Switzerland
Full service airline, Zurich hub Swiss International Air Lines baggage allowance
Swiss International Air Lines is the flag carrier of Switzerland. A Star Alliance member and part of the Lufthansa Group, known for premium service and Swiss quality.
| Allowance | Economy | Business and First |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bagPlus one personal item under the seat | 8 kg55 x 40 x 23 cm | 2 x 8 kg55 x 40 x 23 cm |
| 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 23 cm
- Weight
- 8 kg
- Pieces
- One bag
One cabin bag allowed per passenger.
Personal item
- Size
- 40 x 30 x 10 cm
- Weight
- Included in carry-on allowance
- Examples
- One personal accessory such as a handbag or laptop case.
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 Swiss International Air Lines 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
SWISS counts pieces, not kilograms, and the fare decides how many bags travel free. Economy Light includes none at all, and the Light fares in the cabins above it include only one. No single bag may pass 32 kg or 158 cm.
| Cabin | First bag | Second bag | Max weight per bag | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Light | From CHF 40 / $45 | From CHF 80 / $90 | Not included | 158 cm |
| Economy Classic/Flex | Included | From CHF 80 / $90 | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| Business/First Class | Included | Included | 32 kg | 158 cm |
Economy Light: Light fares: hand baggage only
Economy Classic/Flex: 1 bag of 23 kg included
Business/First Class: 2 bags at 32 kg each included Allowances change by route, fare family and booking date, so confirm on the official Swiss International Air Lines baggage page before you pack.
Checked baggage by fare, intercontinental
SWISS counts pieces and the fare decides how many travel free. Economy Light carries none at all, and the Light fares in the cabins above it carry only one.
| Economy Light | No checked bag | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy Comfort | 1 bag, 23 kg | |
| Economy, higher fares | 2 bags, 23 kg each | |
| Premium Economy | 46 kg total | |
| Business | 2 bags, 32 kg each | |
| First | 96 kg total | |
No single bag may exceed 32 kg or 158 cm of width plus height plus depth. On European routes the allowances are smaller: 23 kg in Economy Comfort and above, 32 kg in Business Comfort, 64 kg in Business Flex, see status extras.
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 | CHF 15 per kg (varies by route) | Varies by route and when you buy it |
| Prepaid online | Save up to 25% when prepaying online | Buy extra weight before departure |
| Overweight bag | CHF 100-200 for bags 23-32 kg | Above the per-bag weight limit |
Airport prices run 20 to 40 percent higher than online.
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 swiss.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.
- Use your Miles & More statusHigher tiers add extra weight or an extra bag on top of the fare allowance, see status extras.
Miles & More status extras
Miles & More status adds a checked bag rather than extra weight, because SWISS counts pieces on every route.
| Tier | Weight concept routes | Piece concept routes | Also included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | None | None | Standard fare allowance |
| Frequent Traveller | None | None | Priority check-in and boarding, no extra bag |
| Senator | None | +1 bag | 23 kg in Economy, 32 kg in Business and First, plus a set of golf equipment |
| HON Circle | None | +1 bag | 23 kg in Economy, 32 kg in Business and First, plus a set of golf equipment |
Miles & More: extra allowance based on status
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 | Winter sports equipment travels free on top of your allowance, except on Economy Light. Other sports equipment is free as long as you stay inside your allowance | Free within the limit |
| Musical instruments | special handling available |
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.
Swiss International Air Lines 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 Swiss International Air Lines 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 Swiss International Air Lines 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 Swiss International Air Lines compares
Benchmark these limits against the rest of the industry before you decide which bag to bring.
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