Novice budget travelers should learn to pack lightly before mastering any other money-saving technique. Airlines are imposing hefty penalties for heavy baggage. Here are brief policy summaries for 10 leading low-cost carriers. Be certain to click on the links to read the entire policy for the airline you choose. Is your airline not listed here? Go to the home page of its Web site, click on a link (usually in small print) for "Site Map" and then find baggage information. Note: every attempt is made to update the summaries, but these policies change quickly. Read them carefully on the linked Web sites.
The maximum weight for baggage is 50 lbs. Overweight items from 51-70 lbs. are accepted at $25 USD/item. Bags weighing from 71-100 lbs. and oversized items (62-80 in.) incur a charge of $50/item. Any item weighing more than 100 pounds must be shipped as Air Cargo. Two items may be checked; a third bag costs $25. Your 4th through 9th bag or item will incur a charge of $50 per piece, and any bag or item thereafter will be $110 per piece.
Ryanair allows you one carry-on bag (weighing up to 10 kg or 22 lbs.) on each flight. Checked baggage charges vary depending upon when passengers choose to pay the fees. For example, the baggage fee per passenger, per one-way flight for the first bag is a flat £8 or €10 when booked on ryanair.com, but £16 or €20 per item when arranged through a call center or at the airport. Second and third bags will cost a lot more.
Each adult passenger is entitled to check as many as two pieces of luggage weighing a total of 23 kg. (51 lbs.) For each kilogram above the limit, a fee is of 0.5% of the normal economy class fare is charged. Baggage with excess weight is treated as cargo and might be shipped on a separate flight.
Each passenger is allowed one piece of carry-on baggage not to exceed 55x40x20cm. Up to 8 pieces of checked-in hold baggage to a maximum combined weight of 20 kg. (44 lbs.) total luggage weight is allowed at no additional cost. From there, charges are made up to a maximum of 50 kg. (110 lbs.), with no single bag heavier than 32 kg. (71 lbs.) The fee for excessive weight is £6 or €9 for each kilogram. There is also a fee structure for larger sporting equipment such as skis or golf clubs.
Passengers are allowed one carry-on bag that must be stored in an overhead compartment. One checked bag and one stroller are permitted without charge. A second checked bag requires a $20 fee. The third bag incurs a $75 fee. Starting at 100 lbs., bags are ineligible for acceptance on the flight.
The standard one carry-on, one personal item and one checked bag applies with Virgin Blue. You may check up to 20kg (44 lbs.) of baggage free of charge. Excess charges: up to 10 kg. above limit, $20 AUD; From 11-15 kg. above limit, $30 AUD. If your excess goes 15 kg. beyond the limit, the fees become very steep: $80 AUD plus $5 AUD for each kilogram more than the 15 kg. cutoff. Also note that pieces in excess of the limits are "accepted at the carrier's discretion."
AirTran passengers are permitted one carry-on item and one personal item. One checked bag is permitted per passenger. The charge for a second checked bag will be $10 USD when paid using online check-in or $20 when paid at the airport kiosks and ticket counter. Overweight baggage will be accepted at the following rates per bag: $29 from 51 to 70 pounds and $69 from 71 to 100 pounds. Baggage weighing more than 100 pounds will not be accepted.
Two carry-on bags (weighing up to 10 kg. or 22 lbs.) are permitted free of charge. In addition, two checked bags (weighing up to 27 kg or 60 lbs.) are allowed without charge. Extra pieces beyond these amounts incur a fee of $75/item. Overweight and oversized pieces are carried for a fee of $40/item. Excess baggage must be processed no later than one hour prior to departure.
Air Berlin employs a "two piece concept" that allows two checked bags per passenger. In economy, the total weight for those pieces is 23 kg. (51 lbs.) and 32 kg. for business class (70 lbs.) Excess fees: , you have a free baggage allowance of 20 kg. (44 lbs.). Unlike many airlines, the allowance is also applied to children and infants. Exceed the limit and you'll pay the following fees: €25 from 23-32 kg.; €125 for every additional item with a maximum weight of 32 kg.; and €375 for every item with a weight of more than 32 kg.
Spirit allows one carry-on and one personal item in the cabin. Spirit does not provide free checked baggage, and charges $15 USD for the first piece, payable in advance on the airline Web site. Spirit does not guarantee it will sell passengers space for additional checked bags, so plan to bring those at your own risk. When available, the fees: a second item is $25; Items three, four and five will each cost $100.
