british airways logo and site links

Login details and information
Login help

United Kingdom

Change country

Checked baggage

Baggage carousel at Terminal 5.

Checked baggage

When you check your baggage on to your flight (at the airport check-in desk or Fast Bag Drop), you will receive one baggage tag receipt per bag, which you should keep safe. When you travel on any flight with British Airways, you are entitled to a free baggage allowance at check-in, provided the bags meet certain specifications.

Size and weight restrictions

Checked baggage dimensions.

 

Size:

  • a standard size bag must not exceed 90cm x 75cm x 43cm (35.5ins x 29.5ins x 16ins), including the handle, pockets and wheels.
  • a non-standard sized bag must not exceed 190cm x 75cm x 65cm (75ins x 29.5ins x 25.5ins), including the handle, pockets and wheels.

 

 

 

Weight of each bag:

  • Each bag over 23kgs (51lbs) and up to and including 32kgs (70lbs) will incur a charge of £30 ($50 for journeys from all US airports) at the airport.
  • This fee will be converted into the local currency during the check-in process.

The following customers are entitled to a 32kgs baggage allowance per bag at no additional charge:

  • Customers travelling to and from Brazil.
  • Gold and Silver Executive Club members.  
  • First, Club World and Club Europe customers on all routes.

Some of your baggage may be larger than the allowances or you may wish to carry specific sporting equipment. These items may be carried as cargo or freight.

Find out more at British Airways World Cargo

Find out about carrying sporting equipment

Your maximum number of free checked baggage items

Allowances for flights booked before 7 October 2009

Allowances for flights booked on or after 7 October 2009

Allowances for all flights
EXCLUDING
Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria Connecting journeys between India and USA, Bermuda, Canada

Adults and children
(aged 12 years and over)
Children
(aged 2 - 11)
Infants under 2 years
First
Club World
Three standard-sized bagsSame as adult allowance plus one fully-collapsible pushchair (stroller) and one car seat

One standard- sized bag plus one fully-collapsible pushchair (stroller) and one car seat

World Traveller Plus Club Europe Two standard-sized bags
World Traveller Euro Traveller Domestic One standard-sized bag (except Gold and Silver Executive Club members who can carry two bags)

Allowances for
Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria
Connecting journeys between India and USA, Bermuda, Canada

Adults and children
(aged 12 years and over)
Children
(aged 2 - 11)
Infants under 2 years
First
Club World
Three standard-sized bagsSame as Adult allowance plus one fully-collapsible pushchair (stroller) and one car seat

One standard- sized bag plus one fully-collapsible pushchair (stroller) and one car seat

World Traveller Plus World Traveller Two standard-sized bags

Note: If you want to check in more bags than the free allowance, you will need to pay an additional excess baggage fee, which is dependent on your destination.

Find out more about checking in additional bags

Find out more about items we do not accept as checked baggage

Travelling on another airline

If you are travelling with an airline operating on behalf of British Airways, that airline's baggage policy will apply. Our franchises use smaller planes, which means your allowances may be smaller.

If you have purchased a ticket which includes travel on another airline, the British Airways baggage allowance may be more generous and you could be charged for extra baggage by the onward carrier.

Once you have made a booking the details of the airline operating your flight can be found in Manage My Booking. You will need to contact the airline directly to confirm their baggage allowances.

Manage My Booking

If you have purchased separate tickets for each airline in your journey:

  • the individual airline's baggage allowances will apply for each flight
  • additional allowances offered by another airline will only be applicable to the flights of that airline

Allowances for those passengers with limited mobility

If you are a passenger with limited mobility travelling on a route where the allowance is one bag:

  • we will increase the allowance to two bags
  • the combined weight must not exceed 23kgs (51lbs)

Up to 2 wheelchairs can be carried free of charge in addition to the free checked baggage allowance per person with reduced mobility. Wheelchairs will be carried irrespective of weight.

If your wheelchair weighs over 32kgs (70lbs):

  • please notify us at the time of making your booking

or

  • you can contact us later but at least 24 hours before you fly

Please note that battery-operated wheelchairs must be properly prepared for carriage. If you are in any doubt or require assistance, please contact us for further information and guidance.

Find out more about the disability assistance offered by British Airways

Door-to-door baggage service

Do you prefer to 'travel light' and avoid the need for queueing up at the check-in or Fast Bag Drop desks at the airport? We provide a service, in conjunction with our partner First Luggage, where your luggage can be collected from your home or office prior to your departure and then delivered to your destination, irrespective of your class of travel.

Find out more about First Luggage's servicing and booking on-line