France
Full service airline, Paris Charles de Gaulle hub Air France baggage allowance
Air France is the flag carrier of France and one of the world's largest airlines. Headquartered in Paris, it is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance and operates an extensive global network.
| Allowance | Economy Standard/Flex | Business/La Première |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bagPlus one personal item under the seat | 12 kg55 x 35 x 25 cm | Business and La Premiere: two pieces, 18 kg total |
| Checked bagMaximum weight per bag | 23 kgMax 158 cm linear | 32 kgMax 158 cm linear |
Cabin baggage
What you keep with you on board. The carry-on bag goes in the overhead bin, the personal item goes under the seat in front of you.
Carry-on bag
- Size
- 55 x 35 x 25 cm
- Weight
- 12 kg with the small bag, in Economy and PremiumBusiness and La Premiere: two pieces, 18 kg total
- Pieces
- One bag
One cabin bag allowed. Must fit in overhead compartment. A Basic fare carries no hand baggage at all, only the small bag under the seat. Hand baggage can be added when booking or up to four hours before departure, and Flying Blue Gold members and above carry it anyway. Leaving the United States, everyone is limited to one hand baggage and one small bag.
Personal item
- Size
- 40 x 30 x 15 cm
- Weight
- Included in carry-on allowance
- Examples
- One accessory such as handbag, laptop bag, or camera bag.
Liquids: containers of 100 ml or less, all inside one transparent resealable 1 litre bag. Baby food, medication and sealed duty free purchases are exempt.
Power banks and batteries
Lithium batteries travel in the cabin, never in the hold. Since 2025 most carriers also ban using or charging a power bank during the flight.
| Item | Cabin | Checked | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power bank up to 100 WhAbout 27,000 mAh at 3.7 V | Allowed | Not allowed | One per passenger, under the seat, not in the overhead bin. Do not use or charge it on board. |
| Power bank 100 to 160 Wh | Approval needed | Not allowed | Maximum two, with airline approval before the flight. |
| Power bank over 160 Wh | Not allowed | Not allowed | Cannot travel on Air France in any form. |
| Spare laptop and camera batteries | Allowed | Not allowed | Terminals taped or in original packaging, up to 100 Wh each. |
| Devices with built-in batteriesLaptops, phones, cameras, tablets | Allowed | Switched off | Better in the cabin. If checked, fully switched off and protected from accidental activation. |
| E-cigarettes and vapes | Allowed | Not allowed | Cabin only, never used on board. |
Checked baggage
Air France publishes a per-cabin allowance for bags in the hold. The per-bag weight cap and the total allowance vary by fare family.
| Cabin | First bag | Second bag | Max weight per bag | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Light | From €45 / $50 | From €70 / $80 | Not included | 158 cm |
| Economy Standard/Flex | Included | From €70 / $80 | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| Premium Economy | Included | Included | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| Business/La Première | Included | Included | 32 kg | 158 cm |
Economy Light: Light fare includes cabin baggage only
Economy Standard/Flex: 1 bag included, additional available for purchase
Premium Economy: 2 bags included at 23kg each
Business/La Première: Business: 2 bags at 32kg, La Première: 3 bags at 32kg Allowances change by route, fare family and booking date, so confirm on the official Air France baggage page before you pack.
Excess baggage fees
What Air France charges around the cabin, where its rules are strictest.
| Situation | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hand baggage on a Basic fare | Bought separately | At booking or up to four hours before departure |
| Flying Blue Gold and above | Hand baggage included | Even on a Basic fare |
| Full flight | Checked at the gate free | Air France may ask for your hand baggage to travel in the hold |
| Departing the United States | One piece plus small bag | A TSA rule, so Premium and Business lose their second piece |
The 55 x 35 x 25 cm limit counts pockets, wheels and handles, which is stricter than it sounds: a case sold as cabin size elsewhere often measures larger once its wheels are included.
Before you pack
Six habits that keep you out of the excess baggage queue.
- Weigh bags at homeA luggage scale costs less than a single overweight bag fee, and it settles the argument at home rather than at the counter.
- Prepay extra weight onlineBuying through airfrance.com is 10 to 20 percent cheaper than paying at the counter.
- Wear the heavy itemsBoots, coats and jackets on your body do not count toward any limit.
- Use compression bagsVacuum bags cut clothing volume by up to 75 percent, which helps with the 158 cm size rule.
- Check your credit card perksSome premium cards include extra baggage or refund fees on selected airlines.
- Check your loyalty statusFrequent flyer tiers often add extra weight or an extra bag on top of the fare allowance.
Sports equipment, instruments and infants
Special items travel with conditions. Every one of them needs advance reservation, and acceptance at the airport is not guaranteed without it.
| Item | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Sports equipment | Skis, golf clubs, surfboards with specific fees |
| Musical instruments | Can be carried in cabin or as checked baggage |
| Infant baggage | 10kg bag plus stroller/car seat free |
| Pets | Small pets in cabin (max 8kg with carrier) |
Book special items online before travel. Airport prices are higher than the same allowance bought online, and hold space is first come, first served.
Check-in and bag drop deadlines
Counted back from scheduled departure. Miss the bag drop cut-off and the bag does not fly, even if you do.
Air France sets its check-in and bag drop deadlines by airport rather than publishing one timeline. Check the times on your booking, and allow longer if you have bags to drop.
If your bag does not arrive
Delayed and damaged bags follow a strict clock. Most claims fail because the report was made after leaving the airport.
Report before you leave the hall
Go to the Air France baggage services desk in the arrivals baggage hall. You get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with a 10 character reference. Without it there is no claim.
Track with the PIR reference
Use the reference and your surname on the Air France baggage tracing page. Most delayed bags arrive within 48 hours and are delivered to your address free of charge.
Track a bagKeep receipts, mind the deadlines
Essentials bought while the bag is missing can be claimed. Damage must be reported within 7 days, delayed bag expenses within 21 days of delivery, under the Montreal Convention.
How Air France compares
Benchmark these limits against the rest of the industry before you decide which bag to bring.
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