South African Airways Carry-On Size & Bag Rules
South African Airways (SAA) is the flag carrier of South Africa and a Star Alliance member. Economy passengers are allowed one cabin bag and one personal item, while Business Class gets two cabin bags. All hand baggage must fit under the seat or in the overhead lockers.
Personal Item
Under the seat
Length
15.7
in
Width
11.8
in
Height
3.9
in
Inch values are approximate conversions — official dimensions are in cm.
Cabin Bag
Overhead bin
Length
22.0
in
Width
14.0
in
Height
9.0
in
Economy passengers get 1 carry-on bag (max 8 kg) and 1 personal item (max 40 x 30 x 10 cm). Business Class passengers may bring 2 carry-on bags (8 kg each).
Will Your Bag Fit on South African Airways?
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Your bag dimensions
How to Measure
Length — tallest dimension, from floor to top of handle/wheels
Width — widest side, including external pockets
Depth — front to back, at the thickest point
Always measure the full external size — wheels, handles, and pockets count. Manufacturer specs often exclude these.
What is the Squish Score?
Not all bags are rigid boxes. A soft bag that is slightly over the limit can still squeeze into a gate sizer if the material compresses. We rate bags from 1–5:
Top Bags That Fit South African Airways
Bags that fit South African Airways's carry-on limits.
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