British Airways allows a 56 x 45 x 25cm cabin bag plus a 40 x 30 x 15cm personal item free on every fare, including Economy Basic. Virgin Atlantic allows a smaller 56 x 36 x 23cm cabin bag plus a 40 x 30 x 15cm underseat bag, both weighed together against a 10kg limit in Economy and Premium. easyJet gives every passenger a free 45 x 36 x 20cm under-seat bag, but its larger 56 x 45 x 25cm overhead-locker bag is only included if you've paid for it or booked a qualifying fare. These limits genuinely differ, and if your bag doesn't match your airline's sizer at Heathrow, you risk it being tagged and sent to the hold at the gate — usually for more than a hold bag booked in advance would have cost.
Cabin bag size and weight limits compared (checked September 2026)
| Airline | Main cabin bag (overhead locker) | Personal / under-seat item | Weight limit | Who gets it free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | 56 x 45 x 25cm | 40 x 30 x 15cm | Up to 23kg per bag | Every fare, including Economy Basic |
| Virgin Atlantic | 56 x 36 x 23cm | 40 x 30 x 15cm | 10kg combined for both bags (Economy, Economy Light, Premium); Upper Class gets two cabin bags plus one underseat bag, 16kg combined, no single item over 12kg | All fares (Upper Class gets a second cabin bag) |
| easyJet | 56 x 45 x 25cm ("large cabin bag") | 45 x 36 x 20cm ("small cabin bag") | Large bag up to 15kg; small bag has no fixed published weight limit but must be liftable into the cabin unaided | Small under-seat bag is free for everyone; the large cabin bag needs payment, or comes with fares like FLEXI or easyJet Plus membership |
Dimensions include wheels, handles and pockets. Figures are drawn from each airline's current published policy, but allowances vary by fare and cabin class, and airlines change policies without much notice — always check the airline's own website shortly before you fly, not a third-party guide (including this one).
British Airways
BA's allowance is the most generous of the three at Heathrow. Every ticket, even the cheapest Economy Basic fare, includes one cabin bag (56 x 45 x 25cm) for the overhead locker plus a personal item (40 x 30 x 15cm) under the seat. BA states both can weigh up to 23kg — unusually high for a cabin allowance — but a bag still has to fit BA's sizer and be liftable into the locker, so an oversized or overstuffed bag can be refused regardless of weight.
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic's cabin bag is smaller, at 56 x 36 x 23cm, plus a 40 x 30 x 15cm underseat bag. In Economy, Economy Light and Premium, the two bags together must not exceed a combined 10kg — not 10kg each — so a heavy laptop bag eats into what your main case can weigh. Upper Class gets a second cabin bag, with 16kg combined across all three items and no single piece over 12kg. Since 23 March 2026, a bag that fails the check has been charged £65 at the gate and sent to the hold.
easyJet
easyJet works differently. Every passenger on every fare gets one free small under-seat bag (45 x 36 x 20cm). The larger cabin bag for the overhead locker (56 x 45 x 25cm, up to 15kg) isn't automatically included — you either pay for it as an add-on when booking, or it comes with fares like FLEXI, Up Front/Extra Legroom seating, or easyJet Plus membership. Pack a full-size case expecting the free allowance to cover it, and it simply won't fit the under-seat sizer.
What happens if your bag doesn't fit
All three handle it similarly: an oversized or overweight bag gets tagged at bag-drop or the gate and moved into the hold, for a fee that's usually higher than pre-booking a hold bag online.
- British Airways charges the same rate as a checked bag for your route and cabin class — BA no longer publishes one fixed gate fee, so check your specific booking.
- Virgin Atlantic charges £65 for a bag that fails its size or weight check.
- easyJet enforces its sizers strictly at the gate; an unbooked large bag is typically charged in the region of £48-£55 (fees change periodically, so treat this as indicative).
Gate staff use physical sizer frames, not guesswork — if a bag has to be forced in, it's over the limit.
How to avoid a gate-check fee
- Measure your bag, wheels and pockets included, against your airline's exact dimensions — BA, Virgin Atlantic and easyJet each use different frames.
- Weigh it at home if your airline has a weight limit — Virgin Atlantic's combined 10kg Economy limit catches people out most, since it includes the personal item too.
- Book any large-bag or hold-bag add-on online in advance; gate prices sit well above online prices on all three airlines.
- Allow a buffer before security to repack if needed — see our guide to Heathrow parking if you're driving in.
Liquids and other restricted items
Since CT scanners were rolled out across all four Heathrow terminals, liquids up to 2 litres can stay loose in your cabin bag rather than a small clear bag — worth factoring in when packing a size-limited bag. See our guide to Heathrow's liquid rules for 2026 and our prohibited items guide for what else can and can't go in hand luggage. More general questions are covered in our FAQs.
FAQs
Do cabin bag rules differ between Heathrow terminals?
No — size and weight limits are set by the airline, not the terminal, so the same allowance applies whichever Heathrow terminal you fly from.
Can I take a cabin bag and a separate personal item through security?
Usually yes, but check your fare first — easyJet's free allowance is one small bag, not a cabin bag plus a personal item, unless you've paid for the larger bag.
Will my cabin bag be weighed at Heathrow security?
No. Security checks for prohibited items and liquids under the 2-litre rule; bag size and weight are checked by airline staff at bag-drop or the gate.
What if my bag fits the sizer but is still refused?
Staff can still refuse a bag that's hard to lift into the locker safely, especially on a full flight where locker space is limited.
Is it cheaper to add a bag online instead of paying at the gate?
Almost always. All three airlines price add-ons well below gate fees, so book one as soon as you know your bag won't meet the free allowance.
Do premium or business class passengers get more cabin baggage?
Sometimes — Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class gets a second cabin bag and a higher combined weight limit, for example. Always check your specific fare and cabin, as allowances vary even within the same airline.