Icelandair allowance at a glance
| Bag | Maximum size | Maximum weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on | 21.6×15.7×7.8 in55x40x20 cm | 22 lb10 kg | Note the depth. At 20 cm Icelandair is shallower than the 23 to 25 cm most European carriers allow, so a bag that passes elsewhere can still fail here. Measurements include handles and wheels. Higher fares carry two cabin bags at 10 kg each, with each piece under 115 cm total. |
| Personal item | Not published | No stated limit | A small personal item is included alongside the cabin bag on every fare. Icelandair does not publish dimensions for it. |
| Checked bag | Not published | 50 standard, 70 on higher fares lb23 standard, 32 on higher fares kg |
This page goes deeper on one part of the policy. The full record is at Icelandair Baggage Rules.
Icelandair publishes no dimensions for the personal item. Its only rule is that the bag fits under the seat in front of you. That sounds generous until you meet the 20 cm depth limit on the carry-on beside it.
The Icelandair carry-on and personal item allowance works as a pair. One bag goes overhead at 55 x 40 x 20 cm and 10 kg.
One goes under the seat with no number attached. This page covers what counts, which fares include both, and what a gate check costs you.
The personal item box, or the lack of one
Most carriers print a personal item size. Icelandair does not.
Its baggage pages say only that the item must fit under the seat in front of you. Its conditions of carriage add that a cabin bag that cannot be stowed must travel as checked baggage.
In practice that means the underseat frame sets the limit. The space under an economy seat on a narrowbody jet is a shallow slot.
A bag around 18 x 14 x 8 in (46 x 36 x 20 cm) slides in. A stuffed 40 liter backpack does not.
The airline treats the overhead bag differently. The carry-on is capped at 55 x 40 x 20 cm (21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 in) and 10 kg (22 lb).
Wheels and handles are included. Our Icelandair carry-on size page explains why the 20 cm depth fails bags that pass elsewhere.
What counts as the personal item
A handbag, a laptop bag, a small backpack or a bag for a baby’s things all fit the description. The test is stowage, not category.
If it goes under the seat, it is the personal item. If it needs the bin, it is the carry-on.
A coat, duty free from the airport shop and reading material are the usual extras airlines let you carry on top. Icelandair does not publish a list, so treat anything beyond the two bags as at the crew’s discretion. Our guide to personal item versus carry-on covers the gray areas.
Which fares include both bags
Every Icelandair fare includes a personal item and one cabin bag of 10 kg. Higher fares add a second cabin bag at the same 10 kg, with each piece under 115 cm total. No fare strips the overhead bag the way the cheapest US and European low cost fares do.
That makes the Icelandair carry-on and personal item allowance one of the more generous on the North Atlantic. The 20 cm depth is the catch, not the fare. Check what your fare includes for checked bags on the Icelandair baggage fees page.
What happens at the gate
Icelandair’s conditions of carriage state that a gate fee applies to any carry-on checked at the gate. The amount is not on that page.
Expect it to cost more than a prepaid checked bag. A cabin bag that exceeds the size or weight limit, or that cannot be stowed, goes to the hold.
The personal item rarely triggers that fee on its own. The trigger is a personal item that will not go under the seat while the cabin bag already fills the bin allowance. The fix is to keep the underseat bag soft and half full so it squashes into the slot.
Keflavik departures are where sizers appear. Traveler reports describe sizer frames at the gate on busy flights.
A bag that fails the 20 cm depth gets tagged for the hold. Run your bag through the carry-on size checker before you fly.
Bags that fit under an Icelandair seat
With no published box in the Icelandair carry-on and personal item rules, pick a bag by the underseat slot rather than by an airline number. Soft sides matter more than exact inches.
The Narwey personal item bag is cut to 18 x 14 x 8 in. It squashes down when the space is tight. It is the safe choice for a 737 seat.
The WANDF foldable personal item duffel does the same job. It packs flat inside the carry-on for the trip out.
For a laptop, the Matein travel laptop backpack runs 17 inches tall. It slides under most seats when it is not overstuffed.
The Nomatic Travel Pack 20L is smaller and more structured. By the maker’s sizing it is a personal item on every airline.
Skip the 40 liter travel packs as an underseat bag on this carrier. A pack that size belongs in the bin.
It must then meet the 55 x 40 x 20 cm carry-on box. The Icelandair baggage allowance record shows how that box compares.
The bottom line
The Icelandair carry-on and personal item allowance gives every passenger both bags. No size is printed for the smaller one. Keep the personal item soft and under about 20 cm deep so it fits the slot.
Icelandair’s conditions of carriage set out the stowage rule and the gate fee. The carry-on box beside it is the number to pack to.
Common questions
What size is the Icelandair personal item?
Icelandair publishes no dimensions. Its rule is that the personal item must fit under the seat in front of you, so a soft bag around 18 x 14 x 8 inches is the practical limit.
Is a personal item included on every Icelandair fare?
Yes. Every fare includes a personal item and one 10 kg cabin bag, and higher fares add a second 10 kg cabin bag.
What counts as a personal item on Icelandair?
A handbag, laptop bag, small backpack or similar bag that stows under the seat. If it needs the overhead bin, Icelandair treats it as the carry-on instead.
What happens if my Icelandair personal item does not fit under the seat?
It must travel as checked baggage, and Icelandair’s conditions of carriage say a gate fee applies to any carry-on checked at the gate. The amount is not published on that page.
How big is the Icelandair carry-on next to the personal item?
55 x 40 x 20 cm (21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 in) and 10 kg, including wheels and handles. The 20 cm depth is stricter than most European carriers.
Can I bring a coat and duty free on top of the two bags?
Icelandair does not publish a list of extras. A coat, airport duty free and reading material are normally accepted, but anything beyond the two bags is at the crew’s discretion.
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