I’ve dragged suitcases across cobblestoned streets in Italy, shoved them into overhead bins on tiny regional planes in Japan, and rolled them through train stations in India. I’d say I’ve gotten pretty good at packing everything I need for weeks abroad into a single bag — and somewhere along the way, I became extremely intentional about my luggage.
International travel specifically asks a lot from a carry-on.
It needs to be small enough to actually make it onto the plane, light enough that the suitcase itself isn’t cutting into the weight limit, sturdy enough to survive considerably more movement than your average weekend trip, and spacious enough to carry more than just a couple of outfits.
So, what actually makes the best carry-on luggage for international travel? Here’s what I’ve learned after six years of near-full-time travel.
What a full-time traveler looks for in a carry-on for international trips
Now that I split my time between the U.S. and Brazil, most of my trips are international — whether I am flying back and forth for work or family visits or traveling to see friends who have moved away.
Of course, international travel has more moving parts than a quick domestic flight: Trains, buses, cobblestone streets, tiny hotel elevators, and, more often than not, several destination stops in a single trip.
My carry-on needs to keep up with all of that, without becoming another thing I have to worry about. Below, you’ll find the top six features I look for in a carry-on for international travel.
It needs to be lightweight and easy to lift.
There is, perhaps, no moment I become more aware of the weight of my suitcase than when I have to thrust it above my head into an overhead bin. With that said, I really can’t have the luggage itself contributing extra weight to that situation, especially on international flights with stricter cabin-bag weight limits.
P.S. Having a sturdy side handle is also important: I need a bag I can grab with one hand and confidently hoist overhead without accidentally flinging it across the aisle.
I want as much usable packing space as possible.
I really try to travel with just a carry-on whenever I can, so every inch of space counts. This is partially what led me to my current bag of choice: the LEVEL8 Voyageur carry-on.
This bag has this unique wide-handle design that I haven’t seen anywhere else. Instead of having the handle rails run through the middle of the suitcase — which creates those annoying bumps you have to pack around inside the bag — here, they’re positioned closer to the edges.
That makes the interior much flatter, allowing me to lay my clothes and packing cubes flat. It’s the kind of feature I probably would never have thought to look for before using it. But now, this makes a noticeable difference in how easily I can pack and organize my stuff (and how much I can squeeze in there).
It needs to roll well when it’s actually full.
Most suitcases glide beautifully across an airport floor when empty. I want to know what happens once they’re packed to the brim.
Smooth spinner wheels and a sturdy handle make a huge difference during my trips, especially because my bag is typically packed to its maximum, which makes pulling it behind me uncomfortably heavy.
I prefer a carry-on with sturdy enough wheels that let me push the suitcase beside me with one hand at all times, even on those notorious airport carpet floors!!
The interior should help compress my clothes.
Compression features are always helpful because I am inevitably trying to squeeze in one more sweater or pair of pants on every trip.
I’m not sure what level of sorcery LEVEL8 tapped into when creating the Voyageur’s compression system, but I swear that every time I see my clothes piled 5 inches too high — as in, there’s absolutely no way the bag will close — once I zip them into the flaps, they’re compressed down to nearly nothing.
It saves me every single time.
It has to be sturdy.
I’m not really a straight-from-the-airport-into-an-Uber kind of gal. I always end up taking some other form of transportation on my trips, which often requires wheeling my luggage through train stations or onto buses, almost always across uneven sidewalks, and, regrettably, through sand before being thrown onto a boat. Read: I need a carry-on that won’t break apart during any of my escapades.
And yes, I care what it looks like 🙂
This isn’t a necessity for everyone, but I travel for work, and my suitcase is essentially part of my work wardrobe. I don’t want to arrive at a beautiful hotel for an assignment with luggage that looks like it’s falling apart.
I always gravitate toward minimal branding and neutral, understated designs, or the luggage equivalent of something I won’t get tired of wearing. My Voyageur carry-on fits that description well. It’s minimalist and polished, with just enough personality, like a pop of yellow in LEVEL8’s signature wheels.
Best carry-on bags for international travel, according to travel experts
I’m not the only travel writer who has strong opinions about luggage. Here’s what two of the biggest travel publications recommend, plus a bit more in the carry-on I am currently traveling with.
LEVEL8 Voyageur Carry-On — My Pick
The sleek Voyageur carry-on has a hard-shell case and unique wide-handle design, which creates a flatter interior with more surface area for packing.
- Dimensions: 15.1″ L × 9.8″ W × 21.3″ H
- Capacity: Up to 43 liters
- Weight: About 8 pounds (3.7 kg)
Why I love it:
- Way easier to pack thanks to the wide-handle design (flatter interior with no handle rails running down the middle of my packing area)
- That magical compression system keeps bulky clothing down
- Separate wet and dry pocket
- Smooth spinner wheels and a wide, stable handle
- Minimalist design that works well for work trips
- Polycarbonate hardshell feels sturdy without being unnecessarily bulky
Things to consider:
- The wide handle means a traditional luggage sleeve won’t slide over it
Away The Bigger Carry-On — Condé Nast Traveler’s Pick
Away’s Bigger Carry-On prioritizes packing space, with a roomy interior and compression system that make it interesting for anyone trying to fit more into a carry-on.
- Dimensions: 15″ L × 9.5″ W × 23″ H
- Capacity: About 48 liters
- Weight: Just under 8 pounds (3.6 kg)
Why they chose it:
- It’s roomy (nearly 48 liters of packing space)
- 360-degree spinner wheels
- Interior compression system
- Even clamshell construction makes both sides easy to pack
Things to consider:
- Larger than the carry-on allowance of some international airlines
- May need to be checked on smaller or full flights
Samsonite Uplift Hardside Carry-On — Travel + Leisure’s Pick
At just over five pounds, Samsonite’s Uplift stands out for how lightweight it is — useful when flying abroad where carry-on weight limits are stricter.
- Dimensions: 14″ L × 9″ W × 22″ H
- Capacity: 39 liters (43.5L when expanded)
- Weight: 5.07 pounds
Why they chose it:
- Very lightweight at just over 5 pounds
- Its compact size meets most airlines’ carry-on limits
- 1-inch expansion gives you extra packing room
Things to consider:
- No interior pockets
- Using the expansion can push the bag beyond some airlines’ size limits
FAQs about carry-ons for international travel
What is the international size for carry-on luggage?
There isn’t one universal international carry-on size, but around 21 to 22 inches tall is common among major international airlines. For example, Lufthansa allows carry-ons up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm (about 21.7 x 15.7 x 9 inches), while British Airways allows a roomier 56 x 45 x 25 cm (22 x 18 x 10 inches). LATAM’s limit is 55 x 35 x 25 cm (21.7 x 13.8 x 9.8 inches).
The takeaway: don’t look at height alone. The width and depth of your suitcase count, too.
What size carry-on is allowed in Europe?
There’s no single European carry-on size because each airline sets its own rules. Lufthansa, for example, limits carry-ons to 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.7 x 15.7 x 9 inches) and 8 kg (17.6 pounds). British Airways allows bags up to 56 x 45 x 25 cm (22 x 18 x 10 inches). If you’re taking multiple flights around Europe, check every airline on your itinerary rather than assuming the bag you flew across the Atlantic with will work on your next flight.
What size carry-on is allowed in Southeast Asia?
Again, there’s no universal rule, but this is where I’d pay particularly close attention to weight. AirAsia, for example, allows one cabin bag up to 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14.2 x 9 inches) plus one small personal item, but the combined weight of both bags can be no more than 7 kg (15.4 pounds). That’s not a lot once you factor in the weight of the suitcase itself, which is why a lightweight bag is key when traveling around Southeast Asia.
Do international airlines weigh carry-on luggage?
They can (but they’ve rarely ever weighed mine).
Lufthansa limits a standard carry-on to 8 kg (17.6 pounds), while LATAM allows up to 12 kg (26 pounds) in Economy. AirAsia is considerably stricter: your cabin bag and personal item together can weigh no more than 7 kg (15.4 pounds).
This is one of the biggest reasons I pay attention to how much a suitcase weighs empty. You don’t want the bag itself eating up half your allowance before you’ve packed a thing.
Is a 22-inch carry-on too big for international travel?
Not necessarily, but don’t assume a bag is internationally compliant just because it’s marketed as a 22-inch carry-on. British Airways allows bags up to 22 inches tall, for example, while Lufthansa and LATAM cap theirs at roughly 21.7 inches. Width, depth, and weight matter just as much as height, so the safest move is to compare all three measurements with your airline’s current limits before flying.
Is hardshell or soft-sided luggage better for international travel?
I prefer hardshell luggage for international trips. My suitcase goes through a lot between planes, trains, buses, sidewalks, and the occasional gate check, so I appreciate having a sturdy exterior.
Soft-sided luggage does have its advantages, though: it can be lighter, easier to squeeze into tight spaces, and have exterior pockets that most hardshell suitcases don’t.
Ready to see if the Voyageur is the right fit for your next trip? Shop the LEVEL8 Voyageur Carry-On →
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