Copa Airlines Baggage Fees and Policy (And Tips to Cover the Expenses)

- UPDATED: May 4, 2022 |

Travel /
Airlines

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Copa Airlines has clear-cut fees for additional baggage and excess charges, which must be paid at the airport.

Checked luggage is included with all fares on Copa Airlines and 2 checked bags are permitted for all business class tickets and on international routes for economy full fares.

Table of contents

Copa Airlines Carry-On Allowance
Copa Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance

Table of Contents

Copa Airlines Carry-On Allowance
Copa Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance

Copa Airlines Carry-On Allowance

1 personal item: FREE
1 standard carry-on bag: FREE

Size and Weight Restrictions

Personal: No weight limit disclosed and 17 x 10 x 9 inches (58 x 35 x 22 cm)
Carry-On: 22 x 14 x 10 inches (56 x 36 x 26 cm) and 22 pounds (10 kg)

Lap Infant Carry-On Policy

1 additional item can be carried onboard such as a diaper bag, car seat, or collapsible stroller, provided they adhere to the maximum size restrictions.

Stroller Check Policy

Passengers may check 1 item free of charge such as a stroller or car seat.

Copa Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance

Individual bags must not exceed 62 inches (158 cm).

Domestic flights

Economy: 1 x 50 pound (23 kg) bag
Business class: 2 x 50 pound (23 kg) bags

International flights

Economy promo/classic: 1 x 50 pound (23 kg) bag
Economy full (Y, B, M): 2 x 50 pound (23 kg) bags
Business class: 2 x 70 pound (32 kg) bags

Additional Baggage Fees

Domestic Flights

All classes: $40

International Flights

Economy Promo/Classic:
- Second bag: $40
- Extra bag: $175
Economy Full (Y, B, M):
- Extra bag: $175
Business Class: $175

Excess Baggage Fees

Overweight fee:

Domestic flights: $30 (51-70 pounds (24-32 kg))
International flights:
- 51-70 pounds (24-32 kg): $100
- 71-100 pounds (33-45 kg): $200

Individual pieces over 70 pounds (32 kg) are not allowed on flights to/from the Bahamas and Cuba.

Oversized fee (applies to international flights only, no oversized luggage permitted for domestic flights):

62.6-107 inches (159-272 cm): $150

Copa Airlines has restrictions on oversized and overweight luggage for certain dates. View the embargo periods here.

For baggage fees related to special luggage (sporting equipment, musical instruments, etc.) please refer to Copa Airlines’ policy.

Can I Pre-Pay for Baggage?

Copa Airlines, unfortunately, does not allow passengers to pre-pay luggage online. Therefore, passengers must purchase excess baggage at the airport.

Exclusions and Waivers

PreferMember Silver: 2 x 50 pound (23 kg) bags
PreferMember Gold/Platinum/Presidential: 3 x 70 pound (32 kg) bags (international) and 2 x 70 pound (32 kg) bags (domestic)
Star Alliance Gold: 3 x 70 pound (32 kg) bags (international) and 2 x 70 pound (32 kg) bags (domestic)

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

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock and Copa Airlines

Frequently asked questions

How much baggage is allowed in Copa Airlines?

Copa Airlines has the following baggage allowance:

Domestic flights

Economy: 1 x 50 pound (23 kg) bag
Business class: 2 x 50 pound (23 kg) bags

International flights

Economy Promo/Classic: 1 x 50 pound (23 kg) bag
Economy Full (Y, B, M): 2 x 50 pound (23 kg) bags
Business Class: 2 x 70 pound (32 kg) bags

How early can I check my bags Copa Airlines?

Copa Airlines allows passengers to check luggage 4 hours in advance of an international flight and 6 hours of a domestic flight.

How much is an extra bag on Copa Airlines?

Copa Airlines charges $40 for a second bag (where this is not included in the fare) and $175 for subsequent bags.

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About Dr. Erin Miller

Erin currently maintains her status as Alex's adventure-seeking partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points through in-depth content creation & relationship management.

She caught the travel bug just after high school when her grandmother took her on a two-week, whirlwind trip around Europe. That was that - she's been gallivanting around the globe ever since (26 countries & counting)!

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42 comments

alan jones April 26, 2020
Does Copa still not allow you to prepay for luggage?
Reply
- Jarrod West April 30, 2020
  Hi Alan,
  Yes, it seems Copa is still not allowing passengers to prepay for their luggage.
  Reply
Mr. Matthew Andrew February 19, 2021
Could I bring a personal item, carry on and checked luggage on United and Copa airlines flights?
Reply
- Jarrod West February 20, 2021
  Hi Matthew,
  On Copa Airlines the answer is yes. With United, it will depend on the route you’re flying whether or not you can bring a checked bag. If you’re flying basic economy with United then you also will have to pay to bring a carry on bag.
  Reply
randy harman February 19, 2021
From Panama to the United States, when are the embargo periods for oversize or overweight luggage?
Reply
- Jarrod West February 20, 2021
  Hi Randy,
  Copa does not publish any information regarding embargo time periods on their website, so you would need to contact them directly to find the answer to that.
  Reply
maria fernandez March 19, 2021
Is the first bag 50lb free of charge or do I have to pay for it? I’m traveling to Colombia.
Reply
- Jarrod West March 22, 2021
  Hi Maria,
  The first 50-pound bag should be free of charge.
  Reply
Kelly June 22, 2021
Do active duty personnel pay to check their baggage or is it free like other airlines?
Reply
- Jarrod West June 22, 2021
  Hi Kelly,
  US Military should be able to get their bag fees waived if they are traveling on official orders. Otherwise, you likely will need to pay.
  Reply
Muhammad Mustafa August 13, 2021
So if I have 4 bags and each has 23kg,
The first one is free
The second one is $40
So the third bag is $175?
And the fourth one is $175?
Reply
- Jarrod West August 17, 2021
  Hi Muhammad,
  Yes, that should be correct. Safe travels!
  Reply
Luciano D'Errico August 26, 2021
Are the first 2 bags $40 each? Or is just the first one $40?
Reply
- Jarrod West August 27, 2021
  Hi Luciano,
  If you are flying internationally your first checked bag should be free, and the second one should be $40. Safe travels!
  Reply
Diana September 2, 2021
If I purchased an economy ticket (A) which only includes carry-on and not checked bags, how much does the checked bag cost? It is an international flight.
Thanks!
Reply
- Jarrod West September 3, 2021
  Hi Diana,
  If your ticket does not include a checked bag, then the cost to add one should be $40. Safe travels!
  Reply
Luis September 7, 2021
I am bringing 5 bags weighing 23 kg to Uruguay. Are these prices correct?
Bag 1: Free
Bag 2: $40
Bag 3-5: $175 each
Reply
- Jarrod West September 7, 2021
  Hi Luis,
  Yes, those prices are correct. Safe travles!
  Reply
Riya September 21, 2021
I’m traveling from Mexico to Kingston. Will you please tell me the exact baggage allowance policy?
Reply
- Jarrod West September 21, 2021
  Hi Riya,
  You should be able to bring 1 personal item, 1 carry-on bag, and 1 checked bag weighing up to 50 pounds. Safe travels!
  Reply
Jay October 25, 2021
I’m flying from MVD to Mexico via Panama in a few weeks time. What is the current Copa bag policy as of today for carry on and checked ones?
Reply
- Jarrod West October 29, 2021
  Hi Jay,
  You can bring 1 personal item, 1 carry-on bag, and 1 checked bag weighing up to 23 kg.
  Reply
Lia October 27, 2021
Hello!
If I was interested in carrying a 43 inch TV complying with the measurements for Copa as a second checked bag, would that be allowed? Would it also cost 40$?
Reply
- Jarrod West October 29, 2021
  Hi Lia,
  Copa does not specify whether TVs are able to be billed as the standard checked baggage price. So I recommend you contact their customer service team directly to clarify. Safe travels!
  Reply
carlos luna November 1, 2021
I bought a ticket in economy (T). Is the second baggage still 40 dollars and the third 175 dollars?
Reply
- Jarrod West November 2, 2021
  Hi Carlos,
  Yes, those should still be the charges. Safe travels!
  Reply
Matt November 28, 2021
I will not have a credit card on me at the airport. Can I pay the baggage fees in cash?
Reply
- Jarrod West November 29, 2021
  Hi Matt,
  No, the airline will not accept cash, you’d either need a credit card or debit card.
  Reply
Jeanne Pauline T. Abitong December 10, 2021
Hi, I’m travelling with my 16-month old daughter from Kingston to Manila via Panama and Amsterdam. It’s a long journey for us. Can you let me know the checked-in baggage allowance I should carry with us? Actually, she’s going to sit on my lap. Does she have a checked-in baggage allowance too?
Reply
- Jarrod West December 13, 2021
  Hi Jeanne,
  According to the Copa website, a lap child ticket cannot bring any checked luggage.
  Reply
Eliza February 22, 2022
I purchased an economy ticket (A) for an international flight (Colombia to Europe) which only includes a carry-on, and not a checked bag. How much does the checked bag (23kg) cost when adding it at the airport? Also, can I pay the fee with cash?
Reply
- Jarrod West February 22, 2022
  Hi Eliza,
  The charge should be $40, but you likely would need to use either a credit card or debit card to complete the payment.
  Reply
  - Eliza February 23, 2022
    Thank you for your response!
    Reply
T Fields February 24, 2022
If I upgrade to business class in one leg of my trip (Miami-Panama, then Panama-Rio), would I get a business class baggage allowance through the whole trip? Including the way back too?
Reply
- Jarrod West March 1, 2022
  Hi T,
  You would not, as you’ll have to re-check your luggage in Panama and thus will no longer have the additional allowance.
  Reply
Frank S March 11, 2022
I am flying from ORD to Quito in Business Class. Can I pay for up to five additional checked bags at $175 each?
Reply
- Jarrod West March 11, 2022
  Hi Frank,
  Yes, you should be able to do that without issue. Safe travels!
  Reply
Iyoki March 28, 2022
I am traveling classic economy to Jamaica from Panama what can I carry?
Is this correct?
1 personal bag
1 carry on
1 checked bag
And pay 40 for the second checked bag
Reply
- Jarrod West March 30, 2022
  Hi Lyoki,
  Yes, that is correct. Safe travels!
  Reply
Novia April 10, 2022
Copa lost both my mom and my luggage while traveling out of the country, and seems to have no record of my luggage. I’ve filed a claim through the airline the day we arrived, and have a claim number and all. The reps seem to not understand anything. It’s day 5 and I’m in a different country with no luggage and these people refuse to help. Literally the worst airline ever! Just hired an attorney. It’s ridiculous!
Reply
Alejandro June 1, 2022
Hi. I am traveling from Nevada to Cuba with a middle stop in Panama. I can’t get my luggage under 50 pounds. If my luggage is 58 pounds do I just pay $40 and that is all? My bag will weigh less when I travel back.
Reply
- Katie Seemann June 6, 2022
  Hi Alejandro,
  If your bag weighs 58 lbs you’ll have to pay an overweight bag fee of $100. It would actually be cheaper to have 2 bags that are each under 50 lbs. You can check a 2nd bag for only $40.
  Reply

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Copa Airlines Baggage Fees and Policy (And Tips to Cover the Expenses)

Copa Airlines Carry-On Allowance

Copa Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance

Domestic flights

International flights

Additional Baggage Fees

Domestic Flights

International Flights

Excess Baggage Fees

Can I Pre-Pay for Baggage?

Frequently asked questions

How much baggage is allowed in Copa Airlines?

How early can I check my bags Copa Airlines?

How much is an extra bag on Copa Airlines?

About Dr. Erin Miller

42 comments

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