Netherlands
Full service airline, Amsterdam Schiphol hub KLM Royal Dutch Airlines baggage allowance
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the flag carrier of the Netherlands and the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name. Headquartered in Amsterdam, it is a member of the SkyTeam alliance.
| Allowance | Economy Standard | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bagPlus one personal item under the seat | 12 kg55 x 35 x 25 cm | Business: 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 for both cabin pieces togetherBusiness: two pieces, 18 kg total
- Pieces
- One bag
One hand baggage item allowed plus one small personal item.
Personal item
- Size
- 40 x 30 x 15 cm
- Weight
- Included within carry-on allowance
- Examples
- A small bag that fits under the seat in front of you.
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 KLM Royal Dutch 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
KLM applies its ticket types across all three cabins, so the cabin alone does not answer the question. Basic and Light carry no checked bag in Economy, and Light carries none in Premium Comfort either, yet a Light ticket in Business still carries one bag of 32 kg.
| Cabin | First bag | Second bag | Max weight per bag | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Light | From €30 / $35 | From €60 / $70 | Not included | 158 cm |
| Economy Standard | Included | From €60 / $70 | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| Business | Included | Included | 32 kg | 158 cm |
Economy Light: Light fare includes hand baggage only
Economy Standard: One bag included; extra bags available for purchase
Business: Two bags of 32 kg each included Allowances change by route, fare family and booking date, so confirm on the official KLM Royal Dutch Airlines baggage page before you pack.
Checked bags by cabin and ticket
KLM sells the ticket type across every cabin, and the result is not a straight line: a Light ticket in Premium Comfort carries nothing, while a Light ticket in Business still carries a bag.
| Economy Basic and Light | No checked bag | |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Comfort Light | No checked bag | |
| Economy Standard and Flex | 1 bag, 23 kg | |
| Business Light | 1 bag, 32 kg | |
| Premium Comfort Standard and Flex | 2 bags, 23 kg each | |
| Business Standard and Flex | 2 bags, 32 kg each | |
Every bag is measured to 158 cm including handles and wheels. Some routes add one bag on top of the figures above. A baby on your lap brings an extra checked item of up to 10 kg and an extra cabin piece of up to 12 kg.
Excess baggage fees
What sits outside the bags your ticket type includes.
| Situation | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Extra bag | Cheaper during booking | Can also be added afterwards in My Trip |
| Route bonus | One extra bag | On some routes, on top of the normal allowance |
| Baby on your lap | 10 kg checked plus a cabin piece | The cabin piece may be 55 x 35 x 25 cm and 12 kg |
| Cabin weight | 12 kg, or 18 kg in Business | Counted across the hand bag and the small bag together |
KLM measures to 158 cm including handles and wheels, and its cabin limit is a combined weight rather than a per bag one, so a heavy laptop bag eats into what the wheeled case may carry.
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 klm.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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports equipment | Skis, a snowboard or a golf set travel instead of a checked bag with no reservation, up to 300 cm; a golf set may weigh 23 kg in Economy and 32 kg in Business. A bicycle is charged by route and must be reserved | Counts as a checked bag |
| Musical instruments | As hand baggage, as checked baggage or on a seat of its own, depending on its size and weight | |
| Infant baggage | 10 kg bag plus stroller 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.
KLM Royal Dutch 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 KLM Royal Dutch 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 KLM Royal Dutch 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 KLM Royal Dutch Airlines compares
Benchmark these limits against the rest of the industry before you decide which bag to bring.
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