Comparing budget flights without missing the extras
Compare the complete trip price, including the bag you will carry and the airport journey. A cheap headline fare may still be the right choice.
Compare budget flights using the bag you will actually bring. If you need an overhead suitcase, a fare that includes only a small under-seat bag is not yet a complete price for your trip.
The same applies to the airport. A cheaper flight landing much farther from your accommodation may remain good value, but only after you add the onward journey and check the arrival time.
Start with the bag dimensions
These basic allowances were checked on 8 September 2026. Recheck your booking before packing, including any separate allowance for an infant or specialist equipment.
| Airline | Included small cabin bag | Detail to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40 × 30 × 20cm, under the seat | An overhead cabin bag requires an eligible additional allowance |
| easyJet | 45 × 36 × 20cm, including handles and wheels | The small bag can weigh up to 15kg, but you must be able to carry it yourself |
Read the Ryanair bag policy or easyJet cabin-bag rules for the exact product. A paid checked bag goes into the hold; it does not automatically become a second cabin bag.
Measure your packed bag, not just the label sewn into it. An overfilled soft bag and protruding wheels can change whether it fits the allowance.
Compare one realistic total
Add the fare, required baggage, any seat choice you want and the airport transfer. Keep optional purchases optional: you do not need every item the booking page offers.
If you are travelling as a group, compare the full group cost. A larger shared checked bag can be worth pricing, but think about who will carry it and what happens if the group separates.
Check both directions. A convenient outbound flight does not compensate for a return departure that requires an expensive pre-dawn transfer. Our London airport guide shows why the airport name matters as much as the city printed beside it.
Finish the admin before departure day
Read the airline's current check-in and boarding-pass instructions. Complete any document checks required for your booking and save the pass in an accepted format. Charges and procedures can vary, so a remembered fee from a previous flight is not dependable.
Finally, separate airline bag rules from airport security rules for liquids. Paying for a larger cabin bag does not change what the departure airport permits through security.