British Airways Luggage Allowance: Your Complete Guide to Limits, Sizes, and Fees

Written By Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated: September 06, 2024

Did you know that British Airways could make roughly £11,696 per flight on baggage fees? With fees ranging from £36-£120 per piece of luggage checked online, you can see how quickly this adds up especially when passengers are charged for overweight bags.

To complicate matters, British Airways’ baggage policy is complex to say the least. With different allowances for various routes and seating classes, you might be left scratching your head trying to figure out what you can check or carry with you in the cabin. Well, this guide will explain BA’s policies for both checked and hand baggage to help make sense of weights, sizes, fees, and restrictions.

Key points

1. Each cabin class has its specific baggage allowance 
2. You can pay for baggage at the airport or online, but the online option is always less expensive.
3. BA follows strict baggage guidelines for size and weight. Baggage that exceeds the maximums will either incur a fee, be sent to the baggage hold if it was too big for the cabin, or refused carriage if it is more than 70 lbs.
4. Only registered assistance animals are allowed in the cabin. All other pets must travel in the cargo hold of the aircraft and special arrangements must be made in advance.

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British Airways Cabin Baggage Allowance

Passengers in all cabin classes are allowed to bring 1 hand bag and 1 carry-on bag for free as long as these items meet the size restrictions.

What Happens if Your Cabin Baggage is Too Big?

Hand or cabin bags bigger than the maximum weight and size limits will be tagged at the gate and sent to the hold as checked luggage. If this happens, you’ll be charged the same fee as you would if you’d checked baggage prior to boarding in keeping with your seating class.

British Airways Checked Baggage Allowance

Checked baggage allowances are different in each fare class. The maximum weight per bag ranges from 51-70 lbs (23 - 32 kg), while the maximum proportions must not exceed 35 x 30 x 17 inches (90 x 75 x 43 cm)

• Standard Economy is allowed 1 checked bag up to 51 lbs
• Premium Economy is allowed 2 checked bags up to 51 lbs each
• Business Class is allowed 2 bags up to 70 lbs each
• First Class is allowed 3 bags up to 70 lbs each 

The following table will give you a better idea of what to expect.

Checked Baggage Allowance for Each Fare Class

Additional and Overweight Checked Baggage Fees

If your checked luggage is too heavy and weighs between 51 and 70 lbs (23 kg-32 kg), the fee will be £65 per overweight bag.

Baggage that exceeds 70 lbs will not be accepted.

Additional Bags

British Airways fees for extra checked bags vary depending on: 

• The specific route
• Whether you purchase it online or at the airport, and 
• The cabin class you’ve chosen. 

You can check to see how much you’ll be charged for extra baggage with British Airways’ baggage calculator. This tool allows passengers to choose their route and cabin class to see how much they will be charged for additional checked luggage.

The following tables show how much you would be charged for extra baggage by class for long and short haul routes.

Fees for Extra Baggage by Route and Class

Short Haul Route: London Heathrow to Paris Charles de Gaulle

Long Haul Route: London Heathrow - New York (JFK)

BA Baggage Allowance for Children and Infants

On BA, children and infants have a pretty generous baggage allowance.

Lap infants are allowed to have a carry-on bag in the same weight and size as adult carry-ons.

Children under 2 years old are allowed one checked bag up to 51 lbs (23 kg) as well as 2 extras (i.e. a carry harness, collapsible stroller, car seat) free of charge. This is the case in all fare classes except basic economy. They are also permitted to have a cabin bag up to 51 lbs for food, diapers, and other essentials.

Kids between 2 and 11 years old have the same checked baggage allowance as adults for that fare class. In addition, they are allowed as many as 2 extras like a car seat, stroller, travel cot, etc. Children in this age range are also allowed to have one cabin bag and one personal item subject to the same size and weight requirements as adult passengers.

Flying with a Pet on British Airways

Unlike some other airlines, British Airways doesn’t allow pets to travel in the cabin. Registered assistance dogs are the only exception to this rule, and they are allowed to fly with their owners free of charge.

If you hope to travel with your cat or dog, you will need to arrange for this service 6 weeks or more before your scheduled departure. But be advised that your pet will only be permitted to fly in the cargo hold. 

Arrangements must be made through PetAirUK, and the cost can be anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand pounds depending on your journey, and the size and weight of your cat or dog.

Sports Equipment

British Airways Restricted & Prohibited Items

The following items cannot be carried in hold or cabin baggage.

Prohibited Items

• Explosives
• Anything flammable (i.s. Lighter fluid, paint thinner)
• Compressed gases like propane or butane
• Insecticide and herbicides
• Bleach or other acids
• High-powered lithium batteries

Restricted Items

• Firearms can only be carried in checked luggage and must be pre-approved.
• Knives and other sharp objects can only be in checked luggage
• Liquids, aerosols and gels can only be in carry-on bags if they are in quantities less than 100ml and packed in a 1-litre clear plastic bag.
• Some medicines will require medical documentation from your physician.
• Alcohol over 70% ABV is prohibited, but anything under this can be carried in checked or hand baggage.

British Airways Baggage Policy: How it Compares to Other Airlines

The baggage policy for British Airways is almost identical for 2 of its biggest rivals, Air France and Lufthansa. All three airlines have the same allowances and weight and size restrictions as dictated by seating class. The big difference in baggage policies among these three is seen in the pricing structure for overweight and additional checked luggage.

Baggage fees for Air France and Lufthansa have been converted from Euros.

When to Check Your Luggage with British Airways

The timeframes for checked baggage drop off vary depending on the distance of your flight.

Short Haul Flights: Baggage drop off closes 45 minutes before your flight

Long Haul Flights: Bag drop closes 60 minutes before your flight.

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Baggage Problems & How to Avoid Them

So, what do you do when things don’t go to plan? Many passengers are unaware that if their BA checked baggage is lost, delayed, or damaged, they can get compensated. But what happens if you drop off your belongings late or you go over the required sizes and weights? Let’s take a look.

You miss the baggage drop deadline

If this happens speak to an airline agent to ensure that you’re still able to board the flight. If you are, you can ask about sending your baggage on a later flight, but you may be charged a fee. Always make a point of arriving at the airport early so you can get to the bag drop in time.

Your bag exceeds the size requirements

If your checked bag is too big, you’ll have to pay a fee between £30-£95 depending on your route. To avoid this in the future, always measure your luggage and be sure to include wheels and handles in your measurements.

Your bag is overweight

If your bag is overweight, but not more than 32kg (70 lbs), you will have to pay £65 per bag.

If your bag is heavier than this, you will need to repack some of your items in a carry-on. You might want to consider buying a baggage scale so you can make sure your suitcases are within the weight limitations before you go to the airport.

Expert Tips and Baggage Hacks

1. To avoid paying extra for large or overweight bags and other bulky items, consider shipping them ahead of your flight as the prices can be much lower.
2. If you’re travelling with a car seat for your child, you can fill the extra space in the box with clothing so you won’t be overweight in your regular luggage.
3. Always prepay for any extra baggage and do so online where it will be less expensive. 
4. If you have lots of heavy clothing to pack, try to wear some if possible to reduce the weight of your baggage.
5. Use compression bags so you can fit more into smaller spaces. Doing this, you can bring more in your carry-on bag and avoid overweight charges.

If your British Airways flight has been delayed or cancelled, check to see how much compensation you could claim! It’s easy and free to check. Just enter your flight details below!Check Your Flight

Frequently Asked Questions