Baggage allowances

If you have more than two pieces of hand baggage, or they are over the size permitted, you may have to put your larger bags into the hold as checked baggage.

When you’ve used your free checked baggage allowance, you’ll have to pay to put any extra bags into the hold. Check your baggage allowance in the calculator above. Please note the carriage of excess baggage is subject to availability.

If your journey includes a flight with another airline, their allowances may be different. Please check before you fly.

If your checked baggage weighs more than your allowance, you may have to pay a heavy bag charge. Check your baggage allowance in the calculator above.

A heavy bag charge is 65 GBP / 75 EUR / 100 USD / 100 CAD per overweight bag and one-way journey. If you are leaving from a country that uses a different local currency, the GBP amount will be converted to the local currency. At many airports, including London Heathrow, Gatwick and North America, you can only pay using a credit or debit card, cash is not accepted and Avios cannot be used for this payment.

The weight limit is per bag and can’t be split between multiple bags. No bag over 32 kg will be accepted as checked baggage.

If your journey includes a flight with another airline, their allowances may be different. Please check before you fly.

Maximum dimensions for a bag in the hold are 190 x 75 x 65cm. This means that a sports bag larger than the standard size, or item longer than 90cm and within these maximum dimensions, is accepted as part of your checked baggage allowance.

You don't need to let us know in advance that you are bringing the larger bag or item, but you must get to the airport early to check it in. To make sure it has every chance of flying with you, you must ensure that you deliver it to the airport’s out-of-gauge bag drop at least 90 minutes before your flight departs.

Take a look at the list of banned and restricted items for more information.

If your journey includes a flight with another airline, their restrictions may be different.

There aren’t any weight limits or overweight charges for medical equipment. There is a limit to the number of checked bags for medication or medical supplies, though.

All checked bags with medical supplies need to be supported by an official medical letter and authorised when you check in at the airport.

You may be asked to check your larger cabin bag in on busy flights so it’s best to pack essential medication into your handbag that is guaranteed to travel in the cabin.

Please see our medical information for specific advice.

If your journey includes a flight with another airline, their policies may be different.

If your journey with connecting flights is on a single booking reference, even if it includes other airline codes, you’ll enjoy the most significant airline’s baggage allowance. This is generally the airline that operates the longest flight on your journey.

You can usually check in your bags to arrive at your final destination if:

• all your flights are under a single booking reference and ticket number, or
• your flights are with oneworld airlines under a single booking reference, even if you have separate ticket numbers.

If an airport requires you to collect your checked bags before connecting to a domestic flight in that country, simply follow these steps:

• Check in your bags for your first flight
• Collect your bags when you land - you may need to go through customs
• Go to departures and check your bags in again for your domestic flight
• Collect your bags at your final destination.

Remember to allow enough time to check your bags in again and then connect to your domestic flight gate for departure.

If you're not sure where to collect your bags, please ask when you check them in at the start of your journey. Your baggage tags will show your bag’s final destination.

If you’ve booked separate flights with different booking references to get to your final destination, rather than a connecting journey on a single booking reference, each flight is considered as a separate journey. This applies even if both your flights are with British Airways.

When going from one flight to another with different booking references you’ll need to check your bags in for each separate flight. You must make sure that you have enough time to do this and get to your departure gate for your next flight:

• Check in your bags for your first flight
• Collect your bags when you land - you may need to go through customs
• Go to departures and check your bags in again for your domestic flight
• Collect your bags at your final destination

With separate tickets that have different booking references, your bags will not be transferred on to your next flight, as it is considered a separate journey.

There is also no obligation on airlines to check your baggage onto your next flight when it is on a separate booking reference to your previous flight, as there would be with a connecting journey on a single booking reference.

Infants without a seat can have a 23kg bag checked into the hold, no matter what cabin they are travelling in. This does not apply if you are travelling with your infant on a hand baggage only (Basic) fare.

Children, and infants with a seat, have the same free baggage allowance as adults. See what else you can check in for your family.

Applies to British Airways flights only.

You, as the Member, must be travelling on the booking for those on your booking to get these benefits.

Not available to infant Members travelling without their own seat. Infants get one 23kg checked bag, no matter their cabin of travel.

Not available on group rate bookings.

It’s free to take wheelchairs, mobility aids and related equipment if it's for your personal use and within the size limits. Find out more.

It’s free to take many items as part of your baggage allowance. If you have heavy items, you may need to pay a little extra. Check how you can take your sports equipment and musical instruments with you.

All airport purchases count as items of hand baggage. If your gifts or duty-free bags take you over the hand baggage allowance, your extra bags may be checked into the hold. If you’ve already used your free checked baggage allowance, you’ll have to pay for extra bags in the hold.

Our franchise partner operates across southern Africa. Their weight limits apply to each bag. It's not possible to split the total weight across multiple bags.

You can take 1 checked bag up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35.5 x 29.5 x 16in) and 23kg (51lb).

Take a look at their baggage allowances.

Take a look at their baggage allowances.

Take a look at their baggage allowances.

Take a look at their baggage allowances.

Take a look at their baggage allowances.