Asian Airlines: Which TOM BIHN Bags Fit the Carry-On Sizer?

In our two previous blogs about airline carry-on policies, we received a lot of questions about international restrictions — which bags fall under those limits and how to pack like a seasoned pro. So, in this edition of “All Things Carry-On,” we’re going international (again). This time, pack your bags, we’re going to Asia! In this blog, we’re going to focus on East Asia – think China, Taiwan, Mongolia, South Korea, and Japan.

Unlike in the U.S., where carry-on sizing is relatively standardized, many East Asian airlines combine sizing and weight restrictions, and may vary allowances based on route, aircraft, and fare class. For simplicity, in this guide, we are going to focus on economy carry-on restrictions only. 

As always, we recommend double-checking your airline’s official site before flying, but to get you started, we’ve rounded up the dimensions of our most popular travel bags and most popular East Asian airlines to hopefully shed some light on carry-on policies — which TOM BIHN bags make the cut, and give you some packing tips to ensure your bag fits. 

Full-service Carriers 

ANA (All Nippon Airways) - Japan

ANA:

• Carry-on limit: 115 cm (45 linear inches), or 55 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (22 in x 16 in x 10 in) including wheels and handles.

• Carry-on weight limit: 10kg (about 22 pounds).

• Personal item limit: Must fit under the seat in front of you. Typically 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in).

• Personal item weight limit: N/A.

Japan Airlines (JAL) - Japan

JAL:

• Carry-on limit: 115 cm (45 linear inches), or 55 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (22 in x 16 in x 10 in) including wheels and handles.

• Carry-on weight limit: 10kg (about 22 pounds). (Includes personal item)

• Personal item limit: Must fit under the seat in front of you. Typically 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in).

• Personal item weight limit: N/A

Korean Air - South Korean

Korean Air: 

• Carry-on limit: 115 cm (45 linear inches), or 55 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (22 in x 16 in x 10 in) including wheels and handles.

• Carry-on weight limit: 10kg (about 22 pounds).

• Personal item limit: Must fit under the seat in front of you. Typically 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in).

• Personal item weight limit: N/A.

Asiana Air - South Korean

Asiana Air: 

• Carry-on limit: 115 cm (45 linear inches), or 55 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (22 in x 16 in x 10 in) including wheels and handles.

• Carry-on weight limit: 10kg (about 22 pounds).

• Personal item limit: Must fit under the seat in front of you. Typically 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in).

• Personal item weight limit: N/A.

EVA AIR -Taiwan

EVA Air: 

• Carry-on limit: 115 cm (45 linear inches), or 56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm (22 in x 14 in x 9 in) including wheels and handles.

• Carry-on weight limit: 7kg (about 15 pounds).

• Personal item limit: 80 cm ( 32 linear inches), or 40 x 30 x 10 cm (16 x 12 x 4 in).

• Personal item weight limit: N/A.

Cathay Pacific - Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific: 

• Carry-on limit: Depends on route and aircraft; refer to baggage calculator. Typically 115 cm (45 linear inches), or 55 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (22 in x 16 in x 10 in) including wheels and handles.

• Carry-on weight limit: Depends on route and aircraft; refer to baggage calculator. Typically 7kg (about 15 pounds).

• Personal item limit: Depends on route and aircraft; refer to baggage calculator. Must fit under the seat in front of you. Typically 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in).

• Personal item weight limit: Depends on route and aircraft; refer to baggage calculator.

Mainland China Carriers

China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines: 

• Carry-on limit: 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm (22 in x 16 in x 8 in) including wheels and handles.

• Carry-on weight limit: 8kg (about 17 pounds).

• Personal item limit: Must fit under the seat in front of you. Typically 40 x 30 x 15 cm (16 x 12 x 6 in).

• Personal item weight limit: N/A.

China Eastern Airlines

China Eastern Airlines: 

• Carry-on limit: 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm (22 in x 16 in x 8 in) including wheels and handles.

• Carry-on weight limit: 8kg (about 17 pounds).

• Personal item limit: Must fit under the seat in front of you. 35 cm × 32 cm × 18 cm

• Personal item weight limit: N/A.

Budget and Regional

Scoot (Low-Cost Carrier)

Scoot: 

• Carry-on limit: 115 cm (45 linear inches), or 54 cm x 38 cm x 23 cm (21 in x 15 in x 9 in) including wheels and handles.

• Carry-on weight limit: 10kg (about 22 pounds). (Includes personal item)

• Personal item limit: Must fit under the seat in front of you. Typically 40 x 30 x 10 cm (16 x 12 x 4 in).

• Personal item weight limit: N/A.a

MIAT (Mongolian Airlines) Mongolia

MIAT: 

• Carry-on limit: 115 cm (45 linear inches), or 55 cm x 40 cm x 25 cm (22 in x 16 in x 10 in) including wheels and handles.

• Carry-on weight limit: 8kg (about 17 pounds).

• Personal item limit: N/A

• Personal item weight limit: N/A.

On paper, this looks reassuringly familiar to U.S. domestic flyers. In practice, however, enforcement can vary depending on the size of the aircraft and how full the flight is. Regional jets and narrow-body aircraft used for some routes often have noticeably smaller overhead bins, meaning gate agents may check bags earlier in the boarding process, even if your bag is compliant with the sizer restrictions.

The good news: soft-sided travel bags have a major advantage. A bag that can compress slightly is far more likely to clear the size limit than rigid luggage built exactly to the maximum dimensions. 

Many TOM BIHN bags that work perfectly on U.S. carriers still perform exceptionally well across East Asia — but packing strategy becomes more important than ever.

Carry-on Safe Travel Bags

• Aeronaut 45

• Aeronaut 30

• Techonaut 45

• Techonaut 30

• Night Flight Travel Duffel

• Old School Carry All

• Trinity

• Tri-Star

• Western Flyer

• Small Yeoman Duffel

• Pilot

• Co-Pilot

• Cadet

• Founder’s Briefcase

• Parental Unit

• Daylight Briefcase

Carry-on Safe Backpacks

• Synik 30

• Synik 26

• Synik 22

• Synapse 25

• Synapse 19

• Smart Alec 2.0

• Bixi

• Brain Bag

• Paradigm

• Paragon 2.0

• Shadow Guide 23

Upper Limit Carry-ons:

A little over the published limit for some airlines, but it can work if you pack smart.

• Medium Yeoman Duffel: 22.8” (w) x 9.4” (h) x 13.8” (d)

Personal item Safe:

• Medium Cafe Bag

• Small Cafe Bag

• Pilot

• Co-Pilot

• Nomad 16

• Nomad 11

• Swift

• Little Swift

• Makers Bag

• Forager

Upper Limit Personal Items:

A little over the limit for some airlines, but it can work if you pack smart (and can squeeze it under the seat).

• Synik 30: 20.0” (h) x 13.4” (w) x 8.0-10.8” (d)

• Synik 26: 18.0” x (h) x 13.2” (w) x 10.8” (d)

• Synik 22: 16.0” (h) x 11.4” (w) x 7.1” - 9.4” (d)

• Synapse 25: 20” (h) x 13.4” (w) x 9.1” (d)

• Synapse 19: 16” (h) x 11.4” (w) x 7.9” (d)

• Smart Alec 2.0: 15.7" (h) x 12.2" (w) x 9.4" (d)

• Marathon Messenger: 11” (h) x 15.5” (w) x 10.2” (d)

Packing Your Bag so it Fits the Sizer

You’ll notice that some personal item bags are a little taller or wider than the published — or even the actual sizer dimensions. That’s not necessarily a problem, and there’s no need to worry. First, gate agents aren’t sitting around with measuring tapes waiting to measure your bag, but rather they're looking for items that grossly exceed the dimensions (so don’t try to pass off your Aeronaut 45 as your personal item). Second, gate agents typically look to gate check rolling luggage first since those types of baggage are generally the most onerous to fit in the overhead bins. Finally, the soft sides of our bags make it easy to stuff them into the sizer, so you may be able to use a TOM BIHN bag that is technically too large to be a personal item (for example, members of our team and forum use the Synik 30 as a personal item when they fly, despite it being a few inches over the limit).

Also, remember that most airlines use a linear inch measuring system, so a bag that is a few inches too tall may very well fit within the limit. An Aeronaut 45, for example, which on paper exceeds the sizer restrictions for most East Asian airlines, falls perfectly into 45 linear inches. To calculate linear inches, simply add the width, height, and depth of the bag – include any wheels and handles in your measurements. You will find that most of our bags fall within this limit.

The trick, as always, is not to overpack. Those soft sides that let you cram your gear into awkward corners of overhead bins can also betray you — they expand if you fill them to the brim. A bag that fits perfectly at home can suddenly refuse to slip into the sizer if you pack like you’re preparing for a month-long adventure instead of a long weekend.

Packing smart often comes down to simple tricks. To avoid overstuffing your bag, you might try employing packing cubes and making sure that they are filled evenly to the edges, since extra volume in the middle of the bag often causes it to develop a barrel-like shape.  The slimmer your bag looks, the less likely you’ll be subjected to the sizer.

When you’re carrying a backpack, try to use as much vertical space as possible so that everything doesn’t migrate to the bottom (once again, the goal here is to reduce bulk)! Some forum members have found success using their Side Effects as internal backpack pouches, which can then double as handy in-flight compartments using Swivel Double Carabiners.

New to TOM BIHN bags? Check our Forum for tips on packing smart while keeping your travel essentials close at hand. And of course, if you have questions about what fits in the Baggage Sizer — or in a specific bag — we’re just one email or phone call away!

Tell us: which region should we cover next? Or maybe a guide solely dedicated to budget airlines? Did we miss any bags, or is there one that you’ve made work despite its larger size? Let us know in the comments below!