Which has the bigger carry-on allowance, British Airways or Turkish?

British Airways: 56 × 45 × 25 cm (22 × 17.7 × 9.8 in), up to 23 kg (50.7 lb). Turkish: 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in), up to 8 kg (17.6 lb). British Airways allows the larger bag.

Do British Airways and Turkish include a carry-on on basic economy?

British Airways: Even hand-baggage-only fares include a cabin bag and a handbag. Turkish: EcoFly fares include the 8 kg carry-on and a personal item.

Where do British Airways and Turkish fly from?

British Airways's main hubs are London (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW). Turkish's are Istanbul (IST). The better pick is often whichever flies nonstop from your airport.

Are British Airways and Turkish partners?

They aren't in the same alliance (British Airways: oneworld; Turkish: Star Alliance), so miles and status generally don't transfer between them.

BA vs TK · 2026 comparison

British Airways vs Turkish

British Airways wins on a bigger carry-on and a more generous carry-on weight limit; Turkish wins on cheaper checked bags. Here's how they compare on bags, fees, comfort, reliability and loyalty.

Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction

British Airways

Wins 2 categories

A bigger carry-on
A more generous carry-on weight limit

Turkish

Wins 1 category

Cheaper checked bags

Quick verdict

British Airways wins on a bigger carry-on and a more generous carry-on weight limit; Turkish wins on cheaper checked bags. Both include a carry-on on every fare.

Carry-on size: British Airways: 56 × 45 × 25 cm · Turkish: 55 × 40 × 23 cm
Carry-on on the cheapest fare: British Airways: Included on every fare · Turkish: Included on every fare
First checked bag (regular economy): British Airways: 1 free bag · Turkish: 2 free bags

Side by side

	British Airways	Turkish
Bags
Carry-on size	56 × 45 × 25 cm	55 × 40 × 23 cm
Carry-on on the cheapest fare	Included on every fare	Included on every fare
Carry-on weight limit	23 kg (50.7 lb)	8 kg (17.6 lb)
Personal item	40 × 30 × 15 cm	40 × 30 × 15 cm
First checked bag (regular economy)	1 free bag	2 free bags
Network
Alliance	oneworld	Star Alliance
Loyalty program	British Airways Club	Miles&Smiles
Main hubs	LHR, LGW	IST

Highlighted values are better for travelers. Fees are for U.S. domestic economy flights; on-time data is 2025 U.S. DOT figures for each airline's own flights.

Bags and fees

British Airways allows a carry-on up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm (22 × 17.7 × 9.8 in), and Turkish up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in), so British Airways's is roomier.

Both include it on their cheapest fares.

Carry-on weight limits: 23 kg (50.7 lb) on British Airways, 8 kg (17.6 lb) on Turkish.

Personal items: 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) on British Airways, and 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) on Turkish.

British Airways includes one bag with Economy on flights between the U.S. and the UK, and Turkish includes two bags with ExtraFly on flights between the U.S. and Türkiye.

Basic economy

British Airways (Basic (hand baggage only)): Even hand-baggage-only fares include a cabin bag and a handbag.

Turkish (EcoFly): EcoFly fares include the 8 kg carry-on and a personal item.

Loyalty and where they fly

British Airways is in oneworld and Turkish is in Star Alliance.

Loyalty programs: British Airways Club (British Airways) and Miles&Smiles (Turkish).

British Airways's main hubs are London (LHR), London Gatwick (LGW). Turkish's are Istanbul (IST). The best choice often comes down to which airline flies nonstop from your airport.

Which should you book?

Choose British Airways if you want…

a bigger carry-on
a more generous carry-on weight limit
to earn and use oneworld miles and status
nonstops from LHR, LGW

Choose Turkish if you want…

cheaper checked bags
to earn and use Star Alliance miles and status
nonstops from IST

On a route both fly, the cheaper ticket isn't always the cheaper trip: add the bags you'll actually bring, and check the fare rules before you book.