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Does a Carry-On Count as Baggage? What Your Ticket Includes and What Costs Extra
October 23, 2026
Yes, a carry-on counts as baggage: it is cabin baggage, meaning a bag that boards with you, as opposed to a checked suitcase that goes into the hold. The real question is whether it is included in your ticket. On El Al, Arkia and the major European airlines it is included. On low-cost airlines, and on Israir for most international flights, the basic ticket includes only a small bag under the seat, and the carry-on costs extra.
Cabin baggage, personal item and checked baggage: what is the difference?
Tickets and airline websites list three types of baggage, and each one is measured and weighed separately:
| Type | Where it goes on the flight | Common size and weight |
|---|---|---|
| Personal item (small bag) | Under the seat in front of you | On low-cost airlines usually 40×30×20 cm |
| Carry-on (cabin baggage) | In the overhead bin | Up to 55 or 56 cm tall, on most airlines 7 to 10 kg |
| Checked suitcase | In the hold, handed in at the counter | Usually up to 23 kg and up to 158 cm in length, width and depth combined |
So when an airline writes "cabin baggage included", it means the carry-on. When it writes "personal item only", you get only the small bag, and the carry-on has to be bought separately.
Is the carry-on included in the ticket? A table by airline
The data was checked against the airlines' websites in September and October 2026. Dimensions include wheels and handles.
| Airline | Carry-on in the basic fare | Carry-on dimensions | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Al | Included | 56×45×25 | 8 kg |
| Arkia | Included | 56×45×25 | 8 kg |
| Israir | Paid (included on flights to New York and Eilat) | 55×40×25 | 10 kg |
| Turkish Airlines | Included | 55×40×23 | 8 kg |
| Lufthansa | Included | 55×40×23 | 8 kg |
| British Airways | Included | 56×45×25 | Not stated |
| Iberia | Included | 56×40×25 | 10 kg |
| Wizz Air | Paid | 55×40×23 | 10 kg |
| Ryanair | Paid | 55×40×20 | 10 kg |
| easyJet | Paid | 56×45×25 | 15 kg |
| Pegasus | Paid | 55×40×23 | 8 kg |
On some airlines it depends on the fare: on Transavia the Basic and Plus fares include only a small bag, while Smart and Max include the carry-on. On Norwegian the LowFare ticket includes a small bag only, and LowFare+ adds the carry-on. On Pegasus the Light package on international flights includes only a 40×30×15 cm bag. You will find the full list of about 40 airlines in our guide carry-on suitcase dimensions by airline.
Does the carry-on's weight count toward the checked suitcase?
No. The carry-on and the checked suitcase have separate allowances: the 8 kg of an El Al carry-on do not "go into" the 23 kg of the suitcase, and you cannot move spare kilos from one allowance to the other. What is important to remember: the carry-on's weight limit includes the suitcase itself. The 20 inch suitcases on our site weigh between 2.2 and 3 kg empty, so with an 8 kg limit you have about 5 to 6 kg left for clothes and gear. How to use them well is covered in our guide how much weight is allowed in a carry-on.
When does a carry-on get sent to the hold anyway?
There are three situations in which your carry-on may become a checked bag:
- It is larger or heavier than allowed. If at the gate they find the carry-on exceeds the size or weight limit, it is sent to the hold, and low-cost airlines also charge for it, usually more than when booked in advance.
- You did not pay for it on a low-cost ticket. If you show up with a carry-on on a flight where the ticket includes only a small bag, you will pay at the gate.
- The overhead bins are full. On full flights the crew sometimes collects carry-ons and sends them to the hold.
Because of that last situation, keep your passport, medication, chargers and valuables in the small bag and not in the carry-on. Power banks are never allowed in the hold, so they must stay with you.
What is allowed in a carry-on compared to a checked suitcase?
Because the carry-on passes through security and stays with you in the cabin, stricter rules apply to it: liquids in bottles of up to 100 ml inside a clear bag, and no knives, large scissors or tools. In a checked suitcase you can pack liquids in large quantities and sharp items, but not spare lithium batteries. The full list is in our guide what you can take on a plane in your hand luggage.
How do you know what your ticket includes?
The airline's name is not enough, because the same airline sells different fares. Three places to check:
- The booking confirmation. Look for a line about cabin baggage or Cabin bag. If it only says Personal item, Small bag or "bag under the seat", the carry-on is not included.
- The fare name. Words like Basic, Light or LowFare usually signal a fare without a carry-on. Before booking, compare its price to the next fare up, which includes a carry-on.
- Manage booking on the airline's website. There you can see what has already been paid and add a carry-on before the flight, which is almost always cheaper than at the airport.
Carry-on only, or a checked suitcase too?
For a trip of up to a week, one carry-on and a small bag are enough for most people, if you pack well: rolled clothes, packing cubes, one pair of shoes in the suitcase and the other on your feet. The big advantage is that you do not wait at the carousel and do not risk a lost suitcase. For a long holiday, winter with coats or a family trip, a 24 or 28 inch checked suitcase is more convenient, and the carry-on stays for what you need on the flight itself. Want to try with just a carry-on? We have a packing guide for a week with a carry-on.
How to choose a carry-on that passes as cabin baggage on any airline
Three things decide whether the carry-on boards with you without an argument:
- Dimensions including wheels and handles. Airlines measure the whole suitcase. A suitcase of 55×35×20 to 23 cm meets almost every limit in the table above. A 24 inch suitcase is already too tall (64 to 68 cm) and will not board as a carry-on.
- The strictest airline you fly. If you fly both El Al and Ryanair, choose a suitcase that meets Ryanair's 55×40×20.
- Low empty weight. Every 300 grams the suitcase saves is another 300 grams of gear.
In the comparison table at the top of the page you will find our 20 inch suitcases with their outer dimensions, weight and stock. 18 of the 19 models in this size meet El Al's limit, and you can see all of them on our 20 inch carry-on suitcases page.
Frequently asked questions
Does a backpack count as a carry-on?
It depends on the size. A small backpack that fits under the seat counts as a personal item. A large backpack, roughly the size of a carry-on suitcase, counts as cabin baggage just like a carry-on, and on airlines where the carry-on is paid, such as Israir on international flights, it is paid too.
Can I board with a carry-on and a small bag?
On most airlines where the carry-on is included, such as El Al, Lufthansa or British Airways, one carry-on plus one personal item is allowed. In the basic fare of low-cost airlines you only get the small bag, and the carry-on is added for a fee.
Can a 24 inch suitcase go on as a carry-on?
No. 24 inch suitcases are usually 64 to 68 cm tall including wheels, well above the 55 or 56 cm allowed in the cabin. It goes into the hold as a checked suitcase.
Is the carry-on included on flights to Eilat?
On Israir, yes: on flights to Eilat and to New York the carry-on is included in the ticket, while on most of the airline's international flights the basic fare includes only a small bag. On other airlines, check the baggage details on your ticket before the flight.
What happens if the carry-on weighs more than allowed?
If it is weighed at the counter or the gate and found to be over the limit, it may be sent to the hold, and on low-cost airlines you will also pay for it. Weigh it at home with a luggage scale and remember that the allowance includes the suitcase itself.
