Airlink carry-on size and personal item rules

Airlink carry-on allowance by fare

Airlink checked baggage by fare

Checked baggage verified 11 October 2026. Your booking confirmation shows the exact allowance for your trip.

Checked bag fees (we never show prices, they change by route and date): see the official page

What to know about Airlink carry-on rules

• Airlink (South Africa) flies mostly out of JNB; Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique are among its key markets.
• Among the 24 verified airlines from sub-Saharan Africa, Airlink has the 6th largest cabin bag allowance; the strictest is Proflight Zambia (30×25×15 cm).
• As a box, Airlink's 56×36×23 cm limit holds about 46.4 litres, the 80th largest volume of the 170 airlines that publish three cabin bag sides.
• Among the 189 verified airlines that include a measured cabin bag, Airlink sits at rank 50; 19% of them allow a smaller total than its 115 cm (45.3 in).
• Airlink's cabin bag totals 115 cm (45.3 in), 1.2 cm (0.5 in) more than the average of the 24 verified airlines from sub-Saharan Africa (113.8 cm (44.8 in)).
• Tested against Airlink's 56×36×23 cm limit, a standard US carry-on of 22 × 14 × 9 in (55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9 cm) fits, but with only 0.1 cm (0 in) to spare on the length.
• Tested against Airlink's 56×36×23 cm limit, a typical European cabin case of 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) is 4 cm (1.6 in) too big on the width.
• Of 177 verified airlines with a published cabin weight limit, 53 allow more than Airlink's 8 kg (17.6 lb) for the cabin bag and 84 allow less.
• Besides the 56×36×23 cm sides, Airlink caps the sum of length, width and height at 115 cm.
• Exceptions noted on the official Airlink page: “Business Class: 2 Pieces plus 1 slimline laptop bag”

Our notes on Airlink

Airlink publishes an 8 kg hand baggage allowance with a maximum size of 56 × 36 × 23 cm, and no single carry-on item may exceed 115 cm in total.

Economy passengers may take one piece plus one slimline laptop bag; Business passengers may take two pieces plus a laptop bag. One detail is unusual: Airlink says unisex handbags count as part of a passenger's wardrobe, not as hand baggage, so a handbag does not use up your allowance. On regional flights from Johannesburg, the 36 cm width is the side to check, since many European cabin cases are 40 cm wide.

Airlink carry-on questions

Does Airlink have a weight limit for carry-on bags?

Yes. On its Economy Class fare, Airlink sets 8 kg (17.6 lb) for the cabin bag. Airlink publishes no weight limit for its personal item, only a size.

Will a 55 × 40 × 20 cm carry-on fit Airlink's limit?

No: against Airlink's 56×36×23 cm limit, a hard 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) case is 4 cm (1.6 in) too big on the width.

Airlines related to Airlink

• CemAir carry-on size — also flies from JNB
• South African Airways carry-on size — also flies from JNB
• FlySafair carry-on size — also flies from JNB
• LIFT carry-on size — also flies from JNB

Strictest carry-on airlines · All airlines

Official sources

• https://www.flyairlink.com/en/za/baggage/hand-and-cabin-baggage — checked on 9 October 2026

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