You can take advantage of our generous free hand baggage allowance, which you take onto the aircraft with you. There are size and weight limits that apply.
| Passenger | Type of baggage allowed | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Adults and children(aged 2 and over) | One bag and One laptop-sized bag, handbag or briefcase | 23kg (51lbs). You must be able to lift the bag into the overhead locker unaided. |
| Infants (under 2 years) | One bag (for items your infant may require during the flight) | You must be able to lift the bag into the overhead locker unaided. |
Occasionally we may not have space to stow all hand baggage safely on the aircraft and you may be asked at the boarding gate to check some or all of your hand baggage into the hold. If the baggage is within your permitted allowance, you will not be charged for extra baggage.
Exceeding your allowance
If any of your hand baggage is over the size or weight limit, or you have more hand baggage than your allowance, it will need to be checked in and will count towards your checked baggage allowance. If the additional baggage then takes you over your checked baggage allowance, or if you are travelling on a hand-baggage only fare, you will be charged for extra baggage at the airport rate.
If you are travelling on a flight operated by American Airlines, American Airlines’ allowance on hand baggage will apply. This may mean that your hand baggage will have to be checked in as hold baggage. In this case no charge for excess baggage would be applied.
Please follow the links on this page to ‘Information if you're travelling on American Airlines’ for more information about their baggage allowances.
Governments and local authorities may impose restrictions on what you are allowed to take on board with you and what you pack in the baggage that you check in.
Find out about liquids you can take on board with you
Find the instructions for dangerous, restricted and banned items
If you are travelling on a route operated by another airline on behalf of British Airways, the following allowances apply:
| Carrier | Flight numbers | Aircraft | Class of travel | Hand bag allowance (max) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comair | BA6200 - 6449 | All | All | 7kg (15lbs) | |
| SUN-AIR of Scandinavia | BA8200 - 8299 | All | All | 6kg (13lbs) | |
| The aircraft used by these airlines are smaller than those used by British Airways and so the maximum baggage weight and size allowances are smaller. | |||||
We have partnerships with other airlines to offer you more destinations worldwide, so even if you've booked direct with British Airways, one or more of your flights may be operated by another airline. In this case you should contact the operating airline for information about their baggage allowances.
If you travel with British Airways and another airline during your journey, the British Airways baggage allowance may be more generous and you could be charged for extra baggage by the other airline.
If you are travelling on a flight operated by American Airlines or Iberia, please follow the links on this page to ‘Information if you're travelling on American Airlines or Iberia’ for more information about their baggage allowances.
If you've made a booking and are unsure which airline it is on, you can find out in 'Manage My Booking'.
If you buy any individual liquid, gel or cream products of more than 100ml on board a flight and you are transferring onto another flight, please ask a member of cabin crew to place your purchases and receipt inside a clear tamper-proof bag, which must be sealed.
Any products not sealed in a clear tamper-proof bag with the receipt are liable to be confiscated in transit or at disembarkation.
British Airways cannot accept liability for any products that are confiscated.
