Most surprise fees at the gate don't come from weight but from size — one centimetre over and your cabin bag, perfectly legal five minutes ago, suddenly becomes a 50-euro checked bag. The good news is that a well-chosen, well-packed bag clears any low-cost airline without argument. Here's the full checklist we use every single time, from what to buy to the order in which you pack it.
First, the dimensions — this is where it's all decided
There are two categories you need to understand. The small „under-the-seat-in-front" bag (around 40×20×25 cm) is included free with almost every airline — it's your basic bag. The classic cabin trolley (55×40×20 cm), which goes in the overhead locker, usually only gets on with a priority ticket or a cabin bag paid for separately.
The few-centimetre difference between airlines is real and costly. Wizz Air, Ryanair and easyJet each have their own exact figures, and at the gate there's the metal sizer that everything has to fit into, handles and wheels included. Check your airline's exact size before you buy the bag — and, if you're right on the limit, choose a soft fabric model that „gives" a centimetre rather than a rigid one.
The liquids rule, in short
At security, liquids go in a single clear, resealable bag, in containers of no more than 100 ml each and under a litre in total. „Liquid" also means cream, gel, toothpaste, roll-on deodorant and foundation. Keep the bag within reach, in the outside pocket — you pull it out first at the scanner and save precious minutes.
What to pack, and in what order
A good carry-on is packed „in layers", from heavy to light and from rarely used to always within reach. Pack on the bed, not straight into the bag, so you can see everything you're taking.
- Clothes rolled, not folded — they take up a quarter less room and barely crease.
- Electronics (laptop, tablet, power bank) in the same compartment, easy to take out at security.
- Liquids in the clear bag, in the outside pocket, on top of everything.
- Heavy shoes and the thick jacket you wear on you, not in the bag.
- Documents, boarding pass and keys in a small, separate pocket — always the same one.
- A full change of clothes in your carry-on, even if you check a trolley — if that one goes missing, you're covered for the first day.
A packing cube, or even a cheap vacuum bag, turns chaos into one compact block and easily buys you two extra days of clothes in the same volume. It's not an influencer's whim — it's the difference between zipping the bag up with room to spare and having to sit on it.
How to choose the right bag
A good cabin bag matters more than what's inside it. Choose a soft fabric model that flexes a little and „gives" a centimetre at the gate sizer, rather than a rigid trolley that forgives nothing. A backpack that opens flat across the whole front (like a suitcase, not a top-loading sack) gives you access to everything without unpacking everything, and if it has a separate laptop pocket you clear security faster. Check that it doesn't stick out at the wheels or the handles either — the sizer counts those too.
The toiletry kit, pared to the minimum
This is where you save the most space — and the most hassle at security. Switch to refillable 100 ml containers and leave at home everything you'll find at your destination anyway.
- Refillable 100 ml containers for shampoo, shower gel and cream — not the full bottles.
- A bar of soap or a solid shampoo sidesteps the liquids rule entirely.
- Toothbrush, a small tube of toothpaste, a solid or stick deodorant (not a spray, which counts as a liquid).
- Personal medicines in their original packaging, plus a small first-aid kit.
- Whatever you forget, you buy on arrival — a pharmacy or a supermarket sorts it in five minutes.
Adapt to the season
In winter, wear the heavy things — jacket, jumper, boots — and save the bag for the rest. In summer, bet on light pieces that mix and match: three neutral T-shirts, one pair of trousers and one of shorts, a layer for the evening. The rule that never fails: clothes that all go together, in a palette of two or three colours, so that five pieces yield a week of outfits.
The mistakes that cost you most often
- A rigid trolley right at the size limit — it forgives not a single centimetre at the sizer.
- A full water bottle at security — empty it before and refill it after.
- The lighter and sharp objects left in the wash bag — they get confiscated and you lose time.
- Too many „just in case" items — the golden rule is: for any piece, if you hesitate, leave it at home.