Whether you’re flying on a TUI package holiday or a flight-only booking, knowing exactly what you can bring into the cabin helps you pack efficiently and avoid unexpected fees at the airport. This guide covers TUI’s cabin baggage allowance in full, from dimensions and weight limits to what qualifies as a personal item.
Quick Answer
- Cabin bag dimensions: 55 x 40 x 20 cm (including handles and wheels)
- Cabin bag weight: 10 kg maximum
- Personal item dimensions: 40 x 30 x 20 cm, free on all bookings
- Checked baggage: Included on most package holidays (20 to 25 kg depending on package type), not included on flight-only bookings
- Fare dependency: The cabin bag and personal item allowance is the same across every TUI booking, there are no tiers to navigate on the hand luggage side
TUI’s hand luggage rules are consistent regardless of whether you’ve booked a package holiday or a flight-only ticket, it’s the checked baggage allowance that varies.
Cabin Baggage Allowance Explained
Every adult and child aged two or over travelling with TUI is entitled to one piece of cabin baggage for the overhead locker.
Maximum dimensions: 55 x 40 x 20 cm, including any handles, pockets and wheels
Weight limit: 10 kg
The 20 cm depth is the dimension most likely to catch travellers out. A hard-shell four-wheel case can bulge slightly beyond 20 cm once packed, particularly if it’s filled to capacity, whereas a soft-sided bag tends to compress more easily and cause fewer issues at the gate.
A common misunderstanding is expecting TUI’s cabin bag allowance to scale with different holiday types or cabin classes. It doesn’t, the 55 x 40 x 20 cm and 10 kg limit applies uniformly, whether you’ve booked a standard package, TUI BLUE, Sensatori or a flight-only ticket.
You must also be able to lift your own hand luggage into the overhead compartment, this is a standard airline requirement rather than something specific to TUI, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you’re travelling with a particularly heavy bag.
Personal Item Allowance
In addition to the main cabin bag, TUI permits one small personal item free of charge on every booking.
What qualifies:
- A laptop bag
- A small backpack
- A handbag
Common examples: A laptop bag containing a tablet and charger, or a small backpack with a book, snacks and travel documents, both fit within TUI’s personal item allowance.
Under-seat storage: The personal item must fit under the seat in front of you.
Size restrictions: 40 x 30 x 20 cm, with no separately published weight limit, though it must still be manageable enough to fit comfortably under the seat.
Cabin Bag vs Personal Item
TUI’s system separates your hand luggage into two distinct roles. The main cabin bag, at up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm and 10 kg, goes into the overhead locker and is intended for the bulk of your belongings, clothing, toiletries, and anything you don’t need immediate access to.
The personal item, at up to 40 x 30 x 20 cm, stays with you under the seat and is better suited to items you want close at hand, a phone charger, headphones, medication, or reading material.
For example, a traveller heading on a week-long package holiday might use the 55 x 40 x 20 cm cabin case for clothes and toiletries, while keeping a 40 x 30 x 20 cm backpack as their personal item for a book, snacks and travel documents.
Can You Take a Cabin Suitcase?
Yes, a cabin-sized suitcase is a standard choice for TUI’s main cabin bag allowance, provided it stays within 55 x 40 x 20 cm including wheels and handles, and weighs no more than 10 kg.
Since the 20 cm depth is the dimension most commonly responsible for bags being rejected at the gate, it’s worth choosing a suitcase with a genuinely slim profile rather than one that measures close to 20 cm when empty, as packing will naturally add a small amount of extra bulge. A soft-shell case can also be a sensible choice here, since it compresses more easily than a rigid hard-shell case if it’s a close fit at the sizer.
Restricted Items
TUI follows standard UK and EU restrictions for cabin baggage contents.
- Liquids: Must be in containers of 100ml or less, packed within a single transparent, resealable bag
- Electronics: Laptops, tablets and cameras are permitted, though larger electronics may need to be removed at security
- Batteries: Spare lithium batteries and power banks must be carried in cabin baggage, not the hold
- Sharp items: Scissors, knives and similar sharp objects are not permitted in cabin baggage
- Food: Solid food is generally permitted, though liquid or gel-based foods fall under the standard liquid restrictions
What Happens if Your Bag is Too Big?
Gate checks: TUI is known to actively enforce its hand luggage policy at the gate, particularly on busy summer departures, with staff able to weigh and measure bags before boarding.
Extra charges: If your bag exceeds 10 kg or doesn’t fit the sizer, it will be moved to the hold, potentially at a charge.
Possible delays: Being asked to repack or check a bag at the gate takes time and can add stress to the boarding process, so it’s worth confirming your bag fits well before you arrive at the airport.
Tips for Avoiding Extra Fees
- Weigh your cabin bag at home before travelling, keeping it comfortably under 10 kg rather than right at the limit
- Choose a soft-sided or slim-profile case to avoid the 20 cm depth becoming an issue once packed
- If you’re travelling with a Trunki or similar children’s case, remember it counts as the child’s cabin bag allowance, not an extra item
- Check whether your specific package includes checked baggage, since this varies by holiday type, standard packages typically include 20 kg, while TUI BLUE, Sensatori and similar packages may include 25 kg
- If you’ve booked flight-only, remember hold luggage isn’t included and will need to be purchased separately if required
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring a backpack? Yes, a backpack can serve as either your main cabin bag or your personal item, depending on its size.
Can I bring duty free? Yes, duty-free purchases are generally permitted in addition to your cabin bag and personal item.
Can I take a handbag as well? Your personal item allowance can be a handbag. TUI permits one main cabin bag and one personal item, so a handbag typically serves as the personal item rather than an additional third bag.
Can I carry medication? Yes, medication is permitted in cabin baggage, though liquid medication over 100ml may require supporting documentation.
Can I take a laptop? Yes, laptops are permitted in either bag and are commonly carried in the personal item for ease during security screening.
Does TUI weigh cabin bags? Yes, TUI staff can and do weigh hand luggage, particularly at busy times, and oversized or overweight bags may be moved to the hold.
What size suitcase fits? A cabin case around 54 x 39 x 19 cm gives a small margin under TUI’s 55 x 40 x 20 cm maximum, which helps account for any bulge once packed.
Can I take a coat? Yes, wearing a coat onto the flight doesn’t count toward your cabin baggage allowance.
Does a Trunki count as an extra bag? No, a Trunki case is allowed in the cabin up to 10 kg, but it counts as the accompanying child’s cabin bag allowance rather than an additional item.
How much checked baggage is included on a package holiday? This depends on the package, standard TUI package holidays typically include 20 kg, while TUI BLUE, Sensatori, Holiday Village and similar packages may include 25 kg.
Is checked baggage included on flight-only bookings? No, flight-only bookings don’t include hold luggage as standard, it needs to be purchased separately if required.
Do infants get a hand luggage allowance? No, infants under two years of age don’t receive a hand luggage allowance on TUI flights.
Conclusion
TUI’s cabin baggage allowance is straightforward and generous compared to many competitors, a 55 x 40 x 20 cm bag up to 10 kg, plus a free 40 x 30 x 20 cm personal item, applied consistently across every booking type. The main variable to check before you travel is your checked baggage allowance, which depends on whether you’ve booked a package holiday or flight-only ticket. Since airline baggage policies can change, it’s worth confirming the latest rules directly with TUI before you fly.
