People jetting off on holiday are being warned to be cautious of hand luggage restrictions as airlines - including Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2, and TUI - toughen up on baggage checks at the airport. Those caught out with oversized or overweight cases could be hit with fees as steep as £70.

Staying one step ahead of extra charges means checking your luggage dimensions before heading to the terminal. While the included hand luggage allowance varies by airline, most tickets do grant a carry-on bag without any added expense.

To avoid such airport surprises, the highly-rated FREETOO Luggage Scale is grabbing attention on Amazon for its slashed price of £9.40. Boasting nearly 50,000 reviews with an impressive average of 4.8 out of five stars, this gadget wins points for its accuracy, travel-friendly design, robust strap, and solid build quality.

People have praised its accuracy, with a margin of 0.05kg, which is particularly beneficial for making the most of their luggage limits without going too overboard, reports the Liverpool Echo. But not everyone is satisfied with their purchase, as one customer claimed: "Not of good quality! Not efficient, it takes a long time to measure."

Another reviewer had problems regarding its size and functionality, stating: "Not as big as shown in the catalogue and not working." Travellers with checked-in luggage must be mindful of the specific hand luggage regulations to dodge unexpected charges at the check-in counter.

Here's a summary of the key carry-on baggage rules for Ryanair, Jet2, TUI, and EasyJet:

Jet2 allows each passenger to take one piece of carry-on luggage on board at no extra cost. The item should not weigh more than 10kg and must fit within dimensions of 56 x 45 x 25cm, taking into account any wheels and handles.

For instance, the Elements Hard Shell Suitcase from Dunelm, available in the Cabin size (£21, reduced from £30), is an ideal choice. It comes in various hues and has been praised by customers as "absolutely brilliant" and a "bargain", although some have noted that the shell "wasn't thick enough" to protect the contents adequately.

Additionally, Jet2 travellers can bring a small personal item like a handbag, which must fit under the seat ahead of them on the aircraft. Those who go over their baggage allowance may be hit with a fee of £12 for every kilogram over the limit.

EasyJet enforces some of the most stringent hand luggage policies, permitting passengers to carry only a small personal bag on board without charge. Unless they opt for an additional fee to upgrade, holidaymakers are required to pack all their essentials into a 15kg bag with maximum dimensions of 45 x 36 x 20cm, including any wheels and handles, such as the Vancropak Easyjet Cabin Bag (£23.74 on Amazon).

EasyJet's £48 excess luggage fee is one of the highest among the major budget airlines, so passengers will want to avoid any unexpected costs. One option that fits these dimensions is the Aerolite Lightweight on Amazon (£37.34), which shoppers have said is "robust" and "packed a lot in", but did have issues with "stiff wheels" and "broken zips".

Ryanair is well-known for its luggage restrictions, and passengers are often asked to place their bags in a measuring crate to ensure they comply with the airline's requirements. Those flying with Ryanair are limited to a small personal bag no larger than 40 x 20 x 25cm, like this £20.98 backpack available on Amazon.

Passengers have the option to pay extra for Priority Boarding, which allows them to carry an additional 10kg hand luggage bag with dimensions up to 55 x 40 x 20cm. Primark sells a £25 8-Wheel Hard Shell Underseat Suitcase in either black or gold, which went viral among Ryanair passengers on TikTok.

Ryanair passengers whose bags exceed these limits could face a charge of £48 per hand luggage bag or £70 if your 10kg suitcase is oversized. You can find more information about Ryanair's extra fees here.

For those flying with TUI, a 10kg bag is allowed on board as standard. The permitted dimensions for TUI's hand luggage are 55 x 40 x 20cm, close to the size of the World's Lightest 4 Wheel Soft Cabin Suitcase, which is now available for £22.50 at Argos, down from £45.

One satisfied customer praised the case: "Nice and spacious and lightweight suitcase. Able to fit quite a lot, so good if you're planning on taking or bringing back lots of things on holiday, etc Would definitely recommend. I've been using it luggage for over 15 years, can't go wrong."

While another added: "Good purchase, good value for money, holds lots and very lightweight." An third put: "I LOVE the colour. It's a bright turquoise (much nicer in real life than on the screen in my opinion) and honestly makes me so happy to travel with it.

But, someone claimed: "One of the wheels wore through and broke after only a couple of uses. Not very robust." And another shared: "It is absolutely not practical to use."

Regarding carry-on policies, people are allowed a small personal item such as a handbag or briefcase that has to fit under the seat upfront. However, TUI package holiday goers receive at least a 20kg check-in luggage allowance.

Luggage heavier than a passenger's hand luggage allowance without a checked baggage inclusion will face TUI's excess baggage charge of £14 to £18 per additional kilo, influenced by the length of the flight.

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