Is a holdall OK as carry-on? UK airline rules
Short answer: yes, but only if the holdall fits the airline's cabin bag sizer. UK carriers generally allow a cabin bag up to 56 by 36 by 23 cm (the IATA standard) or, in some cases, a smaller 45 by 36 by 20 cm. Most of our holdalls fit the larger size; some are above it. The full per-airline breakdown, the size of each bag we make, and what to do at the gate are below.
The short answer, by airline
| Airline |
Cabin bag limit |
Will our holdalls fit? |
| British Airways |
56 x 36 x 23 cm |
Yes, all four holdalls (Dartmoor, Kendal, Malvern, Fenwick) |
| Virgin Atlantic |
56 x 36 x 23 cm |
Yes, all four |
| easyJet |
56 x 45 x 25 cm (no weight limit) |
Yes, all four |
| Ryanair |
40 x 20 x 25 cm (Priority) or 40 x 25 x 20 cm |
No. All four holdalls are above the Ryanair Priority limit. |
| Jet2 |
56 x 36 x 23 cm |
Yes, all four |
| TUI |
55 x 40 x 20 cm |
Yes, all four (just inside the width limit) |
The fuller definition of a holdall versus a weekender versus a duffel is in our holdall versus weekender versus duffel guide, and the question of whether a holdall is even the right bag for a one to three night trip is in our what is a weekender guide.
What about the weekenders?
Our weekenders are smaller and softer, and they fit all six UK carriers above. If you fly Ryanair regularly and want a soft-sided bag, the weekender is the right answer; a holdall will be gate-checked.
What "fits" actually means at the gate
The cabin bag sizer at the gate is the test that matters, not the spec sheet. The bag has to slide in without forcing. The four holdalls we make are 50 by 28 by 26 cm at the largest (the Fenwick), which fits the IATA 56 x 36 x 23 cm sizer with room to spare on width and depth and just inside on length. The bag will go in wheels-first. If it does not slide in, the gate agent will tag it for the hold, and there is no appeal.
If you are flying Ryanair, the bag will not fit. Buy a Priority ticket (which lets you take a small 40 x 20 x 25 cm bag and a small personal item) or accept that the bag will be gate-checked. The fee is usually £10 to £20 at the time of writing.
Why a holdall is the right carry-on when it fits
A holdall that fits the cabin bag sizer is the right carry-on for three reasons:
- It holds a three to four night trip without a checked bag, which saves the £30 to £60 checked bag fee each way.
- It is soft-sided, which means it will fit in an overhead locker even when the flight is full and the lockers are tight.
- It looks like luggage rather than a rucksack, which reads better at a hotel reception or a meeting off-site.
The brand context for why we make holdalls in this shape rather than the rectangular roller is on our history of the British holdall page.
What to do before you fly
- Check the airline's current cabin bag size on the day you fly. The limits in the table above are correct as of September 2026, but airlines do change them.
- Measure the bag you intend to carry, including the handles. A bag that is 55 cm at the base is sometimes 58 cm over the handles, and the sizer measures the total.
- If the bag is borderline, allow an extra ten minutes at the gate. A gate agent will sometimes let a borderline bag through if you have arrived early and the lockers are not yet full.
The full shipping and returns terms, including what to do if a bag arrives and does not suit, are on our shipping policy page. The full holdall collection is the place to start if you are choosing one for a trip.
