Japan
Full service airline, Tokyo Haneda hub Japan Airlines baggage allowance
Japan Airlines (JAL) is the flag carrier of Japan and the country's second-largest airline. A member of the Oneworld alliance, it is known for exceptional service and on-time performance.
| Allowance | Economy | Business and First |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bagPlus one personal item under the seat | 10 kg55 x 40 x 25 cm | 10 kg55 x 40 x 25 cm |
| Checked bagMaximum weight per bag | 23 kgUp to 203 cm | 32 kgUp to 203 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
- 55 x 40 x 25 cm
- Weight
- 10 kg
- Pieces
- One bag
One carry-on bag per passenger. Total dimensions up to 115 cm.
Personal item
- Size
- Included within carry-on allowance
- Weight
- Part of the 10 kg allowance
- Examples
- Personal items are included within the carry-on allowance.
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 Japan Airlines 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
JAL counts pieces and is generous with them: Economy and Premium Economy carry two bags of 23 kg, First and Business three of 32 kg. Its size limit is 203 cm across the three sides rather than the usual 158, and a piece may weigh up to 45 kg before it is refused outright.
| Cabin | First bag | Second bag | Max weight per bag | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Included | Included | 23 kg | 203 cm |
| Premium Economy | Included | Included | 23 kg | 203 cm |
| Business / First | Included | Included | 32 kg | 203 cm |
Economy: Two 23 kg bags included on international flights
Premium Economy: Two 23 kg bags included
Business / First: Business and First: 3 bags, 32 kg each Allowances change by route, fare family and booking date, so confirm on the official Japan Airlines baggage page before you pack.
Checked bags by cabin
JAL sets the allowance by cabin rather than by fare, so the ladder is short and the figures are the same whichever ticket you bought in that cabin.
| Economy and Premium Economy | 2 bags, 23 kg each | |
|---|---|---|
| Business | 3 bags, 32 kg each | |
| First Class | 3 bags, 32 kg each |
Every piece is measured to 203 cm across the three sides, and a bag over that is JPY 20,000, about USD 200. A piece over 45 kg is refused, and one over 32 kg or taller than 150 cm is handled as bulky baggage. On Boeing 737 aircraft no single side may exceed 79 cm.
Excess baggage fees
What sits outside the pieces your cabin includes.
| Situation | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Piece over 203 cm total | JPY 20,000 | About USD 200 or CAD 200 |
| Piece over 32 kg | Handled as bulky baggage | Instruments such as a cello fall here |
| Piece over 45 kg | Not accepted | The hard ceiling |
| Bag taller than 150 cm | Bulky baggage | If it cannot be laid on its side |
| Boeing 737 flights | 79 cm on any one side | Tighter than the 203 cm total suggests |
JAL allows 203 cm where most carriers stop at 158, so a bag that is oversize elsewhere may travel free here. The catch is the aircraft: on a Boeing 737 no single side may pass 79 cm however small the total.
Estimate your excess fee
Your allowance
Estimate in Japanese yen based on published rate ranges. The exact fee depends on your route, currency and booking date. Confirm on jal.co.jp before you pay.
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 jal.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 203 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.
JAL Mileage Bank status extras
Frequent flyer status adds to the fare allowance. The extra applies to the member only, on Japan Airlines operated flights.
JAL Mileage Bank: extra allowance based on status tier
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 | golf, ski and surf gear accepted (fees may apply) |
| Musical instruments | special handling available |
| Infant baggage | stroller and baby items free of charge |
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.
Japan Airlines 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 Japan Airlines 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 Japan Airlines 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 Japan Airlines compares
Benchmark these limits against the rest of the industry before you decide which bag to bring.
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