Airline Checked Luggage Allowances
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Packing
lightly is a largely neglected art for most of us, and the
airlines are cashing in by reducing our free luggage
allowances.
Not long ago, you were allowed 210lbs, now most airlines start charging right from
the very first bag and pound.
The information below can
save you money and hassle at the airport.
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It is getting harder to avoid
paying excess luggage charges these days, as airlines seek more
and more ways to take money from you.
At the same time, just about
every
airline has also reduced the maximum weights and numbers of bags they'll
carry for free.
Use this information to
understand what you can and can't take with you, for free, on
your next flight.
Checked Luggage Allowances
Airlines have substantially
tightened up on their checked luggage policies. Most
airlines now charge extra for suitcases weighing more than
50lbs, whereas until a few years back they'd carry suitcases
weighing up to 70 lbs with no surcharge. And - if you're
lucky - they will allow two
free pieces of luggage, whereas before you'd often be allowed
three. If you're not lucky, you'll find yourself traveling
with an airline that only allows one free bag, and if you're
downright unlucky, you'll be stuck with an airline that charges
even for the first bag.
Not only have the airlines
tightened up on what they'll carry for free, but they've now
much more likely to charge you for the
extras. In the past you were unlikely to be asked to pay,
especially if the checkin staff were busy, but now you're
probably have to pay the extra charges.
It is believed
that some airlines pay their counter staff bonuses based on the
amount of extra charges they levy on their passengers.
Domestic and International
Checked Luggage Policy variations
Strangely, policies are
sometimes more
generous for the weight of luggage on international flights (but
see, eg, ATA which contrarily has much less liberal policies for
international flights).
Most flights originating
from the US have a 'two piece' limit for luggage - you can check
two bags, and you pay extra per bag. This applies whether
the flight is domestic within the US or international.
Most flights that originate
from outside the US have a weight limit for total checked
baggage - a miserly 20kg/44lbs if you're traveling in coach
class, 30kg/66lbs for business class and 40kg/88lbs for first
class. If your luggage weighs more than your allowance, you'll be
charged for each extra pound (or kilogram) at exorbitant rates -
usually a percentage (about 1% - 2%) of the full fare per extra
kg of weight, per flight.
This is a major massive
difference in luggage policies. Although sometimes you
might find it cheaper to buy an international ticket from the US
to another country, and then a second ticket for travel within
that foreign country, or for travel on to other countries, if
you do this, your second ticket will probably restrict
your luggage to 44lbs, and the cost of the extra weight of
luggage you have with you could well be much more than the saving on the
ticket to start with.
An empty suitcase weighs
15-20lbs. If you're traveling with two suitcases, you'll
use up most of your 44lb limit just on the empty bags!
Small Plane Limits
If your flight is on a
really small plane, you might find that your luggage allowances
for both checked and carry-on items are substantially reduced.
For example, some light aircraft operators limit passengers to
20lbs of luggage.
Worse still, some light
aircraft can readily be overloaded and so if everyone is taking
heavy bags, some luggage (or perhaps some passengers) may be
left behind.
General Luggage Policies
Charges are usually per
flight, not per roundtrip.
If you're on a ticket that
has you flying first one airline to a connecting point and then
a second airline from that point to your destination, you might
find you have to pay excess charges to both airlines. But
if your bag is being checked through from one airline to the
other, you generally won't be charged for the second flight.
Excess luggage is usually
carried on a 'space available' basis which means the airline
doesn't promise that your luggage will arrive at your destination
on the same flight you do. Nine times out of ten (or
more) it does indeed arrive on the same plane, but the airlines
have the fine print of accepting it on a space available only
basis to give them an excuse if your bags don't arrive with you.
Note that when maximum size
measurements are shown as a total number of inches (eg 45") this
is the total of the length, width and height of the piece, and
you can usually have any reasonable size/shape of bag as long as the total
measurements don't exceed this number.
General Notes about the Luggage
Information Below
This information has been
taken from the various airline websites.
Policies do change.
This information is shown as of 4/26/10.
Baggage rules can be
complicated, and what is shown is a simplification and may not
apply to your particular flight. For the absolutely most
accurate information, you should phone the airline and get exact
confirmation of your luggage entitlements and what the penalty
costs might be shortly before your flight.
The appropriate page with
baggage polices from each
airline website is linked to the airline name in the tables
below to make it easy for you to conveniently check the current
accuracy of the information shown here.
If you should find
something out of date, please
let us know so we can correct and update this information.
An Alternative to Checking Your
Bags
A number of companies now
offer a wonderfully convenient service. They'll collect
your luggage from your home, office, or anywhere, and then ship
it and deliver it to wherever you wish at the other end.
They use air courier services and so this means your luggage
generally travels at about the same speed you do.
Wonderfully convenient, but
more expensive than free checked luggage with the airline.
However, if you find yourself facing excess baggage charges - or
if you just want the convenience of traveling without bothering
with luggage at all - these are great services to consider.
We reviewed the
Sports Express luggage service a
while ago.
The most economical luggage
transportation service within the US is - surprise! - the USPS.
Use their Express Mail service - they'll come and collect your
bag(s) and overnight deliver them to just about anywhere else in
the US, all for very much less than the baggage shipping
companies or the courier companies.
Special Situation - Traveling
with Firearms and Ammunition
Please go to our page that
details what is
necessary to comply with airline and TSA regulations if you are
flying with firearms and ammunition.
Summary of Updates to this
Feature
Update July 05 :
Until now, airlines would generally allow a maximum weight of
65lbs - 70lbs per bag on international flights. In late
July, Northwest announced it was now limiting the weight per bag
on international flights, bringing it down to the same 50lb
limit as on its domestic flights. We expect other airlines
will probably copy and lower their international weight
allowances too.
Update Aug 05 :
Continental is now limiting international bags to a 50lb
allowance too.
Update Aug 06 :
There have been many changes to airline policies and also to
their web page urls. All links and policies have been
checked and updated as necessary.
Update July 08 :
Lots of changes in the last two years, with many airlines now
only allowing one free bag and some airlines charging even for
the first bag. Some airlines waive the second bag fee for
first class passengers and/or elite members of their frequent
flier program - sometimes only for 'very' elite members.
Update March 09 :
Further tightening up of the rules and fees for checked bags.
First bag fees are now common, and fees for overweight/oversize
have increased appreciably.
Update April 10 :
Allocations have again been reduced, first bag fees are now
almost universal, and most fees increased
since the last update a year ago, although some of the more
ridiculously high fees (in some cases up to $250) have been
brought more in line with other fees.
Domestic Airline/Flight
Policies - Checked Luggage
NOTE : Fees are EACH WAY
fees - double them for a roundtrip ticket
Airline |
Allowance |
Max wt
per piece |
Max size per
piece |
Alaska (and also Horizon) |
First bag
$30 Second
$40 3+
bags @ $100 each
Two free for first class and MVP Gold members |
50lbs $100 if
51-100lbs
Either extra weight or extra piece charge
applies (whichever is greater) but not both |
62" $100
if 63"-115"
Either extra weight or extra piece charge
applies (whichever is greater) but not both |
Aloha |
now ceased
operation |
American |
$30 for
first bag $40
for second bag
$150 for third bag
4+ bags @ $200 each
Exceptions for full fare Coach, Business and
First class tickets, and for AAdvantage Gold
members |
50lbs on
both domestic and international flights
$100 if 51-70lbs
$200 if 71-100lbs |
under 62"
$200 for up to 126" in addition to overweight
and/or extra piece charges |
ATA |
now ceased
operation |
Delta |
$23/25 for
first bag for online/airport checkin
$32/35 for second bag
$125 for third bag
$200 each for 4 - 10 bags
First and business class pax can check up to 3
bags, each up to 70lbs, free |
50lbs
$90 if 51-70lbs
$175 if 71-100lbs
Overweight and oversize and extra bag fees are
all cumulative |
62"
$175 for 63"-80"
$300 for 81" - 115"
Max oversize is 115"
Overweight and oversize and extra bag fees are
all cumulative |
Frontier |
1st bag $20 or free
depending on fare type
2nd bag
$30 or free depending on fare type
$50 per extra piece |
50lbs
$75 for up to 100lbs
Overweight and oversize and extra bag fees are
all cumulative |
62"
$75 for up to 110"
Overweight and oversize and extra bag fees are
all cumulative |
Hawaiian |
For travel
within Hawaii :
1st is $10
2nd is $17
3rd and subsequent are $25
For travel on mainland or to/from Hawaii
1st is $23/25 for online/airport checking
2nd is $32/35
3rd to 6th are $125
7th and extras are $200 |
50lbs
$50 if 51-70lbs
Over 70lbs not accepted |
62"
'The charge for an oversized bag may depend on
what you're transporting'.
Max oversize
is 80" |
JetBlue |
One free
$30 for second bag
$75 for extra bags |
50lbs
$50 if 51-70lbs
$100 if 71-99lbs
Overweight and oversize and extra bag fees are
all cumulative |
62"
$75 for 63"-80"
Max oversize is 80"
Overweight and oversize and extra bag fees are
all cumulative |
Southwest |
Two free
3-9 extra pieces at $50 each
10+ @ $110 each |
50lbs
$50 for 51-100lbs |
62"
$50 for oversize
Max oversize is 80" |
Spirit |
$19/25 for
first bag for online/airport checkin
$25 for second bag, either online or at airport
3 - 5 pieces $100 each, space available |
50lbs
$50 if 51-70lbs
$100 if 71-99lbs |
62"
$100 for 63-80"
$150 for 80+"
Max oversize is 160" with no more than 80" in
any dimension |
United |
$25 for
first bag $35
for second bag
Extra bags $100 each
Two bags free for Mileage Plus Premier
Associates, and first and business class
passengers. |
50lbs
70lbs for Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive
Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Gold
members on any fare
$100 if 51-100lbs
Overweight and oversize and extra bag fees are
all cumulative |
62"
$100 for up to 115"
Overweight and oversize and extra bag fees are
all cumulative |
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Originally published
18 June 2004, last update
30 May 2021
You may freely reproduce or distribute this article for noncommercial purposes as long as you give credit to me as original writer.
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