Aer Lingus allows a free personal item up to 15.5 x 11.5 x 8 in, under the seat in front of you. Put your own bag's measurements in below.
| Personal item maximum | 15.5 x 11.5 x 8 in (under the seat in front) |
| Is it free? | Yes — every fare includes one personal item |
| Full-size carry-on | 21.5 x 15.5 x 9.5 in (charged separately) |
| If it does not fit | Must fit the airport gauge including wheels and handles. |
Saver fares must pay for the cabin bag. It is included on Plus, Advantage and Aer Space fares, for Silver/Platinum/Concierge AerClub members, adults travelling with an infant, and transatlantic or interline connections.
Published as 40 x 30 x 20 cm (15.5 x 11.5 x 8 in).
At 15.5 x 11.5 x 8 in it holds roughly 1426 cubic inches, about 45% of the volume of Aer Lingus' own 21.5 x 15.5 x 9.5 in carry-on. That is larger than 8 of the 16 other airlines that publish a figure, and smaller than 8.
Worth knowing: 6 of the 23 airlines we track publish no personal-item measurement at all, so a bag chosen against Aer Lingus's stated 15.5 x 11.5 x 8 in is being measured against a firmer rule than most carriers give you.
Common small bags measured against Aer Lingus' published 15.5 x 11.5 x 8 in limit.
| Bag | Size | On Aer Lingus | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-inch laptop bag | 15 × 11 × 4 in | Only just — 0.5 in spare | A slim work bag |
| Small daypack | 17 × 12 × 7 in | Too big by 1.5 in | The commonest personal item |
| Weekender tote | 20 × 13 × 9 in | Too big by 4.5 in | Often too big for under the seat |
| Compact backpack | 16 × 11 × 6 in | Too big by 0.5 in | Fits almost anywhere |
Saver fares must pay for the cabin bag. It is included on Plus, Advantage and Aer Space fares, for Silver/Platinum/Concierge AerClub members, adults travelling with an infant, and transatlantic or interline connections. That makes the personal item the whole of your free allowance, and it is why travellers who fly Aer Lingus regularly buy a bag sized to the under-seat limit rather than a standard carry-on they would have to pay for every flight.
Aer Lingus publishes a cabin weight limit of 22 lb (10 kg) — 10 kg (22 lb). Weight is checked far less often than size, but it is the rule most likely to catch you on a bag full of books or camera gear.
Must fit the airport gauge including wheels and handles. Because the overhead bag is charged on Aer Lingus, an over-large personal item is not a free upgrade to the locker — it becomes a paid bag, usually at the most expensive tier because you are buying it at the gate.
Two practical notes that apply on any airline: the under-seat space is smaller in a row with a lifejacket box or an entertainment unit beneath the seat, and a soft bag that compresses will pass where a rigid case of identical stated dimensions will not. Measure with anything strapped to the outside included.
Aer Lingus allows a personal item up to 15.5 x 11.5 x 8 in, stowed under the seat in front of you.
Yes. Every Aer Lingus fare includes one personal item. On Aer Lingus it is the ONLY free bag — the full-size carry-on is charged separately.
A purse, small backpack, laptop bag, briefcase or similar. Published as 40 x 30 x 20 cm (15.5 x 11.5 x 8 in).
Must fit the airport gauge including wheels and handles.
The personal item goes under the seat and is free. The carry-on goes in the overhead locker and can be up to 21.5 x 15.5 x 9.5 in, and Aer Lingus charges for it.
Yes — Aer Lingus measures the whole bag, so soft bags that squash down have a real advantage under the seat.