Airplane Cabin Backpack
A cabin backpack allows you to travel by plane without paying for baggage: it fits under the seat in front of you or in the trunk, and keeps your hands free from the airport to the hotel. Ryanair, easyJet or Air France formats, expandable, wheeled or compression models: find all our cabin travel backpacks here.
What size for a cabin backpack?
Each company sets its own dimensions for the free baggage slipped under the seat. Choose your bag according to the company you travel with most often.
| Bag size | Companies where it passes for free | Our models |
|---|---|---|
| 40 x 30 x 20 cm | Ryanair, Vueling, Transavia, Wizz Air, Volotea, easyJet | Bags and suitcases 40x30x20 |
| 45 x 36 x 20 cm | easyJet | Cabin bags 45x36x20 |
| 40 x 30 x 15 cm | Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, and all the above companies | Bags 40x30x15 |
The rules change regularly: always check the conditions of your ticket before leaving. For all companies, consult our guide to cabin baggage size.
Backpack or cabin suitcase: what to choose?
The backpack takes it for short trips and journeys on foot: hands-free, it packs into the measuring template and goes everywhere, from subway stairs to cobbled streets. The cabin suitcase better protects wrinkled clothes and fragile objects, but its wheels and hard shell count in the dimensions and it does not pack down. For a weekend with a low-cost airline, the backpack remains the simplest choice; for a business trip with a suit, a small suitcase may be more suitable.
How to choose your cabin backpack?
The expandable backpack
A zippered gusset adds several liters when you need it. Closed, the bag respects the cabin format; open, it is used for returning to bring back your purchases if you have checked baggage, or once you arrive at your destination.
The wheeled backpack
It rolls like a suitcase in the airport and can be carried on the back of the stairs or on the cobblestones. Practical for long distances on foot, provided that the wheels and the handle are included in the dimensions announced.
The compression backpack
An integrated compression bag reduces the volume of clothing to carry more in the same size. This is the solution for traveling for several days with free luggage.
The backpack that opens like a suitcase
A complete U-shaped opening allows you to store your clothes flat and find everything without unpacking everything. Find out why in our article on travel backpack that opens like a suitcase.
The details that make the difference
- A padded computer pocket, for business travel and quick passage through security.
- A USB port, to recharge your phone with an external battery while waiting.
- A separate shoe compartment, to keep clothes clean.
- Padded and adjustable straps, and a support belt if you walk for a long time.
- A water-repellent fabric, to get through a downpour without getting your stuff wet.
What can you put in a cabin backpack?
Well organized, a cabin backpack is enough for 2 to 5 days depending on its size. Roll your clothes rather than fold them, carry the bulkiest ones with you on the day of the flight, and group your liquids of 100 ml maximum in a transparent toiletry bag, easy to take out in control.
To avoid unpleasant surprises at the check, reread the list of items prohibited in hand luggage. And if you're wondering if you can take both a backpack and a suitcase, our complete guide to the rules of backpacking in the cabin answers all questions.
Mistakes that cost extra when boarding
- Keep extension open : the bag then exceeds the free format.
- Overfilling a soft bag : it swells and no longer fits the measuring template.
- Forget the exterior pockets : a water bottle on the side adds several centimeters.
- Confusing under-seat baggage with cabin baggage : the small free piece of luggage goes under the seat, the 55 cm suitcase goes in the trunk and is often paid for as an option.
Why choose your cabin backpack from Sogaïa?
The format of each bag is indicated in its title, and each sheet details the companies where it passes free. Orders ship within 24 to 72 hours and you have 30 days to change your mind. To also see our suitcases and travel bags, browse our entire range of airplane cabin bags.
Frequently asked questions
Does a backpack count as cabin baggage?
Yes. With most low-cost airlines, a properly sized backpack is accepted as free baggage, to be slipped under the seat in front of you.
What size backpack to travel by plane without paying?
40 x 30 x 20 cm at Ryanair, Vueling, Transavia, Wizz Air and Volotea, 45 x 36 x 20 cm at easyJet, and 40 x 30 x 15 cm at Air France, KLM and Lufthansa.
Can we take a backpack and a suitcase in the cabin?
Yes, if your ticket includes cabin baggage or if you have taken the option: the backpack goes under the seat, the suitcase in the trunk.
How many liters for a cabin backpack?
A 40 x 30 x 20 cm bag contains approximately 24 liters, a 45 x 36 x 20 cm bag approximately 32 liters, and a 40 x 30 x 15 cm bag approximately 18 liters.
Is a wheeled backpack accepted in the cabin?
Yes, if it meets the company's dimensions, wheels and handle included.
Can we use the extension of an expandable backpack in the cabin?
Not for free luggage: open, the extension extends beyond the format. Keep it closed when boarding.