Last Updated on December 31, 2023 by Henry @ The Getaway Lounge
This post is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure a high level of accuracy.
Just how strict are Iberia with hand luggage size and weight?
It’s a question we hear all the time in our travel community, and here’s the latest.
Iberia are relatively strict and now state that you can take one main hand luggage bag on board as well as a personal item free of charge. According to them, your main bag must fit in the sizer and so be easily stored in the overhead locker. Your personal item must be small enough to fit underneath the seat in front of you.
And whilst there are ways to mitigate the risk of being caught out with a bag slightly over, you just never know until the day you travel – so we always recommend taking precautions.
And if you’re looking for a compliant full-size bag which is a great fit, check out these great value Cabin Max bags on Amazon.
Iberia have a generous main hand luggage allowance as follows:
56 x 40 x 25 cm (including any wheels or handles) – no weight limit
In addition to your main bag, Iberia also allow a personal item which must fit under the seat in front of you and not exceed the following dimensions: 40 x 30 x 15 cm.
Standard examples include a laptop, handbag, or an airport purchase.
But in reality, this could be an opportunity to take a small backpack or holdall.
This therefore leaves you with even more room in your main bag to fit in clothes, toiletries and other essentials you might need for your trip!
Like most airlines, Iberia allow you to pack liquids into your hand luggage as long as they are in containers with a volume of no more than 100ml.
In addition to this, all liquids must be held in a transparent, resealable plastic bag – with max dimensions of 20 x 20cm.
This is probably the most common question when it comes to Iberia’s hand luggage policy.
And there’s only one simple answer.
Rules are rules and if you fail to comply you will run the risk of having to pay extras!
Money that could have been invested in a decent bag for years to come – like this one on Amazon which is the perfect fit and great value.
That said, if you have a soft-edged bag which is only slightly oversized (like a backpack), you have a better chance of being able to squeeze your luggage into the sizer, if required to.
If you’ve got a hard case and that’s oversized, there’s no way you’ll be able to squeeze it through the dreaded cage – and so you won’t get away with it.
If you’d rather not take the risk with Iberia’s hand luggage policy, here’s our favourite bags which are fully compliant with the latest rules.
This way you won’t have to worry about how strict Iberia are going to be with hand luggage on the day you travel.
What’s more, this bag is also safe to use for easyJet flights and many more that happen to have the same main hand luggage allowance in regard to size!
Renowned for its lightweight, yet durable design with a whole range of features – these hard shells are built to last for hand luggage.
The dimensions of these suitcases are almost exactly that of the limits for Iberia, and that’s including all wheels / handles etc.
They currently cost around £50, and you there’s a few different colours to choose from here.
Features:
Key specs: – Dimensions: 56 x 40 x 25cm; Weight: 3.2kg; Capacity: 35L; Number of wheels: 4
If after reading this post you are now thinking about paying to have your luggage placed in the hold, here’s the deal:
The price will vary depending on your circumstances, such as your route and where you make the booking (website, over the phone or at the airport).
You can find out more and use Iberia’s checked baggage calculator on this page on their website.
In conclusion, Iberia have rules which you must adhere to, otherwise you’ll risk having to pay extra.
If you’ve already got a soft-edged bag which is slightly oversized for example, you shouldn’t worry about that too much.
Just make sure you leave enough room in your bag to squeeze the content into the rectangular sizer if needs be!
If you’ve got a suitcase which is oversized however, then this could easily cause problems and so we recommend staying fully compliant.
If you’re still unconvinced, then we recommend you pay for checked-in baggage.
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