How Strict Is Air France With Carry-On & Personal Item Size? Let me fill you in on some of Air France’s current rules and policies and then answer questions I get about them.
And if you need new carry-on bags, take a look at these Air France-compliant ones:
This great carry-on bag is for travelers that want to get the most value out of their luggage investment.
This Travel Pro bag could end up being the last carry-on bag you ever purchase!
How Strict is Air France With Its Carry-on Baggage Policy?
Air France is considered to be relatively strict in terms of carry-on luggage and personal items brought on board. International air carriers tend to be a little more lax regarding carry-on item size, as they usually operate larger aircraft, with more storage space inside. Air France’s rule of thumb is that passengers are allowed to take one carry-on bag on board as well as a personal item, such as a purse, briefcase, backpack, diaper bag, or laptop bag. The airline maintains that your carry-on bag must fit in the sizer to ensure it can be easily stored in the overhead compartment. Air France recommends carefully measuring your carry-on and personal items before traveling.
Air France, like other airlines, establishes and implements its own policies. Note that if your luggage is deemed to be “oversize,” you could very well have to pay additional check-in fees at your boarding gate.
Carry-on luggage items have size restrictions, but usually not weight restrictions, and are typically stowed in the luggage bins overhead of passenger seats. Personal items typically are stowed underneath the seat of each passenger, though they may need to go in the overhead bin, as well.
Air France’s Carry-on Baggage Policy
Including handles and wheels, your carry-on luggage (e.g., bag, backpack, suitcase) on Air France flights should not exceed:
21.6” l x 13.7” w x 9.8” h (55 x 35 x 25 cm), or 45 total linear inches/115 linear cm (l + w + h).
Your carry-on item must also be light enough so you can store the bag in the overhead luggage compartment by yourself (individuals with special needs or disabilities can receive assistance upon request).
Personal items (e.g., laptop, purse, briefcase, etc.) should not exceed:
16” l x 12” w x 6” h (40 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm).
Take some proactive steps beforehand and invest in some Air France-compliant carry-on luggage so that you can travel and relax.
How Can I Measure My Carry-on Bag to Make Sure It Fits on an Air France Flight?
To help you verify your baggage conforms with Air France’s carry-on size restrictions, the carrier recommends taking note of bag sizers at airport locations that feature its required 21.7″ x 13.8″ x 9.9″ dimensions.
It’s also a good idea to measure your carry-on bag before you leave for the airport, to ensure that your entire bag, along with the wheels and handles, falls within Air France’s carry-on size requirements.
It’s important to remember that the three dimensional measurements together – length + height + width – cannot add up to more than 45.4 linear inches/115 linear cm. If you happen to be traveling with a soft-sided or expandable suitcase, you may want to measure your carry-on again after it’s packed to ensure it still complies.
My Air France-compliant Luggage Recommendations
Need some suggestions for carry-on luggage that I would recommend for flying with Air France? I personally recommend the following Air France-compliant carry-on luggage bags because of the carrier’s strictness with its luggage policies.
This is a great carry-on bag if you’re looking for long-lasting value out of your travel baggage investment.
This Travel Pro bag is one you’ll love (I know I love it!), and it just might end up being the last carry-on bag you’ll ever purchase.
Air France’s Carry-on Luggage Allowance
What is Air France’s carry-on baggage allowance? According to Air France’s website, “Your hand baggage allowance and weight restrictions depend on the cabin in which you are traveling.
- In the Economy cabin, you may take 1 hand baggage and 1 personal item.
- If you are traveling in the Premium Economy, Business, or La Première cabin, you may take 2 hand baggage items and 1 personal item.”
Items which do not fit into a sizing device or which are considered to be oversized will need to be checked, with gate-checked baggage fees assessed accordingly.
Note that even though there is no weight limit for carry-on baggage, your bag must be light enough that you can store it yourself in the overhead luggage bin.
Bringing Carry-on Liquid Items Onto Air France Flights
You are allowed to bring liquid items onboard Air France flights in your carry-on baggage, as long as they pass through security checkpoints. Items in violation of regulations will be confiscated.
Toiletries and items in the form of liquids, gels, and aerosols in containers of 3.4 fl. Oz. (100 ml/100g) or less must be packed neatly in a clear, resealable one-quart (1 liter) plastic bag, no more than 7.8 in x 7.8 in (20 cm x 20 cm) in size. Try these Ziploc one-quart baggies. One plastic bag is allowed per passenger.
Duty-free liquids, aerosols, and gels of more than 3.4 oz. / 100 ml are allowed to be brought on board Air France flights, as long as they are contained in a duty-free issued Secure Tamper-Evident Bag (STEB).
You’ll find plenty more information here on our TravelontheFly site about what items you are and aren’t allowed to bring on a plane with you.
How Strict Is Air France With Your Carry-on Size?
You shouldn’t have any problems at all, as long as your item(s) fit in the overhead bin above you or underneath the seat in front of you.
To make your flight as worry-free as possible I’d suggest complying with Air France’s policies. If you need a new carry-on bag that will fit Air France’s (and other carriers’) guidelines, get this bag and don’t have to worry about it ever again.
How Strict Is Air France With Your Carry-on Baggage Weight?
Most airlines, including Air France, are not concerned with carry-on/personal item weight. You should only be concerned with spaces in the cabin where carry-on items should be able to be stowed comfortably. Meeting the size dimensions of your carry-on bags I mentioned above should cover all your bases.
Should I Risk Flying on Air France With an Oversized Carry-on?
Should you risk flying on Air France with an oversized carry-on bag? I say “Why take the chance?” Most frequent flyers would probably agree with me. Do you like paying extra fees? Note that if your bag is only slightly larger than Air France’s specified size dimensions, you’ll likely be OK. Worst-case scenario, if your carry-on is too large, is that you will have to check your bag at the gate and possibly be assessed a fee for checking an oversized bag.
PRO TIP – You have a better chance of getting away with a slightly larger piece of luggage if your carry-on is soft-sided. That‘s why I have highlighted and pointed you toward soft-sided bags like this one here. They are a little easier to squeeze into tight spots, including into the overhead bins on a plane!
Air France Checked Baggage Fees
Depending on your fare, “elite travel member” status, and the size of the cabin you’re flying in, Air France allows between 0 and 3 free checked bags, for starters.
I travel with a bag that is slightly larger than many airline regulations and I have never been asked to check it. I can’t guarantee that you won’t be asked to.
Your best bet is to travel with baggage that is within Air France’s size regulations, and then you will never have to worry about it!
You can read more about Air France’s checked bag policies here, as you’re preparing for a specific upcoming flight.
Where Can I Find a Quality Travel Bag That’s Within Air France’s Carry-on Item Limits?
I highly recommend this great carry-on bag that is an incredible value for the cost.
And this Travel Pro bag is an excellent choice for even the most particular travelers.
How Strict Is Air France With Its “One Personal Item” Policy?
How strict is Air France regarding its “one personal item” policy? Air France is considered to be quite strict in regard to baggage sizes and weights for its passengers (even according to the airline’s own website!). One small personal item is allowed per passenger (e.g., purse, handbag, briefcase, laptop bag, backpack, and medically necessary items). Technically speaking, Air France expects personal items to be 16” l x 12” w x 6” h (40 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm) or less in size, but as long as your personal item can easily be carried and stored underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead luggage bin, Air France representatives probably won’t ask you about it.
Air France’s Personal Item Policy
What about Air France’s official personal item policy? Your personal item ( e.g., purse, shoulder bag, backpack, diaper bag, etc.) must fit under the seat in front of you, and dimensions should not exceed 16” l x 12” w x 6” h (40 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm).
Carrying Additional Items Onto Air France Flights
In addition to your carry-on bag(s) and personal item onboard Air France flights, you are also allowed to bring small items, such as a jacket/sweatshirt, blanket, umbrella, book, strollers*, car seats, diaper bags, duty-free items, a reasonably sized stuffed animal, food/drink purchased past the security checkpoint, crutches, strollers, camera, etc. These won’t count as personal items, unless they’re larger things that take up space overhead or underneath a seat, like purses, shoulder bags, backpacks, briefcases, large camera cases, etc.
*Children’s items that do not fit in the cabin will be checked, free of charge.
Did you know? – Air France is a French airline, headquartered in Tremblay-en-France. The carrier is a subsidiary of the Air France–KLM Group and is also one of the founders of the SkyTeam global airline alliance. If you’ve never flown Air France and are about to for the first time, you might wonder about how strict the airline is about carry-on and personal item size.
Is the First Checked Bag Free on Air France Flights?
Does Air France check your first bag for free? According to Air France’s website:
“The number of bags you can put in the hold for free depends on the cabin in which you are traveling, your fare type, and your “Flying Blue” (membership) status. You will find all baggage-related information when you select your flight . . .
Checked baggage allowance by travel cabin:
- In the Economy cabin, from 0 to 2 checked bags weighing up to 23 kg/50 lb. each.
- In the Premium Economy cabin, 2 checked bags weighing up to 23 kg/50 lb each.
- In the Business cabin, 2 checked baggage items weighing up to 32 kg/70 lb each.
- In the La Première cabin, 3 checked bags weighing up to 32 kg/70 lb each.
- If you are a Flying Blue Silver, Gold or Platinum, or SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus member, you are entitled to 1 additional checked bag at no extra charge. The permitted weight depends on your travel cabin.”
Read more about Air France’s checked bag policy here.
So, How Strict is Air France About Carry-on and Personal Items?
Air France passengers are allowed to take one carry-on bag and one personal item on board its flights (some fares are allowed two carry-ons, depending on the size of the cabin you’re flying in). These items should be able to fit in an overhead luggage bin, or at least one of them should be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you. Invest in carry-on baggage that complies with Air France’s 21.6” x 13.7” x 9.8” size requirements, like this one.
You’ll also get to bring on board a smaller personal item, 16” x 12” x 6” or smaller.If you choose to take a risk by bringing a larger bag onto an Air France flight, be sure to at least use a soft-sided bag so you’ll be able to navigate it into a tight space better.
If your carry-on or personal item is deemed to be “oversized,” you could be charged a bag check-in fee at your boarding gate. Bags deemed both oversized and overweight run the risk of being charged for both infractions, not just one.