United Arab Emirates
Full service airline, Zayed hub Etihad Airways baggage allowance
Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi, with an international network across major global markets.
| Allowance | Economy | Business and First |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bagPlus one personal item under the seat | 7 kg56 x 36 x 23 cm | 12 kgTwo bags between them, or one to and from the US |
| Checked bagMaximum weight per bag | 23 kgUp to 158 cm | 32 kgUp to 158 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 36 x 23 cm
- Weight
- 7 kg in EconomyBusiness and First: two bags, 12 kg between them
- Pieces
- One bag
One carry-on bag allowed per passenger.
Personal item
- Size
- Not separately specified
- Weight
- Included in carry-on allowance
- Examples
- One laptop bag, handbag, or briefcase in addition to carry-on.
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 Etihad Airways 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
Etihad Airways 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 Deal | Included | From $26-$200 per 5kg | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| Economy Choice/Saver | Included | Included | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| Business/First Class | Included | Included | 32 kg | 158 cm |
Economy Deal: 1 bag included, extra bags from $26-$200 depending on route
Economy Choice/Saver: 2 bags of 23kg each included
Business/First Class: Business: 2 bags, First: 3 bags at 32kg each Allowances change by route, fare family and booking date, so confirm on the official Etihad Airways baggage page before you pack.
Excess baggage fees
What extra baggage costs when the fare does not cover it. Etihad sells extra weight in blocks rather than by the kilogram.
| Situation | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Extra weight at the airport | $26 to $200 per 5 kg | Which band applies depends on the route |
| Bought online instead | Up to 65% cheaper | Until 30 hours out on piece concept routes, 4 hours on weight concept ones |
| Extra bag at the airport | Priced per bag, 23 kg or 32 kg | No single piece may exceed 32 kg whatever you pay |
Extra weight is sold in 5 kg blocks, so one kilogram over costs the same as five. Work out the block before you repack.
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 etihad.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 | Fee estimate | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports equipment | Most sports equipment, golf clubs included, travels as part of your baggage allowance | Included in allowance | |
| Musical instruments | A small instrument travels inside the cabin allowance. Checked it must be under 32 kg and 300 cm, and a larger one needs a seat bought in advance | Included in allowance | In advance, for a seat |
| Infant baggage | 10kg allowance plus stroller/car seat |
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.
Etihad Airways 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 Etihad 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 Etihad Airways baggage tracing page. Most delayed bags arrive within 48 hours and are delivered to your address free of charge.
Keep 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 Etihad Airways compares
Benchmark these limits against the rest of the industry before you decide which bag to bring.
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