cabin

SHOPPERS are flocking to Amazon to snag a sleek underseat cabin bag that’s been slashed in cost just in time for the holiday season.

Originally £29.99, the budget-friendly Taygeer Underseat Cabin Bag has now been dropped in price.

Taygeer Underseat Cabin Bag, from £18.99 (was £29.99)

Discounts on these handy backpack vary across depending on colour – you can pick up the black model for £22.79, but that drops to £18.99 if you have Amazon Prime membership.

It looks like a solid choice for anybody flying with budget airlines, where luggage rules are strict and some unlucky travellers get stung with extra fees at the terminal gate.

In a massive win for travellers, Ryanair has changed its free hand luggage rules.

Now, free personal bag allowance has been upped from 40x20x25cm to 40x30x20cm – that’s a 20% increase and an extra 4 litres of space.

Small wonder so many Amazon shoppers are dashing to pick up this rucksack after that price drop.

It is specifically designed to meet those new dimensions while offering a suitcase-style, 180-degree opening that makes packing all your bits an absolute breeze.

Despite its compact size, the bag is packed with features like a built-in wet pocket for toiletries, plus a separate shoe pouch.

You can also pick it up at sizes designed for Easyjet and Lufthansa flights.

The bag has racked up over 6,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, with customers heaping praise on its practicality and quality.

“This is perfect!” one delighted shopper wrote.

“[It] passed the Ryanair bag stand with ease, thanks to the suitcase-like design and all the pockets kept everything separated. 10/10!”

Another shopper shared: “I had room to fit my Kindle, headphones, passports, purse, snacks, and a few other essentials just in the front compartment.

“The larger compartment fit a change of clothes and shoes!”

A third fan added: “Perfect overhead luggage bag, good quality and easy to carry.

“The padding on the back and shoulders make it comfortable no matter the weight.”

IN THE BAG

New Ryanair hand luggage rules explained as airline increases free bag size

BARGAIN BAGGAGE

Shoppers rush to buy ‘compact & spacious’ £15 cabin bag perfect for Ryanair

For some tried-and-tested luggage recommendations, head to our best suitcases round-up.

Getting football fever? A budget airline has just announced it’s launching flights from the UK to the US for the World Cup this summer.

BRITISH Airways is launching the world’s largest business class cabin this year.

This week, new information about British Airways‘ new business class seats was leaked.

The leak included the proposed seat plan, revealing the expected layout of the airline’s new A380 cabin.

The new Airbus A380 configuration will feature 110 Club World seats, making it the largest business class cabin on any aircraft.

BA is set to start refurbishing its A380s in the second quarter of this year and inside the refitted planes, passengers will find Club Suites – the newest business class offering.

The suites will feature a privacy screen door, a special lining that reduces noise, a 53.3cm-wide seat and a 200cm bed.

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Passengers will also be able to make use of a 47cm touchscreen as well as side bins and cabinets for their belongings.

Every seat will also have direct aisle access.

The number of premium seats will increase, meaning that the total capacity of the aircraft will be lower.

According to the leaked seat plan, the main deck will feature 12 new first class suites, 84 premium economy seats and 215 economy seats.

The upper deck will be just for Club World business class, with 110 seats in total.

In comparison, this will be a 48-seat reduction compared to the current layout which features 14 first class seats, 97 business class seats, 55 premium economy seats and 303 economy seats.

Club Suites are already available on all A350s, 787-10s, and most 777s from London Heathrow Airport.

In mid-2026, British Airways is also set to introduce its new First seat.

The seats are designed to have a “modern luxury hotel feel” with “home comforts” and “thoughtful British touches”.

The new First seat will be wider and longer and will feature an 81.2cm 4K touchscreen.

The seats will have a ‘buddy dining’ feature as well, which will allow two passengers to dine together in one suite.

There will be a multi-purpose ottoman too, and a floor-level wardrobe.

These seats also form part of the airline’s A380 retrofit plans.

British Airways mainly uses its A380s from London Heathrow to major long-haul destinations such as Los Angeles, Miami, Boston and Johannesburg.

In other flight news, British Airways has launched a business class sale with £500 off flights.

Plus, these are five of the best solo travel destinations according to British Airways experts from beach cities to A-lister hotspots.

The fashion retailer is selling a ‘pull-along cabin bag’ that could be ideal for holidays

Holidaymakers don’t have to splash out on expensive cabin bags, as Primark is stocking a £25 option. The retailer is selling a ‘pull-along cabin bag’ in two colours, so everyone can ‘travel in style.’ The luggage could be ideal for anyone who is planning to fly this year.

Primark says the bag is ‘perfectly sized for the essentials,’ and it meets the cabin bag requirements of several airlines. Shoppers interested in the £25 Trolley Cabin Bag can purchase it online or in-store. Primark sells a black style and a white-and-black style. It measures 26cm x 40cm x 20cm.

According to easyJet’s website, passengers can carry one bag measuring 45 x 36 x 20 cm on board for free, or pay to bring one large cabin bag measuring 56 x 45 x 25 cm. Ryanair’s website says passengers can carry one bag measuring 40 x 30 x 20 cm on board for free, or pay to bring one cabin bag measuring 55 x 40 x 20 cm.

Primark says its bag helps passengers ‘make the most’ of their packing options. The full product description reads: “Travel in style with our pull-along cabin bag. There’s a lot to love about this trolley cabin bag.

“Whether you’re a carry-on only expert or are simply looking to make the most of your packing options, this cabin pack is perfectly sized for the essentials. It benefits from a large main compartment with a secure zip fastening as well as an external zipped pocket to the front for extra organisation.”

The description continues: “Carry the bag with the two top handle webbing straps or pull it along, thanks to the addition of two wheels at the base. For enhanced organisation, why not check out our other travel essentials?”

Alternatively, Primark sells a £12 Quilted Underseat Cabin Bag in black or white. The product description states: “Travel smart with this cream quilted cabin bag, designed to fit perfectly under your seat.

“The diagonal stitching adds a sophisticated touch while multiple compartments, including a handy back zip section, keep your essentials organised. Ideal for weekend getaways or business trips, this sleek carry-on helps you breeze through airports with effortless style. The sturdy handles and practical size make it the perfect companion for travellers who appreciate both form and function.”

For £20, there’s also a Handled Travel Bag in black or pink. The product description states: “Pack up and head out in style with this sleek black travel bag, perfect for weekend getaways. With a spacious zippered main compartment and a convenient front pocket for easy access to your essentials, it’s both functional and versatile.

“The bottom compartment offers extra space for shoes or wet items, while the sturdy webbing handles make it easy to carry. Add a detachable shoulder strap for comfort or use the handles to carry it by hand. Ideal for short trips and organised packing!”

The tiny, off-grid cabin looked almost unreal: made of repurposed oak it stood by a private lochan, with separate cedar sauna, cold outdoor shower, sunken hot tub, and a jetty with two hammocks and a pair of paddleboards. It screamed Finland or Sweden, not a sheep and deer farm in the Scottish Borders. It was the sort of isolated location that would set Ben Fogle’s heart racing in New Lives in the Wild. Two swans bugled my arrival. I felt a little embarrassed that all of it was mine.

Sometimes, we need to escape to a place where the phone coverage is bad enough to make you believe you’re somewhere truly wild. Tiny Home Borders, hidden in rippling foothills 10 miles east of Hawick, is such a place. Last August, owners David and Claire Mactaggart opened a second two-person cabin on their farmland (the first opened in 2022) and I jumped at the chance to stay, swim, soak, and – crucially – switch-off.

That first night, on the windblown deck a metre above the lapping water, I fired up the outdoor wood oven and tried to relax. But there was too much to do. First, I had a sauna. Then, I braved a cold plunge in the lochan and a rewarding soak in the burbling hot tub, with the smell of wood smoke filling my nostrils. A pizza followed beside the cabin’s crackling log burner, and later I stargazed using the cabin’s fabulous telescope.

As farms seek new ways to make money, farm stays and agritourism are, unsurprisingly a growing sector. According to Visit Scotland, the combined value of agritourism and farm retail could reach £250m by 2030, a rise driven by growing consumer interest in sustainable tourism. Fittingly, the country is to host the inaugural Global Agritourism Conference in June, and the big topic of discussion within farming is not only the increasing costs of food production but how to diversify and do so sustainably.

The Mactaggarts built their first tiny hut out of an old bale trailer, as an experiment more than anything else. The dream was to create an eco home away from home, with a mezzanine sleeping space above the lounge and kitchen, and with drama to match the setting below Rubers Law, a mini Ben Nevis on the banks of the River Teviot. Then, quickly, one cabin became two, the second built far out of sight of the other. Plans are afoot for a third cabin in another glen on the farm. And everything is as eco as possible, with hemp insulation, solar panels and batteries, reclaimed wood from the farm – and no wifi.

A 90-minute drive from Edinburgh, the location is a great base for exploring an undervisited part of the country. “The Borders is nothing more than a drive-through for many visitors coming north,” Claire said. “It’s a beautiful area, but it’s one so few know about,” David added.

Beside the location, breakfast is one of the delights of a stay. Fresh bread. Salty butter. Homemade marmalade. Farm eggs, when the hens are laying. Coffee on the deck and a set of binoculars provided. On my first morning, the sky shone saltire blue.

Wildlife adds to the picture. Red deer outnumber people in these hills, so with wellies on after breakfast, I headed up the gentle slopes of Rubers Law to look for the Borders’ Big Five: bellowing deer, plus sheep, fox, pheasant and red squirrel.

I passed along a muddy single track where wildflowers and wild garlic starting to sprout below hawthorn. Ahead, I saw two vicar-collared male pheasants, then, farther up the brae, five enormous hind deer that had come down from the cold of the hill. In the distance, where the path ended, I could see ducks, sheep, cattle and horses. It was Old MacDonald Had a Farm sprung to life.

Few parts of the Borders are lovelier than historic Hawick. This town of textile weavers is full of cosy cafes, craft shops and tweed retailers that are perfect for a hit of winter warmth, and the centre is stitched together by four bridges, but also by mills for some of the world’s best-known knitwear manufacturers, including Hawico and Lovat Mill.

Perhaps most striking is Johnstons of Elgin, home to a visitor centre, cafe and showroom designed to showcase the appeal of Borders knitwear. Thanks to Hawick’s longstanding tradition, its cashmere, merino and tweed pieces are now coveted by the biggest names in haute couture: Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton and Ralph Lauren.

After lunch at nearby Damascus Drum, a cafe-bookshop decorated with flat-weave rugs, I joined a guided tour of Johnstons of Elgin’s newly extended operation at Eastfield Mill, which opened last August. The mill is labyrinthine and atmospheric, home to hundreds of knitters, needle-workers and machines, all hand-finishing, stitching and whirring. Next to this is a yarn library holding 18 tonnes of kaleidoscopic colour, from gorse yellow to heathery purple.

My last stop was the Borders Distillery in the town’s former hydroelectric plant, a fitting place to finish on a winter’s day. With the rain pouring outside, the sky dark as slate, a glass of blended Scotch at the tour’s end from distiller David Shuttleworth felt like a blessing. The glass smelt of green apples and grass, and I was perfectly able to picture the Borders farms that grow the barley for the spirit’s malt.

“The whisky industry is about storytelling and ours is tied to Hawick’s landscape,” said David. “The Teviot brought us here and all our malt comes from 20 miles around the distillery.” That also translates to a low carbon footprint and a community-driven vision that, combined with a takeaway miniature dram, left me feeling heartened.

Back at the cabin, it was late, and, out there in the darkness, I sat under the deck’s awning in the rain, my glass of whisky drained. What a great wee place Hawick is, I thought. What a place of rural community and inspiration. And hopefully many newcomers will agree with the Mactaggarts – that this is a place that’s been overlooked by too many for too long.

The trip was provided by Visit Scotland and Tiny Home Borders. Tiny Home One sleeps two, from £180 per night B&B (two-night minimum, including pick up if travelling by public transport). Johnstons of Elgin tours cost £15. Borders Distillery tours, £20. For more information on visiting Hawick, see Scotland Starts Here

The customer praised the under-seat travel bag after using the luggage for a trip

Holidaymakers looking for budget-friendly cabin bags might like a £4 option that has the backing of an easyJet passenger. The shopper recommended the ‘amazing’ luggage to fellow travel fans in a social media post – and it could be ideal for passengers who don’t want to pay extra for bags.

According to easyJet’s website, all customers can carry one small under-seat cabin bag on their flights for free, provided it’s no larger than 45 x 36 x 20 cm. As such, customers could choose B&M’s Womens Under the Seat Handheld Bag, which measures L45 x W20 x H35cm.

Available in three colours, the B&M bag is currently on sale for £4, marked down from its original price of £8. The product description for the travel bag states: “Travel with convenience using this Bordlite Women’s Under the Seat Handheld Bag. Suitable for most airlines.”

It also has the backing of a shopper who used the bag on a flight and then recommended it to other passengers. Replying to a Facebook post asking for easyJet bag suggestions, a shopper named Kimberley wrote: “This from B&M is amazing and only £4.

“Just took the pink one with me as a carry-on on my recent holiday and I stuffed a lot in it including laptop, heavy books etc and it’s still intact and looks new!”

For shoppers looking for something different, B&M also offers a Bordlite Womens Under the Seat Bag with Wheels, which has been reduced from £16 to £8 and comes in two different colours. It measures L45 x W20 x H36cm.

With the additional wheels, it could be better suited to passengers who prefer not to carry their bags. The product description states: “Travel with convenience using this Bordlite Women’s Under the Seat Bag with Wheels. Suitable for most airlines.”

Alternatively, shoppers might like some of the suggestions shared on the same Facebook post where the B&M shopper praised the store’s luggage. For instance, another shopper highlighted Amazon’s Underseat Cabin Bag, reduced from £24.95 to £17.78, which measures ‎20 x 36 x 45 cm. The customer said: “These are great, various colours.”

The product description claims: “With a capacity of 30L, our easyjet cabin backpack is perfect for packing clothes and travel essentials for 4-7 days.

“A separate wet pocket allowing you to store wet clothes, towels, and toiletries. A 15.6″ laptop compartment and many other small pockets to keep your items well-organised.”

Shoppers should check their luggage and the size requirements for any airlines they are travelling with in advance of travel.