Planning to book your flight with Brussels Airlines, the flag carrier of Belgium? It’s important to understand how strict they are with their baggage policy and how much luggage you’re allowed to bring.
In this easy to understand guide, I’ve answered all your questions about Brussels Airlines baggage allowance.
Let’s dive right in.
Brussels Airlines Hand Luggage Rules (At a Glance)
If you’re flying with Brussels Airlines, here’s what you can take onboard the airplane:
Main Cabin Bag
The main carry-on bag is the larger of the two items and must fit in the overhead bin.
Size limit: 55 x 40 x 23 cm
Weight limit:
- Economy Class: 1 piece up to 12 kg
- Business Class: 2 pieces with a combined total of 16 kg
Personal Item
This should be small enough to go under the seat in front of you, like a handbag, laptop bag, or small backpack.
The size limit: 40 x 30 x 10 cm
There’s no specific weight limit for the personal item, but it must be light enough to carry and stow easily.
Are Brussels Airlines Strict With Hand Luggage Size?
Yes Brussels Airlines are known to be reasonably strict.
Your cabin bag should fit in their sizer at the airport, and oversized hard sided suitcases are more likely to get flagged.
If your bag looks too big or bulky, especially on busy or smaller aircraft, you might be asked to place it in the hold (free of charge, if within weight).
Pro Tip: A soft-sided backpack or duffel gives you more flexibility if you’re close to the limit.
Are They Strict With Hand Luggage Weight?
Technically, yes.
If your bag exceeds 12 kg in Economy or 16 kg total in Business, you may be charged and.
But in practice? It depends.
From traveler reports, weight checks are more common at check-in than at the gate.
So if you’re checking in online and heading straight to security, you may not get weighed but it’s always a risk.
If your bag is overweight and you arrive at the airport, you can always wear your heavier items or shift some weight to your personal item.
What Will Happens If You’re Over the Limit?
If your hand luggage is too big or too heavy:
- It could be transferred to checked baggage at the gate
- You may have to pay a fee, usually €50 or more
- If it’s too large (especially hard-shell), you might not be able to board with it at all
So, is it worth the risk?
I will say don’t risk it with a hard suitcase that’s clearly oversized or overweight.
A flexible, airline approved cabin bag is the best way to go.
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Brussels Airlines Hand Luggage Liquids
Just like with all European airlines, Brussels Airlines follows the standard airport liquid limits.
You can only ring liquids in your hand luggage, if each bottle is 100 ml/ 3,4 oz or less.
All your liquids must be fit in a single quart sized bag, no larger than 1 litre in total capacity (usually around 20 x 20 cm in size).
Brussels Airlines Checked Baggage Rules
Here’s a quick look at Brussels Airlines Checked baggage rules:
- Size limit: 158 cm (total of length + width + height)
Weight:
- Economy: 1 bag up to 23 kg
- Business: up to 32 kg per bag
- Maximum per bag: 32 kg – any heavier must go as cargo
- Maximum number of bags: Up to 5 (combined free + paid)
Oversized or overweight bags may have extra charges, which vary depending on your route and whether you pay online or at the airport.
You can check special sports equipment like golf bags or bikes for a fee just make sure to register it in advance.
Final Thoughts
Brussels Airlines may not weigh or measure every single bag, but when they do, they tend to enforce the rules strictly.
If you want to skip any surprises at the airport, the safest way to do it is to follow the official size and weight limits: 55 x 40 x 23 cm for your main cabin bag, and a maximum of 12 kg in Economy (16 kg combined in Business).
Also make sure your personal item fits comfortably under the seat in front of you. Something like a laptop bag, small backpack, or handbag is ideal.
Avoid using a hard sided suitcase if you’re pushing the limits soft-sided bags are more forgiving and easier to squeeze into the baggage sizer if needed.
I hope this helps.
Happy travels.
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