Novice budget travelers should learn to
pack lightly before mastering any other money-saving technique. Now more than ever, airlines are imposing hefty penalties for heavy baggage. But it doesn't stop there: many now charge for the mere privilege of checking a bag. Here are links to Web pages with baggage policies for 10 major world airlines. If your airline of choice is unlisted 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.
Each passenger is allowed to check two items free of charge. Each item must not exceed a weight of 23 kg. (50 lbs.) Those bags weighing in excess of that amount incur a fee of €50 (or $50 USD/CAD). Each additional item incurs a fee of $150 USD. Air France Flying Blue members are granted additional weight limits. Air France has a weight calculator on site that shows the allowances on your particular flight.
ANA allows two free checked baggage pieces on international flights. Each piece must weigh less than 50 lbs. A carry-on piece less than 22 lbs. is also permitted. ANA requires advance arrangements with their customer service center for bulky baggage with total linear dimensions exceeding 203 cm. (80 inches) or weighing more than 32 kg. (70 lbs). Excess baggage fees range from $34-$130 USD, and the charge per piece is different between departure from Japan and departure from the U.S. or Guam.
For flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, American passengers pay $20 USD for their first checked bag and $30 for the second bag. One carry-on is permitted at no charge. On international flights, one carry-on and two checked bags are permitted for free, with the exception of flights from the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands to, through or from parts of Europe and India, where a $50 fee applies to a second checked bag. American charges $100 per piece for the 3rd, 4th and 5th checked bags and $200 per piece for the 6th checked bag and any additional pieces.
The China Southern free baggage allowance is 40kg. for first class, 30kg. for business class, and 20kg. for economy class. If you receive a free upgrade, allowance is based on your original reservation. Specific fees are not listed on the Web site.
Continental charges passengers within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with one checked bag in economy $20 USD. Each bag must not exceed 23 kg. (50 lbs.) A second bag costs $30. Note that if you pre-pay for bags at continental.com, the costs are $15 and $25 respectively. International travelers now pay a $25-$50 fee for a second checked bag. There are a host of exemptions to the fees that include active military personnel traveling on orders and travelers paying full fare. Bags weighing between 50-70 lbs. incur a fee of $50 per item; bags measuring more than 62 in. cost $100/bag. Bags weighing more than 70 lbs. or in excess of 115 in. are not accepted.
Delta charges $20 USD for the first checked bag and $30 for a second when you pay at airport ticket counter, kiosk, or curbside. Online payments are discounted $5. The second checked bag on economy flights from the U.S. or Canada to Europe is $50 each way; to Latin America (excluding Brazil) $25 (online check-in) to $30 (airport). Checked bags must weigh less than 50 lbs. An extra bag that goes over the limits will involve a charge ranging from $90-$300 per bag. Bags weighing more than 100 lbs. are not permitted.
JAL permits one free carry-on bag weighing less than 10 kg. (22 lbs.), in addition to two free checked bags. The size limits on these bags vary by type of route. Excess fees are calculated using this formula: Normal economy class fare between boarding points (adult one-way) x 1.5% x excess baggage weight in kg., rounded up to the nearest hundred yen. Keep in mind that if you got a sale fare, they will use the normal fare to make the calculation. The free baggage allowance on economy class on flights is 23 kg. (50 lbs.). For each piece exceeding 23 kg. but no more than 32 kg., an extra charge of JPY 5,000 or $50 USD applies per piece.
Lufthansa allows two checked bags per passenger weighing 23-32 kg. each, depending upon your route. The airline uses a zone system to determine fees for excess baggage weight. It adds up quickly: 5€ for every excess kilogram on domestic flights within Germany, but long-haul flights can involve 40€/kg.
As with Delta, Northwest charges $20 USD for the first checked bag and $30 for a second when you pay at airport ticket counter, kiosk, or curbside. Online payments are discounted $5. the third and subsequent pieces each cost $100. Northwest defines a domestic flight as within the U.S. and not involving destinations in Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. On such flights and other international flights from the U.S., bags one and two are free. There is a long list of charges for baggage that exceeds 50 lbs. The charges vary by destination and can add up quickly.
United charges each passenger $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second when using United.com. Other check-ins require an additional $5/bag. Oversize bags (beyond 50 lbs.) incur a fee of $175, and overweight bags are assessed $125. The schedule of charges and conditions is complicated, so read carefully. All the fees you see on the United page linked here apply to one-way travel, so double them for a round trip. Also note United's advance check-in requirements, which vary by airport. United's fee for a second checked bag on international flights is $50 ($45 if paid online). United has also rolled out a "Premier Baggage Fee" of $249 that allows free first- and second-checked bags for one year.
