Last Updated on July 27, 2026 by Daniel Globe
Japan Airlines (JAL) allows two cabin items with a combined weight of up to 10 kg (22 lbs), but the exact size rule depends on your flight. JAL-operated international flights use a 55 x 40 x 25 cm main-bag limit, while some small JAL Group domestic aircraft use a smaller allowance. You also need to account for personal items, liquids, batteries, and medical equipment before you pack.
Quick Answer
JAL allows one personal item plus one carry-on bag weighing no more than 10 kg (22 lbs) combined. On JAL-operated international flights, the main bag must stay within 55 x 40 x 25 cm and 115 cm total dimensions. Smaller limits apply to JAL Group domestic aircraft with fewer than 100 seats.
Key Takeaways
- JAL permits two cabin items in total: one personal item and one carry-on bag, with a combined maximum weight of 10 kg (22 lbs).
- JAL-operated international flights use a 55 x 40 x 25 cm main-bag limit, with total dimensions no greater than 115 cm.
- On JAL Group domestic aircraft with fewer than 100 seats, the main-bag limit drops to 45 x 35 x 20 cm and 100 cm total dimensions.
- JAL does not publish a blanket rule exempting every CPAP or medical device from the 10 kg allowance, so confirm your specific equipment with the airline before departure.
- Since April 24, 2026, JAL permits no more than two power banks per passenger, each up to 160 Wh, and they must remain in carry-on baggage.
JAL Carry-On Kg Rules at a Glance
For a JAL-operated international flight, the official JAL carry-on allowance is one personal belonging plus one additional carry-on bag. Together, they must weigh no more than 10 kg (22 lbs).
The standard international carry-on bag must measure no more than 55 x 40 x 25 cm, and the sum of its three outside dimensions must be within 115 cm. Handles, casters, and wheels count toward those measurements.
JAL publishes the 10 kg cabin allowance as a general passenger limit rather than giving Business or First Class passengers a larger carry-on weight allowance. Your personal item must fit under the seat in front of you, while the larger bag must be small and light enough for you to stow safely.
What Size Carry-On Does JAL Allow?
The answer changes slightly between JAL international flights and some JAL Group domestic flights:
- JAL-operated international flights: main carry-on up to 55 x 40 x 25 cm, with total outside dimensions within 115 cm.
- JAL Group domestic aircraft with 100 or more seats: main carry-on up to 55 x 40 x 25 cm, with total dimensions within 115 cm.
- JAL Group domestic aircraft with fewer than 100 seats: main carry-on up to 45 x 35 x 20 cm, with total dimensions within 100 cm. This smaller rule can apply on regional flights, so check the aircraft type shown for your itinerary.
- Personal item: JAL describes this as a handbag, shoulder bag, shopping bag, or similar item that fits under the seat in front of you.
- Combined weight: your personal item and main carry-on together must stay within 10 kg.
You can verify the domestic aircraft-size rules on JAL’s domestic carry-on baggage page.
Note: Measure the complete bag, including handles, outer pockets, casters, and wheels. Meeting each individual side limit is not enough if the total outside dimensions exceed JAL’s stated maximum.
How Much Can Your Personal Item Weigh?
JAL does not publish a separate weight allowance just for the personal item. Instead, it shares the 10 kg combined limit with your main carry-on bag.
The personal item must fit under the seat in front of you. JAL lists items such as handbags, shoulder bags, and shopping bags as examples. Airport purchases and souvenirs do not automatically give you an extra cabin-baggage allowance, so plan for them within your two-item total.
A simple packing example would be a 7 kg roller bag plus a 3 kg backpack. A 9 kg suitcase plus a 4 kg laptop bag would exceed the published 10 kg combined allowance even though each item might fit physically in the cabin.
What Qualifies as JAL Carry-On Baggage?
For a standard passenger, JAL’s cabin allowance is built around two items:
- One personal item that fits under the seat in front of you
- One standard carry-on bag
- A maximum combined weight of 10 kg (22 lbs)
- A 55 x 40 x 25 cm main-bag limit on JAL-operated international flights
- Smaller main-bag dimensions on JAL Group domestic aircraft with fewer than 100 seats
Items bought at the airport can still count toward the number of items you bring into the cabin, so avoid arriving at the gate with a suitcase, backpack, handbag, and separate shopping bag unless you can consolidate them.
At a Glance
| Items Allowed | 1 personal item + 1 standard carry-on bag |
| Combined Weight Limit | 10 kg (22 lbs) |
| JAL International Main Bag | 55 x 40 x 25 cm; total dimensions within 115 cm |
| Domestic Aircraft With 100+ Seats | 55 x 40 x 25 cm; total dimensions within 115 cm |
| Domestic Aircraft Under 100 Seats | 45 x 35 x 20 cm; total dimensions within 100 cm |
| Personal Item | Must fit under the seat; shares the 10 kg combined limit |
JAL Carry-On Rules for Medical Gear
JAL allows passengers to travel with medical equipment, including CPAP machines, but you should not assume that every device automatically sits outside the normal carry-on allowance. JAL’s public baggage pages do not state a blanket 10 kg exemption for all medical equipment.
For a CPAP machine, JAL asks passengers to contact its special-assistance service in advance and provide the manufacturer, model number, size, and battery type. JAL says a medical certificate is not normally required simply for CPAP use.
Other medical devices can have stricter procedures. Equipment such as respirators, nebulizers, portable oxygen concentrators, and aspirators may require advance confirmation and medical documentation. Storage also matters: medical equipment generally needs to fit in an approved cabin location, such as under the seat, or JAL may require a separate seat for larger equipment.
Pro Tip: Contact JAL before departure if you are bringing or using a CPAP or another medical device. Have its manufacturer, model, dimensions, and battery specifications ready so JAL can confirm storage and battery requirements before you reach the airport.
Which Carry-On Items Need Special Screening?
Airline baggage rules and airport security-screening procedures are separate, and screening instructions can vary by departure airport. These are the items most likely to need extra attention:
- International-flight liquids, gels, and aerosols: JAL states that each container must hold no more than 100 ml, and the containers must fit inside one transparent, resealable bag with a maximum capacity of one liter per passenger. Medical liquids, baby food, and similar necessities can have exceptions subject to security procedures.
- Laptops and tablets: screening procedures vary by airport and checkpoint technology. Follow the instructions given by security staff rather than assuming electronics must always be removed from your bag.
- Knives, scissors, and weapon-like sharp objects: JAL says these cannot be carried in the cabin and should be placed in checked baggage when otherwise permitted.
- CPAP machines and other medical devices: security inspection may be required, and JAL may also need to confirm the device before travel.
- Duty-free liquids: connection rules can differ by airport. Keep the receipt and any required security tamper-evident packaging intact until your final security checkpoint.
For the current item-by-item restrictions, check JAL’s international restricted-baggage guidance.
Note: The 100 ml / one-liter liquid rule applies to international security screening. Do not assume the same liquid limits apply to a JAL domestic flight within Japan, where permitted toiletries and beverages follow different rules.
What Are JAL’s 2026 Power Bank Rules?
JAL changed its rules for portable power banks on April 24, 2026. These batteries cannot be placed in checked baggage and must remain with you in the cabin.
Under JAL’s 2026 power-bank policy:
- You may bring no more than two power banks per passenger.
- Each power bank must be 160 Wh or less.
- You may not charge a power bank from the aircraft’s seat power outlet or USB port.
- You may not use the power bank to charge another electronic device during the flight.
- JAL asks passengers not to store power banks in overhead compartments.
Warning: Never leave a power bank inside a bag that is being moved to the cargo hold. JAL prohibits power banks in checked baggage, so remove them before handing over a carry-on bag for checking.
When Does JAL Check Carry-On Bags at the Gate?
Japan Airlines requires your carry-on to meet its published size, weight, quantity, and storage rules. JAL’s official policy does not say that every passenger’s bags are automatically weighed both at check-in and again at the gate.
However, a bag that is oversized, overweight, or cannot be safely stowed may have to be placed in the cargo hold at the boarding gate or after you board. Limited cabin space can also affect whether a bag can remain with you.
If your bag is moved to checked baggage, remove valuables and any items that are prohibited in the cargo hold, especially power banks. Additional baggage charges can apply when your checked baggage exceeds the allowance included with your ticket.
Warning: Do not rely on reports that a particular airport or flight “never weighs bags.” JAL can enforce its published 10 kg and size limits whenever compliance needs to be confirmed, and a noncompliant bag may have to be checked.
Do JAL Carry-On Rules Change by Route?
Yes. The biggest difference is between JAL-operated international flights, JAL Group domestic flights, and flights operated by partner airlines.
- JAL-operated international flights: one personal item plus one carry-on, 10 kg combined; main bag within 55 x 40 x 25 cm and 115 cm total dimensions.
- JAL Group domestic flights on aircraft with 100 or more seats: the same 55 x 40 x 25 cm / 115 cm main-bag size applies.
- JAL Group domestic flights on aircraft with fewer than 100 seats: main bag within 45 x 35 x 20 cm and 100 cm total dimensions.
- Domestic connections onto a small aircraft: plan around the smaller aircraft’s cabin limits rather than assuming a bag accepted on the larger first flight will fit on the next one.
- Partner-operated codeshare flights: baggage conditions can differ. JAL says the operating carrier provides the airport and inflight service, and carry-on rules for many codeshare flights follow that operating airline. Check the JAL codeshare guide and your ticket before packing.
How to Pack Within JAL Carry-On Limits
A few checks at home can prevent most carry-on problems at the airport:
- Confirm who operates the flight. A JL flight number does not always mean the aircraft is operated by JAL.
- Check whether the flight is international or domestic. If it is domestic, verify the aircraft’s seating capacity before choosing your suitcase.
- Measure the full bag. Include wheels, handles, pockets, and other projections.
- Weigh both cabin items together. Keep the combined total at or below 10 kg rather than weighing only the roller bag.
- Leave room for airport purchases. A separate shopping bag can affect your two-item total.
- Pack batteries correctly. Keep power banks in the cabin and follow JAL’s current two-unit rule.
- Prepare liquids for international security. Use containers of no more than 100 ml inside one transparent, resealable bag with a capacity of no more than one liter.
- Confirm medical equipment early. Contact JAL before departure if you are carrying or plan to use a CPAP or other medical device.
Pro Tip: Give yourself a little margin below 10 kg instead of packing exactly to the limit. Airport purchases, a filled water bottle after security, or moving items between bags can quickly change your combined cabin weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Strict Is JAL With Carry-On?
JAL publishes firm size, weight, quantity, and storage limits, and a bag that is oversized, overweight, or cannot be safely stowed may have to be checked. However, JAL’s official policy does not state that every passenger’s cabin baggage is routinely weighed both at check-in and again at the gate.
What Are the New JAL Carry-On Rules for 2026?
JAL still allows one personal item plus one carry-on bag with a combined weight of no more than 10 kg. The major 2026 change involves power banks: from April 24, 2026, JAL permits no more than two per passenger, each up to 160 Wh, and prohibits charging or using them to charge another device onboard.
What Toiletries Are Not Allowed on a Plane?
On JAL international flights, liquids, gels, and aerosols generally need to be in containers holding no more than 100 ml, packed inside one transparent resealable bag with a maximum one-liter capacity. Larger containers normally need to be checked when the product itself is permitted. Toiletry aerosols are not automatically banned, and medicines and other necessary liquids can have exceptions.
What Happens if My Carry-On Bag Is More Than 10kg?
JAL may require an overweight cabin bag to be checked instead. Additional charges can apply if the resulting checked baggage exceeds the free allowance for your ticket or route. Remove power banks, valuables, and other items that cannot be placed in checked baggage before handing the bag over.
Does JAL Have a Separate Personal Item Weight Limit?
No separate personal-item weight figure is published. Your personal item and main carry-on share JAL’s 10 kg combined allowance, and the personal item must fit under the seat in front of you.
Can I Bring a CPAP Machine on JAL?
Yes, but JAL asks passengers bringing a CPAP to contact the airline in advance with the manufacturer, model number, size, and battery type. Separate rules apply if you intend to use the CPAP during the flight. Do not assume that every medical device is automatically excluded from the normal cabin-baggage allowance.
Conclusion
For JAL-operated international flights, plan around one personal item plus one carry-on bag weighing no more than 10 kg combined. Keep the main bag within 55 x 40 x 25 cm and 115 cm total dimensions. JAL Group domestic flights on aircraft with fewer than 100 seats use a smaller 45 x 35 x 20 cm limit, so check your aircraft and operating carrier before departure. Pack power banks and liquids carefully, and contact JAL ahead of time when traveling with medical equipment.
Sources
- JAL Official — International Carry-on Baggage — confirms the two-item allowance, 10 kg combined weight, 55 x 40 x 25 cm size limit, 115 cm total dimensions, and storage rules
- JAL Official — International Baggage Overview — confirms the international 10 kg cabin allowance and provides checked-baggage context
- JAL Official — Checked Baggage — confirms free checked-baggage allowances, excess-baggage charges, and rules for itineraries involving other airlines
- JAL Official — Restricted Items — confirms international liquid limits, sharp-object restrictions, lithium-battery requirements, and permitted toiletry rules
- JAL Official — 2026 Power Bank Rule Changes — confirms the April 24, 2026 two-power-bank limit and onboard charging restrictions
- JAL Official — CPAP and Sleep Apnea Assistance — confirms advance CPAP notification, equipment information, battery requirements, and onboard-use procedures