Hand luggage rules can become confusing for passengers who fly with different airlines when travelling abroad.
Some offer free baggage in the cabin, while other airlines do not.
Airlines may also have different measurement restrictions, as well as weight restrictions for cabin bags.
Which UK airlines offer passengers the most hand luggage, both weight and size, for free?
Express.co.uk investigates four top UK airlines to see which comes out on top when looking at the cheapest fare options: Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
easyJet is the winner for allowing the most weight for hand luggage.
The airline does not have a weight restriction for passengers who take on a suitcase with them, but must be within a certain dimension of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm.
When it comes to taking the most bags onboard for free, British Airways allows two bags, a suitcase of the same size of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm and a handbag.
The weight of them must be under 23kg each.
Ryanair only allows a small handbag onboard for free for the most basic fare.
Virgin Atlantic allows a small suitcase – measuring less than easyJet or British Airways – under 10kg and a handbag.
Ryanair hand luggage
Passengers can only take a small handbag onboard with them for free, which must be less than 35cm x 20cm x 20cm, with no weight restriction stated.
Suitcases can only be taken into the cabin when purchasing Priority Boarding and must be less than 10kg.
They are also the smallest bags allowed of the four airlines, measuring under 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
Virgin Atlantic hand luggage
The most basic economy fare passenger is allowed to take a small suitcase onboard, measuring 56cm x 36cm x 23cm, smaller than easyJet and British Airways.
This must weigh less than 10kg. A small handbag is also allowed onboard.
easyJet hand luggage
Cabin bags can be 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, with one being allowed into the cabin for free.
There is no weight limit, but additional handbags are not allowed onboard and must be put into the suitcase as well.
Only Flexi fare or easyJet Plus passengers are allowed the second seat bag.
British Airways hand luggage
Hand baggage can be up to 56cm x 45cm x 25cm, but must weigh under 23kg.
An additional bag is allowed onboard which can also be 23kg but must weight no more than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm.
