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As many travelers know, ever-shrinking weight restrictions for carry-on and checked luggage present a dilemma not easy to solve once inside the airport. Extra fees for heavy baggage, checking over-sized carry-ons right at the gate – there are a slew of ways for overstuffed luggage to slow you down. Avoid these problems by doing your research ahead of time, and breeze straight through check-in and onto your plane without a second thought!
Guidelines:
- The generally accepted carry-on size is 45 linear inches (combined length, width, and height), although this varies by airline.
- The maximum size for checked luggage without baggage fees tends to fall around 62”, although this varies widely by airline. Look out for maximum restrictions at 80” or 100” varying by airline.
- Most airlines restrict the weight on each checked bag to 50 lbs. and charge an extra fee for bags between 50 lbs to 70 lbs., some will not allow luggage over 70 or 100 lbs. no matter what.
- For luggage both over weight and oversized you pay both extra fees.
- Few airlines review the weight of carry on bags.
- When possible, pack as lightly as you can. Just fitting those few extra items into a carry-on is not worth the hassle of gate-checking your bags when you exceed the carry on size regulations and overweight checked baggage fees are often quite expensive.
- Keep in mind that a carry-on must fit either in the overhead compartments, or under the seat in front of you, and that on crowded flights overhead compartment space goes quickly. Larger carry-ons that just squeeze past size restrictions may not squeeze under a seat.
- Many airlines permit one carry-on bag and a personal item, such as a laptop bag, backpack, or purse.
- Many airlines allow additional necessary items beyond your carry-on and personal item. These can include but may not be limited to coats, children’s safety seats, items needed for personal or health assistance (walkers, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, etc.), books, diaper bags, or small bags of food.
- Special items, particularly sports related gear, may garner unique treatment by each airline. For example a hockey bag or lacrosse bag with sticks may be considered one item for bag counting as they are really a set that go together even though they may have their own bags separately for the equipment and sticks. A bicycle may ship as standard luggage even if travels in an oversized box.
- When traveling on a smaller plane, even with a reservation made through a major airline, be prepared for more restrictions. Expect anything from being forced to put your carry on baggage in with the regular checked baggage all the way to a limit of one checked bag weighing only 30 lbs.
- Review TSA guidelines and be sure to pack things where the inspectors want them.
Air Tran
Carry-on luggage
Size Limit: 55”
Checked Luggage
Size Limit: 61”
Weight Limit: 50 lbs
Fees
1st checked bag: $15
2nd checked bag: $25
Excess baggage (each piece after the first 2): $50
Overweight baggage:
-51-70 lbs: $49
-71-100 lbs: $79
Oversized baggage:
-62-70”: $49
-71-80”: $79
American Airlines
Carry-on luggage
Size Limit: Carry-on: 45”, Personal Item: 36”
Weight Limit: Weight of the carry-on and personal item combined cannot exceed 40 lbs.
Checked luggage
Size Limit: 62”
Weight limit:
-International flights (except Brazil) and flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands: 50 lbs
-Flights to/from Brazil: 70 lbs
Fees
Flights within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico:
-For tickets purchased on or after Feb. 1st, 2010
-1st checked bag: $25
-2nd checked bag: $35
-3rd-5th checked bag: $100
-6+ checked bags: $200 per bag
-For tickets purchased between Aug. 14th 2009 and Jan 31st 2010
-1st checked bag: $20
-2nd checked bag: $30
-3rd-5th checked bag: $100
-6+ checked bags: $200 per bag
-For tickets purchased before Aug. 14 2009
-1st checked bag: $15
-2nd checked bag: $25
-3rd-5th checked bag: $100
-6+ checked bags: $200 per bag
Flights within Canada or to/from Canada and the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico:
-For tickets purchased on or after May 29, 2010:
-1st checked bag: $25
-2nd checked bag: $35
-3rd-5th checked bag: $100
-6+ checked bags: $200 per bag
-For tickets purchased before March 29 2010:
-1st checked bag: $15
-2nd checked bag: $25
-3rd-5th checked bag: $100
-6+ checked bags: $200 per bag
Travel to/through/from Europe and India
-$50 for the second checked piece
Overweight baggage (flights within the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada):
-51-70 lbs: $50 per piece
-71-100 lbs: $100 per piece
-bags over 100 lbs will not be accepted.
Oversized baggage (flights within the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada):
-over 62”: $150 per piece
-over 115” will not be accepted
Continental Airlines
Carry-on luggage
Size Limit: 45”
Weight Limit: 40 lbs
Checked luggage
Size Limit: 62”
Weight Limit: 50 lbs
Fees
Travel within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and U.S Virgin Islands
-1st bag: Online $23, Airport $25
-2nd bag: Online $32, Airport $35
From United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and U.S Virgin Islands to Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, and South America (except Brazil)
-1st bag: Free
-2nd bag: Online $27, Airport $30
From United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and U.S Virgin Islands to Europe
-1st bag: Free
-2nd bag: Online $45, Airport $50
From United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and U.S Virgin Islands to the Asia-Pacific region (except Japan)
-1st and 2nd bag: Free
From United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and U.S Virgin Islands to Japan
-1st and 2nd bag: Free
Excess baggage:
-3+ bags: $100 per bag
Overweight baggage:
-51-70 lbs: $50 per piece
-Over 70 lbs is not accepted.
Oversized baggage:
-over 62”: $100 per piece
-over 115”: not accepted
To/From Transatlantic Destinations from USA/Canada
Excess baggage: $150 per bag after the first 2
Overweight baggage: $50 per piece over 50 lbs
Oversized baggage:
-$150 per bag over 62”
-$300 per bag over 80”
Delta Airlines
Carry-on luggage
Pieces allowed: 1 carry-on and 1 personal item
Size Limit: 45”
Checked luggage
Size Limit: 62”
Weight Limit: under 50 lbs
Fees
Travel within the United States and to/from Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico
-Online:
1st bag: $23
2nd bag: $32
-Airport:
1st bag: $25
2nd bag: $35
International Flights to Destinations Other Than Canada
1st bag: Free
2nd bag: $50
Excess baggage:
Flights within the United States (including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico), and between Canada and the United States (including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico)
-3rd bag: $125
-4th-10 bag: $200 per piece
Travel between the United States, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America (excluding Brazil) and between United States/Canada and Europe
-3rd bag: $200
-4th-5th bag: $350
-6th-10th bag: $600
Travel to/from the United States, Canada and Asia, within Asia and Europe
-3rd-10th bag: $150
Travel to/from Brazil
-3rd-10th bag: $75
Travel to/from/between Middle East, Africa, Australia
Travel between Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe
-3rd bag: $200
-4th-5th bag: $350
-6th-10th bag: $600
Overweight baggage:
Flights within the United States (including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico)
-51-70 lbs: $90
-71-100 lbs: $175
-over 100 lbs not permitted
Travel between United States, Canada, and Europe
-51-70 lbs: $150
-over 70 lbs not permitted
Travel between the United States, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America (excluding Brazil)
-51-70 lbs: $150
-71-100 lbs: $300
Travel to/from the United States, Canada and Asia, within Asia and Europe
-51-70 lbs: $50
-71-100 lbs: $450
Travel to/from Brazil
-51-70 lbs: Free
-71-100 lbs: $100
Travel to/from/between Middle East, Africa, Australia
Travel between Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe
-51-70 lbs: $150
-71-100 lbs: $450
Oversized baggage
Flights within the United States (including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico)
-63”-80”: $175
Travel between United States, Canada, and Europe;
Travel between the United States, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America (excluding Brazil);
Travel to/from/between Middle East, Africa, Australia;
Travel between Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe;
-62”-80”: $175
Travel to/from the U.S., Canada and Asia, within Asia and Europe
-63”-80”: $175
-81”-115”: $300
Travel to/from Brazil
-63”-80”: $100
Frontier
Carry-on luggage
Pieces allowed: 1 carry-on and 1 personal item
Size Limit: 49”
Weight Limit: 35 lbs
Checked luggage
Size Limit: 62”
Weight Limit: 50 lbs
Fees
First checked bag:
-Ticket purchased before Sept. 7th, 2009
-Domestic: $15
-Ticket purchased Sept. 8th, 2009
-Domestic: $20
-International: Free
Second checked bag:
-Ticket purchased before Sept. 7th, 2009
-Domestic: $25
-Ticket purchased Sept. 8th, 2009
-Domestic: $30
-International: Free
3-4 checked bags:
-Ticket purchased before Sept. 7th, 2009
-Domestic: $50
-Ticket purchased Sept. 8th, 2009
-Domestic: $50
-International: Free
5 or more checked bags:
-International: $100
Overweight baggage: $75 per bag over 50 lbs
Oversized baggage: $70 per bag over 62”
JetBlue
Carry-on luggage
Pieces allowed: 1 carry-on and 1 personal item
Size Limit to fit under the seat in front of you: 37.5”
Size limit to fit in the overhead bin:
for the Airbus A320: 56” (26 inches length x 18 inches width x 12 inches height
For the EMBRAER 190: 50” (24 inches length x 16 inches width x 10 inches height
Checked luggage
Size Limit: 62”
Weight Limit: 50 lbs
Fees
First checked bag:
-Free
Second checked bag:
-$30
3 or more checked bags:
-$75 per bag
Overweight baggage:
-51-70 lbs: $50 per bag
-71-99 lbs: $100 per bag
-bags over 99 lbs: not accepted
Oversized baggage:
-63-80”: $75 per bag
-bags over 80”: not accepted
Southwest Airlines
Carry-on luggage
Pieces allowed: 1 carry-on and 1 personal item
Size Limit: 50”
Checked luggage
Size Limit: 62”
Weight Limit: 50 lbs
Fees
Excess baggage:
-bags 3-9: $50 per bag
-over 9 bags: $110 per bag
Overweight baggage:
-51-100 lbs: $50 per bag
-over 100 lbs: must be shipped as air cargo
Oversized baggage:
-62-80”: $50 per bag
Spirit Airlines
Carry-on luggage
Pieces allowed: 1 carry-on and 1 personal item
Size Limit: 52”
Checked luggage
Number: Maximum of 5 checked bags per customer
Size Limit: 62”
Weight Limit: 50 lbs
Fees
-1st bag: Online $19, Airport $25
-2nd bag: $25
-bags 3-5: $100
Overweight baggage:
-51-70 lbs: $50 per bag
-71-99 lbs: $100
Oversized baggage:
-62-79”: $100 per bag
-80+”: $150 per bag
United Airlines
Carry-on luggage
Pieces allowed: 1 carry-on and 1 personal item
Size Limit: 45”
Checked luggage
Size Limit: 62”
Weight Limit: 50 lbs
Fees
U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
For tickets purchased before Jan. 14th, 2010, for travel anytime:
-1st bag: $20
-2nd bag:$30
For tickets purchased on or after Jan. 14th, 2010, for travel before Jan. 21st, 2010:
-1st bag: $20
-2nd bag:$30
For tickets purchased before Jan. 14th, 2010, for travel on or after Jan. 21st, 2010:
-1st bag: $25
-2nd bag:$35
Overweight baggage:
Within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
-over 50 lbs: $125 per bag
From North America to the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico
-51-100 lbs: $125 per bag
From North America to Europe, and South America;
From North America to Australia, Asia, and New Zealand via the Pacific
-51-70 lbs: $150 per bag
-71-100 lbs: $350 per bag
From North America to Africa, Asia via the Atlantic, and the Middle East
-51-70 lbs: $150 per bag
-71-100 lbs: $400 per bag
Oversized baggage:
U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
-over 63”: $175 per bag
From North America to the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico
-over 62”: $175 per bag
From North America to Europe, and South America;
From North America to Australia, Asia, and New Zealand via the Pacific
-over 62”: $200 per bag
From North America to Africa, Asia via the Atlantic, and the Middle East
-over 62”: $250 per bag
Excess baggage:
Within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
- Tickets purchased from October 2, 2008 through November 13, 2008 for travel anytime
-3rd-4th bags: $125
-5th+ bags: $250 per bag
- Tickets purchased on or after November 14, 2008 for travel anytime
-3rd-4th bags: $125
-5th+ bags: $200 per bag
From North America to the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico
-3rd-4th bags: $125
-5th+ bags: $250 per bag
From North America to Europe, and South America;
From North America to Australia, Asia, and New Zealand via the Pacific
-3rd-4th bags: $200
-5th+ bags: $250 per bag
From North America to Africa, Asia via the Atlantic, and the Middle East
-3+ bags: $250 per bag
Virgin Atlantic
Carry-on luggage
Upper-class:
Pieces allowed: 2 pieces of hand luggage
Size Limit: 45”
Weight Limit: no more than 35 lbs combined weight, with no bag weighing more than 26.4 lbs (12 kg)
Economy and Premium Economy:
Pieces allowed: 1 piece of hand luggage
Size Limit: 45”
Weight Limit: 13 lbs
Checked luggage
Bags allowed:
-Economy: 1
-Premium Economy: 2
-Upper Class: 3
Size Limit: up to 81”
Weight Limit: up to 50.6 lbs (23 kg)
Fees
Excess baggage:
-1st extra bag: Online $48, Airport $60
-2+ bags: Online $48, Airport $140
Overweight baggage:
-50.6 lbs- 70.4 lbs (23-32 kg): $50 per bag
Oversized baggage:
- over 81”: $60 per bag
US Airways
Carry-on luggage
Pieces allowed: 1 carry-on and 1 personal item
Size Limit: 45”
Weight Limit: up to 40 lbs
Checked luggage
Size Limit: 50”
Weight Limit: 70 lbs
Fees
All Flights
Tickets bought before Aug. 26th, 2009
-1st bag: Online $15, Airport $20
-2nd bag: Online $25, Airport $30
-3+ bags: $100 per bag
Tickets bought after Aug. 26th, 2009
-1st bag: Online $20, Airport $25
-2nd bag: Online $30, Airport $35
-3+ bags: $100 per bag
Tickets bought on or after Jan. 18th, 2010
-1st bag: Online $23, Airport $25
-2nd bag: Online $32, Airport $35
-3+ bags: $100 per bag
Flights to and from Europe
Tickets bought before Aug. 26th, 2009
-1st-2nd bag: Free
-3+ bags: $100 per bag
Tickets bought after Aug. 26th, 2009
-1st bag: Free
-2nd bag: Online 50, Airport $55
-3+ bags: $100 per bag
Flights to and from South America and the Middle East
-1st-2nd bags: Free
-3+ bags: $100 per bag
Overweight baggage:
-51-70 lbs: $50 per bag
-71-100 lbs: $100
Oversized baggage:
- over 62”: $100 per bag
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