Last Updated on January 1, 2024 by Henry @ The Getaway Lounge
This post is reviewed on a regular basis to ensure a high level of accuracy.
Just how strict are Lufthansa with hand luggage size and weight?
It’s a question we hear all the time, and here’s the latest.
Lufthansa are relatively strict and state that if you’re travelling with hand luggage only, you’ll be allowed to take one main bag on board as well as a smaller personal item. According to them, your main bag must fit in the sizer and so be easily stowed in the overhead compartment. Your smaller item must be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you.
And if you’re looking for a carry on which is a great fit for Lufthansa and many others, we recommend this Maximum Allowance suitcase on Amazon.
Lufthansa have a main hand luggage allowance as follows:
Dimensions for carry-on baggage: max. 55 x 40 x 23 cm
OR
Dimensions for foldable garment bags: max. 57 x 54 x 15 cm
(you can choose one of the above, weighing no more than 8kg)
If you’re an Economy or Premium Economy passengers, you can only have one of these cabin bags on board.
And if you’re travelling Business or First class, you’re allowed 2 items of cabin baggage.
In addition to your main bag/s, Lufthansa also allow a smaller “personal item” which must fit under the seat in front of you and mustn’t be any bigger than 40 x 30 x 10 cm.
Examples include a handbag, airport purchase or maybe a small duffel bag for instance.
This therefore leaves you with a little more room in your main bag to fit in any other essentials you might need.
Like most airlines, Lufthansa allow you to pack liquids into your hand luggage as long as they are placed in a transparent, plastic bag with a volume of no more than 100ml.
These bags must be a maximum capacity of 1 litre.
This is probably the most common question we get when it comes to Lufthansa’s hand luggage policy.
And the only straight forward answer is that rules are rules, and if you fail to comply you will run the risk of being caught out.
That’s money that could have been invested in a top quality bag for years to come, like this suitcase on Amazon which is great value for money and the perfect fit.
That said, if you’ve got a soft-sided bag which is only slightly oversized, you have a much better chance of being able to squeeze it into the rectangular sizer, if required to.
If you’ve got a hard case and that’s oversized however, you’re treading on thin ice as there’s no way you’ll be able to fit it in the steel cage!
Whilst it’s rare for airlines to investigate hand luggage, it’s worth weighing it just so you’re aware.
And you should try and stick within the limits if at all possible, but don’t worry too much if it’s only slightly overweight.
Just be ready to stick on some of your bulky clothing at the gate in the unlikely event your luggage does get weighed and is over.
Think about wearing your coat with deep pockets stuffed with belongings if you’re really looking to get the most of your hard-earned cash!
It certainly does.
By checking in online you give yourself a much better chance of being able to glide through the gate.
Conversely, if you do not check in you give yourself a better chance of being asked questions at the Lufthansa desk!
Besides, we always recommend checking-in online if you plan on taking hand luggage only.
This way you’ll have more time to get through security and relax pre-flight.
If you’d rather not take the risk with Lufthansa’s hand luggage policy, here’s one of our favourite maximum allowance bags which is fully compliant with the latest rules.
This way you won’t have to worry about how strict Lufthansa are going to be on the day you travel.
After all, you just never know!
If after reading this post you are now thinking about paying to have your luggage placed in the hold, here’s the deal:
Bags must not exceed the stated weight and may measure up to 158cm / 62 inches in total (width, length and depth).
Economy Light fares include hand luggage only, but bags can be added to your booking for a fee and you can find more information on Lufthansa’s baggage costs here.
In conclusion, Lufthansa have rules which you must adhere to, otherwise you’ll risk having to pay extra.
However, if you’ve already got a soft-edged bag which is only 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.
If you’re still unconvinced, then we recommend you pay for checked-in baggage or indeed upgrade from Economy light.
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