Holidaymakers are being urged to double-check their luggagebefore heading to the airport. It's a task that takes just seconds and it could save you from unexpected charges.

Airlines are becoming stricter with cabin bag regulations, scrutinising the size and weight of passengers' luggage. If your baggage exceeds the permitted dimensions or weight, you could be hit with hefty last-minute fees.

For example, easyJetwarns: "We check cabin bag sizes before you board. If your cabin bag is bigger than the maximum size allowed or if you bring a large cabin bag to the departure gate without the correct seat selection or without onepre-booked for your flight, it won’t be able to go in the cabin. We’ll have to check it into the aircraft hold and charges will apply."

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Given these stricter check-in rules, it's crucial to familiarise yourself with your airline's baggage allowances. Here's what some of the most popular airlines permit.

Ryanair

If you're flying with Ryanair, "all fares include one small personal bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm) that must fit under the seat."

You can add extra options like Priority boarding with a second 10kg cabin bag, checked bags of 10kg, 20kg (up to 3), or 23kg (1 allowed). Infants have no cabin allowance but may bring a 5kg baby bag and two baby equipment items free, it confirms.

Ryanair Cabin Baggage

• Priority & 2 Cabin Bags: This allows you to carry a small personal bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you and a 10kg bag (55x40x20cm) onboard, to be stored in the overhead locker. It also allows you to board the plane first using the Priority Boarding queue at the gate.

Ryanair Checked Baggage

• 10kg Check-in Bag: If you wish to check in a bag, you can add a 10kg Check-in Bag to your booking. Bags must be dropped at the airport check-in desk before security and will be placed in the aircraft hold.


• 20kg Check-in Bag: If you require a larger baggage allowance, you can add a 20kg Check-in Bag to your booking. Passengers can purchase up to 3 checked bags of 20kg on their booking.


• 23kg Check-in Bag: If you require an even larger baggage allowance, you can add a 23kg Check-in Bag to your booking. Passengers can purchase up to 1 checked bags of 23kg on their booking.

Ryanair Infant Baggage

• Ryanair allows you to carry 2 items of baby equipment free of charge per child, to make your journey as seamless as possible. There is no cabin bag allowance for an infant (aged 8 days to 23 months inclusive). However, it allows a baby bag up to 5kg (dimensions: 45 x 35 x 20 cm) for babies travelling on an adult's lap.

Jet2

Passengers flying with Jet2.com can bring a small under-seat bag, like a handbag or laptop bag, up to 40 x 30 x 20 cm, to fit under the seat in front of them.

The airline also confirms: "On all our Jet2.com flights, each passenger has a 10kg hand luggage allowance included as standard (excluding infants). You can also bring one small under-seat bag onboard (such as a handbag or laptop bag) as long as it fits under the seat in front of you."

Passengers are permitted one free cabin bag, provided it weighs no more than 10kg and measures within 56 x 45 x 25 cm - including wheels and handles. If you are travelling with little ones, "you can bring along a collapsible pushchair, car seat and/or travel cot free of charge."

British Airways (BA)

Another popular airline,British Airways, confirms that if you have no checked baggage, the following applies.

Handbag

1 handbag

Max dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15cm (16 x 12 x 6in)

Must easily fit under the seat in front of you

May contain essentials like medication, mobile phones, other electronic devices and passports

Guaranteed in the cabin

Cabin bag

1 cabin bag

Max dimensions of 56 x 45 x 25cm (22 x 18 x 10in) – including wheels and handles

You must be able to lift your cabin bag into the overhead compartment unassisted

No valuables, electronics or essential medicines

May need to go in the hold

You can also use the airline's baggage calculator here. You need to enter your flight details, including your departure and arrival airports, travel class, departure date, and ticket issue date.

It cautions: "The weight of your bag as well as the number of bags you are allowed may be different when travelling on flights operated by our partner airlines, even if you are booked under a BA flight number. These are also called code-share flights, and the operating airline will be named in your itinerary.

"If a journey with connecting flights includes ‘BA’ and other airline codes, such as ‘AA’ or ‘IB’, your baggage allowance is generally determined by the airline that operates the longest flight in your itinerary."

easyJet

Airline easyJet has confirmed that all passengers "can bring one small under-seat cabin bag per person on board for free."

It adds: "It can be a maximum size of 45 x 36 x 20 cm (including any handles and wheels) and must be kept under the seat in front of you. Your bag can weigh up to 15kg, but we do ask that you’re able to lift and carry it yourself."

The airline says passengers can bring a large cabin bag (up to 56 x 45 x 25 cm, including handles and wheels) if they book it for their flight. "Every customer who books a large cabin bag can also enjoy the benefit of Speedy Boarding", easyJet says.

It continues: "If you’re an easyJet Plus member or customer who has booked an Inclusive Plus fare, you can also bring a large cabin bag on board (in addition to your small cabin bag) as part of your membership or fare benefits.

"Please note that the maximum number of cabin bags available per person is two; one small cabin bag for all customers and one large cabin bag for customers if it’s included with their fare or membership benefits or where they have paid to add one to their booking."

The large cabin bag must follow these rules:

Maximum size 56 x 45 x 25 cm (including any handles and wheels)

Includes items like a trolley case and larger rucksack, but please check dimensions

Needs to fit in an overhead locker

Maximum weight 15kg. You need to be able to lift and carry the bag yourself

The airline recommends passengers purchase all their bags online, as it's more economical and helps avoid airport charges.