HK Express cabin baggage allowance
HK Express, Cathay's low-cost arm, sells carry-on by fare: the cheapest ticket includes only a small underseat item, while higher fares add a 56 x 36 x 23 cm cabin bag. Everything shares one 7 kg combined cap.
The short answer
Small personal item 40 x 25 x 20 cm (underseat) + cabin bag 56 x 36 x 23 cm, 7 kg combined. "Ultra Lite" fares include the personal item only; Lite / Essential / Max fares include the cabin bag (Essential bundles baggage).
Cabin bag: size and weight at a glance
| Item | HK Express allowance |
|---|---|
| Cabin bag (max size) | 56 x 36 x 23 cm (overhead) |
| Small personal item (max size) | 40 x 25 x 20 cm (underseat) |
| Weight | 7 kg combined across both items |
| Fare rules | Ultra Lite: personal item only; others: + cabin bag |
Dimensions always include wheels and handles unless the airline says otherwise.
Personal item policy
The small personal item must fit under the seat — handbag, backpack, laptop or camera bag. Its weight counts inside the same 7 kg, and purchases made in the restricted area count too.
Checked baggage: how it works
Checked baggage is sold by weight and is cheapest when added at booking. Gate-handled bags cost the most — much more than the same bag pre-paid — so settle your baggage before the airport.
If your bag is too big or too heavy
Excess or oversize cabin items at the gate are checked at a steep per-piece gate rate (see HK Express' page for the current figure). Even compliant cabin bags may be gate-checked free when lockers fill up — board early if you need your bag in the cabin.
Allowances verified: 1 November 2026
Baggage rules change without notice. Always confirm with HK Express before flying — current official page: HK Express — carry-on baggage (official).
Weigh before you wing it
Most carriers here enforce a 7–10 kg cabin limit. A luggage scale costs less than one gate fee and ends the guesswork.
Compare luggage scales →