Published 22 June 2026 | Updated 4 October 2026 by Kate Acaster
TUI isn’t like any other airline UK passengers fly with regularly. It isn’t a budget carrier selling a seat and a bag. TUI is mainly a holiday company that also flies passengers, so what’s in your ticket depends on how you booked. A package holiday passenger and a flight-only passenger can sit side by side on the same plane with different inclusions.
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What's included in your TUI booking
The gap between a TUI package holiday and a TUI flight-only booking is big. Check which one you have before you pack, because it can save you a lot at the airport.
| What you get | Package holiday | Flight-only |
|---|---|---|
| Hand luggage (10kg) | Included | Included |
| Hold luggage | 20kg included | Not included |
| Seat selection | Extra cost to choose | Extra cost to choose |
| Meals on board | Buy on board | Buy on board |
| Airport transfers | Often included | Not included |
“Two people can sit side by side on the same TUI flight and have paid for very different things. The package passenger has 20kg of hold luggage and often a transfer waiting at the other end, while the flight-only passenger has neither unless they added them. Check your booking type before you pack, because adding a 15kg hold bag to a flight-only fare costs from around £40 return.”Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
Bags and luggage
All TUI passengers get one 10kg piece of hand luggage plus a personal item. Hold luggage comes with package holidays but not with flight-only bookings.
- Weight limits, dimensions and what you can add: our TUI baggage allowance guide
- Cabin bag sizes and what fits: our TUI hand luggage guide
- Bags that fit the 55x40x20cm limit: our best carry-on bag for TUI guide, with six verified options and current prices
When TUI releases flights
TUI puts its holidays on sale a long way ahead. Summer 2027 has been on sale since 16 October 2025 and Winter 2027/28 since 2 July 2026. Summer 2028 goes on sale on Thursday 15 October 2026. Early bookers get the widest choice of seats, rooms and resorts. For release windows and what to do when they go live, see our guide to when TUI releases flights and holidays.
Checking in
TUI online check-in opens either 48 hours or 14 days before your flight, depending on whether you've paid for seat selection. It closes one hour before take-off, and flights to Mexico and Jamaica follow their own 24-hour rule. Our check-in guide has the exact timings and a step-by-step walkthrough.
Seat selection
TUI offers four paid options alongside a free seat assigned at check-in: Select Your Seat, Extra Legroom, Extra Space and Premium. Premium, on long-haul Dreamliner flights only, adds a four-course meal with free drinks and lounge access on UK and Ireland outbound flights. For prices, what each option includes and whether it's worth paying in advance, see our TUI seat selection guide.
Food and entertainment on board
TUI runs a buy-on-board cafe on all short and medium-haul flights, selling hot snacks, cold sandwiches and drinks. There's no free meal in standard cabins on short-haul routes, whether you're on a package or flight-only booking. Premium passengers on long-haul Dreamliner flights get a four-course meal with free drinks, and those flights have individual seatback screens.
Delays and your rights
If your TUI flight arrives more than three hours late, you may be entitled to compensation under UK261. The amount depends on the distance:
- 1,500km or less: £220 per person
- 1,500 to 3,500km: £350
- Over 3,500km: £520, reduced to £260 if the delay is between three and four hours
Delays caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather or air traffic control strikes, are exempt. Claim directly at tui.co.uk rather than through a claims company, which will take a cut of any payout.
TUI's fleet
TUI Airways flies Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on its short and medium-haul European, Mediterranean and North African routes. Long-haul flights to the Caribbean, Florida, Mexico and the Maldives use Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which have a wider cabin, lower cabin pressure and larger windows than older long-haul types.
Check the aircraft type when you book. Many passengers find the Dreamliner's larger windows and lower cabin altitude more comfortable on long flights. Some TUI holidays use partner airlines rather than TUI Airways aircraft, mainly on routes where TUI doesn't fly direct. Your holiday confirmation shows the operating airline and flight number.
More TUI guides
Use these guides for the most common questions about flying with TUI. We also cover other UK carriers, including flying with easyJet and flying with Virgin Atlantic.
Frequently asked questions
Does TUI include hold luggage in the ticket price?
Only on package holidays. Standard TUI packages include 20kg per person (10kg for infants), and TUI BLUE, Sensatori, Holiday Village, river cruise and Premium bookings include 25kg. Flight-only bookings don’t, so you add hold luggage separately. A 15kg bag added at booking starts from around £40 return, depending on the route.
When does TUI online check-in open?
TUI online check-in opens 14 days before departure if you’ve paid for a seat. Otherwise, it opens 48 hours before the flight. Flights to Mexico and Jamaica are the exception, where check-in opens 24 hours before departure. Check-in closes one hour before departure.
What size is TUI's hand luggage allowance?
All TUI passengers aged 2 and over can bring one piece of hand luggage up to 10kg, with maximum dimensions of 55x40x20cm including handles and wheels. You can also bring one small personal item, such as a handbag or laptop bag, up to 40x30x20cm. It must fit under the seat in front.
Can I buy food on TUI flights?
Yes. TUI runs a buy-on-board cafe on all short and medium-haul flights, selling hot and cold snacks, sandwiches and drinks. There are no free meals in standard cabins on short-haul routes. Premium passengers, on long-haul Dreamliner flights only, get a four-course meal with free drinks.
What compensation does TUI have to pay for flight delays?
Under UK261, TUI passengers who arrive more than three hours late may be entitled to £220 for flights up to 1,500km, £350 for flights of 1,500 to 3,500km and £520 for flights over 3,500km, reduced to £260 if the delay is between three and four hours. Delays caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather or air traffic control strikes, are excluded. Claim directly with TUI at tui.co.uk to avoid third-party fees.
What aircraft does TUI fly?
TUI Airways uses Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on short and medium-haul routes across Europe and the Mediterranean. Long-haul routes to the Caribbean, Florida, Mexico and the Maldives use Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Some TUI holidays use partner airlines on routes where TUI doesn’t fly direct.
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.
