Novice budget travelers should learn to pack lightly before mastering any other money-saving technique. Now more than ever, airlines are imposing hefty penalties for heavy baggage. Here are links to Web pages with baggage policies for 10 major world airlines. If your airline of choice is unlisted here, go to the home page of its Web site, click on a link (usually in small print) for "Site Map" and then find baggage information.
Each passenger is allowed to check two items free of charge. Each item must not exceed a weight of 23 kg. (51 lbs.) Each additional item incurs a fee of $150 USD. Air France Flying Blue members are granted additional weight limits.
ANA requires advance arrangements with their customer service center for bulky baggage with total linear dimensions exceeding 203cm (80 inches) or weighing more than 32kg (70 lbs). Excess baggage fees range from $34-130 USD, and the charge per piece is different between departure from Japan and departure from the U.S. or Guam.
For flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada, American passengers pay $15 USD for their first checked bag and $25 for the second bag. One carry-on is permitted at no charge. On international flights, one carry-on and two checked bags are permitted for free. American charges $100 per piece for the 3rd, 4th and 5th checked bags and $200 per piece for the 6th checked bag and any additional pieces.
The China Southern free baggage allowance is 40kg. for first class, 30kg. for business class, and 20kg. for economy class. If you receive a free upgrade, allowance is based on your original reservation. Specific fees are not listed on the Web site.
Continental allows passengers within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands one checked bag in economy at no charge. Each bag must not exceed 23 kg. (51 lbs.) A second bag costs $25. International travelers are permitted two checked bags at no charge. Business class travelers are allowed three bags without charge. Additional bags are $100 per item. Bags weighing between 50-70 lbs. incur a fee of $50 per item. Bags weighing more than 70 lbs. are not accepted.
Delta allows passengers to check two bags and one carry-on bag plus a personal item. You can check one bag per passenger free of charge when traveling in the U. S., the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. If traveling outside the U.S. you can check two bags free of charge. Checked bags must weigh less than 50 lbs. An extra bag that goes over the weight limit and the size limit will create three charges. These charges each range from $25-$150.
JAL permits one carry-on bag weighing less than 10 kg. (22 lbs.), in addition to two checked bags. The size limits on these bags vary by type of route. Excess fees are calculated using this formula: Normal economy class fare between boarding points (adult one-way) x 1.5% x excess baggage weight in kg., rounded up to the nearest hundred yen. Keep in mind that if you got a sale fare, they will use the normal fare to make the calculation.
Lufthansa allows two checked bags per passenger weighing 23-32 kg. each, depending upon your route. The airline uses a zone system to determine fees for excess baggage weight. It adds up quickly: 5€ for every excess kilogram on domestic flights within Germany, but long-haul flights can involve 40€/kg.
Northwest allows each passenger one piece of checked baggage without charge. The second bag on domestic flights costs $25; after two bags, each additional costs $100. There is a long list of charges for baggage that exceeds 50 lbs. The charges vary by destination and can add up quickly.
United charges each passenger $15 for the first checked bag. Oversized bags (beyond 50 lbs.) incur a fee of $125. The schedule of charges and conditions is complicated, so read carefully.
