hand luggage

Meaning

Hand luggage refers to the small bags or suitcases that passengers are allowed to carry onto an airplane with them, rather than checking them into the cargo hold. In American English, this is more commonly called 'carry-on luggage'.

Examples

• I only travel with hand luggage to save time at the airport.

  I only travel with hand luggage to save time at the airport.

• Does this airline allow one piece of hand luggage for free?

  Does this airline allow one piece of hand luggage for free?

• Make sure your hand luggage fits in the overhead bin.

  Make sure your hand luggage fits in the overhead bin.

• You cannot pack liquids over one hundred milliliters in your hand luggage.

  You cannot pack liquids over one hundred milliliters in your hand luggage.

• They weighed my hand luggage at the boarding gate.

  They weighed my hand luggage at the boarding gate.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I have three hand luggages with me.

  ✓ I have three pieces of hand luggage with me.

  'Luggage' is an uncountable noun. You cannot make it plural with 's'. Use 'pieces of hand luggage' instead.

• ✗ Where can I put my hand suitcase?

  ✓ Where can I put my hand luggage?

  English speakers do not say 'hand suitcase'. Use 'hand luggage' or 'carry-on bag' instead.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I need to make sure my ___________ isn't too heavy for the flight.

  💡 The bags you take inside the plane cabin.

  Show answer

  hand luggage

• You should keep your passport in your ___________, not your checked bag.

  💡 The small suitcase you carry with you.

  Show answer

  hand luggage