How much excess baggage costs when traveling by air – and what you should pay attention to before checking in

The following numbers only refer to travel luggage and not to hand luggage. The belt size described consists of the length, width and height of the suitcase. Since this is only a selection of airlines, it is always advisable to check the baggage regulations individually before you start your flight.

Aegean Airlines

According to its website, the Greek airline Aegen Airlines classifies luggage that weighs “more than 23 kg and up to 32 kg” as overweight luggage. Be careful when it comes to the belt measurement: If the dimension limit of 158 centimeters is exceeded and the weight is up to 32 kilograms, the piece of luggage will be declared as special luggage and charged accordingly. Regardless of the size, however, luggage that weighs more than 32 kilograms is automatically transported as cargo.

Since both “baggage allowances, fees and dimensions” vary depending on the “flight, the fare group (Light, Flex, Family, Comfort Flex & Business) and the fare class (Economy or Business)”, the exact conditions should be checked for each trip individually. The Miles+Bonus status benefits also have an influence on the baggage allowance. It is therefore advisable to use the airline’s baggage calculator to find out the exact cost of additional baggage or overweight baggage.

Air France-KLM

Although Air France is France’s national airline, it merged with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in May 2004 to form Europe’s largest aviation group. Nevertheless, both airlines retained “their own identity, commercial name and brand,” according to KLM’s corporate website. At the same time, they have a joint frequent flyer program called “Flying Blue,” which allows members to redeem miles for award tickets from both companies.

At Air France, different conditions apply depending on the flight class, fare and Flying Blue status selected. Economy and premium travelers are not allowed to take up to two pieces of luggage with a maximum weight of 23 kilograms each. For the Business travel class, however, you are allowed to take one or two pieces of luggage with a maximum weight of 32 kilograms each. La Première travelers are allowed to pack three pieces of luggage, each weighing 32 kilograms. If the luggage exceeds the permitted limit but still weighs less than 32 kilograms, additional fees must be paid at the airport. Baggage that weighs more than 32 kilograms is handled by Air France Cargo, regardless of travel class. Depending on your Flying Blue status, the number of free baggage items may change. Special regulations also apply to babies flying with you. If you want to take more with you, you can book additional pieces of luggage. The largest permissible belt size is 158 centimeters – unless you pay extra. Baggage between 158 and 300 centimeters can then be checked in at the bulky baggage counter. Anything over 300 centimeters goes through Air France Cargo, according to the airline’s website.

At KLM, however, checked baggage is not included in both the basic and light tickets. If, on the other hand, a standard or flex ticket was purchased, one “piece of checked baggage with a size of up to 158 cm (length + width + height) including handles and wheels and with a maximum weight of 23 kg” may travel with you, according to KLM. However, the free baggage allowance and the permitted maximum weight then differ depending on the travel class. Business class with a light ticket includes one piece of checked baggage with a maximum weight of 32 kg.

Condor

The amount of luggage allowed per person also differs at the German airline Condor. To determine the exact number, you can enter your own details on the airline’s website. In principle, however, the girth measurement must not exceed 158 cm. “If the specified external dimensions or the free baggage allowance are exceeded, excess baggage and/or bulky baggage fees will be charged,” the airline warns on its website. In addition, for “safety and occupational health reasons,” pieces of luggage may not weigh more than 32 kg. However, if the suitcase is too heavy, a fee may be charged at the airport. Otherwise, it is also possible to book more weight or additional luggage online.

Finnair

Finland’s national airline, Finnair, has different baggage allowances depending on the ticket type and the country of travel. While the baggage dimensions of 90 x 75 x 45 cm are valid for all ticket types, the maximum weight varies depending on the ticket. If you are flying Economy Class, Premium Economy or a short-haul flight in Business Class, you are allowed to pack a maximum of 23 kg. On long-haul flights in business class, however, it is 32 kg. A fee will be charged for luggage that is too heavy or oversized, unless it has been booked in advance. However, it should be noted that in the General Conditions of Carriage for Passengers and Baggage (Section 8), the airline reserves the right to “reject the carriage of baggage that is unsuitable for carriage due to size, shape, weight, nature and contents or for safety reasons, for operational reasons or with regard to the well-being of other passengers”. Strict adherence to the guidelines seems particularly relevant in order to ensure a relaxed start to your vacation.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa is another German airline whose home airport, like Condor, is in Frankfurt am Main and which is also referred to as the “crane airline” due to its logo. Here, too, there is a baggage calculator on the company’s own website that determines the free baggage allowance as well as size and weight based on the route, travel class and tariff. In addition, prices and dimensions for optional luggage can be found there. Luggage that exceeds a belt size of 158 cm or is too heavy for the individual conditions of the flight will be carried as excess baggage. The prices for this can also be found in the luggage calculator.

Ryanair

Ryanair is one of the largest low-cost airlines in Europe and follows the principle of “lowest prices/no extras”, which is why checked baggage must always be booked in addition to the flight. Luggage may not be larger than 80 x 120 x 120 cm. Depending on the booking, checked baggage can weigh up to 10 kg, 20 kg or 23 kg. If the weight is 20 kg or 23 kg, each passenger is allowed to purchase “up to three pieces of checked baggage when booking”.

Wizz Air

Wizz Air is an airline headquartered in the United Kingdom. According to its website, passengers are allowed to take up to six pieces of luggage with them on their trip. While the basic fare does not include any baggage allowance, with “WIZZ Go and WIZZ Plus the cost of checked baggage is included in the flight price”. The maximum dimension is 149 x 119 x 171 cm. The weight can be up to 32 kg, depending on the booking. However, if you have excess baggage, please note that a surcharge of 13 euros per kilogram will be charged at the airport. The airline also knows that at certain airports you can only pay with a credit or debit card.

Conclusion

If you are traveling by plane, you should definitely keep the dimensions and weight in mind when packing your suitcase, as excess luggage can quickly become expensive. There is no uniform set of rules because each airline has its own baggage guidelines, which can vary depending on the fare, booking class or frequent flyer status. However, one thing is the same everywhere: exceeding the permitted dimensions or weight almost always results in hefty additional fees. If you want to be on the safe side, use the respective airline’s baggage calculator before your trip and ideally book additional services online in advance. This will save your wallet and start your vacation stress-free.

Editorial team finanzen.net