Luggage Guide for Spain: Iberia, Vueling and Ryanair Baggage Rules
⚠️ Disclaimer: For general information only — not tax, financial, legal, or medical advice. Figures may be outdated or incorrect; tax rules change frequently. Verify important decisions with the CRA/IRS or a qualified professional (for health topics, a licensed healthcare provider). You use this information at your own risk.
The short answer
Spain's three big carriers play by different rules. Iberia gives you up to 23 kg and 158 cm of checked baggage plus a 10 kg cabin bag, while Vueling and Ryanair include only a small 40 x 30 x 20 cm under-seat bag on their cheapest fares and sell the overhead cabin bag separately. Know your fare before you pack.
Iberia: checked and cabin baggage
Checked baggage (hold):
- Maximum per piece: 23 kg (overweight possible up to 32 kg for a fee; nothing over 32 kg accepted).
- Maximum size per piece: 158 cm total (height + width + length), handles, pockets and wheels included.
- Whether a checked bag is included depends on your fare and route — basic fares often include none; higher Economy fares generally include one 23 kg bag. Additional bags can be bought online by route.
Hand baggage:
- One piece of hand luggage up to 10 kg plus one personal item may be taken on board.
- On flights operated by Vueling under an Iberia code, the free allowance is 1 x 23 kg checked bag.
Vueling: cheap fare, strict sizer
Vueling is a low-cost carrier and enforces its limits at the gate:
- Every fare includes one free small bag, max 40 x 30 x 20 cm, which must fit under the seat in front of you.
- The overhead-locker cabin bag — max 55 x 40 x 20 cm and 10 kg — is a paid add-on on the cheapest fare and included with higher fare bundles. Buy it online in advance; the airport price is several times higher.
- Gate checks are strict: an oversized under-seat bag is checked in for €60–75, an oversized cabin bag for €110–140.
- Checked baggage is sold per route as an add-on; the exact weight allowance shows on your booking confirmation.
Ryanair: Priority or hold
- Every fare includes one free small personal bag, max 40 x 30 x 20 cm, which must fit under the seat.
- Priority & 2 Cabin Bags adds a second bag up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm and 10 kg for the overhead locker, plus priority boarding.
- Without Priority, a 10 kg bag of the same size can be added as a check-in bag instead of taken into the cabin.
- Standard checked bags go up to 23 kg — confirm the weight on your booking.
Hard-shell vs soft suitcases
| Hard-shell | Soft / fabric | |
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Best for fragile items and rough low-cost handling | Good for clothes; fragile items risk more |
| Weight | Heavier empty — eats into 10 kg cabin limits | Lighter — easier to stay under strict low-cost limits |
| Sizer test | Rigid shape either passes or fails | Can be squeezed slightly, but don't count on it |
| Best for | Checked bags on Iberia | Low-cost cabin bags where every gram counts |
For Vueling and Ryanair cabin bags, the killer dimension is depth: 20 cm including wheels and handles. Many "cabin-size" suitcases fail the sizer on depth alone — measure the packed bag, not the advertised size.
Backpacks and packing tricks
- A 40 x 30 x 20 cm backpack is the perfect free bag on Vueling and Ryanair: no wheels eating into the depth, fits under the seat, and doubles as a daypack in Spain.
- Compression packing cubes genuinely save space for bulky clothes; vacuum bags halve the volume of coats and sweaters. They do not reduce weight — re-weigh before the airport. Packing cubes are sold on Amazon; search the term, no link needed.
- Packing order for low-cost flights: heaviest items in the free under-seat bag (no published weight limit there), valuables and one change of clothes always in the cabin, liquids accessible for security.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is Vueling strict about hand baggage checks?
A: Yes — this is the most common complaint. The free bag must fit 40 x 30 x 20 cm under the seat, and the paid cabin bag must fit 55 x 40 x 20 cm and 10 kg. Oversized bags are checked at the gate for €60–75 (under-seat size) or €110–140 (cabin size), far more than the online add-on price.
Q: What size cabin bag can I take on Ryanair for free?
A: One small personal bag up to 40 x 30 x 20 cm, fitting under the seat in front of you — no weight limit published, just the size. The larger 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg cabin bag requires the paid Priority & 2 Cabin Bags add-on.
Q: Is checked baggage included on Iberia?
A: It depends on your fare and route. Basic fares often include no checked bag; higher Economy fares generally include one 23 kg bag (max 158 cm total). Always check your booking confirmation.
Q: Hard or soft case for Spain's low-cost carriers?
A: Soft or hybrid, and light. With 10 kg cabin limits and a 20 cm depth sizer, a heavy rigid case wastes both weight and space. Save hard shells for checked bags on full-service Iberia flights.
Q: Do compression packing cubes work for a 10 kg cabin bag?
A: They save volume, not weight — perfect for fitting more into a 55 x 40 x 20 cm bag, but you can still hit the 10 kg limit fast. Weigh the packed bag; dense items like books and shoes blow the weight budget first.
Sources
- https://www.iberia.com/gb/luggage/allowance-in-hold/
- https://agencias.iberia.com/en-es/informacion-viaje/equipajes/hand-baggage/
- https://help.vueling.com/hc/en-gb/articles/19798835176081-Hand-Luggage-Allowance-Cabin-bags-allowance
- https://help.ryanair.com/hc/en-gb/sections/12489178346129-Bag-Policies
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