Quick answer: Jet2 and TUI both include a cabin bag with a weight limit as standard, which makes them more generous than the strictest low-cost carriers. That changes the packing problem from volume to weight – and compression does nothing for weight.

What this guide covers

Most packing advice online is written for the tightest possible allowance, because that is where people get caught. If you are flying Jet2 or TUI, the constraint is a different one.

Always check the airline's own baggage page before you fly – allowances change, and package-holiday bookings can differ from flight-only ones.

Weight, not volume

The low-cost carriers mostly limit the size of your bag and care little about its weight. Jet2 and TUI typically include a cabin bag with a stated weight limit, which flips the problem.

This matters because it changes which tool helps. Compression reduces volume and saves precisely no weight. Against a weight limit, it can actively mislead you – the bag closes easily and still weighs too much.

What to do instead

  • Weigh the bag at home. Luggage scales cost very little and remove the entire question.
  • Wear the heavy items. Boots and a coat can be several kilos, and worn weight is not counted.
  • Watch the dense things. Books, toiletries, shoes and chargers weigh far more than clothes do.
  • Use the hold bag. On a package holiday it is usually already included, so there is no prize for cramming everything into the cabin.

Where cubes still help

Weight limits do not make organisation pointless. Package holidays mean shared family cases and hotel rooms with one wardrobe, and that is exactly the situation a set of cubes is for.

A colour per person in a shared case is the single most useful family packing habit – see the family packing guide and the colour-coding post.

The liquids rule does not change

Whatever the airline allows in your cabin bag, airport security is unaffected: liquids in containers of 100ml or less, in one transparent resealable bag of about a litre.

Keep a clear bag permanently packed and the tray takes ten seconds. The detail is in the liquids rule post.

The short version

  • Jet2 and TUI typically include a cabin bag with a weight limit, unlike the strictest low-cost carriers.
  • That makes weight the constraint rather than volume – and compression saves no weight at all.
  • Weigh the bag at home; luggage scales remove the guesswork entirely.
  • Worn weight is not counted, so boots and a coat belong on you, not in the bag.
  • Allowances change and package bookings differ from flight-only ones – check before you fly.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Jet2 cabin bag allowance bigger than Ryanair's?

Generally Jet2 includes a cabin bag as standard where the strictest low-cost fares only include a small underseat bag, but the details change. Check Jet2's current baggage page before you fly rather than relying on a remembered figure.

Do compression cubes help with a weight limit?

No. Compression removes air, which reduces volume and not mass. Against a weight limit it can be misleading, because the bag closes comfortably while still being over. Weigh it rather than judging by how it looks.

What weighs the most in a suitcase?

Rarely the clothes. Shoes, books, toiletries, chargers and anything with a battery are the dense items. If you are over a weight limit, those are where the kilos actually are.

Can I take a hold bag as well on a package holiday?

Usually one is included in the package price, which is worth checking before you spend effort compressing everything into the cabin. If the hold bag is already paid for, use it.

Does the airline's allowance change the liquids rule?

Not at all. Airport security applies the 100ml rule regardless of who you fly with: containers of 100ml or less, in one transparent resealable bag of around a litre, one bag per passenger.