Hey there everyone!
I know it can seem overwhelming trying to figure out what you are and aren’t allowed to take on a plane. Since every airline has different luggage policies, restrictions, size and weight limits, etc. it would be impossible for me to give you a concrete answer here without knowing your individual situation–BUT! I can give a pretty good rundown of everything that will help.
IN GENERAL, HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
If you’re flying in what is called economy, coach, or Comfort + class, you are typically allowed the following for free:
- A personal item: This can be anything from a purse to a laptop case to a duffel bag (or a laptop case AND a purse inside of a duffel bag!)—as long as it fits underneath the seat in front of you.
- A carry-on: This needs to fit in the overhead bin on the plane, and keep in mind, you’ll need to lift it up there, so you don’t want it to be too heavy. The dimensions for most major airlines is 45 linear inches (or 22 length by 14 width by 9 inches height), but can vary on smaller planes, so be sure to check with your airline. NOTE: For budget airlines such as Spirit, Frontier, RyanAir, etc it is also usually a bit smaller than this.
CHECKED LUGGAGE
There may or may not be a charge for checked luggage. If you’re flying within the US or to Canada, the Caribbean, or Mexico, the charge for your first checked bag is usually around $30 USD each way (it increases a little periodically – for example, 2 years prior to writing this post, it was $25).
For the most part, they aren’t too strict on the size dimensions of your checked luggage unless it’s oddly shaped or a unique item, but it should be 50 lbs or less (again, the weight limit is typically less for budget airlines—more like 40 lbs).
You would pay the luggage fee each direction of your journey, not each flight. For example, if you’re flying to Aruba and you have a change of planes in Charlotte, NC, you would pay $30 on the way to Aruba and $30 on the way back—not $30 per flight leg.
IS IT EVER FREE?
Typically, flying to Europe or Asia you would get your first checked bag free. Also, if you’re flying first or business class, there isn’t a charge for you first one or two pieces of checked luggage.
For specific answers to your questions, be sure to check directly with your airline. Also, don’t forget to check out my favorite luggage, backpacks, and travel-friendly gear on my Packing List page.
Stay tuned for another post about what you can and cannot bring in your carry-on and how to pack it to make your life easier going through security!
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