Budget flights: cabin bag vs hold bag

Should you go for a cabin bag vs hold bag for your next flight?

• A cabin bag travels with you on the plane, and often makes for a quicker and smoother journey
• Hold luggage travels in a separate compartment, gives you more space to play with

Choosing to fly with a budget airline can help you travel more cheaply, or give you more holiday spending money. However, budget airlines can afford to offer low-cost fares because they strip flights back to the essentials, and charge more for extras such as seat selection, fast track boarding and luggage.

This means that to truly save money with a budget flight, you need to understand the pros and cons of bringing a hold bag vs a cabin bag, and brush up on your airline’s baggage policy before packing. After all, getting your luggage wrong means you may face additional fees at the airport, and end up spending more than intended.

Ultimately, whether to go for hold luggage vs cabin bag depends on the type of trip you’re taking, your travel priorities, and how much you’re willing to pay.

Budget flight baggage fees: cabin bag vs hold bag

First, what is classed as a cabin bag and what is a hold bag?

Cabin bags (sometimes called carry-ons) travel with you on the plane. Depending on their size, they’re either stored under the seat in front of you or in the overhead lockers. Meanwhile, hold bags (or checked luggage) are placed in the cargo hold – a separate compartment underneath the passenger cabin that can’t be reached while in the air. Both options come with different fees, and different pros and cons.

Remember that every airline has different rules around luggage – it’s vital to check your carrier’s policy on cabin bags and hold luggage before booking.

However, budget airlines in the UK and Ireland typically offer a few options when it comes to luggage.

1. Free bags only

Most budget airlines offer a free tier when it comes to luggage – but it usually involves sacrificing some of the items you’d ideally like to bring. Indeed, even if you don’t pay any extra for luggage, you’ll usually be entitled to bring a small cabin bag that fits under the seat in front of you. The exact size and weight of your free bag will vary from airline to airline.

When is this the best option? This is a handy and very cost-effective tier if you’re only away overnight or for a weekend, or if you’re travelling on a shoestring budget and able to pack very light.

2. Pay for large cabin bags

Need more space in your case, but don’t want to go through the hassle of dealing with bag drop in departures and the baggage carousel after landing? You can usually pay extra to bring bigger bags into the cabin. Again, the size and/or weight limit of large cabin bags will depend on who you fly with, as will the fee.

In some cases, large cabin bags are packaged in with other added extras like priority boarding or seat selection. This means that if you pay for priority, you may automatically get to bring a bigger bag. With other airlines, you’ll have to pay for a large cabin bag as a standalone extra. It’s worth bearing in mind that some airlines take a dynamic pricing approach to priority boarding and luggage fees, so prices can change from flight to flight.

When is this the best option? If you need more space in your luggage, but not significantly more. This is also an excellent option for travellers who want to spend less time queuing at the airport – avoiding bag drop and the baggage carousel can make your journey a lot quicker and smoother.

3. Pay for hold luggage

If you’re flying long haul or with a premium airline, you’ll often have a certain amount of hold luggage included with your fare. However, if you want to bring hold luggage on a budget flight, you’re going to have to pay for it.

The heavier your case, the more expensive it will be to place in the hold. Budget airlines typically offer tiered hold luggage options of around 10 kilograms and 20 kilograms, with excess baggage fees charged if you exceed these limits. However, you can usually check several 20 kilograms cases into the hold if you need more space. Some airlines also put size restrictions on your hold luggage, so check your carrier’s oversized baggage policy before booking.

When is this the best option? If you’re going on a longer holiday, sharing a case, or simply need a lot of luggage space. This is also a useful option if you’d rather not have to wheel your case through the airport and keep it with you during the flight – simply drop off your bags and check-in and you won’t have to think about them again until you’re through passport control on the other end.

Know your baggage allowance: budget flight airline baggage policy

Budget airlines typically charge extra fees if you breach their baggage policy.

To avoid additional charges, passengers should:

• Book and pay for all their luggage in advance
• Only bring the number of pieces of luggage you’ve already paid for
• Ensure every bag falls within the permitted dimensions
• Ensure every bag weighs the same as or less than the baggage policy outlines
• Check all your hold luggage into the hold
• Bring all your cabin bags onto the plane

So, say you’ve booked a flight with one large 10 kilograms cabin bag and two 20 kilograms hold bags – and you’re permitted to bring a complimentary small cabin bag measuring 40 x 30 x 20 cm, too.

To avoid extra fees, don’t:

• Exceed the weight limit on your cabin bag or hold bags
• Try to check your cabin bag into the hold, or bring your hold luggage into the cabin
• Exceed the dimensions on your small cabin bag
• Turn up with any extra bags – even small handbags

Is it worth paying for a carry-on bag?

It depends! To work out what’s right for you, take a deeper look at the difference between a cabin bag and a hold bag.

Carry-on pros

In some circumstances, it’s definitely worth paying for a carry-on bag. For example, if you want to avoid queuing at bag-drop in departures, or waiting at the baggage carousel after landing, carry-on is the way to go.

Opt for a large cabin bag, and you’ll have access to your belongings throughout most of the flight, including those that wouldn’t have fit in your small complimentary underseat bag.

Cabin bags can also work out cheaper than paying for hold luggage in some instances – especially when a large carry-on is bundled in with other optional extras like priority boarding. When flights are quieter, you may also find that the cost of bringing large cabin bags drops.

Furthermore, if you’re only on a short trip, or you’re happy to pack very light, you can get away with a free carry-on.

Carry-on cons

One downside of opting for a large cabin bag is that it may not be large enough to meet your needs! The weight permitted for large cabin bags is usually capped at around 10 kilograms, while hold luggage often goes up to 20 kilograms or even 30 kilograms.

Furthermore, if you bring a cabin bag, you’re going to be responsible for it throughout your journey. This means wheeling it through the airport, loading it into the overhead compartment, and then remembering to fetch it before disembarking.

Cabin bags can also slow you down at security, as you have to separate out certain items like liquids and large electronics. Furthermore, some items are only permitted in hold luggage – for example liquids over a certain volume. This means that if you’re travelling with cabin bags only, you may not be able to bring some of your belongings.

Hold luggage pros

The biggest advantage of opting for hold luggage is the significantly increased space. When you’re travelling with hold luggage, you can ensure you’ve got enough room for different outfit options, all your toiletries and cosmetics, and anything else you want to bring. There are also some items you can only bring in your hold luggage.

Travelling with hold luggage can also be less physically taxing – simply drop off your bags at check-in, and pick them up at the baggage carousel on the other end. You don’t have to worry about losing or forgetting your bags in the airport.

Hold luggage cons

Travelling with hold luggage can take longer than without. Upon arriving at the airport, you’ll have to drop off your bags, and there’s often a queue. After landing, you’ve got to wait for your luggage to be unloaded from the plane and circulated on the baggage carousel, which can take time out of the start of your holiday!

There’s also the risk that your luggage could get lost or delayed, although this is generally low. And while you won’t have to wheel your suitcase through the airport, remember that you will have to get it to and from your accommodation, which can be hard when you’re bringing a bigger bag.

Budget flights: cabin bag vs hold luggage?

So, to recap, should you opt for cabin bags or hold luggage?

Choose cabin bags if any of the following apply:

• You’re only travelling for a short period of time, and your small, free bag will fit all your belongings
• You don’t need a huge amount of space in your luggage
• Getting through the airport quickly, on both sides of your flight, is a priority
• You strongly prefer to keep your belongings with you throughout your journey

Choose hold luggage if any of the following apply:

• You need to bring items that are only permitted in hold luggage
• You need a lot of luggage space
• You’re sharing a case with family members or friends
• You don’t want to be responsible for your case in the airport or onboard the flight

When it comes to cost, sometimes, putting your cases in the hold will work out more cost-effective than paying for large cabin bags, and sometimes it will be more expensive. This often varies from flight to flight, so if you’re trying to find the best deal, wait until the booking process to decide which to opt for.