Checked baggage allowances

If you are travelling on a hand baggage only (Basic) fare, checking in baggage costs extra. However, if you're travelling with children up to 11 years you can check in one fully collapsible pushchair (stroller) and one car seat for free.

You can pay and check in bags at any time before you fly, but you’ll get the best rate if you pay online in advance.

More about paying to take checked bags

The extra allowances apply:

• in any travel class for everyone on your booking as long as you as the qualifying frequent flyer are travelling on the booking

• only on British Airways flights, except for hand baggage only (Basic) fares and group rate bookings

If your journey includes flights in more than one travel class, the more generous allowance will apply to your whole journey (unless the flights are on separate bookings - then each travel class's allowance will apply to the individual flight). For example:

• You fly from Manchester to London in UK Domestic and connect from London to Rome in Club Europe. The Club Europe allowance applies to your entire journey.
• You fly from London to Dubai in World Traveller and return in World Traveller Plus. The World Traveller Plus allowance applies to your entire journey. 

If you're connecting at an airport that requires you to clear your baggage at the first point of entry and you are connecting to a domestic flight in that country, please follow the signs for 'Arrivals/Baggage reclaim' to collect your bags and check it in again as normal for your connecting flight.

If you have booked all your flights under one booking with the same ticket number, you only need to check in your bags once when you start your journey then collect them at your final destination.

If you have booked two separate flights to reach your final destination, for example Edinburgh to London followed by London to New York, you will need to:

• Check in your bags for your first flight e.g. Edinburgh to London.
• Follow the signs for 'Arrivals/Baggage reclaim' in London to collect your bags.
• Check them in again for your second flight e.g. London to New York.
• Allow sufficient time to connect to your next flight – see recommended check in times.

Find out more about flight connections

If you have a small, fully collapsible and lightweight pushchair/stroller (with maximum dimensions of 117cm x 38cm x 38cm/46in x 15in x 15in when the pushchair is collapsed), you will qualify to take this right to the aircraft door and collect at the aircraft door at most airports.

Please arrive at your departure gate no later than 40 minutes before departure time, and prepare to pre-board the aircraft.

The staff will put your pushchair into the hold and will do all possible to return it to you at the aircraft door.

All other, larger pushchairs, including double and multi-piece pushchairs can be taken to the departure gate, however, on arrival you must pick up these larger pushchairs at the baggage carousel in the baggage hall.

Please be aware that walking distances at airports can be long, and if you bring a larger pushchair you should be prepared to transport your child to the baggage carousel by another method.

More about family baggage

If your wheelchair or mobility aid weighs over 250kg (551lb), please contact us so we can establish if we're able to carry it. There are no overweight charges for personal wheelchairs or mobility aids.

We can accommodate most types of battery-powered wheelchairs. To help us prepare, please provide us with advance notification and follow some safety guidance before you travel.

More about disability and mobility assistance

There are no weight limits or overweight charges for travelling with medical equipment but please check our medical information for specific advice.

• You can take more bags than your free checked baggage allowance for an additional fee. You’ll get the best rate if you pay online in advance.
• You can take overweight bags for an extra charge.
• You can take larger items of up to 190 x 75 x 65cm (75 x 29.5 x 25.5in) for an additional charge. (Currently, we waive this charge so you do not pay it.) Any items larger than this require shipping as cargo.
• Find out more about taking sporting equipment and musical instruments.
• If you are checking in a large piece of baggage, please allow an additional 15 minutes so that the item can be safely and securely handed over to the Baggage staff.

There are a number of rules and restrictions about what you can and cannot carry in your baggage.

Safety regulations for baggage

Our franchise partner Comair is an independent airline that uses British Airways branding and flight codes across its network. It operates across southern Africa (flight numbers BA6200-6449).

The weight limit applies to each bag. It's not possible to split the total weight across multiple bags.

Flights within South Africa

Flights from South Africa to and from Victoria Falls, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Windhoek and Mauritius

Our franchise partner SUN-AIR of Scandinavia is an independent airline that uses British Airways branding and flight codes across its network. It operates flights across northern Europe (flight numbers BA8200-8299).

You can take one checked bag up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35.5 x 29.5 x 16in) and weighing max. 23kg.

If you're an Executive Club Member you can have one 20kg bag included in your reward flight costs when you're travelling with our partner Flybe.

Unfortunately, due to different systems being used we're currently not able to display your baggage allowance when you make or view your booking on ba.com or via our contact centres.

Check your hand baggage allowance on American Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines and Qatar Airways.

For other airlines, please refer to their websites or contact them directly.

Find out which airline you are flying with in Manage My Booking