Carry-On Packing List for Budget Airlines

Flying with only the free bag is the cheapest way to travel in Europe and the least stressful: no check-in queue, no waiting at the belt, nothing lost in transit. The catch is that the free bag is small and every airline measures it differently. Here is how to get a long weekend into it.

Know your airline's bag size

The "personal item" (the one that goes under the seat in front of you) is free on every low-cost airline, but the allowed size changes from one to the next, and airlines update their rules. As a guide: Ryanair allows 40 × 20 × 25 cm, easyJet 45 × 36 × 20 cm, Wizz Air 40 × 30 × 20 cm, Vueling 40 × 30 × 20 cm. Always check your own booking before you pack. A bag sold as "underseat" or "cabin size" is designed for these limits; a backpack that fits one airline may be a few centimetres over for another, and the fee at the gate is the price of a checked bag.

Pack in cubes, not in piles

The single biggest space saver is packing cubes. Roll your clothes, fill one cube per category (tops, bottoms, underwear and socks), zip them closed and they stack in the bag like bricks. Compression cubes squeeze out the air and buy you an extra outfit. Just as important: when you arrive, you unpack by lifting out three cubes instead of emptying the whole bag onto the bed.

Liquids: 100 ml bottles in one clear bag

Security rules at most European airports still limit liquids to containers of 100 ml or less, all in a single transparent bag of about one litre (some airports with new scanners allow more, but not all, so pack for the strict rule). A set of refillable travel bottles filled from your own shampoo and moisturiser costs a few euros and saves buying minis every trip. Keep them in a toiletry bag that hangs from a hook: hostel and budget-hotel bathrooms rarely have shelf space.

Documents, cards and the phone

Boarding pass on the phone, passport or ID card in a document organiser that also holds the cards and some cash, and both where you can reach them without opening the main compartment. In crowded cities a slim anti-theft bag or a money belt under the shirt is worth the small discomfort. Add a luggage tag with your email on it to the bag; the name is less useful than a way to contact you.

Comfort on the plane

Low-cost seats don't recline much and the flight is usually 2–3 hours. A compact travel pillow, ear plugs and a sleep mask turn an early flight into a nap; a phone holder that clips to the tray table saves holding the screen for a film. All of it fits in the outer pocket. See in-flight comfort.

Cables, chargers and the adapter

One small tech organiser for the charger, a short cable, earphones and a power bank keeps them from tangling at the bottom of the bag. If you're leaving the EU or flying to the UK, remember the plug adapter; the UK uses a different socket from the continent.

The list

• Underseat bag or cabin backpack within your airline's size
• 2–3 packing cubes (tops, bottoms, underwear and socks)
• Toiletry bag with 100 ml bottles in a clear one-litre bag
• Document organiser: ID or passport, cards, some cash
• Travel pillow, ear plugs, sleep mask
• Tech organiser: charger, cable, earphones, power bank, plug adapter
• A foldable water bottle, empty through security and filled after
• A packable tote or daypack for the day in the city, flat in the bottom of the bag
• Luggage scale, if you're close to the limit on the way back (souvenirs weigh more than you think)

Everything above is in the Getaway collection, our gear for flights and city breaks. If you're starting from scratch, begin with Pack & Organize and Bags & Luggage.