Looking for the best carry on bag for Transavia? Every fare includes one free hand luggage bag up to 40x30x20cm that fits under the seat in front, with a 10kg weight limit. A bigger 55x40x25cm cabin bag for the overhead locker is not free on the Basic fare. It only comes included if you have booked Smart or Max, or you can add it separately for around £55 in advance, far less than the Gate Luggage Fee Transavia charges from €70 if you turn up with an unbooked bag.
We have researched the market across both allowances and picked five bags that fit the sizer, pack well and won’t catch you out at the gate. Two are built for the free 40x30x20cm underseat bag every Transavia passenger gets. Three are sized for the 55x40x25cm cabin bag, which is worth buying if you’ve booked Smart, Max, or paid for the add-on.
ATX Luggage 40x30x20cm 2-Wheel Under Seat Trolley
Best wheeled option — 4.4★ · 3,010 reviews
The ATX is built specifically for the underseat limit airlines like Transavia use, at exactly 40x30x20cm and 2.2kg empty. It’s a genuine trolley case rather than a backpack, so you don’t have to carry it on your shoulders through the terminal.
Inside, the 24 litre shell has packing straps on one side and a zipped, elasticated pocket on the other, with a small valuables pocket tucked away. Two wheels and a telescopic handle keep it light rather than adding the bulk of a four-wheel spinner, which matters when every gram counts toward Transavia’s 10kg limit.
It’s not built for rough handling as checked luggage, but for gate-to-seat use on a budget fare, it’s the wheeled option we’d buy first.
Cabin Max Metz 40x30x20cm Backpack
Lightest option — 4.6★ · 1,500 reviews
If you’d rather carry a backpack than wheel a case, the Metz is the standout. At just 0.69kg empty, it leaves more than 9kg of Transavia’s 10kg allowance free for what you actually pack, and its own Amazon listing names Transavia directly among the airlines it’s built to fit.
It’s made from recycled rPET polyester, with compression straps to squeeze the load down, a side bottle holder and a hidden rear pocket for a passport or phone. A rear trolley strap lets it clip onto a wheeled case handle if you’re checking a bag too.
Reviewers consistently mention how much fits into the 24 litre main compartment once it’s unzipped flat, which makes it a genuine short-trip option, not just a token day bag.
| Bag | Max size | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Under-seat bag | 40×30×20cm | Free Included |
| Overhead cabin bag | 55×40×25cm | Paid Add-on |
Cabin Max Anode 55x40x20cm 8-Wheel Hard Shell
Best overall — 4.6★ · 4,595 reviews
If you’re paying for Transavia’s cabin bag, or you’ve booked Smart or Max, the Anode is the safest bet. It’s built to 55x40x20cm and 2.5kg empty, comfortably inside Transavia’s 55x40x25cm limit, and holds 40 litres.
The hard ABS shell runs on eight spinner wheels rather than the usual four, which makes it noticeably easier to steer one-handed through a busy terminal. A 3-digit combination lock is built into the zip pull, and the interior includes a zipped divider, elasticated straps and a separate wet pocket for shoes or damp swimwear.
At 4.6 stars from over 4,500 UK buyers, it’s the most reviewed bag in this size on Amazon, and the one we’d buy first for the overhead upgrade.
Aerolite Expandable 55x40x20cm to 23cm Hard Shell
Most packing space — 4.5★ · 109 reviews
If you want more packing space than a standard 55x40x20cm case gives you, the Aerolite expands to 55x40x23cm, still 2cm under Transavia’s 25cm depth limit, using a zip gusset that takes capacity from 39.6 litres up to 45.5 litres.
It weighs 2.6kg expanded, runs on four dual spinner wheels, and has a built-in TSA combination lock. Inside, packing straps, a waterproof pocket for toiletries and a zipped divider keep things organised, and the polypropylene shell is tougher than a basic ABS case at this price.
Leave it unexpanded if you want a safety margin against Transavia’s gate sizer, or use the extra 3cm when you know you’ll be packing heavier.
Flight Knight 55x40x20cm Hard Shell
Best value — 4.3★ · 6,460 reviews
Flight Knight’s 55x40x20cm case is a cheaper way into the cabin bag allowance without giving up a hard shell. It weighs 2.7kg, holds 36 litres, and Flight Knight’s own compatibility list covers more than 60 airlines by name.
It has four multi-directional spinner wheels, a three-step telescopic handle and a combination barrel padlock that secures the zip pulls together. The ABS shell is scratch and water resistant.
It’s the most reviewed bag in this guide by some distance, with over 6,400 ratings, and it’s around £12 cheaper than the Anode, which makes it the pick if you only need the bigger bag occasionally.
The best carry on bag for Transavia: our verdict
For the free underseat bag every fare includes, the ATX Luggage trolley is the one to buy if you’d rather wheel it than carry it. If you want the lightest possible option, the Cabin Max Metz backpack leaves more of your 10kg allowance free for what you pack, and it’s one of the few bags on Amazon whose own listing names Transavia directly.
For the cabin bag upgrade, the Cabin Max Anode is the safest choice, with the most reviews and eight wheels for easy manoeuvring. If you want more packing space, the Aerolite’s expandable shell gets you there without breaking Transavia’s 25cm depth limit. On a budget, the Flight Knight does the job for less and still fits comfortably.
“Transavia only guarantees the small underseat bag for free. The bigger case is what catches people out, not because it’s expensive to add, but because Basic fare flyers assume it’s included and only find out at the gate that it isn’t.”
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor
| Product | Dimensions | Weight | Capacity | Approx price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATX | 40×30×20cm | 2.2kg | 24L | £20 | Best wheeled option Under-seat bag |
| Metz | 40×30×20cm | 0.7kg | 24L | £30 | Lightest option Under-seat bag |
| Anode | 55×40×20cm | 2.5kg | 40L | £55 | Best overall Overhead bag |
| Aerolite | 55×40×23cm | 2.6kg | 45.5L | £45 | Most packing space Overhead bag |
| Flight Knight | 55×40×20cm | 2.7kg | 36L | £40 | Best value Overhead bag |
Transavia’s cabin bag allowance explained
Every Transavia passenger gets one free piece of hand luggage up to 40x30x20cm, which has to fit under the seat in front of you. A larger cabin bag for the overhead locker, up to 55x40x25cm, is not included on the Basic fare. It comes free only if you’ve booked Smart or Max, and otherwise has to be added during booking or through My Transavia.
Once you’ve added a cabin bag, your hand luggage and cabin bag together can’t weigh more than 10kg. It’s worth checking how Transavia compares with the rest of the market on our UK airline hand luggage comparison. See the official Transavia cabin bag policy for full details.
All dimensions include handles and wheels. Turn up with an oversized or unbooked bag and Transavia’s Gate Luggage Fee starts at €70, and the bag travels in the hold instead. If you’re flying a different airline, our Vueling carry-on guide, Ryanair carry-on guide, Wizz Air carry-on guide and TUI carry-on guide cover the same ground for each airline’s own allowance.
Frequently asked questions
What size is Transavia’s cabin bag?
Transavia includes one free hand luggage bag up to 40x30x20cm on every fare. A larger cabin bag up to 55x40x25cm is only free on Smart or Max fares, or can be added as a paid extra.
Can I take two bags on Transavia?
Only if you’ve booked Smart or Max, or paid to add a cabin bag to a Basic fare booking. Basic on its own includes just the single 40x30x20cm hand luggage bag.
Does Transavia weigh cabin bags?
Yes. Once you’ve added a cabin bag, your hand luggage and cabin bag together can’t weigh more than 10kg combined. Transavia also checks bag dimensions with a sizer at the gate.
Do I need to pay extra for a bigger bag on Transavia?
Yes, unless you’ve booked Smart or Max. The 55x40x25cm cabin bag has to be added during booking or through My Transavia. Booking it in advance is cheaper than the Gate Luggage Fee, which starts at €70 for an unbooked or oversized bag.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
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