Airline Baggage Allowances: Size Limits, Weight Restrictions & Fees

Written By Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated: September 06, 2024

If you’ve flown recently, you’ve probably noticed how complicated baggage fees have become. Not only are the rules complex, but the fees seem to be constantly increasing.

Ever since airlines began unbundling their fees, baggage rates have been on the rise. Henry Harteveldt, President of Atmosphere Research Group said in an interview with CNN, 

Airlines are raising bag fees in part because of higher labor costs, and in part because they want to - and they can. Passengers don’t like paying to check bags, but they generally don’t change airlines over the price of the checked bag fee.

Maybe not, but if you know the baggage allowance rules and how they can vary among airlines and routes, you’ll be more prepared to minimise the amount you end up paying in fees. Here, we're going to give you an overview of what to expect, so you can be in the know the next time you plan to travel with checked or cabin baggage.

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The Basics of Airline Baggage Carriage

Whether you’re flying with a full service or a low cost airline, your baggage will have to meet certain size and weight requirements. Plus, according to which airline you fly with, you might have to pay fees for carry-on bags as well as checked luggage. Then again, depending on your route and cabin class, you might not have to pay anything.  

Baggage Fees

How and when you choose your baggage options also makes a difference in how much you’ll have to pay. Low cost airlines tend to have lower fees the earlier you choose and pay for your baggage allowance while legacy carriers tend to limit fees to whether you pay for checked baggage online or at the airport.

How to Pay for Baggage

• Online when you book your ticket
• After you book - either on the airline’s website or on the app
• During check-in online or on the app
• During check-in at the airport kiosks
• During check-in at the check-in desk
• At the boarding gate

Baggage Allowances

Baggage allowance is what you’re permitted to bring with you either in the cabin or in the hold.

As with fees, baggage allowance requirements can be very different, especially among low cost and full service airlines. Most of the time, you’ll be allowed to bring one personal item like a handbag or purse plus one carry-on that must comply with certain size restrictions. 

Low cost airlines usually charge for carry-on bags, and size limits are typically smaller than those of full service airlines. Legacy airlines generally allow one free carry-on, but this can change in lower fare classes.

Checked baggage allowances have even more variables with regard to weight, size, and fees but more on this later.

Luggage Rules in Different Countries

The United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada all have similar policies for carry-on baggage but they differ in size and weight limits. Generally, passengers are allowed one free cabin bag and one personal item like a purse, although this can change depending on the airline and cabin class you choose.

US and Canadian carriers tend to charge a fee for domestic luggage while many airlines in Europe and the UK allow one free checked bag per passenger. Also, the weight limit for hold luggage is around 23 kg with a maximum of 32 kg.

The biggest difference can be seen with low-cost airlines in Europe and the UK as their baggage fees tend to be more rigid, tiered and expensive than legacy airlines. They also tend to be more expensive than their US and Canadian counterparts. The table below provides more specifics.

Baggage Fees and Allowances Compared

In all regions, airlines can set their own rules for baggage allowance and fees, and passengers can see big differences between full and low cost airlines. 

Comparing Low Cost and Full Service Airlines

As mentioned, passengers could end up paying as much for a low cost airline fare as they would for a full service ticket after all the baggage fees are taken into account. Not only do LCCs charge more overall for checked baggage, they also have a fee for some carry-on baggage as well.

Looking at US airlines, and taking an example of one standard economy ticket, here’s how the different airlines stack up for baggage fees and allowances.

As you can see, low cost airlines have smaller allowances and higher fees. Because the overall size and weight requirements are smaller than on full service carriers, passengers can quickly find themselves paying overweight baggage fees. 

Additional Baggage Options

Baggage allowance doesn’t end with suitcases and carry-on bags. Most airlines have special fees, rules, and requirements for a wide range of other items you might want or need to travel with including:

• Extra baggage
• Overweight or oversized bags
• Sports equipment like bikes, ski equipment, etc
• Car seats and other kid-centric items
• Pets

Passengers travelling with children or babies, medical equipment, mobility devices, or any unusual item will have to dig even deeper into airline policies in order to prepare and comply with the rules.

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Bottom Line

Airline baggage policies can be a complex business, which is why it’s so important to understand the rules for the airline you fly. In order to help you save money and have as smooth a journey as possible, we’ve created special baggage allowance guides for some of the most popular airlines in the US, UK, Europe, and Canada. These guides will allow you to navigate the maze of rules and fees so you can bring what you want with you for less.