British Airways Baggage Allowance 2026: Cabin and Hold by Cabin Class

British Airways has one of the more generous cabin baggage allowances among UK airlines, and hold luggage depends on your fare and cabin class. The one fare to watch is Economy Basic, which is hand baggage only.

Free Cabin Baggage

Every British Airways passenger can bring one cabin bag up to 56x45x25cm weighing up to 23kg, plus a personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag up to 40x30x15cm. This applies across all cabins, which is far more generous than the budget airlines.

Hold Luggage by Fare

A single checked bag can measure up to 90x75x43cm. The absolute maximum weight for any single bag is 32kg, and a heavy bag between 23kg and 32kg on an economy fare attracts a fee of around 65 pounds.

How to Avoid Fees

The most common mistake is booking an Economy Basic fare without realising it includes no hold bag. If you need to check a bag, either choose Standard Economy or add a bag online in advance, which is cheaper than at the airport. Always check your fare type before you book.

See how British Airways releases flights in our British Airways flight release guide, read our full airline baggage allowance guide, or view British Airways routes and information. You can also check live Heathrow departures or Gatwick departures.