United Kingdom
Full service airline, London Heathrow hub British Airways baggage allowance
British Airways counts pieces, and the basic fare includes no checked bag at all. Higher fares carry one or two bags of 23 kg, Business allows 32 kg, and the cabin allowance is an unusually generous 23 kg.
| Allowance | Economy | Business and First |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bagPlus one personal item under the seat | 23 kg56 x 45 x 25 cm | 23 kg56 x 45 x 25 cm |
| Checked bagMaximum weight per bag | 23 kgUp to 90 x 75 x 43 cm | 32 kgUp to 90 x 75 x 43 cm |
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
- 56 x 45 x 25 cm
- Weight
- 23 kg
- Pieces
- One bag
Must fit in overhead bin. One cabin bag allowed plus one personal item.
Personal item
- Size
- 40 x 30 x 15 cm
- Weight
- Included in carry-on allowance
- Examples
- Handbag, laptop bag, or small backpack that fits under the seat.
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. British Airways caps power banks at 100 Wh with no approval route above it, allows two per person, and does not let you charge one from the seat supply.
| Item | Cabin | Checked | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power bank up to 100 WhTwo per person, no more | Allowed | Not allowed | Keep it in the seat pocket or a bag under the seat in front, never in the overhead bin. |
| Power bank over 100 Wh | Not allowed | Not allowed | British Airways sets a hard ceiling at 100 Wh with no approval route above it. |
| Power bank with no printed ratingOr one whose rating cannot be worked out | Not allowed | Not allowed | Divide the mAh figure by 1,000 and multiply by the voltage to get the Wh rating. |
| Charging a power bank on boardFrom the seat power supply | Not allowed | Not allowed | Seat power is for devices only. Charge the bank before you fly. |
| Spare laptop and camera batteries | Allowed | Not allowed | If your cabin bag is taken at the gate, take every spare battery out and carry it with you. |
| 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. |
Checked baggage
British Airways counts pieces. The fare decides how many bags are included, and the basic fare includes none, so check what your ticket covers before you get to the airport.
| Cabin | First bag | Second bag | Max weight per bag | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Basic | From £42 / $55 | From £60 / $75 | Not included | 90 x 75 x 43 cm |
| Economy | Included | From £60 / $75 | 23 kg | 90 x 75 x 43 cm |
| Premium Economy | Included | Included | 23 kg | 90 x 75 x 43 cm |
| Business/First | Included | Included | 32 kg | 90 x 75 x 43 cm |
Economy Basic: Economy Basic includes hand baggage only. Checked bags must be purchased.
Economy: Additional bags available for purchase
Premium Economy: 2 bags included, additional bags available for purchase
Business/First: Business: 2 bags, First: 3 bags included Allowances change by route, fare family and booking date, so confirm on the official British Airways baggage page before you pack.
Excess baggage fees
What it costs when you go over the included weight. Prices are estimates and vary by route.
| Situation | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Extra weight | £65 flat fee per extra bag up to 23kg | Varies by route and when you buy it |
| Prepaid online | Save up to 40% when prepaying online | Buy extra weight before departure |
| Overweight bag | £65-100 for bags 23-32kg | Above the per-bag weight limit |
Airport prices run 20 to 40 percent higher than online.
Estimate your excess fee
Your allowance
Estimate in pounds sterling based on published rate ranges. The exact fee depends on your route, currency and booking date. Confirm on britishairways.com before you pay.
How the allowance plays out on a real booking. Fares, routes and British Airways Club status can move these numbers.
- Cabin
- One bag up to 23 kg, 56 x 45 x 25 cm, plus a personal item
- Checked
- None included. This is a hand baggage only fare
- Tip
- Buy the bag before you reach the airport, where it costs more
- Status
- Silver and Gold add a bag and lift every bag to 32 kg
- Cabin
- One bag up to 23 kg plus a personal item
- Checked
- Two bags of up to 32 kg each, within 90 x 75 x 43 cm
- Power banks
- Two per person, none over 100 Wh, and no charging from the seat
- Gate
- Be at the gate 20 minutes before departure, 15 at London City
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 britishairways.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 90 x 75 x 43 cm size rule.
- Check your credit card perksSome premium cards include extra baggage or refund fees on selected airlines.
- Use your British Airways Club statusHigher tiers add extra weight or an extra bag on top of the fare allowance, see status extras.
British Airways Club status extras
British Airways Club status adds a checked bag and raises the per-bag weight, on top of what the fare includes.
| Tier | Weight concept routes | Piece concept routes | Also included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | None | None | Standard fare allowance |
| Bronze | None | None | Priority boarding, no extra bag |
| Silver | None | +1 bag | Up to 32 kg per bag in any cabin |
| Gold | None | +1 bag | Up to 32 kg per bag in any cabin |
Example: an Economy ticket with one 23 kg bag becomes two bags of up to 32 kg for a Silver or Gold member.
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 | Fee estimate | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports equipment | Counts as one item of your checked allowance. A bike box up to 190 x 95 x 65 cm goes to the out of gauge desk, 2 hours before short haul and 3 before long haul | Counts as a checked bag | |
| Musical instruments | Up to 80 cm as hand baggage in place of your cabin bag. Between 80 and 140 cm it travels in the hold, or you buy it a seat | Free within the limit | 48 hours to buy a seat |
| Infant baggage | One checked bag up to 23kg plus collapsible stroller | ||
| Mobility aids | Wheelchairs and mobility devices carried free of charge | Free |
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.
- 24 hOnline check-in opensWeb or app
- 60 minCheck-in closes on long-haul45 minutes on short-haul
- 20 minAt the boarding gate15 minutes at London City
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 British Airways 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 British Airways 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 British Airways compares
Benchmark these limits against the rest of the industry before you decide which bag to bring.
Frequently asked questions
How much checked baggage does a British Airways ticket include?
The basic fare includes none at all: it is a hand baggage only ticket. Higher fares carry one or two bags of up to 23 kg, and Club cabins allow 32 kg per bag. Every bag must stay within 90 x 75 x 43 cm.
What are the carry-on limits on British Airways?
One bag of up to 56 x 45 x 25 cm plus a personal item. The weight allowance is 23 kg, which is unusually generous: most airlines cap the cabin bag between 7 and 10 kg.
Can I take a checked bag on a basic fare?
Not as part of the fare. A basic ticket is hand baggage only, so a checked bag has to be bought separately, and buying it before you reach the airport costs less.
Does British Airways Club status add baggage?
Silver and Gold members add one checked bag and lift every bag to 32 kg in any cabin. Bronze adds priority boarding but no extra bag. Blue members travel on the fare allowance alone.
What are the power bank rules on British Airways?
Two per person, none over 100 Wh, and there is no approval route above that ceiling. The watt-hour rating has to be printed on the bank or the bank is refused. Keep it in the seat pocket or under the seat, and do not charge it from the seat power supply, which is for devices only.
When does British Airways check-in close?
Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure. Check-in closes 60 minutes before long-haul flights and 45 minutes before short-haul ones, and you should be at the gate 20 minutes before departure. At London City the bag drop closes 30 minutes out and the gate 15.
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