The desire to travel with cabin luggage only is becoming increasingly common, as travellers seek to avoid the hassle and extra time associated with checked baggage. Airlines have recognised this trend and reacted accordingly, by offering reduced cost options for travellers wishing to fly with hand baggage only. We’ve put together the handy infographic below showing the hand baggage restrictions on short and long-haul flights, along with potential extra costs if the weight or size allowance is exceeded.
Avoiding additional charges means being aware of cabin luggage restrictions, especially when it comes to weight. If you exceed the allowance you may be hit with surprisingly high fees at the airport. When travelling with national carrier Singapore Airlines, passengers are provided with a cabin luggage allowance of 7kg consisting of one bag and one accessory on all flights.
However, cabin luggage exceeding the defined size and weight restrictions laid out by the airline will incur a fee of S$12 per kilo on short haul flights and S$77 per kilo on long haul flights
On the other hand, Malaysia Airlines enforces a fee that applies to each 3kg increment over the allowance and varies between S$27 and S$108 depending on the duration of the flight.
It pays to be aware how cabin luggage policies may differ between international and regional airlines. On flights with Thai Airways, you can carry a piece of cabin luggage up to a maximum of 10kg. Cathay Pacific allows passengers to take up to 7kg on board, while KLM passengers can carry 12kg. Exceeding this regulation on either carrier may result in excess baggage fees.
We recommend you always read the fine print for cabin luggage restrictions, which vary dramatically from carrier to carrier. After all, being aware of the carry-on luggage regulations for the different carriers allows you to make your trip as smooth as possible and free of any last-minute surprises at the gate.
Main image credit: @istock.com/Rrrainbow
