What are the latest airport carry on and baggage rules after new ban

One type of case is now banned by several airlines (Picture: Getty Images)

The bank holiday weekend beckons, and after a thoroughly rainy summer in the UK many of us are keen to jet off for some much needed sun.

But whether you’re travelling long or short haul, one type of bag is now banned by some airlines, so it’s important to check what you can and can’t take on a flight.

Knowing what type of items are banned, and the sizes you can take, saves you time and money and an awful lot of hassle at the airport.

So what are the new rules for carry-on and baggage?

Let’s find out.

What type of luggage is banned?

British Airways, Easyjet and Ryanair have all banned certain types of ‘smart bag’, as hand luggage and in the hold.

Smart suitcase can offer built-in GPS, weights, wi-fi and battery for recharging gadgets (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Smart bags or smart suitcases are luggage with built-in electronics equipping them to do things like charge devices, be a Wi-Fi hotspot, and connect to Bluetooth.

However, these can only be carried by some airlines if the lithium battery powering them is removable. If not, you can’t take them, so always check wirth your airline.

If the battery is removable, and your airline will take the bag, it must be removed and stored separately (you can do this in hand luggage).

What size should carry-on hand luggage be?

The rules vary between airlines, and it’s crucial to check exactly what type of ticket you have booked and its baggage allowance.

Easyjet, for example, will allow one ‘underseat’ bag but if you want an extra cabin bag you’ll have to pay for it – while on some tickets BA will alow an underseat bag AND a cabin bag as hand luggage.

The rules vary between airlines (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

British Airways specifies a maximum of 56 x 45 x 25cm for cabin bags with a weight limit of 23kg – and will usually also allow a laptop bag or handbag up to 40 x 30 x 15cm.

Easyjet allows an underseat bag with maximum dimensions of 45 x 36 x 20 cm, and you can pay extra for an additional large cabin bag no bigger than 56 x 45 x 25 cm (maximum weight for each is 15kg).

On Ryanair you can take one very small bag – maximum 40 x 20 x 25cm – and pay extra for a larger cabin bag, maximum 55 x 40 x 20cm which must weigh no more than 10kg.

Note that if you’re flying out with one airline and back with another, their definitions of ‘large cabin bag’ can differ.

What can’t I pack in luggage?

In hand luggage, liquids, creams, gels, pastes and aerosols must be under 100ml and carried in a see-through, resealable bag no bigger than 20 x 20cm. There are exceptions for baby food and breast milk – check with your airline.

Food and powders are permitted (except on flights to the US) – but the advice from Heathrow Airport is: ‘They can obstruct images on the x-ray machine, or may be mistaken for suspicious items – so putting them in the hold will help reduce the need for additional checks.

‘Passengers who need to take these items on board should therefore allow extra time at security.’

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Face it, you’ll never cram that giant rucksack into Ryanair’s baggage sizer