What Is British Airways Baggage Policy for Carry-On and Checked Bags?
Understanding the British Airways baggage policy before your flight can help you avoid excess-baggage charges, last-minute repacking, and problems at the airport. British Airways separates baggage into cabin bags, personal items, and checked bags, while your exact checked-baggage allowance depends on your fare, cabin class, route, and frequent-flyer status.
For most passengers, the standard cabin allowance includes one cabin bag measuring up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm and one handbag or personal item measuring up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm. British Airways says the cabin bag must be light enough for the passenger to lift into the overhead locker without assistance.
Checked baggage is more variable. Standard checked bags can measure up to 90 × 75 × 43 cm, while the normal weight limit is 23 kg per bag for passengers without a higher baggage entitlement. Some eligible British Airways Club, oneworld and AerClub members can receive a higher allowance of up to 32 kg per checked bag.
British Airways generally allows passengers to bring one cabin bag and one handbag or personal item into the cabin.
Your main cabin bag can measure up to:
56 × 45 × 25 cm (22 × 18 × 10 in)
The dimensions include the bag's wheels and handles.
The bag is designed to be stored in the overhead compartment.
Your smaller personal item can measure up to:
40 × 30 × 15 cm (16 × 12 × 6 in)
It must fit easily underneath the seat in front of you. British Airways says this bag can contain essentials such as medication, mobile phones, electronic devices, and passports and is guaranteed to remain in the cabin.
British Airways focuses on whether you can safely lift the cabin bag into the overhead compartment without assistance. The airline does not publish a general maximum kilogram limit for its standard cabin bag on the baggage-essentials page.
This does not mean that an extremely heavy bag is acceptable. You must be able to lift it into the overhead locker yourself.
If you need assistance because of an accessibility requirement, British Airways has separate provisions for customers who cannot lift their baggage themselves.
Baggage TypeMaximum SizeWeight Rule
Cabin bag56 × 45 × 25 cmMust be liftable into overhead locker without assistance
Handbag/personal item40 × 30 × 15 cmMust fit under the seat
Checked bag90 × 75 × 43 cmNormally up to 23 kg per bag
These are the standard dimensions published by British Airways. Your ticket and booking remain the best source for your exact baggage entitlement.
Yes. Even when your cabin bag meets the size requirements, British Airways says it may need to be placed in the aircraft hold.
This can happen because of limited cabin storage, particularly on busy flights.
If your cabin bag is taken into the hold, remove important belongings first. British Airways specifically advises passengers not to place valuables, electronics, or essential medicines in a cabin bag that may be checked into the hold.
Keep items such as:
Passport and travel documents
Prescription medicines
Mobile phone
Laptop or tablet
Valuables
Essential personal items
in your smaller personal item whenever practical.
There is no single checked-baggage allowance for every British Airways passenger.
Your allowance can depend on:
Fare type
Cabin class
Route
Whether the fare includes checked baggage
British Airways Club membership
oneworld status
AerClub status
Whether another airline operates part of the journey
British Airways currently notes that most routes allow two checked bags in some applicable fare/cabin combinations, while a limited number of routes have a one-bag limit. The airline recommends checking Manage My Booking or its baggage calculator for the exact allowance.
A standard checked bag can measure up to:
90 × 75 × 43 cm (35 × 30 × 17 in)
This is the maximum published size for standard checked baggage.
If your suitcase is larger than this, it may fall under British Airways' rules for oversized or special baggage and could require additional arrangements.
For standard baggage allowances, British Airways generally uses 23 kg per checked bag.
The important point is that the 23 kg allowance applies per bag, rather than being a weight pool that you can freely divide between suitcases. British Airways states that its 23 kg baggage limit applies to each bag and cannot be split between multiple bags.
A bag can sometimes weigh between 23 kg and 32 kg, but if it exceeds your permitted 23 kg allowance, a heavy-bag charge can apply.
British Airways currently lists a heavy-bag charge of:
£65
€75
US$100
CA$100
per overweight bag and one-way journey, with local-currency conversion and possible local taxes in some locations.
No standard checked bag may weigh more than 32 kg.
British Airways states that bags over 32 kg cannot be accepted as standard checked baggage. If your luggage is too heavy, you will need to redistribute the contents or make alternative arrangements for the item.
The number of checked bags included can vary by cabin and route.
Economy passengers may have different allowances depending on their fare.
For example, a baggage-inclusive Economy fare can provide one or more checked bags depending on the route, while a Basic fare can have no checked baggage allowance. British Airways' current baggage information shows that some routes and fare combinations have one bag and others have two.
British Airways' World Traveller Plus generally provides a larger checked-baggage allowance than standard Economy on applicable routes.
The current baggage-essentials information lists two checked bags of up to 23 kg each for the standard allowance in applicable World Traveller Plus itineraries, although some routes have different limits.
British Airways Club Europe/Club World passengers generally receive a higher checked-baggage allowance.
The current baggage information lists two checked bags of up to 32 kg each for applicable Business Class itineraries.
First Class generally receives the largest standard checked-baggage allowance.
British Airways currently lists three checked bags of up to 32 kg each for applicable First Class itineraries.
Because allowances can vary on particular routes, always verify the baggage entitlement attached to your booking.
One of the most important things to check before booking is whether your fare includes a checked bag.
British Airways' Basic fares can be hand-baggage-only, meaning there is no free checked-baggage allowance. The airline also states that its additional status-based baggage benefits do not apply to Basic fares where there is no baggage allowance in the cabin.
If you know you will need checked luggage, compare the total cost of a Basic fare plus baggage with a fare that already includes a checked bag.
Frequent-flyer status can increase your baggage allowance.
British Airways currently gives additional baggage benefits to qualifying British Airways Club Gold and Silver members, as well as certain oneworld Emerald and Sapphire and AerClub status members, when the member is travelling on the booking.
For example, the current published benefits include:
Gold/oneworld Emerald/AerClub Concierge: up to 2 checked bags in Euro Traveller/World Traveller, 3 in World Traveller Plus/Club, and 4 in First on applicable routes.
Silver/oneworld Sapphire/AerClub Platinum: up to 2 checked bags in Euro Traveller, World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club, and 3 in First.
Eligible status baggage can be up to 32 kg per bag.
These benefits do not apply to Basic fares with no baggage allowance and can differ on a limited number of routes.
You should not assume that unused baggage weight from one passenger can be transferred to another.
British Airways specifically states that family members cannot simply combine their baggage allowances. Each passenger's entitlement should be checked separately.
For example, if one passenger has an unused portion of their 23 kg allowance, that does not automatically mean another passenger can check a bag weighing 30 kg without a charge.
British Airways provides a separate allowance for infants.
For an infant under two years old, the airline states that the infant receives one standard 23 kg checked bag across cabins. This does not apply when the infant is travelling on a hand-baggage-only Basic fare.
In addition, each infant and child can take up to two essential items into the hold, such as:
Fully collapsible pushchair
Car seat
Booster seat
Travel cot
Baby back carrier
The exact conditions should be checked before travel, particularly when using a Basic fare.
Children aged 2 to 11 generally receive the same free checked-baggage allowance as the accompanying adult, depending on the cabin and fare.
Children can also have additional permitted equipment, such as pushchairs and car seats, under British Airways' family-travel rules.
If you want to take more bags than your ticket allows, British Airways permits passengers to purchase additional baggage on eligible journeys.
The airline says passengers can check up to 10 additional bags when paying to increase their baggage allowance, provided the bags contain personal-use items. Commercial goods should instead be handled through IAG Cargo.
The price of an additional bag depends on the itinerary and other factors. It is therefore better to check the current price through the British Airways baggage calculator or Manage My Booking rather than relying on a generic fee.
When your checked-bag allowance is 23 kg and the bag weighs between 23 kg and 32 kg, British Airways currently lists a £65 / €75 / US$100 / CA$100 heavy-bag charge per bag and one-way journey.
This fee is separate from the cost of an additional bag.
For example:
Your ticket includes one 23 kg checked bag.
You pack one bag weighing 27 kg.
The bag is overweight, but does not exceed 32 kg.
A heavy-bag charge may apply.
If you also want to take another bag beyond your free allowance, the additional-bag charge is a separate issue.
A standard checked bag cannot exceed 32 kg.
If your suitcase weighs 35 kg, simply paying the normal overweight charge does not make it acceptable as a standard checked bag. You should repack it into multiple bags or check whether the item qualifies for special handling.
This rule is particularly important when packing heavy equipment, books, sports equipment, or other dense items.
British Airways' standard checked-baggage dimensions are up to 90 × 75 × 43 cm.
Items larger than the standard dimensions may need to be treated as oversized or special baggage.
Examples can include:
Large musical instruments
Sporting equipment
Certain mobility equipment
Large recreational equipment
Do not assume that an oversized item can be checked at the standard baggage counter. Check British Airways' special-baggage requirements before travelling.
British Airways advises passengers not to put valuables, electronics, or essential medicines in cabin bags that could potentially be placed in the hold.
For practical reasons, your personal item is often the best place for:
Passport
Boarding documents
Prescription medication
Phone
Wallet
Essential electronics
Important travel documents
Items you may need during the flight
This is particularly useful if the airline needs to move your larger cabin bag into the hold.
Connecting flights can make baggage rules more complicated.
If another airline operates part of your journey, that airline's baggage allowance may differ from British Airways'. The airline itself advises passengers to check the baggage rules when another carrier is involved.
Do not automatically assume that the baggage allowance shown for a British Airways-operated segment applies to the entire itinerary.
If you have a codeshare or interline booking, check:
Which airline operates each flight.
Which airline issued the ticket.
The baggage allowance shown on your booking.
Whether you need to collect and recheck bags during a connection.
The safest way to determine your allowance is to check your actual booking.
British Airways recommends using Manage My Booking or its baggage calculator to verify the allowance for your specific itinerary.
Before travelling:
Open your British Airways booking.
Review the baggage allowance.
Check the number of permitted checked bags.
Confirm the maximum weight per bag.
Measure your suitcase.
Weigh each checked bag.
Check additional-baggage prices if necessary.
Review the rules for any partner-airline flights.
This is more reliable than using a general baggage allowance from another passenger's itinerary.
Baggage TypeStandard Rule
Cabin bag1 bag
Cabin bag maximum size56 × 45 × 25 cm
Personal item1 handbag/personal item
Personal item maximum size40 × 30 × 15 cm
Standard checked-bag size90 × 75 × 43 cm
Standard checked-bag weightUp to 23 kg
Maximum standard checked-bag weight32 kg
Heavy-bag charge£65 / €75 / US$100 / CA$100 when applicable
Extra bagsUp to 10 additional bags may be purchased on eligible journeys
Infant checked baggage1 × 23 kg on applicable fares
The table summarizes British Airways' published general rules. Your individual booking remains the final reference because fare, route and status can change the allowance.
Don't rely on how heavy the suitcase feels. Use a luggage scale before leaving home.
If your allowance is 23 kg per bag, you cannot assume that two bags weighing 15 kg and 31 kg are acceptable simply because they total 46 kg.
British Airways states that the 23 kg limit applies to each bag and cannot be split between bags.
Check the complete external dimensions before travelling. Wheels and handles count toward the cabin-bag dimensions.
A cheaper Basic fare may not include checked baggage. If you need luggage, compare the overall cost rather than looking only at the base fare.
If you already know you need another bag, check the price through Manage My Booking. Planning ahead can be easier than dealing with excess baggage at the airport.
Your passport, medication, electronics and valuables should remain accessible, particularly because a cabin bag may sometimes be moved to the hold.
British Airways generally permits one cabin bag measuring up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm and one handbag or personal item measuring up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm.
The main cabin bag can measure up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm, including wheels and handles.
The personal item or handbag can measure up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm and must fit underneath the seat.
British Airways requires passengers to be able to lift their cabin bag into the overhead compartment without assistance. The airline's general baggage-essentials guidance does not specify a universal kilogram limit for the standard cabin bag.
It depends on your fare, cabin, route and status. Some applicable itineraries include one checked bag, while others include two or three. A limited number of routes have different limits, so check Manage My Booking or the British Airways baggage calculator.
The standard allowance is generally 23 kg per checked bag. Eligible status members and some premium-cabin passengers can have an allowance of up to 32 kg per bag.
If your ticket's allowance is 23 kg, a 30 kg bag is overweight and a heavy-bag charge can apply. No standard checked bag may exceed 32 kg.
British Airways currently lists a heavy-bag charge of £65, €75, US$100 or CA$100 per overweight bag and one-way journey, subject to local-currency conversion and possible taxes.
You can take multiple bags if your ticket allows them, but you cannot use unused weight from one bag to make another bag exceed its individual 23 kg limit. British Airways says the 23 kg limit applies to each bag.
Not necessarily. British Airways Basic fares can be hand-baggage-only, with no free checked-baggage allowance.
Eligible British Airways Club, oneworld and AerClub status members can receive additional baggage benefits when travelling on the booking. The exact allowance depends on status, cabin and route.
An infant under two generally receives one standard 23 kg checked bag, except when travelling on a hand-baggage-only Basic fare. Additional essential baby equipment may also be checked under British Airways' family baggage rules.
British Airways allows each infant and child to take up to two essential items, such as a fully collapsible pushchair, car or booster seat, travel cot, or baby back carrier, subject to its applicable conditions.
The baggage rules can differ when another carrier operates part of the journey. Check the baggage allowance associated with your complete itinerary and review the other airline's rules before travelling.
The British Airways baggage policy is relatively simple for cabin baggage: passengers generally have one cabin bag up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm plus one personal item up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm. The personal item must fit under the seat, while the larger cabin bag is intended for the overhead compartment.
Checked baggage is more dependent on the details of your ticket. Standard checked bags can measure up to 90 × 75 × 43 cm, and the usual weight limit is 23 kg per bag. Some premium-cabin passengers and qualifying British Airways Club, oneworld and AerClub members can have a higher allowance of up to 32 kg per bag.
The best way to avoid surprises is to check the baggage allowance attached to your actual booking. British Airways specifically recommends using Manage My Booking or its baggage calculator, particularly because allowances can vary by fare and route.
Before heading to the airport, measure your bags, weigh each checked suitcase separately, keep essential items in your personal item, and check whether your fare includes checked baggage. These simple steps can make your British Airways journey much easier and help prevent unnecessary baggage charges.
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