Nothing sours the start of a trip like a gate agent pointing at the baggage sizer. Carry-on rules vary more than most travellers realise — what sails through with Qantas can be refused at a Jetstar gate. Here's what actually fits in 2026, and how to choose a bag you'll never have to gate-check.
The size limits that matter
Most full-service airlines (Qantas, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific) allow roughly 56 x 36 x 23 cm and 7-10 kg in the cabin. Low-cost carriers are tighter — Jetstar and AirAsia enforce 7 kg strictly and will weigh bags at the gate. If you fly a mix of airlines, buy for the strictest one you use regularly, not the most generous.
Hard shell or soft?
A structured carry-on protects what's inside and stacks cleanly in overhead bins, while a soft duffle or weekender forgives an over-packed side pocket and squeezes under seats. Frequent short-haul flyers tend to end up with one of each: the case for scheduled trips, the weekender for the Friday-night dash.
What separates a good carry-on from a great one
- Weight when empty. A 4 kg shell on a 7 kg allowance leaves you 3 kg of actual belongings. Look for under 3 kg.
- Real compression. Internal straps and a flat divider do more than expanding zips you can't use in the cabin anyway.
- Quiet wheels and a solid trunk handle. The failure points on cheap luggage are always the same two parts.
- A silhouette you'll keep. Luggage is one of the few things you carry for a decade. Choose a design you'd still pick in five years — our Rimowa-style cases and Goyard-line pieces exist because those silhouettes have never dated.
Packing the 7 kg allowance
Wear your heaviest shoes and jacket. Decant liquids into 100 ml containers inside a toiletry bag that sits at the top of the case for security checks. Keep documents in a passport cover in your personal item, not the overhead — you'll need them twice before you sit down.
Browse the full carry-on collection to find a case that clears every sizer between here and Europe.
