Air France’s cabin bag rules are similar to those of many European airlines, but a few key differences can catch UK travellers off guard. Here’s what to know about cabin bag size, weight limits and baggage allowances before you fly.
- Cabin bag size: 55 x 35 x 25 cm (21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 in)
- Personal item size: 40 x 30 x 15 cm (15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in)
- Allowance: Economy passengers get 1 cabin bag + 1 personal item; Premium, Business and La Première passengers on long-haul flights get 2 cabin bags + 1 personal item
- Overhead space: Economy Basic passengers may have cabin bags gate-checked for free on full flights; overhead locker space is not guaranteed
In this article
- Air France hand luggage size: Rules, dimensions and weight limits.
- What extra items can you bring on board Air France flights?
- Air France hand luggage rules for travelling with infants.
- What are the hand luggage rules for musical instruments on Air France?
- Top three Air France hand luggage tips.
- Air France hand luggage FAQs.
Air France hand luggage size: Rules, dimensions and weight limits.
A small difference, but Air France refers to hand luggage as ‘hand baggage’ on its website – just something to keep in mind. All Economy passengers are allowed one piece of hand luggage and one personal item.
Passengers travelling in Premium, Business or La Première cabins are allowed two hand luggage items and one personal item. This applies to long-haul routes only.
| Bag type | Max dimensions |
|---|---|
| Cabin bag | 55 x 35 x 25 cm (21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 in) |
| Personal item | 40 x 30 x 15 cm (15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in) |
Maximum combined weight (cabin bag + personal item):
- Economy and Premium: 26.4 lb (12 kg)
- Business cabin and La Première: 18 kg (40 lb)
Air France personal item: size and placement rules.
Your personal item must fit under the seat in front of you – that’s the key rule to keep in mind. The maximum dimensions are 40 x 30 x 15 cm (15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in). Qualifying bag types include:
- Handbag
- Laptop bag
- Small rucksack
The combined weight limit is stricter than that of some major airlines and may catch passengers by surprise. Air France does not count items such as jackets or duty-free shopping bags towards its hand luggage allowance, which is helpful.
Good to know: If your journey includes flights with different airlines, check your cabin baggage allowance carefully. Air France limits Economy and Premium passengers to a combined 12 kg (26.4 lb) for their cabin bag and personal item, so travellers connecting from another airline should check that their bags meet Air France’s allowance. A bag that’s acceptable on one airline may exceed Air France’s allowance.
What extra items can you bring on board Air France flights?
Fortunately, Air France allows passengers to bring extra items on board that do not count towards your hand luggage allowance. The following items are neither considered a personal item nor hand luggage:
- A jacket, coat, or any other clothing item you may be wearing
- An umbrella
- Duty-free items purchased on board or at the airport
- Children’s items, such as pushchairs
Air France hand luggage rules for travelling with infants.
Fortunately, Air France has fairly generous cabin bag policies for parents or caregivers travelling with little ones. But it’s still helpful to familiarise yourself with the rules ahead of time.
If your child is travelling on your lap (which is allowed until they are two years old), you may bring one piece of hand luggage. A pushchair will count towards this allowance; see below for more info.
However, you can also check a pushchair and a car seat as hold luggage for no extra charge. This is a nice extra for parents who want to use these items on their trip but don’t need them during the journey itself.
If your child has their own seat, they have the same cabin bag allowances as adult passengers, depending on the ticket fare category.
Are pushchairs allowed as part of hand luggage on Air France?
Depending on the aircraft and available cabin space, some pushchairs may be allowed on board:
- Small foldable pushchairs: dimensions cannot exceed 15 x 30 x 100 cm (5.9 x 11.8 x 39.4 in)
- Other foldable pushchairs: These count toward your child's hand luggage allowance. Once folded, the pushchair cannot exceed 55 x 35 x 25 cm (21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 in).
What are the hand luggage rules for musical instruments on Air France?
Musical instruments smaller than 115 cm (45 cm) in total dimensions are considered a standard hand luggage item and are included in your baggage allowance. However, keep in mind that your only other allowed item will be a personal item that fits under the seat in front of you.
Musical instruments larger than the above dimensions require approval from Air France at least 48 hours prior to your flight’s departure. In this case, instruments will be placed not in overhead lockers but on one or more additional seats (the fare for which the passenger is required to pay).
Top three Air France hand luggage tips.
from expert traveller Blane Bachelor
1. Use overhead locker space wisely.
I appreciate that Air France doesn’t count items like duty-free shopping bags and jackets towards hand luggage allowance.
That said, I would advise you not to abuse the privilege – and always wait to see if there’s enough overhead locker space before you stuff in your jacket or shopping bags.
2. Expect hand luggage to be checked on full flights
As with other major carriers, passengers on Air France’s lowest fare category – Economy Light – are allowed two cabin bags.
However, if the flight is full, these passengers’ cabin bags will be the first in line to be checked (for free, fortunately – unless they’re oversized or overweight, in which case, you may be charged).
3. Be prepared for cabin bag weight checks.
I personally have never had my cabin bags weighed on an Air France flight (touch wood). But I’ve heard about plenty of other passengers who have, most often at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Since some airlines have a higher hand luggage weight allowance, this can be tricky to navigate for international connections. But it’s definitely something to be aware of so that it doesn’t come as an unpleasant surprise during your trip.
Air France hand luggage FAQs.
Still have questions about Air France’s cabin bag size or other concerns? Read on for expert answers.
Air France’s cabin bag enforcement tends to be strictest at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), where travellers may encounter both bag sizers and scales before security, not just at the gate. Width is one of the most commonly flagged dimensions.
Outside France, enforcement is generally less consistent, though it’s never guaranteed to be absent. Factors like how full the flight is, the discretion of gate agents and your status with the airline can all play a role.
If you’re planning to push the limits of your cabin bag allowance, it’s worth knowing the rules before you fly. Oversized or overweight bags can still end up checked — and with an extra fee attached.
Yes, if one qualifies as your cabin bag and the other qualifies as your personal item, and both meet Air France's size limits.
Air France Economy Basic passengers are allowed one cabin item and one personal item. However, on full flights, Economy Basic passengers' hand bags will be the first to be gate-checked. Fortunately at no charge, unless the bag is oversized or overweight.
If your cabin bag exceeds Air France's size or weight limit, it will be gate-checked and you may be charged an additional fee.
This is different from the free gate-check offered to Economy Basic passengers on full flights, which applies regardless of bag size or weight. If your bag's too big or heavy, that free pass doesn't count, you might still get charged.
Air France's cabin bag size limit is 55 x 35 x 25 cm and it applies to all routes. But, the number of cabin bags allowed in Premium Economy, Business, and La Première is limited to two bags only on long-haul international routes, not short-haul European flights.
Air France sticks to the standard EU rule: liquids have to be in containers of 100 ml or less, all fitting in a single 1-litre transparent resealable bag.
Duty-free liquids bought after the security checkpoint are exempt from this limit, as long as they stay in the sealed, tamper-evident bag given at the point of purchase.
Still have questions about Air France’s hand luggage size?
Luggage policies can be confusing. For an easy way to compare hand luggage rules across airlines, check out our hand luggage guide.
