Korean Air Baggage Fees & Tips To Cover the Expenses

Updated: July 9, 2023, 9:48pm CDT

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Korean Air Baggage Fees & Tips To Cover the Expenses

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Korean Air has a pretty standard baggage policy when it comes to allowances. The number of complimentary checked bags and pricing for additional bags will vary by destination and a number of other factors.

Korean Air Carry-on Allowance

1 personal item: FREE
Standard carry-on bags:

Economy: 1 FREE
First/Prestige: 2 FREE

Size Restrictions

Personal: undisclosed
Standard: 15.7 x 7.9 x 21.6 inches (40 x 20 x 55 cm)
Total weight of personal + standard bags should not exceed 22 pounds (10 kg) for economy, 40 pounds (18 kg) for first/Prestige

Lap Infant Carry-on Policy

International: A infant can bring 1 piece up to 22 pounds (10 kg) and 45 inches (115 cm), 1 stroller, and 1 car seat (or bassinet)
Domestic: An infant can bring 1 stroller and 1 car seat (or bassinet)

Stroller Check Policy:

“Large” strollers will not be permitted on the aircraft and will be checked at the gate free of charge

Korean Air Checked Baggage Allowance

All checked bags must adhere to a max weight of 50 pounds (23 kg) for economy (except Korea Domestic and to/from Brazil) and 70 pounds (32 kg) for first/Prestige fares; must adhere to max linear dimensions of 62 inches (158 cm).

Free baggage allowances regarding size, weight, and quantity of baggage vary with passenger itineraries, seating classes, and SKYPASS membership grades.

Korean Air advises passengers to use its baggage calculator for information on fees. We ran a few searches and found the following fees, but do check the calculator for your specific flight.

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Route	Economy (23 kg)	Prestige (32 kg)	First (32 kg)
To/From America (U.S. and Canada)	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE 3+ Bags: $200 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE 3+ Bags: $200 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE Third Bag: FREE 4+ Bags: $200 each
Asia – Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: $130 3+ Bags: $200 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE 3+ Bags: $200 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE Third Bag: FREE 4+ Bags: $200 each
Asia – Guam	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: $100 3+ Bags: $150 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE 3+ Bags: $150 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE Third Bag: FREE 4+ Bags: $150 each
Korea – Northeast Asia/Mongolia	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: ₩70,000/$70 3+ Bags: ₩100,000/$100 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE 3+ Bags: ₩100,000/$100 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE Third Bag: FREE 4+ Bags: ₩100,000/$100 each
Korea – Central/Southeast/Southwest Asia & Russia (Asian part)	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: ₩100,000/$100 3+ Bags: ₩150,000/$150 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE 3+ Bags: ₩150,000/$150 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE Third Bag: FREE 4+ Bags: ₩150,000/$150 each
Within Asia	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: $100 3+ Bags: $150 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE 3+ Bags: $150 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE Third Bag: FREE 4+ Bags: $150 each
To/From Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: $130 3+ Bags: $200 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE 3+ Bags: $200 each	First Bag: FREE Second Bag: FREE Third Bag: FREE 4+ Bags: $200 each
Domestic Korea	Free Baggage Allowance for Economy: 44 pounds (20 kg)	Free Baggage Allowance for Prestige: 66 pounds (30 kg)	undisclosed

Additional/Excess Baggage Fees

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Route	Overweight (23 to 32 kg)	Overweight (33 to 45 kg)	Oversized (158 to 203 cm)	Oversized (204 to 292 cm)
To/From America (U.S. and Canada)	$100	$200	$200	$400
Asia – Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania	$100	$200	$200	$400
Korea – Asia (Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao, Mongolia)	$50	$100	$100	$200
Within Asia (excluding Korea ↔ Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macao, Mongolia/ including Guam, Palau)	$75	$150	$150	$300
To/From Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania	$100	$200	$200	$400
Domestic Korea	₩2,000/$2 per kg	N/A	undisclosed	undisclosed

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

Exclusions and Waivers

Depending on your SKYPASS membership grade, you are allowed to check extra baggage. Restrictions may apply if you’re flying with a SkyTeam partner or codeshare partners.

Morning Calm Club: 1 additional piece (70 pounds/32 kg) for first and Prestige classes, 50 pounds (23 kg) for economy class (when flying economy on itineraries to or from the Americas, additional 1 free baggage cannot be applied)
Morning Calm Premium Club: 1 additional piece (70 pounds/32 kg) for first and Prestige classes, 50 pounds (23 kg) for economy class
Million Miler Club in Economy, Prestige, and First Class: 1 additional piece (70 pounds/32 kg)

* In case of weight system, additional 22 pounds (10 kg) of baggage allowance for Morning Calm Club, additional 44 pounds (20 kg) for Morning Calm Premium Club, and 66 pounds (30 kg) for Million Miler Club.

SkyTeam Member

If you are an Elite or Elite Plus member of SkyTeam, you receive an extra allowance (22 pounds/10 kg for Elite, 44 pounds/20 kg for Elite Plus) or 1 additional bag where the piece concept applies. This depends on routing.

Can I Prepay for Baggage?

Korean Air does allow passengers the ability to prepay for luggage online from 48 hours before departure.*

Passengers need to log in to their booking from the Check-in area of the Korean Air website to do this.

* Flights to/from the U.S., Canada, U.K., or Paris can check-in and prepay baggage from 24 hours prior to departure.

Credit Cards That Reimburse You for Checked Bag Fees

When flying Korean Air to/from the U.S. you receive 2 free checked bags, but if you need a third checked bag the price jumps to $200. Use one of the cards below to get reimbursed for some or all of your checked bag fees when flying Korean Air. Each card allows you to redeem Capital One miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit for previous travel purchases (within 90 days).

TOP PICK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome OfferEarn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Excellent (740-840)

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

Pros

10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
Add authorized users for no additional annual fee (rates & fees)
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

Cons

$395 annual fee (rates & fees)
Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome OfferEnjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros

5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

$95 annual fee (rates & fees)
Limited elite benefits

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome OfferEarn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
20,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$360

Annual Fee

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros

No annual fee (rates & fees)
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Ability to use transfer partners
Fraud coverage

Cons

Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
No luxury travel or elite benefits

$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

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

Featured Image Credit: Miguel Ángel Sanz via Unsplash

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bags can you carry on Korean Air?

Korean Air allows 1 personal item and 1 carry-on item for economy passengers and 2 standard carry-on for first class and Prestige passengers. Korean Air doesn’t specify maximum sizes but for Economy, the combined weight of both items must not exceed 22 pounds (10 kg) and 40 pounds (18 kg) for first class and Prestige.

How much is excess baggage in Korean Airlines?

For international flights, Korean Air charges $50 to $100 for overweight bags weighing 23 to 32 kilograms and $100 to $200 for bags weighing 33 to 45 kilograms. Oversized bags measuring 158 to 203 centimeters max linear dimensions will be charged $75 to $200 depending on the route.

How many bags can you check on Korean Air?

To/from the Americas, Korean Air allows economy passengers to bring 2 checked bags for free (23 kilograms). For all other international routes, 1 checked bag is free for economy (23 kilograms), 2 for Prestige (32 kilograms), and 3 for first class (32 kilograms).

Is Korean Air strict with baggage allowance?

Korean Air has a strict baggage policy with many forums detailing passenger accounts of being asked to pay excess fees or repack baggage. So consider your baggage allowance carefully and be prepared to pay if you do choose to exceed these.

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An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.

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