Published 10 July 2026 | Updated 1 October 2026 by Kate Acaster
Looking for the best carry on bag for Aer Lingus? Every fare includes a free personal item up to 40x30x20cm, so you’re always covered for a small bag under the seat. The bigger question is the 10kg cabin bag, up to 55x40x24cm: it’s free on Plus, Advantage and AerSpace fares, but on Saver you book it in advance, check it in free, or pay at the gate. We’ve picked five bags that fit the sizer and pack well, two for the personal item and three for the cabin bag if your fare includes it or you’re booking it in advance.
Advertisement
Kono 35x20x20cm Under Seat Duffel Holdall 14L
Best overall, 4.4★ · 2,410 reviews
The Kono is a soft-sided holdall built to 35x20x20cm and just 0.3kg empty, comfortably inside Aer Lingus’s 40x30x20cm personal item allowance, with 5cm to spare on length and 10cm on width.
The oxford cloth shell is water resistant, there’s a front zip pocket for boarding passes and documents, and it folds flat into your main case when you’re not using it. A detachable shoulder strap and a rear trolley sleeve mean it can ride on top of your other luggage through the terminal. With over 2,400 UK ratings at 4.4 stars, it’s the most reviewed bag in this size we found, and the one we’d buy first for the free personal item slot.
SPAHER Small Cabin Bag 35x20x20cm
Most pockets, 4.5★ · 49 reviews
The SPAHER is the same 35x20x20cm size as the Kono but built for organisation rather than pure minimalism. Five separate pockets, including a dedicated wet pocket for toiletries, make it a genuinely useful bag beyond the flight, not just a boarding-day extra.
At 360g, it is light enough to disappear in your main case for the trip home, and a trolley sleeve on the back lets it sit over an extendable suitcase handle. It is a newer listing with far fewer ratings than the Kono. If you want more internal organisation than a plain holdall, this is the better pick for the personal item slot.
| Bag | Max size | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Personal item | 40×30×20cm | Free Included |
| 10kg cabin bag | 55×40×24cm | From £9.99 Fare dependent |
Cabin Max Anode 55x40x20cm 8-Wheel Hard Shell
Best overall cabin bag, 4.6★ · 4,753 reviews
If your fare includes the 10kg bag, or you’re booking it in advance on Saver, the Anode is the safest bet. It’s built to 55x40x20cm and 2.8kg empty, comfortably inside Aer Lingus’s 24cm depth limit, and holds 40 litres.
The hard ABS shell runs on eight spinner wheels rather than the usual four. A 3-digit combination lock is built in, 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 4,700 UK buyers, it’s the one we’d buy first for the 10kg cabin bag.
Aerolite Expandable 55x40x20cm to 23cm 2-Wheel
Most packing space, 4.6★ · 2,073 reviews
If you want more packing space than a standard 55x40x20cm case gives you, the Aerolite expands to 55x40x23cm, still a centimetre under Aer Lingus’s 24cm depth limit. A zip gusset takes capacity from 42 litres up to 48 litres, the most of any case in this guide.
It weighs 2.1kg, runs on two wheels, and the outer is 600-denier polyester rather than a hard shell, so it gives a little in a full overhead locker. Inside, packing straps and a zipped mesh divider keep things organised, and a front pocket takes a laptop up to 15.6 inches. Leave it unexpanded if you want a safety margin against Aer Lingus’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★ · 6,551 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 listing says it fits more than 100 airlines.
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 6,500 ratings. It’s cheaper than the Anode too, which makes it the pick if you’re only booking the 10kg bag occasionally.
The best carry on bag for Aer Lingus: our verdict
For the free personal item every fare includes, the Kono holdall is the one to buy if you want the most reviewed, lowest-fuss option. If you’d rather have more pockets for toiletries and documents, the SPAHER does the same job with better organisation, just with fewer reviews behind it.
“Most Aer Lingus passengers already have the 10kg bag included and don’t think twice about it. It’s Saver flyers who get caught out, because the fare page doesn’t make it obvious you’re paying for the same size bag someone in the next seat got for free.”
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor
For the 10kg cabin bag, the Cabin Max Anode is the safest choice if your fare includes it or you’re booking it on Saver, with eight spinner wheels and a built-in lock. If you want more packing space, the Aerolite’s expandable case gets you there without breaking Aer Lingus’s 24cm depth limit. On a budget, the Flight Knight does the job for less and still fits comfortably. Once you know which fare you’re on, our UK airline hand luggage comparison shows how Aer Lingus stacks up against the rest of the market.
| Product | Dimensions | Weight | Capacity | Approx price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kono | 35×20×20cm | 0.3kg | 14L | £11 | Best overall Personal item |
| SPAHER | 35×20×20cm | 0.36kg | 14L | £14 | Most pockets Personal item |
| Anode | 55×40×20cm | 2.8kg | 40L | £54.95 | Best overall 10kg cabin bag |
| Aerolite | 55×40×23cm | 2.1kg | 48L | £45 | Most packing space 10kg cabin bag |
| Flight Knight | 55×40×20cm | 2.7kg | 36L | £42 | Best value 10kg cabin bag |
Aer Lingus’s cabin bag allowance explained
Every Aer Lingus passenger gets a free personal item up to 40x30x20cm, such as a handbag, laptop bag or small backpack, on every fare with no exceptions. The bigger question is the 10kg cabin bag, up to 55x40x24cm, which isn’t automatic for everyone. On Plus, Advantage and AerSpace fares, and on Economy fares booked via British Airways, the 10kg bag is included free and has to travel in the cabin with you.
Who else gets the 10kg bag included, and what Saver flyers pay
AerClub Silver, Platinum and Concierge members get it too, regardless of fare. It’s also included for anyone flying on an AerClub Reward Flight, the adult accompanying an infant, and connecting passengers to or from an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight. On Saver, it’s not included. You can book a 10kg carry-on bag online from £9.99, drop it free at the check-in desk or bag-drop kiosk to travel in the hold instead, or risk a £35 charge if you turn up at the gate with an unpurchased bag that isn’t included.
More Aer Lingus baggage links
See how Aer Lingus compares with the market on our UK airline hand luggage comparison, or check the official Aer Lingus carry-on baggage policy, including the separate 7kg allowance on Aer Lingus Regional flights operated by smaller aircraft. All dimensions include handles and wheels. If you’re flying a different airline, our Jet2 carry-on guide, Vueling carry-on guide, Transavia carry-on guide and Norwegian carry-on guide cover the same ground for each airline. Packing sorted, it’s also worth knowing when Aer Lingus releases flights and when Aer Lingus has sales, so you can book the flight at the right time too.
Frequently asked questions
What size is Aer Lingus’s cabin bag?
Aer Lingus allows one 10kg cabin bag up to 55x40x24cm plus a free personal item up to 40x30x20cm, such as a handbag or laptop bag, on every fare.
Can I take two bags on Aer Lingus?
Yes. The 40x30x20cm personal item is included on every fare. The 10kg cabin bag is also included on Plus, Advantage and AerSpace fares, but on Saver it has to be booked in advance, checked in free, or paid for at the gate.
Does Aer Lingus weigh cabin bags?
Yes, the 10kg cabin bag has a strict weight limit checked before boarding. There’s no published weight limit for the smaller personal item.
Do I need to pay extra for a bigger bag on Aer Lingus?
Only on the Saver fare. You can book a 10kg carry-on bag online from £9.99, check it in free at the desk, or risk a £35 fee if you arrive at the gate without one arranged.
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.
How Kate works
Kate checks the details that can change the value of a trip, including cabin-bag rules, airline fees, hotel location, seasonality, travel dates and booking conditions. She is especially interested in offers that look useful on the surface but need a proper reader-first check before they are worth recommending.
Editorial standards
Flight Tribe covers deals and travel advice for readers first. Affiliate links do not decide whether an offer is worth writing about.
