Swiss International Air Lines Baggage Fees & Tips to Cover the Expenses

- UPDATED: April 26, 2021 |

Travel /
Airlines

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With Swiss International Air Lines it’s all about planning ahead with your baggage, as fees are significantly cheaper to book online at Swiss.com rather than amending your booking at check-in.

Table of contents

Swiss International Air Lines Carry-On Allowance
Swiss International Air Lines Checked Baggage Allowance
Additional/Excess Baggage Fees
Can I Pre-pay for Baggage?
Recommended Cards That Reimburse Your Baggage Fees
Exclusions & Waivers

Table of Contents

Swiss International Air Lines Carry-On Allowance
Swiss International Air Lines Checked Baggage Allowance
Additional/Excess Baggage Fees
Can I Pre-pay for Baggage?
Recommended Cards That Reimburse Your Baggage Fees
Exclusions & Waivers

Swiss International Air Lines Carry-On Allowance

1 personal item: FREE
1 standard carry-on bag: Free for economy passengers
2 standard carry-on bags: Free for business and first passengers

Size and Weight Restrictions

Personal: 15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9 inches (40 x 30 x 10 cm)
Standard: 21.6 x 15.7 x 9 inches (55 x 40 x 23 cm) and 17.6 pounds (8 kg)

Lap Infant Carry-On Policy

Lap infants will be charged approximately 10% of an adult fare. You can carry-on a certified car seat and baby food but there is no specific carry-on allowance for infants. Strollers are not permitted on board. Baby bassinets and special baby food (suitable for up to 24 months) is offered on all long-haul flights and should be requested upon booking.

Stroller Gate Check Policy

With the 10% ticket fee, an infant has a checked allowance of 1 piece of luggage weighing up to 50 pounds (23 kg) plus a folding stroller. Smaller collapsible strollers are sometimes permitted to be taken up to the gate, so ask at check-in if this is possible. Otherwise, all strollers must be checked baggage.

Swiss International Air Lines Checked Baggage Allowance

All baggage must not exceed 62 linear inches (158 cm) width + height + depth.

European Routes
Light Fare Class: No baggage included
Classic & Flex Fare: 1 piece 50 pounds (23 kg)
Business Fare: 2 pieces at 70 pounds (32 kg) each (total weight maximum 141 pounds (64 kg)

Intercontinental Routes
Light Fare Class: No baggage included
SWISS Economy Fare: 1 piece 50 pounds (23 kg)
SWISS Business Fare: 2 pieces at 70 pounds (32 kg) each (total weight maximum 141 pounds/64 kg)
SWISS First Fare: 3 pieces at 70 pounds (32 kg) each (total weight maximum 211 pounds/96 kg)

Increased baggage allowances for specific routes

Economy class passengers benefit from higher checked baggage limits on the following routes where each piece must not exceed a total size (width + height + depth) of 62 inches (158 cm):

Route	Free baggage allowance
From U.S./Canada to South Africa	2 x 23 kg
From U.S./Canada to East, West, Central Africa (without Mauritius)*	2 x 23 kg
Flights commencing in Switzerland to Vietnam/Sri Lanka	2 x 23 kg
Travel commencing in Brazil	2 x 32 kg
Travel commencing in Switzerland to Brazil	2 x 23 kg
Flights commencing in India to the U.S.	2 x 23 kg
Flights commencing in the U.S. to India	2 x 23 kg
Between India and Canada	2 x 23 kg
Between U.S./Canada/Mexico and Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen	2 x 23 kg
Flights commencing in Canada to Serbia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Iraq, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka	2 x 23 kg
From or to Japan	2 x 23 kg

On flights between the U.S. and India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, this offer applies only if you depart from or land at these U.S. airports: Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, New York, Washington, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Miami and Orlando. You must always travel via Europe.

Additional/Excess Baggage Fees

Baggage rates apply for 1 route only, and return flight fees are payable at the departure airport in local currency.

Zones	Overweight or oversized (>24 kg/32 kg or >158 cm)	Overweight and oversized (>24 kg/32 kg and >158 cm)
Within Switzerland	$46	$93
Europe	$57	$114
The Levant and North Africa	$86	$173
Short-haul intercontinental	$115	$230
Medium-haul intercontinental	$138	$276
Long-haul intercontinental	$173	$346

Individual baggage pieces must not exceed 70 pounds (32 kg). Heavier baggage will need to be checked as cargo.

When traveling on an Economy Light Fare, you can upgrade to include a piece of checked baggage — the price depends on when/where you update your booking:

Sales location	Within Switzerland	Europe	Intercontinental (Canada/USA)	Intercontinental (Canada/USA) for travel from 21 February	Intercontinental
On swiss.com	$16	$27	$60	$70	$70
At check-in	$35	$44	$60	$70	$105

Charges for an additional piece of baggage

Zones	Max. 23 kg and max. 158 cm on swiss.com	Max. 23 kg and max. 158 cm at the check-in counter	Overweight or oversized (>24 kg or >158 cm) on swiss.com	Overweight and oversized (>24 kg and >158 cm) at the check-in counter
Within Switzerland	$64	$80	$126	$172
Europe	$73	$92	$149	$206
The Levant and North Africa	$92	$115	$201	$287
Short-haul intercontinental	$138	$172	$287	$402
Medium-haul intercontinental	$184	$230	$368	$506
Long-haul intercontinental	$230	$287	$460	$633

Tariffs for flights from/to Japan

Additional baggage item	swiss.com	Check-in	Gate
Standard (max. 23 kg, circumference less than 158 cm)	$150	$200	$210
Oversized (circumference more than 158 cm)	–	$500	–
Very heavy (24 – 32 kg)	–	$350	–
Very heavy and oversized (24 – 32 kg, circumference more than 158 cm)	–	$650	–

Can I Pre-pay for Baggage?

Swiss International Airlines does allow passengers the ability to pre-pay for luggage online or via their call center.

Here are the ways you can pre-pay:

Log in to your booking on the ‘Manage my bookings’ area of the Swiss website and add baggage up to an hour before departure.
Contact their call center by calling +1 877 359 79 47

Recommended Cards That Reimburse Your Baggage Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - This no annual fee card comes with a 20,000 bonus mile offer after spending $500 in the first 3 months. When you use your card for travel purchases (e.g. baggage fees), use your miles to pay off all, or part of, your statement balance! We've highlighted 30+ benefits of the card.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card - The "big brother" card to the VentureOne with a 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. This card is full of benefits and perks and you can redeem your miles on travel (flights, hotels, even paying for baggage fees etc) or transfer your miles to over 15+ travel loyalty programs.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - The newest card in the Capital One lineup with a welcome offer of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Not only does the card come with up to $300 in statement credits when booking through Capital One Travel, you'll also get 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, plus unlimited 2x miles on all other purchases.

Exclusions & Waivers

Increased baggage allowance for frequent flyers

On all SWISS-operated flights for Classic, Flex, and Business Fares (not applicable to Light Fares), passengers with the following status have a higher baggage limit:

Status	Status
HON Circle Senator STAR Gold	+ 1 baggage item of 50 pounds (23 kg) in economy class + 1 baggage item of 70 pounds (32 kg) in business and first class + 1 set of golf equipment
Frequent Traveller	+ 1 baggage item of 50 pounds (23 kg) in economy class
SWISS Golf Traveller	1 set of golf equipment

Status	To/from/via U.S, Canada	Other Destinations
HON Circle Senator STAR Gold	+1 bag 50 pounds (23 kg) in economy class +1 bag 70 pounds (32 kg) in business and first class	+ 1 piece of luggage 50 pounds (23 kg) in economy class + 1 bag with 70 pounds (32 kg) in business and first class + 1 golf equipment
Frequent Traveller	+1 bag 50 pounds (23 kg) in economy class	+ 1 piece of luggage 50 pounds (23 kg) in economy class
SWISS Golf Traveller	+1 golf equipment	+ 1 golf equipment

The baggage allowances and fees of the first carrier on interline flights or the first marketing carrier on codeshare flights will apply to all subsequent flights in the itinerary.

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

Frequently asked questions

Does Swiss Airlines charge for baggage?

Swiss Airlines charges for baggage if you’ve booked an Economy Light Fare which doesn’t include any checked baggage allowance. This can be purchased online and will cost $16 if you’re flying within Switzerland and $27 for flights within Europe. It can be purchased at check-in for $35 (within Switzerland) or $44 (within Europe) or $60 at the gate.

What is Swiss Air's baggage allowance?

All fare types apart from Economy Light receive free baggage allowance within their ticket. For Economy, Classic or Flex fares, 1 piece (50 pounds/23 kg) is included. Business receives 2 pieces (70 pounds/32 kg each) and First Class 3 pieces (70 pounds/32 kg each). Each piece of baggage must not exceed max linear dimensions of 62 inches (158 cm).

How many carry on bags allowed on Swiss Air?

All passengers on Swiss Air can bring 1 personal item into the cabin measuring up to 15.7 x 11.8 x 3.9 inches (40 x 30 x 10 cm). Economy passengers can bring an additional piece of standard carry-on up to 21.6 x 15.7 x 9 inches (55 x 40 x 23 cm) and 17.6 pounds (8 kg) and Business and First Class can bring 2 standard carry-on bags.

What is the weight limit for baggage on Swiss Air?

Swiss Air has a single checked bag weight limit of 50 pounds (23 kg) for Economy Light, Classic and Flex fares and 70 pounds (32 kg) for Business and First Class. Standard carry-on can weigh up to 17.4 pounds (8 kg) with the weight of a personal item not disclosed.

10 comments

Jim Nicolas January 10, 2020

I am flying from Chicago to Johannesburg on economy class, and I want to know what the allowance of luggage and also on carry on bags is. Also does Swiss Air allow passengers to bring a battery park in the carry on bag a battery pack to charge my Ipod, cellphone, and ear pieces?
Thank you for your assistance
Jim Nicolas

Stephen Au January 10, 2020
Jim,
We are not Swiss Air Lines, so please contact them directly to confirm.
You’ll get 1 checked bag up to 23kg, 1 carry-on item restricted to the dimensions of 55 x 40 x 23 cm (8 kg in weight as well).
As a rule of thumb, you can bring power banks in carry on bags, but not checked bags.
Remember to confirm all this information with Swiss Air over the phone.
Reply

Chey February 25, 2020

I’m flying from LAX to Dubai. How much can I pack? One part says 1 checked bag at 23kg the other says 2 checked bag at 23kg.
Please guide me in the correct direction.

Catherine Luther February 26, 2020
Hi Chey,
Flights from the U.S. to the United Arab Emirates would have an allowance of 2 x 23 kg. If your ticket says otherwise, then you should contact the airline to confirm.
Reply