Carry-on bags, sometimes known as hand luggage or cabin baggage, are items of luggage that are taken into the plane's cabin. They are not checked in before your flight and are normally stored in the overhead storage compartment above your seat.

In 2026, the terms "carry-on bag," "cabin bag," and "hand luggage" are used interchangeably to describe the luggage you take into the aircraft cabin and store in the overhead bin. However, a distinction is often made between a standard carry-on bag (usually a small wheeled suitcase or large backpack) and a personal item (such as a purse, laptop bag, or small backpack that fits under the seat in front of you). While most full-service airlines allow one of each for free, "Ultra-Low-Cost Carriers" (like Spirit, Frontier, or Ryanair) often charge a significant fee for the larger "cabin bag" while only including the "personal item" in the base fare. It is critical to check your specific airline's dimensions, as a "standard" 22-inch carry-on might be considered "oversized" by some regional or budget carriers. Essentially, while the names are the same, the allowance varies wildly based on your ticket type, so always verify the "included" items on your 2026 boarding pass to avoid surprise gate fees.