Ryanair recently increased the dimensions of the small cabin bag you can take with you on a flight for free.
They did this in response to an EU vote that is looking to ditch expensive hand luaggage fees (although it will be a while until this actually becomes law).
So when I saw that Primark do a suitcase with removable wheels that matches this larger Ryanair small cabin bag size – 40x30x20cm – I just had to snap it up and test it out!
Why has Ryanair changed the size dimensions for a small cabin bag?
The EU is pushing for new consumer rules that would ditch hand luggage fees completely.
At the end of June 2025, the EU’s transport committee voted for a rule that would stop airlines from charging extra for hand luggage.
To be clear, this isn’t law yet – and it isn’t actually guaranteed to be – but it is a big step towards making it official across the EU.
As a result of this vote, Ryanair increased its free cabin baggage allowance, extending the dimensions of the free small cabin bag from 40x25x20cm to 40x30x20cm.
Old small cabin bag allowance | New small cabin bag allowance |
|---|---|
40x25x20cm | 40x30x20cm |
Whilst an increase of just 5cm seems quite small, it actually means the bag size you can take on board for free has grown from 20L to 24L.
And if you look at the picture above you can see that actually, this makes quite a difference to the overall size of the suitcase.
So, let’s take a look at the new 40x30x20cm Primark suitcase with removable wheels, see whether it actually works as a small cabin bag and most importantly: do Ryanair let you bring it on board for free?!
What is the larger Primark suitcase with removable wheels?
The new Primark suitcase is a larger version of their original. Its dimensions without wheels are 40x30x20cm.
These dimensions match the maximum small cabin bag allowance of Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI.
This is the bag you can take on board for free, sometimes called a personal item, that’s included in the price of your ticket.
As for Primark’s original smaller version – I tested that too if you want to check it out.
What's the point of a suitcase with removable wheels?
The airlines specify your luggage allowance as dimensions, which means your whole bag has to fit inside them, wheels and all.
If you prefer to travel with a suitcase, this means you can end up losing out on space, as wheels can be chunky. Unless of course – you can get hold of a bag or case that has removable wheels!
Then, the item itself can measure the maximum capacity, because you can just pop the wheels off when you put it under the seat in front of you – and, crucially, when you’re checking it fits in the baggage sizer.
My Review of the Larger Primark Suitcase
First let’s take a look at the basics – what size is the suitcase and what are its features?
Specifications
- 40x30x20cm (without wheels)
- 2.3kg
- 2 compartments, (1 with strap, 1 with zip)
- Grab handle, telescopic handle, removable wheels, storage pouch
- £25
Remember Primark still sells the smaller original version, measuring 40x25x20cm, so if you’re popping in store or shopping online, make sure you choose the one with the dimensions you need.
What fits inside?
Here’s what I packed inside the suitcase for a 1-night stay:
- 3 days of clothes: 3 x t-shirts, 1 x jeans, 1 mini skirt, 1 x knitted mini dress, 1 x thin hoodie
- Compression bag with pjs, bikini and underwear
- Pair of trainers
- Travel straighteners
- Tech pouch
- Power bank
- Toiletries bag
- Travel adaptor
- Day bag
These are the compression bags I used to pack everything into.
They compress using a second zip so that you can squish your items down without using a vaccuum or pump.
What does the suitcase measure when it's packed full?
The big question! Let’s take a look…
As you can see, when everything is packed inside, the case does measure 40x30x20cm.
But, there’s the grab handle and the zip around the edge – which both stick out ever so slightly. And remember the whole thing has to fit in the baggage sizer.
Will the new Primark suitcase with removable wheels fit in the baggage sizer?
I was a bit worried about whether this suitcase would fit, because of the handle and zip…
But what do you know, the suitcase fit just fine!
Did Ryanair let me on the plane with the Primark suitcase with removable wheels?
Now time for the final test – will the Primark Ryanair suitcase be let on board, AND will it actually fit under the seat?
In preparation I squished my handbag inside the case, popped off the wheels and put them in the pouch in my pocket.
The lady at the gate knew my game – she just asked me what bag I was testing out today. So we had a right laugh about it!
So that was it – perfectly straightforward and on to the runway to board.
Plus, she told me that see these types of suitcases all the time, and now they know that they fit, they have no problem with it. So it’s good piece of intel that Ryanair don’t mind what kind of underseat bag you bring – it’s all about the dimensions.
Now, will the suitcase actually fit under the seat?
Does the Primark Ryanair suitcase with removable wheels actually fit under the seat?
I had an aisle seat on this Ryanair flight, so I was keen to see whether the suitcase would actually fit.
The aisle seat is actually a bit trickier to fit your bag under because the space underneat is a bit narrower than the others.
Watch the video below to see how it went!
Success!
After a bit of wiggling, I am happy to confirm that the 40x30x20cm Primark Ryanair suitcase with removable wheels fits under the seat - no problem at all.
Now, when I shared my videos about the new Primark suitcase with removable wheels on socials – you guys loved them!
But you also had a LOT of questions!
So I’ve written up the answers to the most common ones here, so you can figure out whether bringing a suitcase with removable wheels on board is the right choice for you.
New Larger Primark Suitcase With Removable Wheels - FAQs
What airlines can you take the larger Primark suitcase on?
This larger version of the Primark suitcase with removable wheels measures 40x30x20cm, matching the maximum small cabin bag dimensions of Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI.
If you want to know about the luggage allowances for the other airlines, check out the article below.
Is there a weight limit on the small cabin bag?
Ryanair and TUI don’t specify a weight limit for your small cabin bag.
Wizz Air has a 10kg limit.
Can you bring a suitcase on Ryanair as your small cabin bag?
There’s a bit of debate about whether Ryanair let you bring a suitcase on board as a free small cabin bag.
Anecdotally, I’ve heard from some of you that you’ve had issues when trying to bring a suitcase on board as a small cabin bag.
However, there’s nothing on Ryanair’s website that says you can’t bring a suitcase on board as your small cabin bag.
Ryanair bag policy
Their bag policy states:
- All our fares include one small personal bag which can be brought on board, such as a handbag or laptop bag (40 x 30 x 20 cm), which must fit under the seat in front of you.
Ryanair Ts&Cs
Ryanair’s terms and conditions say:
- 8.3.1 - You may carry on board one small cabin bag of up to 40x30x20cm (no allowance for infants travelling on their parent’s lap)
Ryanair offical hand luggage video
There’s a video guide to hand luggage on the Ryanair YouTube channel, which also doesn’t mention a specific bag type.
Ryanair customer service
We also managed to confirm with Ryanair customer service that as long as your bag is within the maximum dimensions, the type of bag it is doesn’t matter.
I actually wrote a whole article on this, because I got so many questions about it!
Why CAN airlines charge so much for bigger cabin bags?
Airlines like to advertise fares that are as low as possible – so they advertise a fare that just includes the free bag, and charge extra for anything bigger.
There has been some discussion around this at an EU level, highlighting that passengers are being misled by low fares, and getting stung further down the line by hidden baggage fees.
In June 2025, there was an EU vote in favour of getting airlines to stop charging extra for hand luggage – which is good news, but it will be a while before this becomes the law. You can read more about it in my update below.
And yes – the UK is not in the EU. So airlines like TUI flying from the UK to non-EU countries technically wouldn’t have to follow a new EU rule. But, they would have to follow it on any routes to the EU – so they could well end up having one policy that covers all their short haul flights.
And remember, airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air are EU-based, so they’ll have to comply with any new EU legislation regarding hand luggage.
Does the small cabin bag you take on board have to match the maximum dimensions?
OK I got a lot of questions along these lines… The answer is no, you do not have to take a small cabin bag that matches the maximum dimensions exactly, you can take something smaller.
The reason I am paying so much attention to the maximum dimensions is because so many of us are trying to save money by not buying an extra bag. So every centimetre of the free allowance counts!
What other free small cabin bags and suitcases would I recommend?
I’ve pulled together all my suggestions for the best small cabin bags for the different airlines, whether you prefer to travel with a backpack, holdall or suitcase. Just click on the article below!
