The best carry on bag for Vueling depends entirely on which fare you have booked. The Fly Light fare gives you one free bag that has to fit under the seat in front, up to 40×30×20cm, with no weight limit stated. A second, larger bag for the overhead locker, up to 55×40×20cm and 10kg, is only free if you have booked the Fly, Fly Grande or Fly Pro fare, or you have paid extra to add it.
We have researched the best carry on bag for Vueling across both allowances and picked five that fit the sizer, pack well, and won’t land you with a gate charge. Three are built for the free 40×30×20cm underseat bag that comes with every fare. Two are sized for the 55×40×20cm overhead bag, which Fly Light passengers have to pay for separately.
Cabin Max Manhattan 40×30×20cm Backpack
Most reviewed — 4.6★ · 16,077 reviews
The Manhattan is the most reviewed underseat bag on this list by some distance, with over 16,000 ratings at 4.6 stars. It is made from recycled fabric and its own Amazon listing states plainly that it meets the 40×30×20cm dimensions for Vueling’s free underseat allowance, not just Ryanair’s.
Inside, you get a 24 litre main compartment, a padded pocket for a laptop up to 13 inches, and a front organiser pocket for your boarding pass and phone. The zips lock, and a rear luggage strap lets it sit on top of a wheeled case if you’re checking a bag too.
It’s a backpack rather than a wheeled case, so it won’t roll through the terminal, but it’s the lightest way to hit the exact 40×30×20cm limit without paying Vueling anything extra.
Cabin Max Anode 24L 40×30×20cm TwinWheel
Best wheeled option — 4.6★ · 2,766 reviews
If you’d rather wheel your underseat bag than carry it, the Anode TwinWheel is the pick. Cabin Max says it’s designed and tested to fit the sizers and under the seat for Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling and Eurowings, at exactly 40×30×20cm and 2.2kg empty.
The shell is durable, lightweight ABS with reinforced 8mm spiral zips, and the two-stage telescopic handle extends to 95cm, which is tall enough for most adults to wheel comfortably rather than stoop over it.
It holds 24 litres, split with packing straps on one side and a zipped, elasticated pocket on the other, plus a small internal valuables pocket. It won’t survive being thrown around like checked luggage, but for gate-to-seat use it’s well reviewed and does exactly what Vueling’s allowance requires.
Cabin Max Metz 40×30×20cm Backpack
Lightest backpack — 4.6★ · 1,500 reviews
The Metz is Cabin Max’s other big seller in this size, and its listing is explicit: designed to fit perfectly under the seat for Ryanair, Wizz Air, Volotea, easyJet, Transavia, TUI and Vueling. It is made from recycled polyester rather than the Manhattan’s fabric blend.
It carries compression straps to squeeze the load down if you’ve overpacked, a side bottle holder, and a hidden rear pocket for a passport or phone that pickpockets can’t reach. A rear trolley strap lets it clip onto a wheeled case handle.
Reviewers consistently mention how much fits into the 24 litre main compartment once it’s opened flat, and several note they’ve used it on Vueling flights specifically without being stopped at the gate.
| Bag | Max size | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Underseat bag | 40×30×20cm | Free Included |
| Overhead bag | 55×40×20cm | Free on Fly+ Varies by fare |
Cabin Max Anode 55×40×20cm Cabin Suitcase
Best overall overhead bag — 4.6★ · 4,595 reviews
If you have paid for Vueling’s overhead bag, or booked a Fly, Fly Grande or Fly Pro fare that includes it, the Anode is the safest bet. It is built to 55×40×20cm and 2.8kg empty, and Cabin Max’s own compatibility list names Vueling specifically alongside Ryanair, easyJet and TUI.
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 40 litre 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 55×40×20cm case on Amazon in this price range, and the one we’d buy first if paying for the overhead upgrade.
Flight Knight 55×40×20cm Cabin Suitcase
Best value alternative — 4.6★
Flight Knight’s 55×40×20cm case is a cheaper way into the overhead allowance without giving up a hard shell. It weighs 2.7kg, holds 36 litres, and Flight Knight’s own compatibility list includes Vueling’s Optima, Family and TimeFlex fares by name, alongside more than 60 other 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, and Flight Knight backs it with drop testing rather than just marketing copy.
It won’t match the Anode’s wheel count or its review base, but it’s around £13 cheaper and still comfortably fits Vueling’s paid overhead limit, which makes it the pick if you only need the bigger bag for occasional trips.
The best carry on bag for Vueling: our verdict
For the free underseat bag every Vueling fare includes, the Cabin Max Manhattan Backpack is the safest choice. It’s the most reviewed bag on this list by far, and its own listing names Vueling’s allowance directly. If you’d rather wheel it than carry it, the Anode TwinWheel hits the same 40×30×20cm limit.
If you’ve paid for, or you’re entitled to, the overhead bag, the Cabin Max Anode 55×40×20cm Suitcase is the best-reviewed option, with eight wheels and a built-in lock. The Flight Knight case is around £13 cheaper and still fits the limit comfortably if you only need it occasionally.
“Three of these five bags name Vueling on their own Amazon listing, not just Ryanair or easyJet, which is a good sign the maker actually checked the sizer rather than assuming one European budget airline is the same as the next.”
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor
| Dimensions | Weight | Capacity | Approx price | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan | 40×30×20cm | Not stated | 24L | £28 | Most reviewed Free underseat |
| TwinWheel | 40×30×20cm | 2.2kg | 24L | £40 | Best wheeled option Free underseat |
| Metz | 40×30×20cm | Not stated | 24L | £28 | Lightest backpack option Free underseat |
| Anode | 55×40×20cm | 2.8kg | 40L | £55 | Best overall (most reviewed) Paid overhead |
| Flight Knight | 55×40×20cm | 2.7kg | 36L | £42 | Best value alternative Paid overhead |
Vueling’s cabin bag allowance explained
Vueling’s cheapest fare, Fly Light, includes exactly one bag: an underseat bag up to 40×30×20cm, with no published weight limit. If you want a second bag for the overhead locker, up to 55×40×20cm and 10kg, you’ll have to add it during booking or upgrade to a Space One or Space Plus seat. Passengers on the Fly, Fly Grande or Fly Pro fare, and anyone flying with an infant, get both bags free from the start.
Turn up at the gate with an oversized underseat bag and Vueling charges €60 to €75 per item, per flight. An oversized overhead bag costs €110 to €140. Both figures come straight from Vueling’s own hand luggage policy, and once you’ve booked a bag online it can’t be changed or cancelled, so it pays to get the size right before you fly. If you’re comparing against a different airline, our Wizz Air cabin bag guide covers a near-identical underseat limit.
All dimensions include handles and wheels, and Vueling uses a physical sizer at the gate, so a bag that’s even slightly over in one dimension can be turned away. Every bag in this guide fits within the official limits above.
Flying with a different airline on the same trip, or just weighing up your options? Our guides cover Jet2’s cabin bag rules, TUI’s cabin bag rules, British Airways’ cabin bag rules and Ryanair’s cabin bag rules too, since each one treats the underseat and overhead allowances differently.
Frequently asked questions
What size is Vueling’s cabin bag?
Vueling includes one free underseat bag up to 40×30×20cm on every fare, with no published weight limit. A second bag for the overhead locker, up to 55×40×20cm and 10kg, is free only on the Fly, Fly Grande and Fly Pro fares, or if you add it as a paid extra on Fly Light.
Can I take two bags on Vueling?
Only if you’ve booked the Fly, Fly Grande or Fly Pro fare, or paid to add the overhead bag to a Fly Light booking. Fly Light on its own includes just the single 40×30×20cm underseat bag.
Does Vueling weigh cabin bags?
There’s no published weight limit for the underseat bag. The overhead bag is capped at 10kg. Vueling’s more common check at the gate is a physical size sizer rather than a set of scales, so getting the dimensions right matters more than the weight.
Do I need to pay extra for a bigger bag on Vueling?
Yes, if you’re on the Fly Light fare. The 55×40×20cm overhead bag isn’t included and has to be added during booking, or via a Space One or Space Plus seat upgrade. Booking it online is cheaper than paying for an oversized bag at the gate, which costs €110 to €140.
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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