South Korea
Full service airline, Seoul Incheon hub Korean Air baggage allowance
Korean Air is the flag carrier of South Korea and a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, serving major cities across Asia and around the world.
| Allowance | Economy | Prestige and First |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bagPlus one personal item under the seat | 10 kg55 x 40 x 20 cm | 18 kgTwo bags instead of one |
| 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
- 55 x 40 x 20 cm
- Weight
- 10 kg
- Pieces
- One bag
One carry-on bag allowed per passenger.
Personal item
- Size
- Included within carry-on allowance
- Weight
- Part of the 10 kg allowance
- Examples
- One personal item such as a laptop bag or handbag.
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 Korean Air 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
Korean Air counts pieces on international flights and kilograms inside Korea. The detail worth knowing is that on most international routes the cheap Saver fare and the ordinary Economy fare carry the same single 23 kg bag, and the second bag only appears on flights to and from the Americas.
| Cabin | First bag | Second bag | Max weight per bag | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Included | Varies by route | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| Prestige (Business) | Included | Included | 32 kg | 158 cm |
| First | Included | Included | 32 kg | 158 cm |
Economy: Americas: 2 bags; other routes: 1 bag included
Prestige (Business): Two bags of 32 kg each included
First: Three bags of 32 kg each included Allowances change by route, fare family and booking date, so confirm on the official Korean Air baggage page before you pack.
Checked bags by fare, international
Korean Air counts pieces internationally, and on most of the network the Saver fare and the ordinary Economy fare carry exactly the same single bag. The second bag appears only on flights to and from the Americas.
| Economy Saver | 1 bag, 23 kg | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy and Premium Class | 1 bag, 23 kg | |
| Prestige | 2 bags, 32 kg each | |
| First Class | 3 bags, 32 kg each |
On flights to and from the Americas, excluding Brazil, Economy other than Saver carries two bags of 23 kg instead of one. Flights within Korea run on weight instead: 20 kg in Economy and 30 kg in Prestige. Every piece is measured to 158 cm including handles and wheels.
Excess baggage fees
What sits outside the pieces your fare includes.
| Situation | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Americas routes, Economy above Saver | 2 bags, 23 kg each | Brazil is excluded and has its own table |
| Flights within Korea | 20 kg, or 30 kg in Prestige | Domestic runs on weight rather than pieces |
| Piece over 158 cm total | Oversize charge | Handles and wheels count |
| Cabin bag | 10 kg | Measured to 115 cm across all three sides |
Korean Air publishes four separate tables: the rest of the world, the Americas excluding Brazil, Brazil for tickets issued up to 29 June 2025, and domestic Korea. The chart shows the first. Check which one your route falls under before packing to the number.
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 koreanair.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.
SKYPASS status extras
Frequent flyer status adds to the fare allowance. The extra applies to the member only, on Korean Air operated flights.
SKYPASS: extra allowance based on membership 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 | Fee estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Sports equipment | Checked up to 32 kg and 292 cm in total, inside your allowance | Included in allowance |
| Musical instruments | On board free of charge up to 115 cm in total. Above that you book a seat for it; checked it needs a hard case, and over 203 cm or 32 kg it goes as cargo | Free within the limit |
| Infant baggage | 10 kg allowance plus stroller |
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.
Korean Air 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 Korean Air 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 Korean Air 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 Korean Air compares
Benchmark these limits against the rest of the industry before you decide which bag to bring.
United States
France
Netherlands
Sweden