My Aerolite review: Is this the perfect cabin bag?

If, like me, it pains you to pay more than the price of a flight ticket for your luggage, then you’ll want a case that has been made to fit the exact measurements of the airline’s free luggage requirements. Allowing you to pack as much as possible, whilst avoiding extortionate fees at the airport.

Aerolite is a luggage brand creating bags that perfectly fit airline requirements. So, with a summer of flying on budget airlines ahead of me, I was very happy to be gifted their Ryanair carry-on bag to test.

It has been made to fit within the exact measurements of Ryanair’s free luggage limits, so I feel comfortable that I’ll be avoiding any unwanted fees this summer.

But I was also keen to find out more about the build quality, how much I could get away with packing in it, and what it was like to use. In this Aerolite review, I will be discussing all of this and more. So make sure to read on!

What is Aerolite?

Aerolite is a luggage brand dedicated to creating cases and bags fit for all airline requirements. So, whether you are travelling with Ryanair, Easyjet, Wizz Air, British Airways, Lufthansa, Jet2, or any other airline, you will find a suitable carry-on bag.

They also have a range of larger suitcases built for hold luggage with secure locks and long warranties.

My experience

As a seasoned traveller, I decided to put the Aerolite carry-on bag to the test. I was interested to see how much I could pack inside it, how it felt to carry it and roll it on different surfaces, and the overall build quality. Read on to find out my thoughts on this and more!

Size and weight

The size of the bag is spot on for the maximum limits of Ryanair’s free underseat luggage. It has a 19l capacity and weighs 2.2kg.

Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t a huge amount of space for your belongings, but that is because of the airline. Thankfully, by creating a bag that measures the exact maximum allowance given by airlines, Aerolite has made it easy to pack within the limits, so you know exactly what you can and can’t bring.

This particular bag is a little on the heavy side, but that is probably down to the retractable handle and wheels that allow you to use this like a rolling trolley case. They do have other lighter bags available without this handle.

But Ryanair’s free luggage doesn’t have a weight limit, so as long as you don’t mind the weight, it won’t be a problem! Whereas, EasyJet’s free luggage has a maximum weight limit of 15kg, which is still pretty reasonable.

Build quality

There are a lot of cheap Ryanair bags making their way around social media at the moment. But cheap typically means bad quality, and having looked at a few of these in shops, I can tell they will only last a few holidays.

I’m all for saving money, and I believe investing more in a well-made bag will actually save you more in the long run. Which is why I like this Aerolite bag – it is definitely built to last.

I found that the zippers work well with loaded pressure from a slightly overpacked bag, the stitching is solid, and the material is strong and durable. It will keep you going for many budget holidays to come!

Storage and compartments

The Aerolite Ryanair bag may be short on space (due to airline restrictions), but it isn’t short on compartments! If a tidy, organised bag is your jam, then you’ll love this.

The front compartment comes with a few zipper compartments to store smaller items, like electronics or toiletries, as well as a laptop pouch (fitting a 13″ laptop perfectly). This is separate from the main section, allowing you easy access to non-clothing items.

The main compartment is perfect for clothing. It will fit enough clothes and some flip flops for a short summer holiday or city trip, as long as you pack light. But if you are used to flying Ryanair, you’ll be a pro at packing only the clothes you need.

It also has an outer pocket for your water bottle. However, if the airline asks you to fit your bag in their sizing bin, you will want to remove that bottle.

The compartments are great for staying organised, but if you are only packing clothes and a few smaller items, they may not be useful to you. And considering that these compartments take up space in an already limited bag, you may want to consider a different bag so you can get more clothes in. Aerolite has a great range of bags for each airline, including rucksacks, duffel bags, and other 3-in-1 carry solutions.

Ease of use

One of my favourite things about this bag is that it is really easy to pack and use. The main compartment zips completely open so that you can pack it like a suitcase, and the front section zips open fully, hinging at the bottom like a flap. This makes it easy to quickly grab essentials without everything falling out.

The bag itself can be carried in three different ways. There is an inbuilt retractable handle that allows you to wheel the bag around like a suitcase. Great for easy carrying. But you can also carry it as a holdall and even wear it as a backpack. The straps can be zipped away when not needed.

Value for money

Obviously, with good built quality comes a higher price point, but is it worth it? Well, when this bag is on sale, you can typically get around 60% off, which makes it an absolute steal. For example, it is currently on sale for £44.99 (non-sale price of £139.99).

Otherwise, it can be a little more pricey, and actually more expensive than simply upgrading your luggage on the airline. That being said, if you travel just a few times with the bag, you’ll easily make up for that price. And you’ll avoid any unwanted fees at the airport for oversized luggage.

So, if you plan on using the bag more than once and want to keep it for years, then you’ll get your money’s worth.

Review verdict

I know for certain that I am going to get a lot of use out of my Aerolite bag. It is the perfect solution for budget airline travel, and it’ll definitely help me save a lot of money and hassle in the long run.

Not only does it slot in nicely underneath the aeroplane seat in front, but it also has an inbuilt handle for easy carrying through the airport, plus a few different handle options so you can carry it as a holdall or rucksack.

I love keeping my belongings organised, so my favourite feature of this bag is all the compartments. There’s a dedicated space for my laptop, cables, and Kindle, plus extra pockets for toiletries and small accessories. The main compartment for clothing is easily accessible thanks to the suitcase-style opening.

It is a little on the small side, but that is because it has been made to fit Ryanair’s very limited free luggage restrictions. So the upside to this is that I know exactly what I can pack without facing any unwanted (and extortionate) fees at the airport.

If you will also be flying on an airline with strict luggage allowances, I’m certain you’ll also find the baggage solutions at Aerolite really useful!