Airline Baggage Fees and Allowances: What You Actually Pay For

What is included in your ticket

Airlines decide what baggage is included in your fare. There is no single rule that applies to all tickets. What you get depends on the airline, the route, and the fare type you buy. Some fares include a cabin bag only, some include a checked bag, and some include neither. Always check the baggage allowance for your specific booking before you pay.

Who this affects

These rules affect anyone booking a flight, but the details depend on where you fly. EU air passenger rights apply if your flight is within the EU and operated by an EU or non-EU airline; if your flight arrives in the EU from outside the EU and is operated by an EU airline; or if your flight departs from the EU to a non-EU country and is operated by an EU or non-EU airline. They also apply to flights to and from Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. The EU means the 27 EU countries, including Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Saint Barthélemy, Saint-Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands, but not the Faeroe Islands.

If you are flying entirely outside these areas, different rules may apply. Check the airline's terms and conditions and the local passenger rights rules for your route.

What to do step by step

1. Check your fare's baggage allowance before you book. Look at the airline's website for the specific fare you are considering. The allowance is usually shown during booking and in the fare conditions.
2. Measure and weigh your bags at home. Airline limits are usually given as a maximum weight and sometimes as maximum dimensions. If your bag is over, you may pay extra at the airport.
3. Decide if you need to add a checked bag. If your fare does not include one, you can usually add it during booking or later, often for a fee. Prices vary by airline and route.
4. Keep your receipts and booking confirmation. If something goes wrong with your luggage, you will need them.
5. If your luggage is lost, damaged or delayed, report it to the airline in writing. For lost or damaged luggage, do this within 7 days. For delayed luggage, do this within 21 days of receiving it. There is no standard EU-wide form.
6. Consider travel insurance if you are carrying expensive items. Private insurance can cover what the airline's liability does not.

Costs and timing

Airlines set their own fees for extra bags. These fees are not regulated by EU passenger rights rules. The only EU-wide figure that applies to baggage is the liability limit for checked-in luggage that is lost, damaged or delayed: approximately €1,300. If you want a higher limit, you can request it from the airline for a fee. This must be done in advance and at the latest when you check in.

Timing matters for claims. For lost or damaged luggage, you must complain in writing to the airline within 7 days. For delayed luggage, you must complain within 21 days of receiving your luggage. If you miss these deadlines, you may lose your right to compensation.

Exceptions and special cases

• Hand luggage: If your hand luggage is damaged, the airline is liable if it was responsible for the damage.
• Inherent defect: If the damage was caused by an inherent defect in the baggage itself, you are not entitled to any compensation.
• Higher limit: You can request a higher compensation limit (in excess of €1,300) from the airline for a fee, in advance and at the latest when you check in.
• Flights outside EU rules: If your flight is not covered by EU air passenger rights, different rules may apply. Check the airline's conditions and the national rules for your route.