Lufthansa allowance at a glance
| Bag | Maximum size | Maximum weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on | 21.7×15.7×9.1 in55x40x23 cm | 17.6 lb8 kg | Economy gets one cabin bag plus a personal item, but Economy Basic on short and medium haul is personal item only. Premium Economy, Business and First get two cabin items, though from the USA and India the second must be checked. |
| Personal item | 15.7×11.8×5.9 in40x30x15 cm | No stated limit | One personal item is allowed in every class, including Economy Basic. |
| Checked bag | 62 in158 cm | 50.7 lb23 kg |
This page goes deeper on one part of the policy. The full record is at Lufthansa Baggage Rules.
Lufthansa caps the personal item at 40 x 30 x 15 cm, or 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches. It is the one bag every fare keeps for free.
That number matters more than usual here. Lufthansa’s cheapest short and medium haul fare drops the full cabin bag and leaves just the personal item. Reading the Lufthansa carry-on and personal item rules together is what keeps a trip from a gate surprise.
The box is flatter than most US carriers use. A 40 x 30 x 15 cm limit gives less depth than the 40 x 30 x 20 cm box some European rivals allow. This Lufthansa carry-on and personal item pairing rewards a bag that clears Lufthansa’s own box, not a rival low cost carrier’s.
What Lufthansa counts as a personal item
Lufthansa’s own page lists handbags, shopping bags and laptop bags as examples of what belongs under the seat.
A backpack, a tote and a briefcase all read as one personal item. Only one can come aboard in that role.
A second bag beyond the fare’s cabin allowance becomes the item Lufthansa pulls at the gate, not a free extra.
Is the personal item free on every Lufthansa fare
Yes, and it is the detail that trips up Economy Basic passengers. Lufthansa’s fare rules give every cabin, including Economy Basic, one free personal item.
On short and medium haul routes, Economy Basic drops the separate cabin bag entirely. The personal item becomes the only piece a traveler brings aboard for free.
Premium Economy, Business and First keep two cabin items. Lufthansa’s carry-on size page notes flights from the USA and India require the second item to be checked.
Check the Lufthansa carry-on and personal item allowance for your own fare before packing. It avoids paying to check a bag a pricier fare would have carried free.
What happens when a bag does not fit at the gate
Lufthansa states that oversize or excess cabin baggage gets taken from passengers at check-in or at the gate. It then flies in the hold at their expense.
The charge runs EUR 60 to EUR 110, payable by credit card only. On a full flight, even a compliant bag can be checked for free if overhead space runs out.
A soft personal item that squashes under the seat beats a rigid one that only fits the bin.
Bags built for Lufthansa’s flat personal item box
Lufthansa’s 15 cm depth rewards soft, flat bags over structured ones. Three from Amazon fit the shape of this box for different kinds of trips.
- The Kipling Art M tote is a light nylon tote built to fold small. That suits a 5.9 inch depth better than a boxy backpack.
- The Baggallini Avenue tote adds a trolley sleeve and a laptop pocket. It is a common pick for a laptop as the one free item on Economy Basic.
- The WANDF foldable personal item duffel packs flat inside a checked bag. It comes out as the free item for a return leg, once souvenirs have filled the outbound one.
A structured backpack such as the Matein travel laptop backpack can work too. Its depth runs close to the box’s 15 cm limit, so measure it loaded, not empty.
Check any bag against the box with the size checker before packing rather than guessing at the gate.
Personal item versus the full cabin bag
Lufthansa’s cabin bag allowance runs a separate 55 x 40 x 23 cm, 8 kg limit. The two boxes are easy to mix up between carriers.
The site’s guide to personal item versus carry-on covers how airlines draw that line in general. Lufthansa’s numbers build on that base.
Lufthansa’s 8 kg cap applies to the full cabin bag, not the personal item. The airline’s own page does not publish a weight limit for the item under the seat.
Lufthansa publishes the cabin bag and personal item boxes on its own carry-on baggage page, which is the source for the figures above.
The bottom line
Lufthansa’s personal item box is 40 x 30 x 15 cm. It rides free on every fare, including Economy Basic.
On short and medium haul Economy Basic, it is the only free bag you get. Pack it soft, measure it loaded, and check the Lufthansa carry-on and personal item rules for your fare before the gate, where a EUR 60 to EUR 110 charge waits otherwise.
Common questions
What size is the Lufthansa personal item?
Lufthansa allows a personal item up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm, or about 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches, under the seat in every cabin.
Is the personal item free on Lufthansa Economy Basic?
Yes. Every Lufthansa fare including Economy Basic gets one free personal item, and on short and medium haul Economy Basic it is the only free cabin bag.
What counts as a Lufthansa personal item?
Lufthansa lists handbags, shopping bags and laptop bags as examples; a backpack or briefcase used as your one under seat bag also qualifies.
What happens if my bag is too big for Lufthansa at the gate?
Lufthansa takes oversize or excess cabin bags at check-in or the gate and checks them into the hold for EUR 60 to EUR 110, paid by credit card only.
Does the Lufthansa personal item have a weight limit?
Lufthansa publishes an 8 kg limit for the full cabin bag but does not state a separate weight limit for the personal item.
Can I bring a laptop bag as my Lufthansa personal item?
Yes, a laptop bag is one of the examples Lufthansa lists for the personal item, as long as no separate cabin bag is also brought on Economy Basic short and medium haul fares.
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