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Is a hold bag a suitcase? What counts as hold luggage
A hold bag can be a suitcase, a holdall, a cargo bag or a box. What airlines accept in the hold, the size and weight limits, and what to avoid.
A hold bag does not have to be a suitcase. It is any bag that is checked in and carried in the aircraft hold: a suitcase, a holdall, a rucksack, a cargo bag or, on most airlines, a sturdy box. What matters is that it is within the airline's weight and size limits, that it closes securely, and that nothing is hanging off it that can catch in the baggage system.
What airlines accept as a hold bag
Airlines describe the hold allowance by weight and outside size, not by type. A 20 kg bag on Ryanair can be a hard suitcase, a soft suitcase or a holdall; the handlers do not care which, as long as it has a baggage tag on it. The things that get a bag refused or a surcharge are weight over the band you paid for, a size over the limit, and items the airline treats as special: bikes, golf clubs, skis, musical instruments and anything sharp or dangerous.
| Bag | Works in the hold? | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Hard shell suitcase | Yes, the usual choice | Weight of the empty case counts against your allowance |
| Soft shell suitcase | Yes | Pockets bulge; measure it packed |
| Holdall or duffel | Yes | Tuck the shoulder strap in or remove it |
| Cargo bag | Yes, popular for excess baggage | Easy to overfill past 23 kg or 32 kg |
| Rucksack | Yes | Clip or tape every loose strap; many airports supply a plastic bag or box |
| Cardboard box | Most airlines, within the size limit | Tape every seam; some airlines refuse boxes on some routes |
| Plastic bag or bin liner | No | Tears in the system; the airline will refuse it |
Why most people check in a suitcase
A suitcase with wheels is the easiest hold bag to live with. It rolls through the airport, stands up at the bag drop, protects what is inside and locks. A hard shell keeps the shape of the contents and wipes clean; a soft shell has give, so it squeezes into a car boot and often weighs less. Our 28 inch cases hold 85 to 96 litres, which fills a 23 kg allowance for most people, and the 26 inch cases hold 65 to 80 litres for a 20 kg bag.
When a holdall or cargo bag is the better hold bag
A holdall weighs a fraction of a suitcase, so more of the allowance goes on your things. A 72 litre wheeled holdall weighs about 2.5 kg; a 28 inch hard case weighs 4.2 kg to 4.6 kg. Holdalls also squash: into an overhead rack on a coach, under a bed, into a small boot. A cargo bag takes it further, with 130 to 250 litres of capacity for moving to university, taking gifts home to family or carrying an excess baggage allowance in one piece. Our holdalls and cargo bags are built with that in mind.
The trade-off is protection. A holdall is only as strong as what you pack around the edges, so put shoes and hard things against the sides and soft things in the middle, and strap it closed. Anything fragile belongs in a hard case or in your hand luggage.
What a hold bag must not have
- Loose straps, handles or tags that can catch in the belts. Tuck them in or take them off.
- Power banks, spare lithium batteries or e-cigarettes inside. They are cabin only.
- Cash, passports, medicines or valuables. Airline liability for a lost bag is limited.
- Old flight tags. Peel them off so the scanner reads the right one.
- A total weight over 32 kg. No airline will load it, and most cap single bags at 23 kg without a surcharge.
Questions people ask
Is a hold bag a suitcase?
Not necessarily. A hold bag is any bag checked in and carried in the hold. Most people use a suitcase because it rolls, locks and protects the contents, but a holdall, rucksack, cargo bag or box is accepted within the same weight and size limits.
Can you check in a holdall?
Yes. Tuck in or remove the shoulder strap, make sure the zip is closed fully and consider a luggage strap around the middle. Holdalls are lighter than suitcases, so more of the allowance goes on what you pack.
Can you check in a cardboard box?
Most airlines accept a sturdy box within the normal size and weight limits, taped on every seam. A few refuse boxes on certain routes, so check the airline's baggage page before you travel.
Is a hold bag a checked bag?
Yes. Hold bag, checked bag, check-in bag and checked baggage all mean the same bag.
What size suitcase is a hold bag?
Anything from a 20 inch cabin case upwards can be checked in. The sizes people usually check are 26 inch, 28 inch and 32 inch. The limit on British Airways is 90 x 75 x 43 cm, easyJet allows up to 275 cm with the three sides added together and Ryanair quotes 80 x 120 x 120 cm.