Busting hand baggage rules can cost a pretty penny. Each airline sets their own rules and will gleefully charge you extra if your cabin baggage doesn't conform. Some of these charges will effectively double or triple your fare – so all of a sudden, that bargain city break becomes decidedly more expensive.
Below we've listed an A-Z of some of the top airlines and their hand luggage allowance, including the size of the piece of luggage, the weight, and whether or not they allow you to bring a laptop or handbag.
When you've finished, follow our Editor's picks at the end for tips on packing, cabin bag buying guides and more.
Air Asia: 56 x 36 x 23 cm, 7kg
Air France: 55 x 35 x 25 cm, 12 kg incl laptop or handbag
Air India: 55 x 25 x 25 cm, 12 kg incl laptop or handbag
Air Lingus: 55 x 40 x 24 cm, 10 kg + laptop or handbag
British Airways: 56 x 45 x 25 cm, 23 kg + laptop or handbag
Brussels Airlines: 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 12 kg incl laptop or handbag
easyJet: 56 x 45 x 25 cm, Lift unaided + laptop or handbag
Emirates: 55 x 38 x 20 cm, 7kg
Etihad: 50 x 40 x 25 cm, 7kg or 12kg incl laptop or handbag
Flybe: 55 x 35 x 20 cm, 10kg incl laptop or handbag
German Wings: 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 8kg + laptop or handbag
Iberia: 158cm (height, length, width), 23kg
Icelandair: 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10kg
Jet2: 56 x 45 x 25 cm, 10kg + laptop or handbag
KLM: 55 x 35 x 25 cm, 12kg + laptop or handbag
Lufthansa: 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 8kg + laptop or handbag
Norwegian: 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 10kg incl laptop or handbag
Pegasus Airlines: 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 8kg + laptop or handbag
Qantas: 56 x 36 x 23 cm, 7kg + laptop or handbag
Ryanair: 40 x 20 x 25 cm laptop or handbag, must fit under the seat
SAS: 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 8kg + laptop or handbag
Singapore Airlines: 115cm (height, width, length), 7kg + laptop or handbag
Vueling: 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10kg + laptop or handbag
WizzAir: 40 x 30 x 20 cm laptop or handbag, must fit under the seat
WOW air: 42 x 32 x 25 cm laptop or handbag, must fit under the seat
Always check your airline's website for any last minute changes to their terms and conditions. The information in this article was correct as of January 2019.