British Airways allows a free personal item up to 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in, under the seat in front of you. Put your own bag's measurements in below.
| Personal item maximum | 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in (under the seat in front) |
| Is it free? | Yes — every fare includes one personal item |
| Full-size carry-on | 22 x 17.7 x 9.8 in (also included) |
| If it does not fit | Moved to the hold. |
BA calls it a handbag or backpack: 40 x 30 x 15 cm, in addition to the cabin bag.
At 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in it holds roughly 1093 cubic inches, about 29% of the volume of British Airways' own 22 x 17.7 x 9.8 in carry-on. That is larger than 1 of the 16 other airlines that publish a figure, and smaller than 12.
Worth knowing: 6 of the 23 airlines we track publish no personal-item measurement at all, so a bag chosen against British Airways's stated 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in is being measured against a firmer rule than most carriers give you.
Common small bags measured against British Airways' published 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in limit.
| Bag | Size | On British Airways | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-inch laptop bag | 15 × 11 × 4 in | Fits, 0.7 in spare | A slim work bag |
| Small daypack | 17 × 12 × 7 in | Too big by 1.3 in | The commonest personal item |
| Weekender tote | 20 × 13 × 9 in | Too big by 4.3 in | Often too big for under the seat |
| Compact backpack | 16 × 11 × 6 in | Too big by 0.3 in | Fits almost anywhere |
Both bags are included in the fare on British Airways, so the personal item is an addition to your 22 x 17.7 x 9.8 in carry-on rather than a replacement for it. The two limits are judged separately — a bag that is too big for under the seat may still be fine overhead.
British Airways publishes no cabin weight limit, so in practice the personal item is judged on whether it fits the space rather than what it weighs. You still have to be able to handle it yourself.
Moved to the hold. An over-large personal item usually travels overhead instead, which is free on British Airways and therefore a much softer landing than on a carrier that charges for the carry-on.
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.
British Airways allows a personal item up to 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 in, stowed under the seat in front of you.
Yes. Every British Airways fare includes one personal item.
A purse, small backpack, laptop bag, briefcase or similar. BA calls it a handbag or backpack: 40 x 30 x 15 cm, in addition to the cabin bag.
Moved to the hold.
The personal item goes under the seat and is free. The carry-on goes in the overhead locker and can be up to 22 x 17.7 x 9.8 in, included with your fare.
Yes — British Airways measures the whole bag, so soft bags that squash down have a real advantage under the seat.