British Airways Baggage Fees (And How To Avoid Paying Them)
British Airways utilizes a pretty classic baggage allowance system, dependent on cabin class. Fees for additional luggage per piece depend on when you purchase your baggage allowance, your cabin class and lastly (at times), whether you’re flying out of Gatwick / Stanstead, or any other route.
British Airways Carry-On Allowance:
1 handbag/laptop bag: FREE
1 standard carry-on bag: FREE
Size Restrictions
- Personal: 40 x 30 x 15cm (16 x 12 x 6in)
- Standard: 56 x 45 x 25cm (22 x 18 x 10in), up to 51lb
Lap Infant Carry-On Policy
- Allowed 1 cabin bag for items required during the flight
- Up to 56 x 45 x 25cm (22 x 18 x 10in), max. 23kg (51lb)
British Airways Checked Baggage Allowance:
All checked bags must adhere to a max weight of 23kg (50lb) for Economy & Premium Economy; 32kg (70lb) for Business and First Class fares; must adhere to max dimensions of 90 x 75 x 43cm (35.5 x 29.5 x 16in).
Hand Baggage Only / Basic: 0 bags included
Economy: 1 bag included (23kg)*
Premium Economy: 2 bags included (23kg)
Business: 2 bags included (32kg)
First: 3 bags included (32kg)
*2 bags included (23kg) for economy flights to/from Ghana, Kenya, Japan (booked from 1 July 2016), Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone Connecting between India and USA/Bermuda/Canada, or connecting from Saudi Arabia to USA/Bermuda/Canada
Additional / Excess Baggage Fees:
Additional Baggage Per Piece
Economy
UK Domestic and Euro Traveller (incl. Plus, Plus Flex and Business UK fares)
- To / From London Gatwick or Stanstead: £36/$55/€46 (online/ in advance); £40/$60/€50 (at the airport)
- All other Routes: £60/$90/€70 (online/ in advance); £65/$100/€75 (at the airport)
World Traveller and Eco (OpenSkies)
- When your inclusive checked baggage allowance is one bag – First extra bag: £60/$90/€70 & Each additional bag: £120/$180/€140 (online/ in advance); First extra bag: £65/$100/€75 & each additional bag: £140/$200/€150 (at the airport)
- When your inclusive checked baggage allowance is two bags – Each bag: £120/$180/€140 (online / in advance); Each bag: £140/$200/€150 (at the airport)
Premium Economy
World Traveller Plus and Prem Plus (OpenSkies)
- Each bag: £120/$180/€140 (online/ in advance); Each bag:£140/$200/€150 (at the airport)
Business & First Class
Club Europe
- To / From London Gatwick or Stanstead: £36/$55/€46 (online/ in advance); £40/$60/€50 (at the airport)
- All other Routes: £60/$90/€70 (online/ in advance); £65/$100/€75 (at the airport)
Club World, Biz Bed (OpenSkies) and First Class
- Each bag: £120/$180/€140 (online/ in advance); Each bag:£140/$200/€150 (at the airport)
Overweight Fee: 51-70lb £65/$100/€70
Oversized Fee: 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.)
Credit Cards That Reimburse You For Checked Bag Fees
Use one of the cards below to knock out some checked bag fees when flying British Airways.
| Credit Card | Fee Reimbursement Details |
|---|---|
| Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard® Annual Fee: $0 for first year, then $89 | $100+ in baggage fees? Pay for them with Arrival+ miles. |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve℠ Card Annual Fee: $450 | $300 travel credit per calendar year |
| Citi Prestige Card Annual Fee: $450 | $250 air travel credit per calendar year |
| Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card Annual Fee: $450 | $300 airline fee credit per calendar year |
Exclusions & Waivers:
The extra allowances apply:
- in any travel class for everyone on your booking as long as you as the qualifying frequent flyer is traveling on the booking
- only on British Airways flights, except for hand baggage only (Basic) fares and group rate bookings
Executive Club Gold/oneworld Emerald: One additional free checked bag; weight allowance of 32kg (70lb) per checked bag)
Executive Club Silver/oneworld Sapphire: One additional free checked bag but max. two bags per person (excl. hand baggage only (Basic) fares); weight allowance of 32kg (70lb) per checked bag
