpack which is too big to be a carry-on bag, it usually cannot be taken as standard checked baggage and must be checked in as special or oversized luggage. Airlines handle these bags differently because of their straps, buckles, and external frames, which can easily get caught on conveyor belts and baggage systems. To avoid damage, it’s a very good idea to invest in a durable backpack cover or transport bag. These covers protect straps, zippers, and clips and significantly reduce the risk of your backpack being torn or destroyed during handling. If you don’t have a cover, wrapping the backpack tightly in stretch film at the airport can work as a last resort, but a proper cover is far more reliable.
Transporting special or expedition equipment
If you’re travelling with skis, climbing gear, or other specialized equipment which needs extra space or special shape of your bag, here are my tips:
- Check airline rules in advance: Oversized or special items often require prior approval. If unsure, contact customer service.
- Protect your gear: Disassemble equipment where possible and wrap fragile items carefully. I often protect glass items by wrapping them in socks or clothing.
- Insure valuable items: Insurance is highly recommended, especially for checked baggage, as handling can be rough at some airports.
How to choose the right luggage for air travel?
You were probably thinking many times what kind of luggage you should bring on your trip. The answer isn’t simple unfortunately. Different trips require different luggage:
- Suitcases are ideal for city trips thanks to wheels and convenience. I usually bring suitcases when there is no need to walk long distances and if I carry festive clothes such as a suit for a wedding. Suitcases help keep clothes in shape and they are also practical when unpacking at your destination.
- Backpacks are usually lighter, more flexible, and easier to fit into size-control frames and can fit more than suitcases. That’s why I mostly travel with backpacks on longer trips or trips where I plan to spend more time in the nature than in the cities.
- Duffel bags are another great option – their dimensions often match airline rules and they’re easy to store.
What is the best backpack as hand luggage for air travel in Europe?
As you can see at images of this article, I have tried all possible kinds of hand luggage – both suitcases and backpacks. Most of them worked well but they were still missing something. Suitcases don’t work well if you have to walk longer distances or if you plan to spend time in the nature. Backpacks on the other hand can feel unorganized and it takes time to find what you need… I am happy that Peak Design found a solution to this and developed the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L which combines the positive sides of a suitcase and a backpack. I backed up this project in a crowdfunding campaign, got the backpack as one of the first users, and I’m really happy with its features and durability.
The standout feature is the clamshell design, which lets you open the bag like a suitcase. This makes packing and accessing your clothes and gear way easier and efficiently. Together with Peak Design’s thoughtful organization system (with multiple compartments and pockets) it means you can keep everything in its place. You can also compress it down to around 35 L for guaranteed carry-on compliance or expand to 45 L if you need a little extra space. I actually travel always with the full 45 L space and never had problem at gates but be mindful that if it’s fully expanded it may exceed some budget airlines’ stricter limits.
Another thing about this backpack which stands out is durability. Many backpacks or suitcases simply didn’t work long enough and something broke off during my extensive travel, but this backpack has been holding up very well. Finally, you can find what you need without unpacking your whole bag – a huge plus for European travel where you’re often on the go.
Packing checklist for flying in Europe
Flying is one of the fastest and most practical ways to travel long distances. However, it can quickly become stressful and expensive if you don’t follow the airline rules. Take a few minutes before your trip to check luggage limits, pack smart, and plan ahead. It will save you money, time, and unnecessary stress. Finally, here comes my structured packing checklist which I adjusted over the years of travelling across Europe. It will help you stay within size and weight limits, avoid unnecessary items, and travel more comfortably. Use the checklist below as a starting point and adjust it based on your destination, season, and trip length. To adjust the seasons, check out my packing list images in this article
Essential Documents
- Passport or national ID (check out if your ID is accepted if you plan to leave your passport at home)
- Boarding pass (digital and/or printed)
- Travel insurance documents
- Visas (if required)
- Copies of important documents stored digitally
- Credit card
Clothing
- Versatile, mix-and-match outfits (not too much, no just in case clothes)
- Lightweight layers (suitable for changing weather)
- Underwear and socks (quick-dry if possible)
- Warm layers according to season (jackets or hoodies)
- Sleepwear
- Compact rain jacket
Footwear
- One main pair which fits ideally all situations (I mostly travel in running shoes)
- One additional pair (if necessary, for example hiking shoes)
- Flip-flops (weigh very little and are comfortable in accommodations)
Toiletries (Hand Luggage Compliant)
- Liquids in containers up to 100 ml
- Toiletry bag with total liquid volume under 1 liter
- Toothbrush and travel-size toothpaste
- Basic cosmetics (kept minimal – remember that shampoos and soaps are often included in hotels)
Electronics & Accessories
- Mobile phone with a charger
- Don’t forget a power bank to make sure your phone battery lasts during travel (must be in cabin baggage)
- Headphones
- Travel adapter (if needed)
- E-reader or tablet instead of books
- Camera gear
Health & Comfort Items
- Prescription medication (with documentation if needed)
- Glasses or contact lenses
- Reusable water bottle (empty before security)
- Small first-aid kit
- Sleep mask or neck pillow (optional)
Travel & Miscellaneous
- Lightweight daypack or foldable bag
- Laundry bag or compression sack
- Snacks (non-liquid, airline-approved)
Extra gear to consider
- Headtorch
- Camping gear
- Light luggage scale
- Tripod
- Sun glasses
- Thermos or another water bottle
- AirTag
- Backpack cover
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you, if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and services of companies I use and the income goes to keeping the website running.
