Emirates Airlines Baggage Fees & Tips To Cover The Expenses

BY 

Erin Miller

- UPDATED: March 20, 2019

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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.

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):

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	Use your miles to offset or "erase" any travel purchases that you make with your card. It's easy. Earn 20,000 mile sign up bonus (worth $200) once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. 0% Intro APR on purchases for 12 months Annual Fee: $0
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card	Like with the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Card, use your miles to offset or "erase" any travel purchases that you make with your card. Earn 50,000 mile sign up bonus (worth $500) once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. Annual Fee: $0 intro for the first year, $95 after that.

Exclusions & Waivers

Emirates Skywards members:

• 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.

To see more airline baggage fees and policies, click here.