Summary
- British Airways offers a generous baggage allowance for passengers in all travel classes, with weights ranging from 23kg to 32kg per bag.
- Carry-on bags must adhere to size restrictions, but weight restrictions are more lenient and bags can weigh up to 23kg.
- Oversized or heavy items may incur additional charges or need to be shipped as cargo, and passengers should check with partner airlines for their specific baggage allowances.
Britain’s national airline, British Airways, is known for its hospitality and service on the ground and in the air. Part of the airline’s service is its baggage allowance for air passengers. As a full-service airline, British Airways takes pride in offering a generous baggage allowance in all travel classes.
Simple Flying provides baggage information essential for passengers traveling with the airline, as highlighted by British Airways.
1 British Airways checked baggage allowance
The allowance varies based on the fare type and cabin
| Cabin | Checked baggage weight allowance | Checked baggage size |
| Economy Basic | 0 | Up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35 x 30 x 17in) |
| Economy | 1x 23 kg (51 lb) bag | |
| Premium Economy | 2x 23 kg (51 lb) bag | |
| Business | 2x 32 kg (70 lb) bag | |
| First | 3x 32 kg (70 lb) bag |
The checked baggage allowance differs based on the fare type and cabin. Passengers traveling on the Economy Basic fare do not get a free checked baggage allowance. Standard Economy and Premium Economy passengers are entitled to checked baggage allowance, up to 23 kg (51 lb) per bag. Business and First class passengers receive a generous weight allowance of up to 32 kg (70 lb) per bag.
Photo: British Airways
All passengers can purchase additional baggage before or upon check-in. Notably, the cost of additional baggage and the number of bags that can be purchased depending on the class of travel and destination. British Airways also follows a rather strict baggage size policy for checked baggage.
2 British Airways carry-on size
The airline restricts passengers for handbag and cabin bag sizes
| Carry on baggage | Weight | Size |
| Handbag | Up to 23 kg (51 lb) | Up to 40 x 30 x 15cm (16 x 12 x 6in) |
| Cabin bag | Up to 23 kg (51 lb) | Up to 56 x 45 x 25cm (22 x 18 x 10in) – including wheels and handles |
British Airways provides a specific allowance for carry-on bags. Passengers must particularly follow size restrictions for carry-on bags. The airline provides cabin bags and handbag dimensions (height, width, and depth). However, unlike many large international airlines that weigh carry-on bags upon check-in, British Airways allows generous weight for the carry-on bags.
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Photo: EQRoy | Shutterstock
Passengers can take up to 23 kg (51 lb) in the carry-on as long as the size of the bag is within the allowed dimensions. The airline may penalize oversized cabin bags, the cost of which depends on fare type and destination. It is noteworthy that the listed dimensions include straps and wheels, particularly on the cabin bags.
3 British Airways baggage contents allowance
Out-of-gauge or oversized items must be treated differently
| Contents | Allowance |
| Sporting goods | Allowed (as checked bags or cargo) |
| Musical Instruments | Allowed (as handbag, checked bag, or cargo) |
The airline allows passengers to travel with almost anything (except for restricted items), including sports gear and music instruments. When traveling with sports or music equipment, passengers must ensure that the size of the equipment is within the allowable limit. Small equipment can be taken onboard as a carry-on bag.
Photo: London Heathrow Airport
Oversized equipment can be allowed, but passengers may need to take additional steps. Anything larger or heavier must be secured properly and shipped as cargo. Other out-of-gauge pieces, such as snow sports bags, must be dropped off at the oversized baggage area at least 90 minutes before the flight time.
The airline charges for overweight or oversized bags
| Heavy baggage weight | Up to 32 kg (70 lb) |
| Heavy baggage charges | £65, €70, or $100 |
The extra checked baggage allowance depends on the space available in the aircraft. One may wonder how much space one or two extra bags would require in an aircraft. However, airplanes must follow precise weight and balance to ensure a safe flight.
Photo: Matthew Ashmore / Shutterstock
The cost of extra checked baggage depends on the class of travel and destination. Passengers are always restricted to the number of bags/pieces they can check in. In terms of carry-on bags, most passengers are allowed to carry up to two items. According to the airline,
“If you have more than two pieces of hand baggage, or they’re over the permitted size, you may have to put your larger bags into the hold as checked baggage.”
Putting the carry-on bags in the luggage hold also means extra cost per piece.
5 Baggage allowance on partner airlines
Varies based on the flight number
| Partner Airlines |
| American Airlines |
| Finnair |
| Iberia |
| Japan Airlines |
| Qatar Airways |
| China Southern |
British Airways’ baggage policy on partner airlines varies based on the ticket type, the longest flight in the itinerary, and the first airline the passenger checks in to.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying
According to the airline,
“If your flight number begins with anything other than ‘BA’ (e.g. AA123456X), you’re flying with one of our partners and your baggage allowances may be different. If a journey with connecting flights includes ‘BA’ and other airline codes, your baggage allowance is generally determined by the airline that operates the longest flight in your itinerary.”
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British Airways recommends passengers on partner airlines to check with the airline operating the first and/or the longest leg of the journey to avoid any confusion.
What are your thoughts on British Airways’ baggage policy for various travel classes? Have you traveled with the airline recently? Share your experience in the comments section.
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British Airways
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- BA/BAW
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- London Heathrow Airport, London Gatwick Airport
- Year Founded:
- 1974
- Alliance:
- oneworld
- Airline Group:
- IAG
- CEO:
- Sean Doyle
- Country:
- United Kingdom
- Loyalty Program:
- British Airways Executive Club
- Region:
- Europe