Emirates Airlines Baggage Fees & Tips To Cover The Expenses
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Emirates baggage policy can be a bit confusing when it comes to their allowance for carry-on items, using the word “handbag” instead of “standard carry-on bag” or “overhead bag”. These “handbags” however, carry the same size restrictions we usually find allotted for a standard carry-on bag.
Additionally, we have presented the information on maximum weight & size allowances for your baggage (which is highly variable depending on the base fare) but Emirates requires the use of their online Baggage Calculator Tool to find out your exact costs.
Table of contents
Table of Contents
Emirates Carry-On Allowance
First & Business Class:
- customers are permitted two pieces of carry-on baggage – one briefcase plus either one handbag or one garment bag.
- The briefcase may not exceed 45 x 35 x 20 cm (18 x 14 x 8 in.)
- The handbag may not exceed 55 x 38 x 20 cm (22 x 15 x 8 in.)
- The garment bag can be no more than 20 cm (8 in.) thick when folded.
- The weight of each piece must not exceed 7 kg (15 lbs).
Economy:
- customers are permitted one piece of carry-on baggage, either a handbag or laptop bag
- either may not exceed 55 x 38 x 20 cm (22 x 15 x 8 in.)
- must weigh no more than 7 kg (15 lbs)
Lap Infant Carry-On Policy
- customers traveling with infants are permitted to bring one carry-cot or fully collapsible stroller into the cabin if there is room.
- If there is no space for these items in the cabin, they will have to be checked. However, if checked, they will not count against your baggage allowance
Stroller Check Policy
- Emirates suggests checking your stroller in at the ticket counter and provides families with a complimentary baby stroller (or twin stroller), to help you travel through the airport.
Emirates Checked Baggage Allowance
Emirates utilizes an online baggage calculator tool in order to calculate baggage allowance. You can find that tool here.
Max Weight per Bag
To/From the Americas or flights originating in Africa
- Economy: 2 bags – 23kg each (1 bag – 23kg for Economy Special fare for bookings on or after 4 February 2019*)
- Business & First: 2 bags – 32kg each
* 2 pieces are permitted in Economy Special if your flight originates in Africa.
Outside of the Americas
- Special: 20kg (15kg for bookings on or after 4 February 2019)
- Saver: 30kg (25kg for bookings on or after 4 February 2019)
- Flex: 30kg
- Flex Plus: 35kg
- Business (all fares): 40kg
- First (all fares): 50kg
You can check as many pieces of baggage as you need, as long as the total weight is less than the maximum baggage allowance of your class. (not to exceed 32kg per piece)
Max Size per Bag
To/From North America/Canada/South America and from Africa:
- The total max linear dimensions of each piece must not exceed 150 cm (59 inches).
- If you check two pieces of luggage (in any of our three classes), the total combined dimensions of both pieces cannot exceed 300 cm (118 inches).
Outside of the Americas:
- Each piece must not exceed max linear dimensions of 150 cm (59 inches) with the total max linear dimensions not exceeding 300 cm (118 inches) across all pieces. If exceeding this size, it can’t be checked as baggage and will need to be sent as cargo or freight. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Lap Infant Checked Bag Policy:
- Passengers traveling with infants (under two years of age) on any route not including North, Central, or South America may check up to 10 kg (22 lbs) of baggage for the infant. This baggage allowance will be shown on the infant’s ticket.
- Passengers traveling with infants (under two years of age) on any route that includes North, Central, or South America may check one piece of baggage for the infant, regardless of cabin class. This baggage allowance will be shown on the infant’s ticket. This piece must weigh 23 kg (50 lbs) or less and have total dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 115 cm (45 in).
Additional / Excess Baggage Fees
For all bookings before 4 February 2019
Please refer to their baggage calculator tool in order to calculate baggage allowance including fees for excess and overweight/ oversized baggage.
Overweight and oversized fees vary depending on class of travel, your fare type and Emirates Skywards and Qantas Frequent Flyer membership tier.
Additional baggage (for bookings on or after 4 February 2019 the following charges will apply)
Flights to/from the Americas and from Africa: $200 per piece (up to 10 pieces permitted)
If purchased online then a 50% fee reduction will apply for the first additional bag (excluding Africa) and 20% for any further additional baggage.
Flights outside of the Americas (per kg):
| From/to | Middle East/South Asia | Africa | Far East | Europe | Australia and New Zealand |
| Middle East/South Asia | $20 | $30 | $30 | $30 | $40 |
| Far East | $30 | $40 | $15 | $40 | $30 |
| Europe | $30 | $40 | $40 | $15 | $50 |
| Australia and New Zealand | $40 | $50 | $30 | £50 | $15 |
If purchased online then a 50% fee reduction will apply for the first 5kg and 20% for any further weight.
Overweight/oversized baggage for flights to/from the Americas or originating in Africa
Within the baggage allowance: Overweight: $75, oversized: $250, overweight and oversized: $325
Outside of baggage allowance: Overweight: $275, oversized: $325, overweight and oversized: $400
For baggage fees related to sporting equipment, see Emirate’s policy here.
For baggage fees related to musical instruments, see Emirate’s policy here.
For all other special baggage information, see Emirate’s policy here.
Can I Pre-pay for Baggage?
Emirates does allow passengers the ability to pre-pay for luggage online or via the mobile app.
Here are the ways you can pre-pay:
- Log in to the ‘Manage my Booking’ area of the Emirates website
- Download and log in to the Emirates app
Credit Cards That Reimburse You For Checked Bag Fees
If you are checking bags on an Emirates flight, one of the cards below can reimburse you for some, if not all, of those fees.
| Credit Card | Fee Reimbursement Details |
|---|---|
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card |
|
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card |
|
Exclusions & Waivers
- Silver members are entitled to a guaranteed excess baggage allowance of 12 kg above the ticketed limit for a particular cabin class.
- Gold members are guaranteed 16 kg above the ticketed limit and Platinum members are guaranteed 20 kg above the ticketed limit.
However, please note the following:
- The maximum weight per checked-in item of luggage is 32 kg on all cross-Atlantic flights
- Economy Class baggage to the US cannot weigh more than 23 kg or 50 lb per item.
- Maximum weight limits per bag may vary in accordance with differing international airport regulations.
- Excess baggage privileges do not apply to cabin baggage or on flights in which the baggage allowance is given as ‘number of luggage items’, instead of kilograms.
How much will it cost to for 4 pieces of sailing sports equipment 2.2m length and weigh about 7kg from Singapore to Europe and from Europe back to Singapore?
Hi Kenny, please be advised we are not Emirates Airline so cannot give you any information that is 100% verified. For any special luggage like sailing or other sporting equipment, we suggest you review Emirates’ policy here.
They do note “Should your overall baggage weight or amount exceed the normal free allowance, excess baggage rates will apply.”
If you still have questions after reviewing the special sporting equipment consideration page, we suggest calling their customer service line (this is the number if you are in Singapore: +65 6 622 1770).
I want to carry a 50 inch LG LED TV from the USA to INDIA through Emarites. Will they allow this as checked baggage?
Per the Emirates FAQ page here:
“Customers are allowed to carry TVs as checked baggage. However, as this is a fragile electronic device we require the TV to have appropriate packaging in order to withstand the normal rigours of air travel. When checking in your TV you will also need to sign a limited release.
You can check in TVs up to 140cm (55 inches) with a total weight not exceeding 32kg (70lb). The TV may be subject to overweight or oversized baggage fees depending on your baggage allowance.
Please note that acceptance of TVs as checked baggage will depend on the airport you are departing from or arriving to. We recommend contacting the airport directly before travel.”
To note: this very well may be subject to extra charges as emirates states above, depending on the baggage allowance of the fare type you purchased.
If you have any additional questions, we would suggest calling Emirates customer service; as we are not Emirates, we cannot 100% confirm what charges will apply or if the airport you’re flying from will allow the TV.
I’m going to travel to the USA from Sri Lanka in economy class on Emirates. My baggage allowance is 2 pieces with 23kg. But both my bags weigh 30kg + 30kg. How will Emirates charge for this? Then can I take another 23kg piece with me?
Thank You.
Hi Ranjithan,
You have two options here. Either you can pay $75 per bag, per one way route for extra weight up to a maximum weight of 32kg (per bag), or you can purchase another 23kg bag for $200 per one way route. You can save 50% on your first additional bag if booked online prior to your flight. These are the rates on the Emirates website for flights booked after 4 February 2019.
I am going to travel to Uganda from USA. I am taking another bag 30 kg, how much will this cost?
Hi Yosief,
What cabin are you traveling in? If you are traveling in Economy, did you purchase a standard Economy fare or an Economy Special fare?
Good day, how much would an extra case weighing 25kg be with on emirates in rand or pounds please.
Hi Andy, where are you flying from and to?
I’m planning to take a speaker which is 50 inches by 6 inches by 6 inches. Hope this is fine… I’m travelling in Biz class
Hi Hari – are you planning on carrying this on the plane? If I were you, I’d call Etihad and inquire directly with them if this will be allowed since it’s technically outside their measurement limits.
You can find your local Emirates office contact info here: https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/help/offices/
I’m planning to buy 5 more kgs, how much will the charge be? I’m flying from Dubai to Cebu.
Hi Geraldine,
According to Emirates’ excess baggage table, this route would cost USD30 per kg. So 5kg x USD30 would be USD150. Dubai is classed in the region Middle East and Cebu in the region Far East.
I have flight tomorrow and I want to know if I have more than the kg what i have, how much will be the kg?
Hi Asmae,
If you are asking about excess baggage then we would require some more information in order to help here. Excess baggage charges depend on where you are traveling from and to. As your flight is so soon, (and we are not Emirates,) it would be best for you to log in to your booking with Emirates or call their Customer Service team directly to add excess luggage. You can reach them on livechat or by calling one of their contact numbers, depending on where you are based: https://www.emirates.com/english/help/
Have a good flight!
I would like to know what is the baggage weight I can have to travel from Australia to Malta economy, and I booked my ticket last September 2018..and I’m flying June 2019.
Hi Jacqueline,
Flights between Malta and Australia work on the weight concept for checked baggage. The amount of weight depends on the type of fare you booked. For tickets booked before February 2019, the allowance would be 20kg for an economy special fare, 30kg for an economy saver or economy flex fare, and 35kg for a flex plus fare.
I am traveling from USA to Nigeria with Emirates and I have three pieces of luggage 23kg +23kg + 15kg. How much will I be charged?
Hi Emenike,
That particular route works on the piece concept with 2 x 23kg bags being permitted for Economy passengers (unless you have booked an Economy Special fare that permits 1 x 23kg bag).
Excess luggage is charged by each additional 23kg bag with a flat fee of USD200 per bag. If you are traveling on a Standard Economy ticket then you would pay for 1 extra bag (USD200) or if you have an Economy Special ticket, then you would pay 2 x USD200 = USD400.
Hope that helps!
Can I cancel my extra baggage which I booked through online before I fly? Can I get a full refund?
Hi Poja,
Unfortunately, excess baggage is non-refundable in most circumstances, according to Emirates’ terms and conditions.
Even if i decide to cancel it before 15 or 20 days of travel, is it not allowed to get back my refund?
Hi Poja,
Please be aware that we are UpgradedPoints.com, not Emirates. We try to assist our readers with information; however, we do not determine the airline’s refund policies. The link provided previously was to the terms and conditions page for Emirates’ excess baggage policy on refunds. If you need further clarification, it is best you contact their customer service department.
ok thank you for the info 🙂