Looking for the best carry on bag for Aer Lingus? Every fare includes a free personal item up to 33x25x20cm, 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 included free on Plus, Advantage and AerSpace fares, but on Saver you either book it in advance, check it in free, or pay at the gate.
We’ve 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 sized for the free 33x25x20cm personal item every Aer Lingus passenger gets. Three are built for the 55x40x24cm cabin bag, worth buying if your fare includes it or you’re booking it in advance.
Kono 35x20x20cm Under Seat Duffel Holdall 14L
Best overall — 4.4★ · 2,391 reviews
The Kono is a soft-sided holdall built to 35x20x20cm and just 0.3kg empty, close to Aer Lingus’s 33x25x20cm personal item cap. It’s a couple of centimetres longer than the stated width, but there’s no gate sizer or fee attached to the personal item the way there is for the 10kg bag, so a little give on one dimension is far less risky here.
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 2,300 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 — 4.3★ · 27 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 330g, the waterproof nylon shell 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. Reviewers rate it well for size and quality, though it’s a newer listing with 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 | 33×25×20cm | 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★ · 4,595 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 2.5kg 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, 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 10kg cabin bag.
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 a centimetre under Aer Lingus’s 24cm 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 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★ · 6,460 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 cheaper than the Anode, 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.
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 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 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.
“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
| Product | Dimensions | Weight | Capacity | Approx price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kono | 35×20×20cm | 0.3kg | 14L | £11 | Best overall Personal item |
| SPAHER | 35×20×20cm | 0.3kg | 14L | £14 | Most pockets Personal item |
| Anode | 55×40×20cm | 2.5kg | 40L | £55 | Best overall 10kg cabin bag |
| Aerolite | 55×40×23cm | 2.6kg | 45.5L | £45 | Most packing space 10kg cabin bag |
| Flight Knight | 55×40×20cm | 2.7kg | 36L | £40 | Best value 10kg cabin bag |
Aer Lingus’s cabin bag allowance explained
Every Aer Lingus passenger gets a free personal item up to 33x25x20cm, 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. AerClub Silver, Platinum and Concierge members get it too, regardless of fare, along with 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.
It’s worth checking how Aer Lingus compares with the rest of the market on our UK airline hand luggage comparison. See the official Aer Lingus carry-on baggage policy for full details, 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’s own allowance.
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 33x25x20cm, such as a handbag or laptop bag, on every fare.
Can I take two bags on Aer Lingus?
Yes. The 33x25x20cm 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.
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