What Is Baggage Allowance?
Baggage allowance is the amount of luggage - by weight, size, or piece count - included in your fare before extra charges apply. There's no universal standard: each airline sets its own limits, and fare types within the same airline often carry different allowances.
Weight-based vs piece-based systems
- Weight concept (most of the world, including Europe): usually one bag up to a set weight, commonly 20-32kg checked and 7-10kg carry-on, regardless of the number of items inside that weight limit
- Piece concept (North America and many trans-Atlantic routes): typically one or two checked bags, each up to a set weight such as 23kg, with size limited by combined linear dimensions rather than total weight
What happens if I exceed my allowance?
Airlines charge per-kilogram overweight fees or flat oversize fees, and these are almost always cheaper if prepaid online in advance than paid at the airport counter. Exact fees vary widely by airline, route, and fare type.
How to check your exact allowance
Baggage allowance depends on your specific airline, fare class, route, and frequent flyer tier - always confirm it on the airline's own baggage page using your booking reference rather than relying on a general rule of thumb.