Can I pay for extra baggage at the airport for international flights?

If the baggage allowance on your ticket is based on the number of pieces, you can purchase additional pieces online, at any of our offices, or at the airport.



Yes, you can pay for extra baggage at the airport for international flights, but it is the most expensive way to do so. Airlines like Air India, United, and Lufthansa charge significantly higher "at-counter" rates compared to pre-purchased online rates. For international routes, fees are often calculated by the "piece concept" (paying for an entire extra suitcase) or the "weight concept" (paying per kilogram). For example, adding a bag at the airport for a transatlantic flight can cost between $200 and $250 per piece, whereas pre-paying online often saves you 20% to 50%. Additionally, if your bag is both "extra" and "overweight" (over 23kg/50lb), you will be charged dual fees, which can easily exceed $400. To avoid these astronomical costs, use the airline's mobile app to "Manage Booking" at least 24 hours before your flight. Also, be aware that some smaller regional international flights have strict weight limits due to aircraft size, and they may refuse extra bags entirely if the plane is at capacity.

People Also Ask

Pay for an additional bag Before you check into your flight, you can buy an additional bag to put in the hold. This is a costly option that gets more expensive the closer to your date of departure and even costlier if added on at the airport.

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If your bag is over 50 lbs (23 kg), or if its length, width, and height added together are over 62 inches (157 cm), you may be charged an additional fee, on top of the normal bag fee.

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It's nearly always cheaper to book extra hold luggage in advance rather than paying excess baggage fees at the airport.

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What if my luggage is 0.5 kg overweight? It's over the limit so assume you will be charged. There must be something in your hand luggage you can put in your pocket to get it under. Wear a coat with big pockets.

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On all flights, except to and from the United States, each passenger can purchase a checked luggage weight allowance of 20 kg, 25 kg, 30 kg, or 40 kg. It doesn't matter how many bags the total weight is split into, but no bag can be over 32 kg (70 lbs) in weight and 319 cm (126 inches) in total dimensions.

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Most of the airlines to the USA allow a maximum of 23 kgs per bag per person. You can carry a maximum of 2 pieces of luggage with you. To the rest of the world, you can carry 20-30 kgs per person with most of the airlines. Some airlines like Etihad and Turkish Airlines allow 30 kgs of luggage per passenger.

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You can pre-book checked baggage allowance instantly online or by contacting our call center, visiting our sales offices or travel partners. The only baggage allowance available for purchase at the airport is 20 KG, additional weight will be subject to excess baggage rates.

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There are generally two things you can do if your suitcase is over the weight limit: you can either pay the fee for the extra weight or take some things out so that the weight is then within the allowed limit. You should always take out smaller and heavier stuff since you can put them in your carry-on instead.

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Sticking a foot under a luggage scale to get bags under the limit is becoming a viral travel hack. People on TikTok say they've tried this trick and gotten away with bringing a heavy bag on board. Others say using this travel hack could endanger airline staff and one's fellow passengers.

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Cough up and pay the excess Depending on how many kilos over your suitcase is, you might have a few extra kilos spare where you can pay a fee to let your suitcase go through. Sometimes just being ready to hand over your credit card without protest will make ground crew waive the fee.

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Each bag should weigh less than 23KG/50LBS. This is an international regulation set for the health and safety of airport workers who have to lift hundreds of bags daily.

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If your luggage is heavier than your luggage allowance when you check-in, you'll need to pay an excess luggage charge, as outlined below: Short-haul flights: £13 or €17 per kilogram. Mid-haul flights: £15 or €19 per kilogram.

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Major US domestic airlines carry-on policies
  • Personal item: 18 x 14 x 8 inches, free, no weight limit.
  • Carry-on: 22 x 14 x 9 inches, free, must fit in the sizer at the airport (including handles and wheels), no weight limit.


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