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Your baggage allowance
Our standard checked baggage allowance is 23kg per bag. How many checked bags you’re allowed will depend on your booking, cabin class and Executive Club Tier status. All tickets include a cabin bag and hand bag.
| Cabin |
Checked bags |
| Economy Basic (cabin and hand bag only) |
0 |
| Economy (with checked bag) |
1 x 23kg bag |
| Premium economy |
2 x 23kg bags |
| Business |
2 x 32kg bags |
| First |
3 x 32kg bags |
| Gold and Silver Executive Club members, and oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members, may be entitled to more checked baggage. |
Already booked your flight?
Check the baggage allowance for your trip in Manage My Booking. You can also pay to add extra baggage if you need to.
Hand bags
Up to 40 x 30 x 15cm
(16 x 12 x 6in)
Up to 23kg (51lb)
No liquid bottles of over 100ml (3,4oz)
Guaranteed in the cabin
Cabin bags
Up to 56 x 45 x 25cm
(22 x 18 x 10in)
Up to 23kg (51lb)
No valuables, electronics or essential medicines
May need to go in the hold
Checked baggage
- Up to 90 x 75 x 43cm
(35 x 30 x 17in)
- Up to 23kg (51lb)
- Up to 32kg (70lb) in First and Business
- Checked in to the hold
Check your baggage allowance by destination
Whether you’ve booked a flight with us yet or not, you can enter your details in our search tool below and find out how much baggage you’re allowed to take on your flight, plus more detailed baggage information.
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More baggage information
What if your bag weighs more than 23kg?
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.
We charge 65 GBP / 75 EUR / 100 USD / 100 CAD per overweight bag and one-way journey. If you’re flying from a country that uses a different local currency, the GBP amount will be converted to the local currency. In some destinations, additional local taxes may also apply.
At many airports, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and in North America, you can only pay using a credit or debit card. Cash is not accepted and Avios cannot be used for this payment.
British Airways’ 23kg baggage weight limit applies to each bag and can’t be split between multiple bags. Bags over 32kg won’t be accepted as checked baggage.
If your journey includes a flight with another airline, their baggage allowances may be different. Please check before you fly.
Can you travel with oversized bags?
The maximum dimensions for an oversize bag in the hold are 190 x 75 x 65cm.
Bags larger than the standard size but within these maximum dimensions are known as out-of-gauge bags. They're accepted as part of your checked baggage allowance, but must be checked in at the out-of-gauge bag drop at least 90 minutes before your flight to ensure they travel with you.
You don't need to let us know in advance that you’re bringing a larger bag or item, but you must get to the airport early to check it in.
Which items are restricted?
Where should you pack electronic items?
You must be able to turn on any electronic items you want to take into the cabin, so please ensure all your devices are charged before you leave home.
Items that aren’t charged will need to be packed into your checked baggage and travel in the hold. You can put laptops in your checked baggage, however any spare device batteries and power packs must be carried in your hand baggage in the cabin.
You can also purchase Wi-Fi on board to stream your favourite TV shows or catch up on work while you travel.
Where should you pack medical supplies and equipment?
There aren’t any weight limits or overweight charges for medical equipment, but there is a limit to the number of checked bags you can bring for medication or medical supplies.
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 hand baggage that’s 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. Please check before you fly.
What should you do with baggage for stop overs and flight connections?
On journeys with connecting flights that use a single booking reference, even if it includes other airline codes, your baggage allowance is generally determined by the airline that operates the longest flight in your itinerary.
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.
What if you're travelling on separate tickets?
If you’ve booked separate flights with different booking references to get to your final destination each flight is considered a separate journey. This applies even if both of your flights are with British Airways.
You’ll need to check your bags in for each separate flight. Make sure to leave enough time between each flight to do this and get to your departure gate for the next leg of your journey. 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 next flight
- Collect your bags at your final destination
Please be aware that on journeys with separate tickets and different booking references, your bags will not be transferred on to your next flight as it is considered a separate journey.
In case of delay, cancellation or other disruption to your initial flight, when you hold a separate booking on a different reference for your next flight, airlines are limited in the assistance they can give you for your onward journey/subsequent flight, just as they have no obligation to automatically check your baggage through to your next flight as each booking is considered a separate contract.
What is the baggage allowance for infants and children?
British Airways’ infant baggage allowance includes a 23kg bag checked into the hold for an infant, no matter what cabin they are travelling in. There is no checked baggage allowance 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. Find out what other items you can check in for your family.
What is the baggage allowance for British Airways Executive Club or oneworld Members?
| Membership tier |
Baggage allowance for you and those travelling on your booking reference |
|
Gold or
oneworld Emerald
|
In any travel cabin:
1 additional checked bag up to 32kg (70lb). Up to 32 kg (70lb) per checked bag
This does not apply on a Basic fare, where there is no baggage allowance in any cabin.
|
|
Silver or
oneworld Sapphire
|
2 checked bags up to 32kg (70lb) in any travel cabin
This does not apply on a Basic fare, where there is no baggage allowance in any cabin.
|
The above allowances apply to British Airways flights only.
You, as the Executive Club Member, must be travelling on the booking for those on your booking to get these benefits.
These allowances are not available on group bookings or to infants travelling without their own seat. Infants get one 23kg checked bag, no matter their cabin of travel.
Can you travel with wheelchairs and mobility aids?
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.
Can you travel with sports equipment and musical instruments?
You can travel with a wide range of personal belongings as part of your normal baggage allowance, including sports equipment and musical instruments. If they weigh over 23kg, you may need to pay a little extra.
Do gifts and duty-free count as part of your baggage allowance?
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.
