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Popular Irish airline Aer Lingus has specific hand luggage policies to ensure efficient and safe travel for its passengers. While you might be familiar with the basics, it’s worth familiarising yourself with the updated Aer Lingus hand luggage size and weight policy guidelines.
Aer Lingus hand luggage size policies explained
According to their luggage guidelines, Aer Lingus allows each traveller to bring 1 small personal item such as a purse, laptop bag, small handbag, or briefcase on all flights. An additional cabin bag is included free of charge on transatlantic and regional flights, but not on European flights.
The Aer Lingus cabin bag size will differ depending on the type of flight:
All hand luggage must fit in the overhead locker or under the seat in front of you.
The Aer Lingus hand luggag weight limit will also depend on your flight type. The combined weight of your cabin bag and small personal item shouldn’t exceed 7 kg on regional flights. If you opt to bring a cabin bag onto a European or transatlantic flight, it should not weigh more than 10 kg, but your personal item doesn’t factor into that.
If you’re having problems fitting everything in, check out this useful guide for packing your bags.
Note that Aer Lingus has updated its hand luggage policy for European flights. If you want to bring a cabin bag of up to 10 kg, you must add it for a fee of £9.99/€9.99, unless you have priority status. Depending on your ticket, you may, however, check this bag in free of charge.
Lily Cichanowicz, travel expert
What extra items can you bring on board?
Be sure to review what is and isn’t allowed in your hand luggage before you fly to avoid having your things confiscated.
The following additional items are allowed on board Aer Lingus flights:
- A collapsible pram/pushchair plus a car seat, travel cot, or booster seat.
- Medical equipment such as a foldable wheelchair or mobility aid.
- Smaller musical instruments that meet the Aer Lingus hand luggage size requirements for regional or other flights. You can purchase an extra window seat if your instrument is larger than required. The weight of the instrument, including its case, shouldn’t exceed 75 kg.
- Urn carrying ashes. You should store it safely in a cushioned, leakproof container not made of metal.
All hand luggage for infants (children below 2 years of age) must be included in the baggage allowance of the accompanying adult. It will be listed as a ‘carry-on bag with priority boarding’ (‘carry-on’ meaning the same as hand luggage, of course). Children aged 2-12 have the same hand luggage allowance as adults.
Aer Lingus hand luggage FAQs
Hand luggage policies can be tricky to decipher. Find answers to the most commonly asked questions below.
Expert tips for maximising Aer Lingus’ hand luggage allowance
from travel expert Lily Cichanowicz
1. Pack light
Pack essential items only and make use of space-saving techniques like rolling your clothes up tightly. These expert tips will help you make the most out of the space you have.
2. Become an AerClub member
You can join Aer Lingus’ AerClub and enjoy benefits like complimentary hand luggage allowance in some of the membership tiers.
3. Choose the right bag
You should look for a compact and lightweight bag that fits perfectly in the overhead lockers and does not take up much of the total weight.
Still have questions about Aer Lingus’s hand luggage size?
Luggage policies can be confusing. For an easy way to compare hand luggage rules across airlines, check out our hand luggage guide. Perhaps you’re stuck on what to pack? We have plenty of handy tips for that, too. Finally, don’t forget to check what’s allowed in your hand luggage before you head to the airport.
Last update: March 28, 2025 – because staying informed makes travel smoother.
The post Aer Lingus hand luggage size guide: What you should know appeared first on KAYAK Blog UK.
