British Airways hand baggage allowance depends on your fare. Economy Basic gets a hand bag (40x30x15cm) only — no overhead cabin bag guaranteed, and no checked baggage at all. Every other Economy fare and above adds a cabin bag (56x45x25cm) and at least one checked bag. Higher British Airways Club, oneworld, and AerClub tiers increase both the number of checked bags and the weight limit per bag.
Hand Baggage and Checked Bag Allowance by Fare Type
| Fare | Hand Bag | Cabin Bag | Checked Bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Basic | 1, 40x30x15cm | 1, 56x45x25cm | None |
| Economy (with checked bag) | 1, 40x30x15cm | 1, 56x45x25cm | 1 bag, up to 90x75x43cm, 23kg |
| Premium Economy | 1, 40x30x15cm | 1, 56x45x25cm | 2 bags on most routes (1 on some — confirm in Manage Booking), up to 23kg each |
| Business | 1, 40x30x15cm | 1, 56x45x25cm | 3 bags, up to 32kg each |
| First | 1, 40x30x15cm | 1, 56x45x25cm | 3-4 bags depending on Club tier, up to 32kg each |
Two things worth knowing that most guides skip:
- On Economy Basic, your hand bag is guaranteed in the cabin, but your cabin bag is not — it must go in the overhead bin unassisted by you, and valuables, electronics, and essential medicines aren’t allowed inside it (keep those in your hand bag instead, where they’re guaranteed to stay with you).
- British Airways Club, oneworld, and AerClub members get a real boost: Gold/Emerald/Platinum and Silver/Sapphire/Concierge members traveling in Economy get 2 checked bags at 32kg each (vs. the standard 1 bag at 23kg) — worth checking your membership tier before assuming the base fare allowance applies.
Liquids: The Rule Most Guides Get Outdated
At most UK airports, the classic rule still applies: each liquid container must be 100ml or under, packed into a single transparent resealable bag no larger than 20x20cm, with a total capacity around 1 litre — and you may need to remove the bag for separate screening.
But this has changed at some London airports. Heathrow and Gatwick have introduced newer security scanning technology that, where fully in place, lets passengers leave liquids and laptops in their bags entirely, with containers up to 2 litres permitted through security. This is a genuinely recent shift most baggage guides haven’t caught up with — if you’re departing from one of these airports, don’t assume the old 100ml rule automatically applies. Always check the rule for your return journey and any connecting airports too, since the exception doesn’t apply everywhere.
One country-specific detail worth knowing: Kenya has a ban on plastic bags, so BA recommends packing liquids in a thicker, clear, reusable bag instead of a standard disposable one if Kenya is part of your journey.
Powders
If you’re flying to the US, hand baggage powders (cosmetics, spices, coffee, powdered milk, etc.) are capped at 350g — anything more needs to go in checked baggage. Flying from Australia, inorganic powders are capped at 350ml/350g per person. You may be asked to open powder containers for inspection either way.
Batteries and Power Banks: A Rule That Recently Changed
British Airways now requires power banks and spare batteries to be carried in hand baggage — they are no longer permitted in checked baggage at all. This is a safety-driven policy update, not a legacy rule, so it’s worth double-checking your packing list even if you’ve flown BA before and packed a power bank in checked luggage previously without issue.
Alcohol Limits
- Under 24% ABV: no limit
- 24%–70% ABV: up to 5 litres, and only permitted in hand baggage if bought at airport duty-free
- Over 70% ABV: not permitted at all, in either hand or checked baggage
Duty-Free on Connecting Flights
Bought duty-free liquids over 100ml at your first airport? They’re fine to carry through a connection only if the bag is sealed in a tamper-evident Security Tamper Evident Bag with the receipt inside — and left unopened. If you leave the airport during a layover and come back, security may need to reseal the bag, and BA won’t cover items opened or confiscated in the process. Check the rules for every airport on your specific itinerary, not just your first departure point.
Food and Infant Milk
Solid food (sandwiches, biscuits, fruit) is fine onboard, but liquid foods (soups, sauces, jam) follow the same restrictions as other liquids. One notable exception: baby milk, formula, and baby food are allowed through security even over the standard liquid limits, and breast milk is permitted in the cabin up to 2 litres per container, as long as it’s liquid (not frozen) and in a clear, non-metal container. Note: British Airways doesn’t serve peanuts onboard due to allergy concerns, and asks passengers not to bring them into the cabin either.
Codeshare and Partner Airline Flights
If your itinerary mixes BA with a partner airline code (like AA or IB) on a connecting journey, your hand baggage allowance is generally set by whichever airline operates the longest flight in your itinerary — not necessarily British Airways’ own rules, even if you booked under a BA flight number. Always check the operating airline specifically shown in your itinerary before assuming standard BA rules apply.
Comparing Baggage Rules Across Airlines
If you’re weighing BA against a Gulf carrier for a longer international leg, see our breakdowns of Emirates baggage allowance and Qatar Airways economy baggage limit — useful if you’re connecting through Dubai or Doha on part of your journey.
Official Sources
- British Airways liquids and restrictions page
- UK Civil Aviation Authority — permitted baggage items
- TSA — US security rules
FAQs
Standard rule: 100ml per container, in one resealable bag up to 1 litre total. At Heathrow and Gatwick, newer security technology allows containers up to 2 litres in some cases — check before you fly since this doesn’t apply everywhere yet.
No. Power banks and spare batteries must be carried in hand baggage only — they’re no longer permitted in checked baggage.
No limit under 24% ABV. Up to 5 litres between 24-70% ABV (duty-free purchases only, in hand baggage). Nothing over 70% ABV is allowed at all.
Yes — it’s typically set by whichever airline operates the longest leg of your journey, not automatically by BA, even if your ticket shows a BA flight number.
Yes, both are exempt from standard liquid restrictions. Breast milk up to 2 litres per container is allowed, provided it’s in liquid form in a clear, non-metal container.
