Carry On Bags for International Travel

I made a bold move and booked a flight to Spain in September. It will be my first international trip in two years since I traveled to Peru and I am doing a happy dance knowing I get to hop on a plane in just a few months and visit a foreign country. I’m traveling with two besties, the same girlfriends I traveled with to Peru, and we are zig zagging our way through Spain: from Barcelona –> Valencia–> Madrid –> Zaragoza –> San Sebastian–> Bilbao.

My go to suitcase is this Samsonite Carry On Spinner, its dimensions work for both domestic carry-on and also international checked bags if I keep it in the weight limits. When I travel domestically, I squeeze most everything into my carry on spinner and bring it with a backpack on the plane. International travel requires a more thought out strategy because size and weight limits are different. With international travel I check a bag (the Samsonite spinner I mentioned) and carry on a larger tote that fits under my seat, one for toiletries, tech, and a change of clothes.

I went shopping for a bag that would fit international carry on regulations and rounded up some great options. Some of these have a trolley sleeve so they can sit on top of your rolling luggage, making transport through a terminal or to your accommodations much easier.

International carriers have different dimension limits for hand baggage (carry on). This little chart is as of June 2021 shows restrictions for a few major international airlines. (These are subject to change at any time at the discretion of these carriers so *always* double check with your airline.)

INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS – CARRY ON LUGGAGE DIMENSIONS – ECONOMY CLASS

AIR FRANCE 55 x 35 x 25cm 21½ x 13¾ x 9.9 inches	AIR NEW ZEALAND l + w + h = 118 cm l + w + h = 46.5 inches
BRITISH AIRWAYS 56 x 45 x 25 cm 22 x 18 x 10 inches	DELTA AIRLINES l + w + h = 157 cm l + w + h = 62 inches
EMIRATES AIRLINES 55 x 38 x 20 cm 21½ x 16 x 8.5 inches	IBERIA AIRLINES 56 X 40 X 25 22 x 16 x 10 inches
KLM AIRLINES 55 x 35 x 25 cm 21½ x 14 x 10 inches	LUFTHANSA AIRLINES 55 x 40 x 23 cm 21½ x 16 x 9 inches
TAP PORTUGAL 55 x 40 x 20cm 21½ x 16 x 8 inches	VIRGIN ATLANTIC 56 x 36 x 23 cm 22 x 14 x 9 inches
UNITED AIRLINES 56 x 35 x 22 cm 22 x 14 x 9 inches	QUATAR AIRLINES 50 x 37 x 25 cm 20 x 15 x 10 inches