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Brits flying with budget airlines are being urged to follow a simple '£40 rule' when buying cabin luggage. With airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air charging extra for larger hand luggage, more passengers are opting to travel with a small underseat bag to avoid costly fees. Industry experts found that many well-rated cabin bags cost around £40 or less, with some budget-friendly brands scoring highly for durability, storage and value for money. Experts say there is no need to pay more for the luggage.

Consumer champion Which? asked 1,811 travellers about the cabin luggage brands they trust most, with two budget-friendly options standing out for both reliability and value for money. Travellers also praised the brands for providing clear sizing information helping passengers avoid unexpected charges at the airport gate. This is crucial when travelling, because if your bag is too large you could be charged up to £70 at the gate, an expensive and frustrating way to start a holiday.

The findings suggest holidaymakers do not need to spend hundreds of pounds on luggage to get a dependable cabin bag that meets airline rules. Both brands are Which? Recommended Brands as well, meaning the luggage is designed to be durable and comes with protection against manufacturing faults, according to the consumer group.

The consumer champion's pick for a cheap underseat cabin bag is Cabin Max. Travellers surveyed said they paid an average of just £37 for the bags, while experts at Which? found some models on sale for as little as £25.

What's great with Cabin Max is that you can filter the bags online by the name of your airline in order to match its cabin restrictions.

Those surveyed highlighted features such as compression straps, lightweight materials and semi-rigid designs that help prevent bags bulging beyond the permitted size. Cabin Max also sells mini suitcases for travellers who prefer wheeled luggage although whether passengers can bring a suitcase without paying extra will depend on the airline and the type of ticket booked.

With easyJet, for example, everyone can bring one small under seat cabin bag per person on board for free at a maximum size of 45 x 36 x 20 cm (including any handles and wheels) and must be kept under the seat in front of you. Your bag can weigh up to 15kg, but you must be able to lift and carry it yourself.

A larger bag (max. 56 x 45 x 25 cm, including any handles and wheels) is only permitted if passengers pay for a Large Cabin Bag upgrade with speedy boarding or hold an EasyJet Plus or Inclusive Plus membership.

For a cheap large cabin bag, Which? chose Tripp. The average price customers said they paid for a large cabin bags £40 and rated it highly thanks to its storage capacity, lightweight designs and value for money.

Customers said the hard-shell cases were lightweight, sturdy and easy to manoeuvre through airports while still maximising packing space.

Budget airlines tend to impose the tightest restrictions. Standard fares on easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air usually only include one small bag that fits under the seat in front, although the permitted dimensions differ between carriers.

Ryanair currently has some of the smallest size allowances among major airlines, leading some travel experts to recommend buying luggage based on its limits if passengers want one bag suitable for multiple airlines. That means choosing an underseat bag no larger than 40 x 30 x 20cm, or a larger cabin bag around 55 x 40 x 20cm. Other airlines like British Airways and Jet2, allow both a cabin suitcase and a personal item even on cheaper tickets.