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These days, you really have to watch your overhead. That goes for your business, as well as your airline travel (and occasionally, your photography. An aerial, like this one of a sheep roundup in Iceland, can really spice up your coverage).

As far as business practices go, I’ve always gone lean and mean, with my wife Peggy handling the stock and the billing and the office stuff, not to mention single handedly dealing with our three boys when I was on the road. Why a few years ago, I even started paying her…I know, but what can I say, I’m a generous sort:-).

The same cannot be said of the airlines though. They’re getting more venal all the time. Including their carryon allowances.

The long and short of it is that here in the US, we get away with a lot. From what I’ve seen lately, one carryon and one personal item can mean anything up to and including  two steamer trunks…if you can drag them to the gate, more than likely, they’ll let you carry it on (that is, if there’s any overhead left by the time you board. Which is why you need to patronize one or more airlines enough to get into their Elite programs with advanced boarding, OR book seats in the back of the plane, which most airlines board first).

But overseas, they’re really strict about the definition of “one” and  “carryon.” Strangely enough, it means one really lightweight bag. And they weigh them, and they can be really sticky. So avoid culture shock when connecting through foreign countries; before you fly check posts like this one for ideas on how to slim down, and know your airline rules.

For your added convenience, and thanks to my friend Steven Frischling, of Flying with Fish fame, hit the jump to get a list of the carryon allowances for 68 different airlines.

–North & South American Carriers–
AeroMexico – Size 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
Air Canada – Size: 21.5″x15.5″x9″ (46 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
AirTran – Size: 55-linear inches of any reasonable dimensions – Weight: none
Alaska – Size: 24″x17″x10″ (51 linear inches) – Weight: none
Allegiant Air – Size 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: none
American – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 40lbs
Continental – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 40lbs
Delta – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 40lbs
Hawaiian – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 25lbs
JetBlue – Size: 26″x18″x12″ (for Airbus) & 24″x16″x10″ (for Embraer)
LAN – Size: 22″14 x10 (46 linear inches) — Weight: 18lbs
Mexicana – Size: 20″ x15″x9″ (44 linear inches) – Weight: 51lbs
Porter – Size: 22″x16″x10″ (48 linear inches) – Weight: 20lbs
Southwest – 24″ x16″x10″ (50 linear inches) – Weight: none
TACA – Size: 22″14″9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
TAM – Size: 21.65″x15.75″x7.85″ (45.25 linear inches) — Weight: 11lbs
United – Size 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: none
US Airways – Size 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 40lbs
Virgin America – Size:24″x16″x10″ (50 linear inches) – Weight: 16lbs
WestJet – Size: 21.5″x15.5″x9″ (46 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs

–European Carriers–
Aer Lingus – Size: 22″x18″x10″ (50 linear inches) – Weight: 13lbs
Air France – Size: 22″14″x10″ (46 linear inches) – Weight: 26lbs
Alitalia – Size: 18″x14″x10″ (42 linear inches) – Weight: 11lbs
British Midland/BMI – Size: 22″x18″x10″ (50 linear inches) – Weight: none
British Airways – Size: 22″x16″x8″ (46 linear inches) – Weight 26lbs
EasyJet – Size: 22″x16″x8″ (46 linear inches) – Weight: none
Finnair – Size: 22″x18″x10″ (50 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
Iberia – Size: 18″x14″x10″ (42 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
KLM – Size: 22″14″x10″ (46 linear inches) – Weight 26lbs
Lufthansa – Size: 22″x16″x8″ (46 linear inches) – Weight: 18lbs
OpenSkies – Size: 18″x12″x10″ (40 linear inches) – Weight: 51lbs
Ryanair – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
SAS – Size: 22″x18″x9″ (49 linear inches) – Weight: 17.5lbs
SWISS – Size: 22″x16″x8″ (46 linear inches) – Weight: 18lbs
Virgin Atlantic – Size: 22″14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 13lbs

–Africa/Middle East/India–
Air India – Size: 22″x16″x8″ (46 linear inches) – Weight: 18lbs
El Al – Size: 22″x18″x10″ (50 linear inches) – Weight: 17lbs
Emirates – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
Etihad – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
Gulf Air- Size: 17″x15″12″ (44 linear inches) – Weight 19.75lbs
IndoGo – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 18lbs
Jet Airways – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
Kenya Airways – Size: 20″ x15″x9″ (44 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
Kingfisher – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
Middle East Airlines/MEA – Size: 22″x18″x10″ (50 linear inches) – Weight: 17.5lbs
Qatar – Size: 19.68″x14.56″x9.84″ (44.08 linear inches) – Weight: 33lbs
Royal Jordanian – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
South African Airways – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 18lbs
SpiceJet – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs

–Asia/Pacific–
Air New Zealand – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
Air Tahiti Nui – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
All Nippon/ANA – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
Asiana – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
Cathay Pacific – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
China Airlines – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
Eva Air – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
Hainan Airlines – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
Japan Airlines/JAL – Size: 22″x16″x10″ (48 linear inches) – Weight 22lbs
JetStar – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 22lbs
Korean Air – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 25lbs
Malaysia Airlines – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 11lbs
Philippine Airlines – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
Qantas – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
Singapore/SIA – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
Thai – Size: 22″x15″x8″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
V Australia – Size: 22″x14″x9″ (45 linear inches) – Weight: 15lbs
Virgin Blue – 19″x13″x9″ (41 linear inches) – Weight 15lbs