Air Transat Carry-on Baggage: Dimensions, Weight, and Regulations in 2026

Air Transat allows each passenger to bring one carry-on bag measuring 55 x 40 x 23 cm, along with a personal item measuring 43 x 31 x 13 cm. Both are included in the ticket at no extra cost.

Traveling with an Air Transat 55x40x23 carry-on suitcase avoids these fees from the start.

A feature that distinguishes the airline from European low-cost carriers is that Air Transat regulates its carry-on baggage solely by dimensions and does not publish any weight limit for the cabin.

Air Transat carry-on baggage dimensions: 55 x 40 x 23 cm

The maximum dimensions allowed for an Air Transat carry-on bag are 55 cm in height, 40 cm in length, and 23 cm in width. The height and length follow the international cabin format, but the depth is tighter than the standard: it is this third figure that determines whether your suitcase will be accepted. The difference is obvious compared to more generous airlines, as the British Airways cabin sizer accepts 25 cm of thickness and 45 cm of length, meaning a suitcase that Air Transat would reject.

How to read the official dimensions

Air Transat expresses its baggage allowance in three distinct measurements: 40 cm length, 23 cm width, and 55 cm height. This is the same as the 55 x 40 x 23 cm format used everywhere else; only the order of the measurements changes. The airline also indicates each measurement in inches, which is 21.5 in height, 15.5 in length, and 9 in width, a legacy of its Canadian market.

As with all airlines, the maximum size includes wheels and the telescopic handle. A suitcase advertised as 55 cm for the shell alone will exceed the sizer once placed on its wheels: this is the most common measurement error, and the only one that you pay for at the boarding gate.

The 23 cm thickness, the trap of the Air Transat format

It is the depth that deserves your attention, not the height. At 23 cm, Air Transat is below the European standard, where most airlines allow 25 cm. In practical terms, a suitcase bought for Transavia, French Bee, or British Airways, all at 25 cm, will be 2 cm too thick for Air Transat, even though it displays the same 55 cm height.

The rule to remember is therefore the opposite of intuition: just because a suitcase fits on a European low-cost flight does not mean it will fit on your transatlantic one. Only a suitcase calibrated for the airlines with the strictest depth requirements, like Ryanair and its 20 cm, will fit everywhere, including Air Transat. Our guides on carry-on baggage for Air Canada and Air France allow you to compare the sizers for major routes to North America.

The Air Transat personal item: 43 x 31 x 13 cm extra

In addition to the carry-on bag, each passenger may bring a personal item with maximum dimensions of 43 cm in length, 31 cm in height, and 13 cm in width, limited to one per passenger. It must be stowed under the seat in front of you and does not replace the carry-on bag: both travel together.

What fits in the 43 x 31 x 13 format

This 13 cm thickness requires a flat container. The format is suitable for:

• A laptop in its sleeve, up to 15 inches
• A standard-sized handbag or satchel
• Your travel documents, passport, and boarding pass
• A flat toiletry bag with your travel-sized liquids
• Essentials for a long-haul flight, such as a book, tablet, or headphones

A full hiking backpack almost always exceeds 13 cm in width. If you are counting on your backpack as a personal item, empty it or choose a flat model designed for the cabin.

Air Transat carry-on baggage weight: what the airline really says

Air Transat does not publish any weight limit for carry-on baggage. On its official page dedicated to weight and dimensions, the airline regulates the cabin solely by dimensions, and all mentioned weight limits apply exclusively to checked baggage.

The only published weight limits concern the cargo hold

The maximum allowed weight is 23 kg per checked bag, with an absolute cap of 32 kg, beyond which the baggage is refused. These figures do not apply to the cabin. You can verify this directly on the official Air Transat weight and dimensions page, which also offers a customized allowance tool based on your route and class of service.

This absence of a specified limit does not mean that anything goes. You must remain capable of lifting your own bag into the overhead bin, and staff may refuse a bag that is clearly too heavy to be handled safely. In practice, the lack of systematic weighing in the cabin gives you a margin that European low-cost carriers, which check to the exact kilogram, do not. This is a real advantage on a transatlantic flight, where you tend to pack more.

Liquids and items prohibited in the cabin on Air Transat

On its flights departing from Europe, Air Transat applies European regulations on liquids. Your bottles are limited to 100 ml per container and must fit in a transparent, resealable one-liter bag, limited to one bag per passenger, presented separately at security.

The 100 ml rule and its exceptions

This applies to gels, creams, perfumes, and drinks, as well as any products with a paste-like texture, such as toothpaste. It is the capacity printed on the bottle that counts, not the remaining volume: a 200 ml container that is half-empty will still be refused. Liquid medications exceeding 100 ml are accepted upon presentation of a prescription, as is baby formula if you are traveling with an infant.

Lithium batteries and electronic cigarettes

Lithium batteries, power banks, and electronic cigarettes must travel in your hand luggage, never in the checked hold, due to the fire risk. They must remain accessible and must not be used or charged in flight. This rule is common to all airlines and has no exceptions. The full list of prohibited or regulated items can be found on the Air Transat website.

Air Transat excess baggage fees: 80 euros per surcharge

Air Transat excess baggage fees apply to checked luggage and amount to 80 euros per surcharge. These fees can accumulate, and more importantly, they cannot be pre-paid.

Fees that cannot be settled in advance

Air Transat specifies that fees for oversized or overweight baggage cannot be paid in advance and must be settled at the airport. Unlike purchasing a checked bag, you cannot anticipate this cost from home: the only defense is to measure and weigh before you leave.

Note also that starting June 1, 2026, Air Transat will increase the price of checked baggage purchased within 24 hours of departure. Buying your hold allowance at the time of booking is therefore much more cost-effective than a last-minute addition. If you are unsure about what should go in the hold, our guide details what you can put in a checked suitcase.

Choosing a carry-on suitcase suitable for Air Transat

A suitcase designed for Air Transat fits within 55 x 40 x 23 cm, including wheels and handle. This is the only disqualifying criterion, as weight is not checked in the cabin.

This absence of a weight limit changes the approach when choosing the material. On a low-cost carrier limited to 10 kg, every kilogram of the suitcase shell is a kilogram less for your belongings, which pushes you toward ultralight models. On Air Transat, you can prioritize durability without compromising on weight, which makes sense on long-haul flights where baggage undergoes more handling.

The 23 cm thickness remains the point to watch. Many "expandable" carry-on suitcases gain 4 to 5 cm in depth once opened, which puts them outside the required dimensions. On Air Transat, keep the extension closed for boarding and save it for the return trip, when the suitcase travels in the hold. To compare the dimensions accepted by each carrier before buying, consult our comparison of cabin formats by airline.

Frequently asked questions about Air Transat carry-on baggage