British Airways Baggage Allowance 2026
I once paid £60 at Heathrow for a bag that was 2kg overweight. The lesson stuck. Now I know exactly what British Airways allows for each ticket type, and I weigh my bags before every flight. The rules have changed multiple times over the years, especially with the introduction of Basic Economy fares that include no checked bag at all. Here is the current breakdown so you do not make the same expensive mistake I did.
British Airways baggage allowance varies by ticket type and cabin class. All tickets include a cabin bag (56 x 45 x 25 cm) and a personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm) with a combined weight limit of 23kg. Checked bags range from none on Economy Basic to 3 bags at 32kg each in First Class.
British Airways Baggage Allowance by Class
| Class | Checked Bags | Weight per Bag |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Basic | None | – |
| Economy (with checked bag) | 1 bag | 23kg |
| Premium Economy | 2 bags | 23kg each |
| Business | 2 bags | 32kg each |
| First | 3 bags | 32kg each |
Each bag must not exceed 90 x 75 x 43 cm including handles and wheels. Bags over 32kg will not be accepted — you will need to repack at the airport before BA will take them. Bags larger than standard but within 190 x 75 x 65 cm are accepted as oversized and may incur additional fees.
British Airways Business Class Baggage Allowance (Club World)
BA business class is called Club World on long-haul routes and Club Europe on short-haul. Both carry the same checked baggage allowance.
Club World / Club Europe checked bag allowance:
- 2 checked bags, each up to 32kg
- Maximum bag size: 90 x 75 x 43 cm per bag
- Total checked weight you can carry: 64kg across both bags
Cabin baggage in Club World is the same as other cabins: one main bag (56 x 45 x 25 cm) plus one personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm), combined weight 23kg.
The 32kg per bag limit in business class is the key difference from Economy. Economy passengers are capped at 23kg per bag — overpacking a suitcase by 9kg is the difference between a fine on an Economy ticket and no issue at all on a Club World ticket.
Executive Club tiers and Club World: Silver and Gold tier benefits only add extra bags on Economy fares, not on Club World. If you are flying Club World as a Gold member, you do not receive an additional bag on top of the standard 2 × 32kg — the Gold bonus applies in the Economy cabin only.
| Cabin | Checked Bags | Weight per Bag | Total Checked Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club World (long-haul business) | 2 | 32kg | 64kg |
| Club Europe (short-haul business) | 2 | 32kg | 64kg |
| Premium Economy | 2 | 23kg | 46kg |
| Economy | 1 | 23kg | 23kg |
| Economy Basic | 0 | – | – |
Cabin Baggage
All tickets include two pieces of hand luggage. Your main cabin bag can be up to 56 x 45 x 25 cm and goes in the overhead locker. Your personal item (handbag, laptop bag, or similar) can be up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm and must fit under the seat in front. Both bags together must not exceed 23kg combined, not 23kg each — which is how people end up surprised at the check-in desk.
The personal item is the more reliable of the two. It is guaranteed to fly in the cabin even when overhead lockers fill up on a packed flight. Pack medicines, electronics, travel documents, and anything you cannot afford to lose in here. Duty-free bags bought after security are allowed on top of your normal allowance.
BA Cityflyer and BA Euroflyer use the same hand baggage policy as mainline British Airways.
Worth knowing for 2026: BA has tightened cabin bag checking at busy Heathrow and Gatwick gates. Bag sizers are in use, personal items are being counted, and oversized cabin bags are routinely tagged at the gate and moved to the hold, with a checked bag fee applied if your allowance is already used. If your bag fits the sizer, no problem.
Recommended: Cabin Max Metz 30L Backpack
The Cabin Max Metz 30L at 45 x 36 x 20 cm fits comfortably within British Airways’ generous 56 x 45 x 25 cm cabin bag allowance. At just 0.5kg, it maximises your usable weight from the 23kg combined limit. Opens flat like a suitcase for easy packing, with a padded laptop compartment and organiser pockets. Made from showerproof 600D recycled polyester. A practical choice for travellers who prefer a backpack over a rigid cabin case.
Executive Club Benefits
If you have Executive Club status, the extra baggage perks only kick in from Silver upwards. Bronze gives you other things, but it will not change your bag count.
Silver is where it gets genuinely useful. In Economy, Silver members carry 2 bags instead of 1, with the weight limit bumped from 23kg to 32kg each. Those benefits cover everyone on your booking.
Gold adds 1 bag on top of whatever your fare already includes. In Economy that is straightforward (1 bag becomes 2). In First Class, where the fare already covers 3 bags, Gold adds a fourth — so First Class Gold passengers end up with 4 bags, not 2. Everyone on the booking benefits either way.
Neither Silver nor Gold applies to Economy Basic fares. OneWorld Emerald and Sapphire members carry the same allowances as Gold and Silver respectively when flying BA.
Travelling with Infants and Children
Infants under 2 on an adult’s lap get a 23kg checked bag included, except on Economy Basic fares. They also get 2 free items of baby equipment (any combination of pushchair, car seat, booster seat, or travel cot), checked at the gate and collected at baggage reclaim. These do not count toward the adult allowance.
Children aged 2 and over receive the same baggage allowance as adults for their ticket class.
Adding Extra Baggage
Add extra bags when booking online. Airport prices are significantly higher.
| Route Type | Online Price | Airport Price |
|---|---|---|
| Short-haul (Europe) | £25–45 | £75–95 |
| Long-haul | £65–140 | £150–165 |
These are approximate ranges. BA prices are route-based and change, so check ba.com Manage My Booking for your specific flight. You can add bags up until online check-in closes, and earlier generally means cheaper.
Special Routes with Two Free Checked Bags in Economy
On certain long-haul routes, Economy passengers get 2 free checked bags at 23kg each rather than the standard 1. The routes where this applies include: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Saudi Arabia.
India routes are more complex. The 2-bag allowance depends on the specific routing and fare type, so check your booking confirmation, or use BA’s baggage calculator at ba.com before you pack.
Sports Equipment
Bicycles must be packed in a protective box or bag, maximum 190 x 95 x 65 cm and 23kg. The width allowance for bikes (95 cm) is wider than the standard oversized bag limit of 75 cm — that exception is specific to bicycles. You need to notify BA at least 72 hours before departure.
Golf clubs are accepted as one set per adult, maximum 23kg, packed in a hard travel case or protective bag. The linear dimension (length plus width plus height) must not exceed 158 cm.
Skis and snowboards can go in one bag with boots and clothing, within 190 x 75 x 65 cm. Combined weight still applies: 23kg for Economy, 32kg for Business and First.
All sports equipment counts toward your normal baggage allowance unless it exceeds these dimensions, in which case sports equipment fees apply. For surfboards and other oversized items, contact BA directly as these need to be booked in advance.
Musical Instruments
Instruments up to 80 x 45 x 25 cm can be carried as your main cabin bag. Larger instruments (guitars, cellos, and similar) up to 140 x 50 x 30 cm require purchase of an extra seat. In the hold, instruments count as part of your normal allowance if they are within the standard checked bag size and weight limits. Hard cases are required.
What to Do When Your Bag Does Not Arrive
If your bag is not at the carousel when everyone else has gone, do not leave the arrivals hall. Go straight to the BA baggage services desk and file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). You need that reference number before any claim can proceed. Get it before you leave the airport.
Deadlines matter here. Damaged bag claims must be filed within 7 days of arrival. Lost or delayed bag claims within 21 days from when the bag was supposed to arrive. Miss those windows and BA is under no obligation to pay.
During a delay, keep receipts for essential purchases — clothes, toiletries, medication. BA will reimburse reasonable expenses. The Montreal Convention sets the maximum compensation for lost or damaged baggage at approximately £1,600 per passenger (limits revised upward effective 28 December 2024, from the previous ~£1,357 figure). That is the legal ceiling, not a guaranteed payout — it depends on what you can evidence.
All claims go through baggageclaim.britishairways.com. Travel insurance that covers baggage is worth having if your items are worth more than the Montreal Convention cap.
Booking Through Third Parties and Codeshare Flights
If you booked through an OTA such as Expedia or Skyscanner, your baggage allowance is the same as a direct BA booking in your fare class. To add bags, try ba.com Manage My Booking first with your booking reference. If it does not appear there, go through your OTA — they hold the reservation.
On codeshare flights, a BA-issued ticket does not always mean a BA aircraft. If your flight is operated by a partner airline (American Airlines, Iberia, Finnair, and others), that airline’s cabin bag dimensions and checked bag rules apply, not BA’s. Check the operated-by carrier on your booking confirmation before you pack.
AirPortr Doorstep Check-In
BA partners with AirPortr to collect your checked luggage from home or a hotel and deliver it to the check-in desk at Heathrow or Gatwick. If you are travelling with young children or bringing heavy sports kit, it is worth considering. Collection starts from around £30 for the first bag and £10 per additional bag from central London postcodes. Book at airportr.com.
Tips
Bring a digital luggage scale and weigh before you leave. They cost almost nothing and take up no space. If a bag comes in slightly over, shifting a couple of items into your cabin bag will cost less than the £65 airport fee every time. We covered more packing tips in our BA baggage discussion on Facebook. Add bags when you book, not at the airport. And if you are on Economy Basic, do not forget the fare includes no checked bag — finding that out at check-in is the expensive way to learn.
Excess Baggage Fees
| Issue | Fee |
|---|---|
| Overweight bag (per bag, per journey) | £65 / €75 / $100 |
| Extra bag at airport | £75–165 depending on route |
| Oversized bag | Additional fees apply |
No bag over 32kg will be accepted regardless of fee. Bags exceeding 32kg must be repacked before check-in.
British Airways Baggage Allowance: Airline Comparison
| Airline | Cabin Bag | Size | Weight | Free Checked Bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | Yes + personal item | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 23kg combined | Depends on fare |
| Jet2 | Yes + personal item | 56 x 45 x 25 cm | 10kg | With packages |
| easyJet | Cabin bag | 45 x 36 x 20 cm | 15kg | No |
| Ryanair | Personal bag only | 40 x 30 x 20 cm | No limit | No |
| TUI | Yes + personal item | 55 x 40 x 20 cm | 10kg | With packages |
British Airways offers the most generous cabin bag weight allowance (23kg combined) of any major UK airline — see the full UK airline baggage comparison for a detailed breakdown. The trade-off is that Economy Basic fares include no checked bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the British Airways business class baggage allowance?
Club World (long-haul) and Club Europe (short-haul) both include 2 checked bags at 32kg each — 64kg total checked weight. Cabin bag allowance is the same as all cabins: 56 x 45 x 25 cm plus a personal item, combined weight 23kg. Executive Club Silver and Gold tier bonuses do not add extra bags in Club World — those benefits only apply on Economy fares.
Does British Airways Economy Basic include a checked bag?
No. Economy Basic tickets include a cabin bag and a personal item only. No checked bag is included. Add one when booking online — it is significantly cheaper than paying at the airport or check-in.
What size cabin bag can I take on British Airways?
Your main cabin bag can be up to 56 x 45 x 25 cm. You also get one personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm) such as a handbag or laptop bag. Both bags together must not exceed 23kg combined weight.
How much does British Airways charge for overweight bags?
The overweight bag fee is £65 per bag, per journey (€75 or $100). This applies when your bag exceeds the weight limit for your ticket class. No bag over 32kg will be accepted at all.
Do British Airways Executive Club members get extra baggage allowance?
Silver and Gold members do — Bronze does not. Silver gets 2 checked bags at 32kg each in Economy. Gold gets 1 extra bag on top of the fare allowance at 32kg — which means 4 bags total for a First Class Gold member, not 2. Benefits apply to everyone on the booking but not on Economy Basic fares.
Can I combine weight across multiple bags on British Airways?
No. Each bag is weighed individually against the limit for your cabin class. A 20kg bag and a 26kg bag are not equivalent to two 23kg bags — the 26kg bag will be charged as overweight.
What is the maximum checked bag size on British Airways?
Checked bags must not exceed 90 x 75 x 43 cm including handles and wheels. Bags up to 190 x 75 x 65 cm are accepted as oversized with additional fees.
Do infants get baggage allowance on British Airways?
Yes. Infants under 2 on an adult’s lap get a 23kg checked bag (except Economy Basic) plus 2 free items of baby equipment — pushchair, car seat, booster seat, or travel cot. These are in addition to the adult allowance.
Can I take a musical instrument on British Airways?
Instruments up to 80 x 45 x 25 cm count as your cabin bag. Larger instruments such as guitars and cellos (up to 140 x 50 x 30 cm) require purchase of an extra seat.
What is my British Airways baggage allowance if I booked with Avios?
The same as a paid ticket in the same fare class. Economy Reward (Avios) in a standard Economy fare gives 1 × 23kg checked bag. If you booked the Basic fare tier with Avios, no checked bag is included — the same rule applies as a paid Basic ticket.
I booked through Expedia. What is my British Airways baggage allowance?
Your allowance is identical to a direct BA booking in your fare class. To add extra bags, try ba.com Manage My Booking first. If your booking reference does not appear there, add bags through your OTA.
Whose baggage rules apply on a BA codeshare flight?
The operating airline’s rules apply. If your BA-issued ticket is operated by American Airlines, Iberia, or another partner, their cabin bag dimensions and checked bag fees apply — not BA’s. Check the operated-by airline on your booking confirmation before you pack.
Does duty-free count toward my British Airways cabin bag allowance?
No. Duty-free purchases bought after security can be carried in addition to your standard cabin bag and personal item allowance.
My British Airways bag has not arrived — what do I do?
Go to the BA baggage services desk before leaving arrivals and file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report). You need that reference number to make any claim. Damaged bag claims must be filed within 7 days. Lost or delayed bag claims within 21 days. All claims are processed at baggageclaim.britishairways.com.
