Carry-On vs Checked Baggage: What's the Difference?
Carry-on baggage travels with you in the cabin. Checked baggage travels in the aircraft's hold and is collected after landing. Each has its own size, weight, and content rules.
Carry-on baggage
- Typical size limit around 56 x 36 x 23cm, though this varies by airline
- Usually one cabin bag plus one small personal item, such as a laptop bag or purse
- Subject to the 100ml liquid rule at security
- Certain items - large battery packs beyond capacity limits, sharp objects, and others - are restricted or banned
Checked baggage
- Larger size and weight allowance than carry-on
- Goes through the hold and is screened separately; it isn't accessible during the flight
- Spare lithium batteries and power banks generally must travel in carry-on, not checked baggage
- Fragile or valuable items are safer kept in carry-on rather than checked
What you can't pack in either
Restricted and prohibited item lists are set by national aviation security authorities, not by individual airlines, and they can differ by departure country. Always check the official rules for the country you're flying from before you pack.
Choosing between the two
Carry-on is often free while checked baggage is frequently a paid add-on, especially on low-cost carriers. Checked baggage carries the risk of delay or loss; carry-on doesn't, since it stays with you throughout the journey.