While traveling can be exciting, keeping track of your bags can be a pain, especially if you don’t know how much does it cost for extra baggage on British Airways? Based on cabin class, British Airways uses a standard way to decide how much baggage you can bring. The fees for extra luggage rely on when you buy your baggage allowance, what cabin class you’re in, and sometimes even whether you’re flying out of Gatwick or Stanstead. Sometimes, the British Airways suitcase rules are hard to understand. We hope this guide helps!
How Much You Can Bring on British Airways
- FREE one handbag or laptop bag
- FREE standard check-in bag
Limitations on size
- The largest personal item allowed is up to 51 pounds (23 kg) and measures 16 by 12 by 6 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm).
- Any standard carry-on bag that is 22 inches long, 18 inches wide, 10 inches high, and weighs up to 51 pounds (23 kg) is allowed.
Carrier Policy for lap Infants
- One extra carry-on bag is allowed for things you might need during the trip.
- Up to 51 pounds (23 kg), 22 by 18 by 10 inches (56 by 45 by 25 cm).
How to Check a Stroller
- At the gate, you can check one stroller per child for free.
- You can bring a small, fully collapsible stroller to the gate and pick it up outside the target gate when you arrive. When collapsed, the stroller’s maximum dimensions are 46 x 15 x 15 inches (117 x 38 x 38 cm).
- You can bring a stroller that folds up into a carry-on bag instead of your normal carry-on bag as long as it doesn’t exceed the maximum dimensions for a carry-on bag.
- Bigger strollers checked at the gate can be picked up at the baggage carousel in the luggage hall.
How much checked luggage does British Airways let you bring?
Each checked bag is only 35 inches long, 30 inches wide, and 17 inches high. It can’t weigh more than 51 pounds (23 kg) for economy and premium economy fares or 70 pounds (32 kg) for business and first-class fares. Use the airline’s baggage tool to determine how much you can bring.
- Basic/Hand Baggage Only: No bags are included
- Economy: Includes one bag that weighs 51 pounds (23 kg).
- Premium Economy: Two bags (51 pounds/23 kg each) are included.
- Business: It comes with two bags that weigh 70 pounds (32 kg).
- First: Three bags weigh 70 pounds (32 kg).
Families with kids aged 2 to 11 who have a reserved seat get the same luggage limit as an adult plus an extra two items, such as a pram, travel cot, car seat, or carry harness that can be folded up.
Toddlers and babies younger than two years old: one bag (weighing up to 23 kg or 51 pounds) plus up to two things, such as a foldable pram, a travel cot, a car seat, or a carry harness.
*Economy flights come with two bags that weigh 23 kg each:
Going to or from Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria by flight
Getting from Europe to Japan by flight
Linking India to the US, Bermuda, and Canada
Linking Islamabad to the US and Canada
Road trips from Kuwait to the British Airways network
Trips from Saudi Arabia to the United States, Bermuda, or Canada
Trips that start in Shanghai and end at London Heathrow
Trips from the United Arab Emirates to the United States, Mexico, or Canada
Extra or extra-large baggage fees
British Airways no longer lists extra fees for bags on its website. Instead, it tells customers to use its baggage calculator tool to determine the fee for each trip. Here are some fees seen in searches done with the tool.
| Route | Purchased Online | Purchased at the Airport |
|---|---|---|
| A Short flight from London City Airport | First bag: £30 to £35/€40 to €45. Second bag: £65/€80 Additional bags: €95/£80. | First bag: €75/€85. Second bag: €85/£75. extra bags: £95/€105 |
| Short trips to and from London Gatwick Airport | First bag: €30, £25 to £35 Second bag: €60, £45–£65/€60 Extra bags: €85, £70 to £80. | First bag: €65, £50–£75/€65 Second bag: £50–£75/€65. Additional bags: €95, £80 to £95. |
| Short flight from London Heathrow Airport | First bag: £30 to £55/$75/€45 to €80. Second bag: £65 ($90/€80). Extra bags: £80/$115, € 95 | First bag: £75 USD /€85 Two bags: £75/$115/€85. Additional bags: £95/-135/€105. |
| Short-haul to and from Manchester, Edinburgh, Dublin | First bag: £25 to £35/$50/€40 to €45 Second bag: £45 to £65/$90/€70–€80 Further bags: £60 to £80/$90/€70 to €95. | First bag: £50–£75/-100/€75–€85. Second bag: £50–£75 $ 100/€75–€85. Extra bags: £65 to £95/$100/€75 to €105. |
| From London Gatwick, long-haul to/from U.S./Mexico | First bag: £55/$70; second bag: £65/$90; third, plus bags: £130/$170. | First extra bag: £60/$75 Second extra bag: £75,/$100. Third+ bags: £155 / $200 |
| Regarding all other long-haul flights | First bag is $70/€65-€80. Second bag: $90/€70–€80; Third+ bags: $170/€140–€150. | The price for the first bag is €70 to €95. The second bag costs $100 or €90 to €120. Third bags: $200/€150–€180 |
Economy
For the Euro Traveller Plus and Plus Flex
| Route | Purchased Online | Purchased at the airport |
|---|---|---|
| How to get to and from London Gatwick | Second bag: €60 to £45 Third-class bags cost between £70 and £80 or €85. | £50-£75/€65 for the second bag Third-class bags cost between £80 and €95. |
| All the other ways | Second bag costs between £60 and £65 ($90 to €70). Third bags cost between £60 and £80 ($90 to €70). | Second bag costs between £65 and £75 ($100 to €75). Third bags cost between £60 and £80 ($90 to €70), and second bags cost between £65 and £75 ($100 to €75). |
Premium Economy
World Traveller Plus
- For online or advance purchases: £130, $170, or €150
- Purchased at the airport for £155, $200, or €180
First Class and Business
Club Europe
From and to London Gatwick:
- £70/€85 if bought online or ahead of time
- £80/€95 bought at the airport
Every other route
- £80/€95 if bought online or ahead of time
- £95/€105 bought at the airport
First Class and Club World
- £120–£130/$170/€140–€150 if bought online or ahead of time
- £140–£155/$200/€150–€180 bought at the airport
Extra Baggage Fees
- 51 to 70 pounds (23 to 32 kg) is too much weight. £65, $100, or €75
- On its website, British Airways says, “You can bring bigger items that measure up to 190 x 75 x 65 cm (75 x 29.5 x 25.5 in) as long as they don’t weigh more than your allowed baggage weight allowance.” You will be charged extra at the airport if the bag weighs more than you are allowed. There is no way a bag can weigh more than 32 kg.
- Check British Airways’s policy for information on the cost of extra baggage for sports gear, musical instruments, and other unusual items.
Waivers and Exclusions
The following applies to the extra allowances:
- That includes everyone on your reservation as long as you are the approved frequent flyer.
- These rules apply to British Airways trips, excluding basic fares for carry-on bags only and group rate bookings.
- Executive Club Gold and Oneworld Emerald members can bring one free checked bag in any cabin class (except basic prices for hand luggage only), and each checked bag can weigh up to 70 pounds (32 kg). “
- The Executive Club Silver and Oneworld Sapphire members can bring an extra free checked bag, but only up to two bags total when travelling in the economy (basic) fares do not include hand luggage); each checked bag can weigh up to 70 pounds (32 kg).
It’s possible to pay ahead of time for luggage
- Visitors who fly with British Airways can pay for their bags ahead of time online.
- To do this, passengers must log in to their British Airways account.
Credit cards that pay for your checked bags and then reimburse you
You can’t get free checked bags with the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, but if you use one of the Capital One cards below, you can save some money on your British Airways checked bag costs. If you buy something with Capital One miles, you can use it to pay for it within 90 days for 1 cent per mile. This includes any fees for things like bags.
- Credit card from Capital One Venture X with rewards
The Capital One Venture X card is a great choice for travelers who want a premium credit card to do everything.
- Credit Card from Capital One Venture Rewards
Get twice as many miles, and the most creative ways to redeem your miles with any travel credit card.
- Credit Card from Capital One VentureOne with Rewards
The card lets you earn 1.25 miles per $1 without an annual fee. Regular travelers win when you look at the rewards that can be used differently.
How much can my bag weigh when I fly with British Airways?
All checked bags on British Airways flights must weigh no more than 51 pounds (23 kg) for economy and premium economy passengers and 70 pounds (32 kg) for first-class and business-class passengers. Extra baggage fees will be charged for bags heavier than these normal limits. Most carry-on bags can’t weigh over 53 pounds (23 kg).
Does British Airways include bags?
British Airways offers free luggage at all prices except for its basic economy fare, which only covers hand luggage. Apart from some routes that let you bring two bags, the normal allowance is one bag (50 pounds/23 kg) for economy class. For premium economy, you can bring two bags (each 50 pounds/23 kg); for business class, two bags (each 70 pounds/32 kg); and for first class, three bags (each 70 pounds/32 kg).
How big can a British Airways carry-on bag be?
British Airways lets travelers bring one standard carry-on bag no bigger than 22 x 18 x 10 inches (56 x 45 x 25 cm) and no heavier than 51 pounds (23 kg). You can bring one more personal item on board, but it can’t be bigger than 16 x 12 x 6 inches (40 x 30 x 15 cm) and can’t weigh more than a regular carry-on item.
How much does British Airways charge for extra luggage?
British Airways charges different fees for extra bags based on the path. If your bag weighs more than the usual 51 to 70 pounds (23 to 32 kg), you must pay something like $100. British Airways will not take bags that weigh more than 70 pounds (32 kg). BA doesn’t charge extra for checked bags bigger than the normal size limit of 35.5 x 29.5 x 16 inches (90 x 75 x 43 cm). You can bring up to 75 x 29.5 x 25.5 inches (190 x 75 x 65 cm), but this could change.
Knowing how much baggage is allowed on British Airways for international flights and the rules for British Airways can help you avoid surprises and make your trip go more smoothly. If you remember to plan, pack light, and use pre-payment choices and holiday plans with World Holiday Vibes, you can easily handle your bags and enjoy your trip without worrying about them.
