Does the Business Class fare of South African Airways include a cabin bag?

Yes. South African Airways' Business Class fare includes a cabin bag of 56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14.2 × 9.1 in) and 8 kg (17.6 lb).

Does South African Airways have a weight limit for carry-on bags?

Yes. On the Economy Class fare, South African Airways publishes 8 kg (17.6 lb) for the cabin bag.

Will a 55 × 40 × 20 cm carry-on fit South African Airways' limit?

No: against South African Airways' 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.

How big can a personal item be on South African Airways?

South African Airways allows a personal item of 30 × 40 × 10 cm (11.8 × 15.7 × 3.9 in) on the Economy Class fare, stowed under the seat in front.

South African Airways carry-on size and personal item rules

Sub-Saharan Africa
Full-service
Star Alliance
Verified 28 September 2026

South African Airways (SA) allows one cabin bag of 56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14.2 × 9.1 in) and 8 kg (17.6 lb) on its Economy Class fare, plus a personal item of 30 × 40 × 10 cm (11.8 × 15.7 × 3.9 in). Verified on 28 September 2026 from the official South African Airways baggage page.

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South African Airways carry-on allowance by fare

South African Airways (SA) cabin baggage rules, as published by the airline
Fare	Route / class	Personal item	Cabin bag	Weight
Economy Class(standard)	All routes · Economy	30×40×10 cm	56×36×23 cm, 8 kg	cabin bag 8 kg
Business Class	All routes · Business	30×40×10 cm	56×36×23 cm, 8 kg	cabin bag 8 kg

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South African Airways cabin bagSouth African Airways personal itemUS 22×14×9 inEU 55×40×20 cm

What to know about South African Airways carry-on rules

South African Airways (South Africa) flies mostly out of JNB; Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana are among its key markets.
Among the 6 verified airlines from sub-Saharan Africa, South African Airways has the 3rd largest cabin bag allowance; the strictest is RwandAir (22×15×8 in).
In volume terms the South African Airways cabin bag reaches about 46.4 L; 37 of the 60 airlines with published sides allow a bigger box.
Among the 66 verified airlines that include a measured cabin bag, South African Airways sits at rank 28; 14% of them allow a smaller total than its 115 cm (45.3 in).
The average cabin bag of the 6 verified carriers from sub-Saharan Africa adds up to 117.1 cm (46.1 in); South African Airways' limit is 2.1 cm (0.8 in) less than that.
Within Star Alliance, South African Airways has the 12th largest cabin bag of the 17 members we track, between United Airlines (114.3 cm (45 in) in total) and TAP Air Portugal (120 cm (47.2 in)).
On South African Airways, 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 (limit: 56×36×23 cm).
On South African Airways, 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 (limit: 56×36×23 cm).
Across its 2 fares, South African Airways changes the rules: all 2 include a cabin bag.
South African Airways' 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 South African Airways page: “Business Class 2 pieces not exceeding 8kg each 56cm (l) 36cm (w) 23cm (h) 1 small handbag or small slimline laptop bag not exceeding dimensions of 30cm x 40cm x 10cm”

South African Airways personal item: what fits under the seat

Every one of the 2 South African Airways fares listed here also includes a cabin bag, so the personal item always comes on top of it.
Filled as a box, South African Airways' 30×40×10 cm personal item holds about 12 litres, below the median of 18 L across the 56 airlines that publish three personal item sides.
By volume, the 30×40×10 cm personal item on South African Airways is 26% of the 56×36×23 cm cabin bag: about 12 L against 46.4 L.
A soft 40 × 30 × 20 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 7.9 in) under-seat bag is 10 cm (3.9 in) too big on the depth against South African Airways' 30×40×10 cm personal item limit.
With 80 cm in total, the South African Airways personal item is bigger than 4 and smaller than 48 of the 57 verified airlines that publish a personal item size.
Among 14 Star Alliance airlines with a published personal item size, South African Airways has the smallest (30×40×10 cm); Air Canada allows the largest (33×43×16 cm).

South African Airways carry-on questions

Does the Business Class fare of South African Airways include a cabin bag?: Yes. South African Airways' Business Class fare includes a cabin bag of 56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14.2 × 9.1 in) and 8 kg (17.6 lb).
Does South African Airways have a weight limit for carry-on bags?: Yes. On the Economy Class fare, South African Airways publishes 8 kg (17.6 lb) for the cabin bag.
Will a 55 × 40 × 20 cm carry-on fit South African Airways' limit?: No: against South African Airways' 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.
How big can a personal item be on South African Airways?: South African Airways allows a personal item of 30 × 40 × 10 cm (11.8 × 15.7 × 3.9 in) on the Economy Class fare, stowed under the seat in front.

Airlines related to South African Airways

Ethiopian Airlines carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
Air Canada carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
Air India carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
Air New Zealand carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
ANA (All Nippon Airways) carry-on size — Star Alliance partner
Austrian Airlines carry-on size — Star Alliance partner

Strictest carry-on airlines · All airlines

Official sources

https://www.flysaa.com/manage-fly/baggage/hand-baggage — checked on 28 September 2026

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