Choosing cabin luggage: dimensions, weight and fit

Check the allowance at its source

Use your airline’s official baggage information and your booking details. The allowance can depend on the fare, route or operating carrier. We do not label a collection as approved for every airline, and this guide does not substitute for the current carrier rules.

• Check the permitted number of bags.
• Check all three dimensions and any weight limit.
• Distinguish the under-seat item from the overhead cabin bag.

Compare all three external measurements

A label such as 55 cm tells you only the height. Compare height, width and depth, including wheels and handles. If a measurement has not been confirmed, ask for it before making your decision.

• Match each dimension to the allowance.
• Use the closed case dimensions for the configuration you will travel with.
• Do not infer usable packing capacity from the exterior dimensions.

Allow for what you will pack

The empty suitcase uses part of any total weight allowance. Compare the published empty weights, then consider the items you intend to carry. Expansion adds packing room only where the model supports it; it can also change whether the packed case fits the allowance.

• Check the exact size, not another size in the same collection.
• Confirm the expanded dimensions before relying on expansion.
• Weigh and measure the packed bag before travel.

For retail buyers: make the specification easy to explain

Display the actual dimensions rather than a broad “airline approved” claim. Keep model-specific data alongside the product, and review any carrier-specific sales copy when the airline changes its allowance. Ask for the documented Carlton models you want in your assortment.