Hand Luggage Limits

How much hand luggage can you take on board?

New DTI guidelines - rules to be relaxed 6th November

Passenger requirements
Liquids

Some liquids are allowed once again through airport security check points. There are however, restrictions on the quantity of liquids that can be taken through:

Photo: liquids in a re-sealable plastic bag

Passengers may carry small quantities of liquids, but only within separate containers each of which with a capacity not greater than 100ml.

These containers must be brought to the airport contained in a single, transparent, re-sealable plastic bag, which itself must not exceed 1 litre in capacity (approximately 20cms x 20cms). The contents of the plastic bag must fit comfortably and the bag sealed. Each passenger may carry only one such bag of liquids.

The bag must be presented for examination at the airport security point.

Liquids that can not be placed inside the re-sealable bag must be packed into the hold luggage and checked in. Liquids of any amount can still be carried in luggage checked into the aircraft hold.

Remember that 'Liquids' includes:

* All drinks, including water, soup, syrups
* Creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara etc
* Sprays and pressurized containers including shaving foam and spray deodorants
* Pastes, including toothpastes
* Gels, including hair and shower gel
* Any other solutions and items of similar consistency

Medicines

Essential medicines and baby food may be permitted in larger quantities above the 100ml limit, but will be subject to authentication.
Cabin baggage and size allowed

Each passenger is restricted to carrying only one item through the airport search point with a maximum size of 56cm x 45cm x 25cm (note: the re-sealable bag must be able to fit within the cabin bag).

Pushchairs, walking aids and wheelchairs are permitted but will be screened.
Laptops / electrical items

Laptops and other large electrical items (e.g. a large hairdryer) have to be removed from cabin baggage and screened separately. A laptop bag will be regarded as your one item that is allowed in the cabin.
Outsize items

All items of luggage which do not fit in the permitted cabin baggage size (maximum length 56 cm, width of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm) must be checked in to be placed in the aircraft hold. Musical instruments are, as an exception, allowed as a second item of cabin baggage, but will need to be screened and passengers should check with their airlines if special arrangements (e.g. purchasing an extra seat) for these large instruments will be required.
Preparing for your journey

Passengers are asked to bear in mind the following advice to help make their passage through the airport as efficient and comfortable as possible:
Before you arrive at the airport

* Limit quantities to what you may need in the cabin for the duration of the flight.
* When possible, put liquids in hold baggage.
* Prepare the re-sealable bag of liquids before arriving at the airport.
* Check any queries you have with your airport or airline before travelling to the airport

At the security point

* Be ready to hand over your re-sealable bag of liquids for screening as you approach the security check point. It will be screened at the same time as your cabin luggage.
* All coats and jackets will have to be removed ready to be screened and metal items will be placed in plastic trays and scanned separately.
* If you are carrying a Laptop or any other large electrical item within your cabin luggage then please have it ready for separate screening as you approach the security check.

Duty free / departure lounge purchases

* You may take on board liquid items of any size that are purchased after the security check in the Departure lounge (sometimes referred to as 'Airside').
* Most duty free or similar purchases will be given to you in a special sealed bag. Do not open this bag until you have reached your final destination. You should also retain your proof of purchase throughout your journey. You will be required to show it at all transfer points.
* Please note restrictions apply to duty free purchases made on return journeys where passengers change flights at an EU airport. These are explained in detail in the next section.

These are the requirements set down by the Department for Transport. Airlines and Airports may have additional measures in place, and passengers are strongly advised to check the website of their carrier or airport before travelling.
Returning to or via the UK
Travelling from an airport in the EU, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland:

The arrangements outlined above apply. Please note that larger cabin bags will be permitted in some member states on a transitional basis until April 2007, when the maximum size permitted (length 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm) will be in force at all airports in the EU.
Travelling from an airport in any other country

Local arrangements apply.
Special information for transit passengers

If your journey involves changing flights at any EU airport, special restrictions apply. You may only take liquid items (for example duty free) through the security check point at your connecting airport if:

* they conform to the requirements for passengers departing from EU airports as set out above; or
* they have been purchased airside at another EU airport, or on board an aircraft operated by an EU carrier. You will need to show proof of purchase to demonstrate this. Liquid items in excess of 100ml purchased from other airports or on board other airlines may only be carried as hold baggage on the connecting flight.

The member states of the European Union are:

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Click here to read full article about new hand luggage rules

For flights departing on Thursday 21 September:

All passengers starting their journey at a UK airport and those transferring from international flights at a UK airport today will still be required to follow the requirements that have been in place since August 14th:

Each passenger is permitted to carry ONE item of cabin baggage through the airport security search point. The dimensions of this item must not exceed: a maximum length of 45 cm, width of 35 cm and depth of 16 cm (17.7"×13.7"×6.2" approx) (including wheels, handles, side pockets etc.). Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. All items carried by passengers will be x-ray screened.

No liquids of any type are permitted through the airport security search point, other than the following items:

* Essential medicines in liquid form sufficient and essential for the flight (e.g. diabetic kit), as long as it is verified as authentic
* Baby milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each bottle or jar must be tasted by the accompanying passenger).

NOTE: The definition of liquids includes gels, pastes, lotions, liquid/solid mixtures and the contents of pressurised containers, e.g. toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, soups, syrups, perfume, deodorant, shaving foam, aerosols, etc.

To help their progress through search points, passengers are asked not to include items capable of containing liquids (e.g. bottles, flasks, tubes, cans, plastic containers etc.) in their cabin baggage.

All laptops and large electrical items (e.g. large hairdryer) must be removed from the bag and placed in a tray so that such items neither obscure nor are obscured by the bag.

Pushchairs, walking aids and wheelchairs are permitted but will be screened.

In addition to the above, passengers boarding flights to the USA and items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, will be subjected to secondary search at the gate. Any liquids discovered will be removed from the passenger.
From Friday 22 September:

All passengers starting their journey at a UK airport and those transferring from international flights at a UK airport will be required to meet the following requirements:
Cabin Baggage

ONE item only of cabin baggage will be permitted through the airport security search point, the dimensions of this item must not exceed: a maximum length of 56 cm, width of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm (including wheels, handles, side pockets etc.). Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. All items carried by passengers will be x-ray screened.
Mobility aids

No change. Pushchairs, walking aids and wheelchairs are permitted but will be screened.
Liquids

No change. Restrictions remain in force, meaning that no liquids of any type are permitted through the airport security search point, other than the following items:

* Essential medicines in liquid form sufficient and essential for the flight (e.g. diabetic kit), as long as it is verified as authentic. Medicines in solid form continue to be permitted.
* Baby milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each bottle or jar must be tasted by the accompanying passenger).

To help their progress through search points, passengers are advised not to include items capable of containing liquids (e.g. bottles, flasks, tubes, cans, plastic containers etc.) in their cabin baggage.

NOTE: The definition of liquids includes gels, pastes, lotions, liquid/solid mixtures and the contents of pressurised containers, e.g. toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, soups, syrups, perfume, deodorant, shaving foam, aerosols, etc.
Large electrical items / Laptops

No change. Laptops and other large electrical items (e.g. a large hairdryer) will still have to be removed from cabin baggage and screened separately. (Note: a laptop bag will be regarded as your one item that is allowed in the cabin).

In addition to the above, passengers boarding flights to the USA and the items they are carrying, including those acquired after the airport security search point, will continue to be subjected to secondary search at the gate. Any liquids discovered will be removed from the passenger.
Musical instruments

Musical instruments which do not fit in the permitted cabin baggage size (maximum length of 56 cm, width of 45 cm and depth of 25 cm (including wheels, handles, side pockets etc.)) will be allowed as a second item of cabin baggage, and will need to be screened. Larger instruments (e.g. cellos) are also permitted into the cabin following screening. However, passengers should check with their airlines if special arrangements (e.g. purchasing an extra seat) for these large instruments need to be made.
Oversized baggage

All other items of oversized luggage will be required to be placed in the aircraft hold.
Flights to the US

Passengers boarding flights to the USA and items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, will be subjected to secondary search at the gate. Any liquids discovered will be removed from the passenger.

If passengers have any questions on their travel arrangements or security in place at airports they should contact the airport or their airline.

Following the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre's decision to change the UK threat level from Critical to Severe, the following aviation security measures will apply at all UK airports with immediate effect.

These arrangements apply to all passengers starting their journey at a UK airport and to those transferring from international flights at a UK airport.

Each passenger is permitted to carry ONE item of cabin baggage through the airport security search point. The dimensions of this item must not exceed: a maximum length of 45 cm, width of 35 cm and depth of 16 cm (17.7"×13.7"×6.2" approx) (including wheels, handles, side pockets etc.). Other bags, such as handbags, may be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. All items carried by passengers will be x-ray screened.

No liquids of any type are permitted through the airport security search point, other than the following items:

Essential medicines in liquid form sufficient and essential for the flight (e.g. diabetic kit), as long as verified as authentic
Baby milk and liquid baby food (the contents of each bottle or jar must be tasted by the accompanying passenger).
NOTE: The definition of liquids includes gels, pastes, lotions, liquid/solid mixtures and the contents of pressurised containers, e.g. toothpaste, hair gel, drinks, soups, syrups, perfume, deodorant, shaving foam, aerosols, etc.

To help their progress through search points, passengers are encouraged not to include items capable of containing liquids (e.g. bottles, flasks, tubes, cans, plastic containers etc.) in their cabin baggage.

All laptops and large electrical items (e.g. large hairdryer) must be removed from the bag and placed in a tray so that such items neither obscure nor are obscured by the bag.

Pushchairs and walking aids are permitted but must be x-ray screened. Wheelchairs are permitted but must be thoroughly searched.

In addition to the above, passengers boarding flights to the USA and items they are carrying, including those acquired after the central screening point, will be subjected to secondary search at the gate. Any liquids discovered will be removed from the passenger.

The Department for Transport will work closely with operators to introduce these new arrangements, seeking to keep disruption to passengers to a minimum. The Department will keep these measures under review.

If passengers have any questions on their travel arrangements or security in place at airports they should contact the airport or their airline.

Check what your airline says

But the general new rules are nothing larger than 22in long, 18in wide and 10in deep will be allowed as hand luggage

News story on bbc about reduction in hand luggage

New rules say 10kg and your bag must be within certain guidelines - make sure it is. Else you'll have to take items out during the check in process and leave them behind.

Weigh your bag at home and see how much it weighs.