Thank you. I understand it is never certain but have read IB can be strict with some travel policies. It's been a long time since I have flown with them. Thankfully they switched my MAD NCE flight from Air Nostrum to IB because of the pilot strike. Otherwise my flight would be cancelled next Friday.

For hand luggage, I agree European Star Alliance members LH and LX are the most strict. I have been stopped twice but got through. Once was JFK FRA NCE: LH FRA gate agent hand lifted my bag to check the weight. Thankfully I had temporarily transferred heavy items to my backpack during the FRA transit because the 8kg weight limit is tough. The second was PMO ZRH JFK: LX PMO check in agent made me use the sizer. I showed the original store tag I keep in the bag with measurements 56 x 36 x 26 and said I did not want to check due to fragile items.