Hand luggage

Hand luggage or cabin baggage (also commonly referred to as carry-on in North America) is the type of luggage that passengers are allowed to carry along in the passenger compartment of a vehicle instead of moving to the cargo compartment. Passengers are allowed to carry a limited number of smaller bags with them in the vehicle and contain valuables and items needed during the journey. There is normally storage space provided for hand luggage, either under seating, or in overhead lockers. Trains often have luggage racks at the ends of the carriage near the doors, or above the seats if there are compartments.

Commercial airlines

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sets guidelines for cabin baggage/hand luggage/carry-on luggage size [http://www.iata.org/whatwedo/passenger/passenger_baggage/index.htm]. They are not mandatory, however, and individual airlines can and do vary their requirements. The IATA guideline states:

Cabin baggage should have maximum length of 22 in (56 cm), width of 18 in (45 cm) and depth of 10 in (25 cm). The sum of these three dimensions should not exceed 45 in (115 cm). These dimensions include wheels, handles, side pockets, etc.

Most low-cost airlines have smaller limits for the cabin baggage where one bag is commonly allowed at a size of 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm. Still the maximum weight differs widely in the range of 5 kg to 12 kg. As an example of the lack of standardisation, the maximum permitted cabin luggage of some airlines are:

Commercial airline pilots and flight attendants also comply with standards. Those standards are set by individual airlines under "uniform restrictions" which guide and maintain professional dress codes.

Safety Restrictions

Following the increase in restrictions imposed on flights from UK airports and to the USA after the events of August 2006 (2006 transatlantic aircraft plot), hand baggage on such flights was restricted to one cabin bag no bigger than 45 cm x 35 cm x 16 cm effective since 15 August. On 21 September 2006, the British Airports Authority advised that from the following day, the allowable size of the single item of hand baggage on outgoing flights from the UK would be increased to 56 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm (approx. 22 in x 17.75 in x 9.85 in) , the IATA guideline size. Still most airports have a strict limit of one piece of cabin baggage per passenger - especially passengers in the business class are used to have two pieces of cabin baggage allowance within Europe which does not apply for flights to and from the UK.

European Union

Since 6. November 2006 there is a common regulation for cabin baggage restrictions in extended European Union (including Switzerland, Norway and Iceland). Restrictions on liquids:
only liquids with max 100 ml per piece
all pieces assembled in a single zippable plastic bag of max 1000ml (1 liter)
liquids include gels and lotions (shampoo, tooth paste), lip sticks, moist paper tissue
Exceptions:
prescribed medicin of any size (non-prescribed medicin-only items allowed well)
baby milk and other items for infants
nutrition for diabetes diet
Restrictions on abusable objects:
weaponry, including imitations and sports utilities (e.g. archery)
sharp objects, even small ones, including dart arrows and razor blades.
The recommendation allows for light knifes and scissors with blades up to 6 cm but some countries do not accept these either (e.g. nail care items).
blunt objects, clubs and all larger sticks, including sports utilities (e.g. skateboard)
inflammable objects, including ethanol, alcoholic beverage above 70%, some match sticks
toxic chemicals, including pepper spray, liquid batteries, blood samples

United States

The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has introduced a series of restrictions effective since 26. September 2006 under the name "3:1:1" for liquids Restrictions for liquids
3 ounce or smaller of containers for liquids and gels (approx. 90 ml)
1 quart-size clear plastic zip-top bag holding the liquid containes (approx. 950 ml)
1 bag per traveler shown openly in the security bin.
the TSA guidelines explicitly accept the metricized portions of 100 ml / 1 liter as defined later in the European Union.
the list of exceptions for liquids (baby milk, diabetes diet) is identical.

Furthermore the TSA has additional restrictions for security searches - for example all baggage should not be locked (there are special padlocks that only TSA staff can open), gifts should not be wrapped, and shoes may be required to be taken off during body search with the metal detector. Food items in the luggage may be mistaken for dangerous material triggering an intensive search. These advises are of special importance for cabin baggage - especially on international flights there are frequent intensive searches on the border control on anything suspicious.

Translation of "Hand luggage"

German: Handgepäck, Russian: Ручная кладь.