Brussels Airlines carry-on size and personal item rules
- Europe
- Full-service
- Star Alliance
- Verified 28 September 2026
Brussels Airlines (SN) allows one cabin bag of 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in) and 8 kg (17.6 lb) on its Economy Light, Comfort, Comfort Green & Flex (short- and medium-haul) fare, plus a personal item of 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in). Verified on 28 September 2026 from the official Brussels Airlines baggage page.
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Brussels Airlines carry-on allowance by fare
| Fare | Route / class | Personal item | Cabin bag | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Light, Comfort, Comfort Green & Flex (short- and medium-haul)(standard) | All routes · Economy | 40×30×15 cm | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | cabin bag 8 kg |
| Economy Basic (short- and medium-haul) | All routes · Economy | 40×30×15 cm | Not included | Not published |
| Business Comfort, Comfort Green & Flex (short- and medium-haul) | All routes · Business | 40×30×15 cm | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | cabin bag 8 kg |
| Economy (long-haul) | All routes · Economy | 40×30×15 cm | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | cabin bag 8 kg |
| Premium Economy (long-haul) | All routes · Premium economy | 40×30×15 cm | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | cabin bag 8 kg |
| Business (long-haul) | All routes · Business | 40×30×15 cm | 55×40×23 cm, 8 kg | cabin bag 8 kg |
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What to know about Brussels Airlines carry-on rules
- Brussels Airlines (Belgium) flies mostly out of BRU; Congo - Kinshasa, Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Rwanda are among its key markets.
- Among the 18 verified airlines from Europe, Brussels Airlines has the 4th largest cabin bag allowance; the strictest is Binter (45×35×25 cm).
- In its standard fare, Brussels Airlines applies exactly the same cabin bag, personal item and weight figures as Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS, so a bag packed for one of them also passes on Brussels Airlines.
- In volume terms the Brussels Airlines cabin bag reaches about 50.6 L; 12 of the 60 airlines with published sides allow a bigger box.
- Brussels Airlines ranks 11th of 66 verified airlines by cabin bag size in the standard fare: its 118 cm (46.5 in) total is bigger than 62% of them.
- Brussels Airlines' cabin bag totals 118 cm (46.5 in), 0.5 cm (0.2 in) more than the average of the 18 verified airlines from Europe (117.5 cm (46.3 in)).
- Of the 17 Star Alliance airlines verified here, Brussels Airlines comes 2nd by cabin bag size; the range runs from United Airlines at 114.3 cm (45 in) to TAP Air Portugal at 120 cm (47.2 in).
- A standard US carry-on of 22 × 14 × 9 in (55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9 cm) is 0.9 cm (0.3 in) too big on the length when measured against Brussels Airlines' 55×40×23 cm.
- A typical European cabin case of 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) fits exactly at the limit on the length when measured against Brussels Airlines' 55×40×23 cm.
- Brussels Airlines publishes 6 different allowances: 5 of the 6 include a cabin bag; Economy Basic (short- and medium-haul) has no cabin bag at all.
- Brussels Airlines' 8 kg (17.6 lb) limit for the cabin bag is stricter than 20 of the 57 airlines that publish a cabin weight limit, and looser than 23 of them.
- Exceptions noted on the official Brussels Airlines page: “Business 1 personal item max. 40 x 30 x 15 cm 2 items of carry-on baggage max. 8 kg max. 55 x 40 x 23 cm”
Brussels Airlines personal item: what fits under the seat
- On Economy Basic (short- and medium-haul), the personal item is the only free bag Brussels Airlines allows in the cabin, so it has to hold everything you take on board.
- Filled as a box, Brussels Airlines' 40×30×15 cm personal item holds about 18 litres, right at the median of 18 L across the 56 airlines that publish three personal item sides.
- Against the 26 airlines from Europe that publish a personal item size (average 87.7 cm in total), Brussels Airlines allows 85 cm, more than 0% of them.
- By volume, the 40×30×15 cm personal item on Brussels Airlines is 36% of the 55×40×23 cm cabin bag: about 18 L against 50.6 L.
- A soft 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) under-seat bag is 5 cm (2 in) too big on the depth against Brussels Airlines' 40×30×15 cm personal item limit.
- With 85 cm in total, the Brussels Airlines personal item is bigger than 9 and smaller than 28 of the 57 verified airlines that publish a personal item size.
- Among 14 Star Alliance airlines with a published personal item size, Air Canada allows the largest (33×43×16 cm) and South African Airways the smallest (30×40×10 cm); Brussels Airlines sits at 40×30×15 cm.
Our notes on Brussels Airlines
With Brussels Airlines, where you fly from can matter more than your fare. Leaving the USA, or connecting after you land there, TSA rules let you take only one carry-on bag and one personal item through security, whatever your class or frequent flyer status; anything more must be checked in before the checkpoint. Business and First passengers lose their second carry-on bag the same way on some routes, such as flights from India and the USA.
On a fully booked smaller aircraft, a larger carry-on bag may have to be checked in, and you get it back at the aircraft steps when you get off.
On board, the bins above the emergency exit rows are kept for the passengers sitting there, and a coat can hang on the hook of the seat in front of you.
Brussels Airlines carry-on questions
- Does the Economy Basic (short- and medium-haul) fare of Brussels Airlines include a cabin bag?
- No. Brussels Airlines' Economy Basic (short- and medium-haul) fare has no cabin bag, only a personal item.
- Does Brussels Airlines have a weight limit for carry-on bags?
- Yes. On the standard fare, Brussels Airlines publishes 8 kg (17.6 lb) for the cabin bag.
- Will a 55 × 40 × 20 cm carry-on fit Brussels Airlines' limit?
- Yes: against Brussels Airlines' 55×40×23 cm limit, a hard 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 7.9 in) case fits exactly at the limit on the length.
- How big can a personal item be on Brussels Airlines?
- Brussels Airlines allows a personal item of 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) on the standard fare, stowed under the seat in front.
Airlines related to Brussels Airlines
- Austrian Airlines carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- LOT Polish Airlines carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- Lufthansa carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- SWISS carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- TAP Air Portugal carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
- Turkish Airlines carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
Official sources
- https://www.brusselsairlines.com/us/en/extra-services/baggage/carry-on-baggage — checked on 28 September 2026