Virgin Atlantic carry-on size and personal item rules

Virgin Atlantic carry-on allowance by fare

Virgin Atlantic 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 Virgin Atlantic carry-on rules

• From LHR and MAN, Virgin Atlantic mainly connects United Kingdom with United States, India, Nigeria, South Africa and Jamaica.
• Among the 43 verified airlines from Europe, Virgin Atlantic has the 25th largest cabin bag allowance; the strictest is Loganair (40×35×18 cm).
• As a box, Virgin Atlantic's 23×36×56 cm limit holds about 46.4 litres, the 80th largest volume of the 170 airlines that publish three cabin bag sides.
• With a total size of 115 cm (45.3 in), the Virgin Atlantic cabin bag is larger than 19% of the 189 verified airlines that include a measured cabin bag in their standard fare (rank 50 of 189, largest first).
• Virgin Atlantic's cabin bag totals 115 cm (45.3 in), 1.7 cm (0.7 in) less than the average of the 43 verified airlines from Europe (116.7 cm (45.9 in)).
• Within SkyTeam, Virgin Atlantic has the 4th largest cabin bag of the 15 members we track, between Delta Air Lines (114.3 cm (45 in) in total) and Saudia (126 cm (49.6 in)).
• 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 when measured against Virgin Atlantic's 23×36×56 cm.
• On Virgin Atlantic, 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; the limit is 23×36×56 cm.
• The 3 Virgin Atlantic fares on this page are not equal: all 3 include a cabin bag. Weight limits vary by fare: 10 kg and 12 kg.
• Virgin Atlantic's 10 kg (22 lb) limit for the cabin bag is stricter than 9 of the 177 airlines that publish a cabin weight limit, and looser than 129 of them.
• Exceptions noted on the official Virgin Atlantic page: “Maximum 12kg (26lb) if travelling with one bag, or 16kg (35lb) combined if travelling with two.”
• Compared with Virgin Atlantic's 115 cm (45.3 in): at LHR, British Airways allows 11 cm (4.3 in) more in total (126 cm (49.6 in)); at MAN, Jet2 allows 11 cm (4.3 in) more in total (126 cm (49.6 in)).

Virgin Atlantic personal item: what fits under the seat

• Every one of the 3 Virgin Atlantic fares listed here also includes a cabin bag, so the personal item always comes on top of it.
• Filled as a box, Virgin Atlantic's 40×30×15 cm personal item holds about 18 litres, right at the median of 18 L across the 105 airlines that publish three personal item sides.
• Against the 48 airlines from Europe that publish a personal item size (average 87.2 cm in total), Virgin Atlantic allows 85 cm, more than 4% of them.
• Virgin Atlantic's personal item (40×30×15 cm, about 18 L) holds 39% of the volume of its cabin bag (about 46.4 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 Virgin Atlantic's 40×30×15 cm personal item limit.
• With 85 cm in total, the Virgin Atlantic personal item is bigger than 17 and smaller than 54 of the 108 verified airlines that publish a personal item size.
• Other personal item limits at the same airport: British Airways at LHR (40×30×15 cm), Jet2 at MAN (40×30×20 cm) and TUI Airways at MAN (40×30×20 cm), against 40×30×15 cm on Virgin Atlantic.
• Among 10 SkyTeam airlines with a published personal item size, Virgin Atlantic has the smallest (40×30×15 cm); Air Europa allows the largest (40×30×15 cm).

Virgin Atlantic carry-on questions

Does the Premium fare of Virgin Atlantic include a cabin bag?

Yes. Virgin Atlantic's Premium fare includes a cabin bag of 23 × 36 × 56 cm (9.1 × 14.2 × 22 in) and 10 kg (22 lb).

Does Virgin Atlantic have a weight limit for carry-on bags?

Yes. On its Economy Light, Classic and Delight fare, Virgin Atlantic sets 10 kg (22 lb) for the cabin bag. Virgin Atlantic publishes no weight limit for its personal item, only a size.

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

No: against Virgin Atlantic's 23×36×56 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 Virgin Atlantic?

Virgin Atlantic 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.

Compare Virgin Atlantic with

• British Airways vs Virgin Atlantic — carry-on rules next to British Airways

Route guides with Virgin Atlantic

• Carry-on from the USA to Europe: why a 22 × 14 × 9 in bag can be too big

Airlines related to Virgin Atlantic

• British Airways carry-on size — also flies from LHR
• Jet2 carry-on size — also flies from MAN
• TUI Airways carry-on size — also flies from MAN
• Air Europa carry-on size — SkyTeam partner
• Air France carry-on size — SkyTeam partner
• Kenya Airways carry-on size — SkyTeam partner

Strictest carry-on airlines · All airlines

Official sources

• https://www.virginatlantic.com/help/articles/what-is-my-hand-baggage-allowance----a5a24d4c-a652-4fbd-925d-57d0ead2ed5e — checked on 8 October 2026

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