Pack for the free bag on your fare, keep your power bank in the cabin and put liquids in containers of 100 ml or less. Ryanair includes one small bag of 40 x 30 x 20 cm on every fare, while Brussels Airlines now sells an Economy Basic fare with only a personal item, so a trolley costs extra on some routes. Power banks are never allowed in checked baggage, and on Brussels Airlines flights you can no longer use them on board. At Brussels Airport, the 100 ml rule for liquids stays in place until new scanners arrive from 2028. Below you find the sizes per airline, the power bank and liquid rules, and how to get your phone ready before you fly.
Hand luggage size per airline
Ryanair includes a small bag of 40 x 30 x 20 cm, and Brussels Airlines includes a cabin bag of 55 x 40 x 23 cm on every fare except Economy Basic. Measure your bag with wheels and handles included, because these are the limits at the gate in Brussels and Charleroi:
Airline and fare | Included for free | Larger cabin bag |
|---|---|---|
Ryanair, all fares | 1 small bag, 40 x 30 x 20 cm, under the seat | 55 x 40 x 20 cm, max 10 kg, only with paid Priority |
Brussels Airlines Economy Basic | 1 personal item, 40 x 30 x 15 cm | 55 x 40 x 23 cm, max 8 kg, from €15 |
Brussels Airlines Light, Classic and Flex | 1 personal item and 1 cabin bag of 55 x 40 x 23 cm, max 8 kg | Included |
Ryanair hand luggage: what is free
Every Ryanair ticket includes one small bag that fits under the seat in front of you, such as a backpack or handbag. For a larger cabin bag up to 10 kg, you need to book Priority, and it is cheaper to add it online than to pay for an oversized bag at the gate. Ryanair also stopped accepting paper boarding passes in November 2025, so your boarding pass now lives in the myRyanair app.
Brussels Airlines hand luggage: check your fare first
Look at the fare name before you pack. Since April 2026, Brussels Airlines has tested an Economy Basic fare on around twenty European routes, including Budapest, Hamburg, Krakow, Prague and Stockholm. It includes only a personal item, and a standard cabin bag costs extra. The airline plans to roll this fare out across its whole European network, so check your booking even on routes you fly often.
Power banks on the plane: cabin only
Pack your power bank in your hand luggage, never in your checked bag. Lithium batteries can overheat, and a fire in the cabin is easier for the crew to handle than a fire in the hold.
Rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|
Where | Hand luggage only, on every airline |
Up to 100 Wh | Allowed, which covers most power banks of 10,000 to 20,000 mAh |
100 to 160 Wh | Only with approval from the airline |
More than 160 Wh | Not allowed |
Brussels Airlines | Max two power banks, no charging or use during the flight, keep it on you, in the seat pocket or under the seat |
To find the Wh rating, multiply mAh by volts and divide by 1,000. A 20,000 mAh power bank at 3.7 V is 74 Wh, well under the limit. The Lufthansa Group, which includes Brussels Airlines, introduced its stricter rules in January 2026, and more airlines are moving in the same direction, so check the rules of your airline before you fly.
Liquids in hand luggage: the 100 ml rule
At Brussels Airport, liquids still go in containers of 100 ml or less, packed in one transparent resealable bag of about 1 litre. This covers drinks, creams, gels, sprays and toothpaste. The airport is installing new CT scanners, with the first ones in use from 2028 and the full replacement planned for 2029. After that, you will be able to bring containers of up to 2 litres and keep liquids and electronics in your bag at security.
Some other European airports already allow larger containers, but the rules are not the same everywhere. Check the rules of your return airport as well, because a bottle that passed security on the way out can still be taken away on the way back.
Get your phone ready before you fly
Charge your phone, save your boarding pass and sort your mobile data before you leave home. With a Ryanair boarding pass in an app and no power bank use on Brussels Airlines flights, your phone needs battery and a connection from the moment you reach the airport.
The good news is that you need very little data. Typical figures, based on Firsty's guides on Google Maps, WhatsApp and ChatGPT:
What you do | Data used |
|---|---|
Boarding pass in an airline app | Under 1 MB to download, nothing once saved |
Google Maps to your hotel | 3 to 5 MB per hour |
WhatsApp message / voice call | Under 1 KB / 0.3 to 0.5 MB per minute |
Taxi app | A few MB per ride |
ChatGPT text chat | 1 to 5 MB per hour |
A light travel day | Under 100 MB |
A week of light use | Around 1 GB |
Inside the EU, use your Belgian plan: the roam like at home rules mean no extra charges. Outside the EU, roaming can quickly cost more than the bag you just saved on, so install a travel eSIM at home and your phone has data as soon as you land.
Check your connection like you check your bag
Sort your connection before you fly, the same way you measure your bag and pack your liquids. With Firsty, there is no SIM card to swap, no roaming setting to remember, no zone chart to check and no surprise bill. Every connection Firsty sells also connects someone in Belgium who needs it, not as charity, but as how the business works. Things are moving, so keep an eye on what Firsty is building and discover more at Firsty.app.
FAQ
What is the hand luggage size for Ryanair?
Ryanair includes one small bag of 40 x 30 x 20 cm on every fare, which must fit under the seat in front of you. A larger cabin bag of 55 x 40 x 20 cm and up to 10 kg is only allowed if you book Priority.
How big can hand luggage be on Brussels Airlines?
A cabin bag on Brussels Airlines can measure up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm and weigh up to 8 kg. It is included on Light, Classic and Flex fares. The Economy Basic fare only includes a personal item of 40 x 30 x 15 cm, and a cabin bag costs extra, from €15.
Can I take a power bank on a plane?
Yes, but only in your hand luggage, never in checked baggage. Power banks up to 100 Wh are allowed, between 100 and 160 Wh you need approval from the airline, and above 160 Wh they are not allowed.
Can I use a power bank during a Brussels Airlines flight?
No. Since January 2026, Brussels Airlines and the other Lufthansa Group airlines do not allow passengers to use or charge power banks on board. You can bring a maximum of two, and they must stay on you, in the seat pocket or under the seat.
How much liquid can I take in hand luggage at Brussels Airport?
At Brussels Airport, each liquid must be in a container of 100 ml or less, and all containers must fit in one transparent resealable bag of about 1 litre. New scanners will allow containers of up to 2 litres from 2028, with the full rollout planned for 2029.
Do I need a printed boarding pass for Ryanair?
No. Since November 2025, Ryanair uses digital boarding passes in the myRyanair app, so make sure your phone is charged and has a connection when you reach the airport.
How much mobile data do I need on a short trip?
About 100 MB a day covers a light travel day with maps, WhatsApp, a taxi ride and a boarding pass, and around 1 GB covers a week. Inside the EU, you can use your Belgian plan, and outside the EU a travel eSIM is usually cheaper than roaming.
