Our beauty and wellness editor was caught out on a recent short-haul flight travelling with a cabin bag that didn’t meet regulations – here’s which one she’ll be buying
Despite being a regular traveller, I always struggle to pack light. But with many airlines imposing extra charges to place a suitcase in the plane’s hold now, I’m trying to travel with hand luggage online wherever – but I almost came unstuck on a recent flight.
I flew with Aer Lingus to Dublin on a recent weekend trip, and packed my usual trusty Briggs & Riley carry-on suitcase (my exact model isn’t available any more, but this one is similar ). However, I hadn’t realised that my particular route (operated by Emerald Airlines) was actually classed as an Aer Lingus Regional flight, which meant smaller bags allowed on board: luggage can’t be larger than 48cm x 33cm x 20cm, compared to Aer Lingus’ regular flights, which have a maximum size of 55cm x 40cm x 24cm.
This meant that on this flight my suitcase had to be put in the hold after all. However, to avoid making this costly mistake in the future, I’ve found a few carry-on suitcases that should meet even the smallest size limits…
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Antler Soft Stripe Underseat
£130 from Antler
As its name suggests, this square-ish hand luggage case from Antler is designed to even fit under the seat in front of you when on board – handy if the overhead lockers are full – and, measuring 45 x 35 x 20cm, adheres to some of the stricter baggage restrictions. It’s available in three muted colours – black, indigo blue and Antler green – and features a combination lock, adjustable handle and zip front pocket (no 360-degree spinning wheels though, if that’s important to you).
If you’re travelling even lighter, I also love my Antler Essential Backpack, priced at £115 and perfect for commuting – you can read my full review of it here.
Hayayu Cabin Bag
£23.99 from Amazon (usual price £25.95)
A similar design to my Antler backpack is this travel backpack from Amazon, which is basically a small, wearable suitcase, measuring 40 x 20 x 25cm. It has a 20L capacity, and inside features various organisational compartments, such as mesh pockets, dry and wet bags, and a computer sleeve. Amazon customers are saying it’s suitable as an under-seat bag on Easyjet and Ryanair flights, too.
Anode 24L TwinWheel Underseat Case
£40 from Cabin Max
Cabin Max has loads of smaller cabin bags in different designs, from holdalls to vanity cases. We like this one for its sturdy design, its wheels and its choice of colours – its basically a regular suitcase, just mini.
