British Airways Baggage Allowance 2026: Fares, Fees & Perks

I once stood at Heathrow departures having just paid £60 for an overweight bag I could have sorted for £15 the night before. That was my lesson in reading the British Airways baggage allowance rules before flying. Here’s the version I wish I’d had — including the rules that BA’s own website buries and that most baggage guides never mention.

Quick reference — British Airways baggage allowance 2026

Item	Dimensions	Weight	Cost
Main cabin bag	56 x 45 x 25 cm	23 kg combined	Free on all fares
Personal item	40 x 30 x 15 cm	23 kg combined	Free on all fares
Checked bag — Economy Classic/Flex	90 x 75 x 43 cm	23 kg	1 bag free
Checked bag — Premium Economy	90 x 75 x 43 cm	23 kg each	2 bags free
Checked bag — Club World	90 x 75 x 43 cm	32 kg each	2 bags free
Checked bag — First	90 x 75 x 43 cm	32 kg each	3 bags free
Economy Basic	—	—	Zero free hold bags
Overweight fee	—	Over limit	£65 per bag per one-way

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British Airways Cabin Bag: What Everyone Gets Free

Every BA passenger gets two free bags in the cabin on every fare. Your hand luggage allowance includes a main cabin bag (56 x 45 x 25 cm) for the overhead locker and a personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm) under the seat. Both are free on all fares, including Economy Basic.

Bag	Max Dimensions	Where it goes
Main cabin bag	56 x 45 x 25 cm	Overhead locker
Personal item	40 x 30 x 15 cm	Under the seat

Dimensions include handles and wheels. A “56 cm” hard-shell suitcase with large spinner wheels often measures 57–58 cm in practice — worth checking if you’re on a full flight where staff are actively enforcing.

BA’s personal item is only 15 cm deep — shallower than most UK airlines. A standard laptop backpack that slides under the seat on easyJet, Ryanair, or Jet2 may technically exceed BA’s personal item dimension. The underseat slot is rarely measured at the gate, but the rule is there.

Keep medication, power banks, spare batteries, and travel documents in your personal item. On full flights, BA staff may take your overhead cabin bag and check it into the hold — a practice called gate-vesting. On Economy Basic, which includes zero free hold bags, this can result in a charge. Your personal item stays with you regardless.

Both bags together must not exceed 23 kg. There’s no per-bag limit. BA rarely weighs cabin bags at the gate, but the rule exists.

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British Airways Checked Bag Allowance by Fare

British Airways checked bag allowance depends on your fare class. Economy Basic baggage allowance is zero — no free hold luggage on that fare. Economy Classic and Flex each include one 23 kg bag. Premium Economy includes two 23 kg bags. Club World includes two 32 kg bags, and First includes three 32 kg bags.

Fare	Free Hold Bags	Max Weight Per Bag
Economy Basic (Hand Baggage Only)	0	—
Economy Classic / Flex	1	23 kg
Premium Economy	2	23 kg each
Club World (Business)	2	32 kg each
First	3	32 kg each

Maximum checked bag dimensions: 90 x 75 x 43 cm (including handles and wheels).

Maximum checked bag weight regardless of fare or status: 32 kg — heavier bags are refused at check-in.

Route Exceptions: Two Free Bags in Economy

On certain routes, Economy passengers get two 23 kg bags as standard:

Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Liberia
Saudi Arabia
India originating to USA, Canada or Bermuda (2 bags in Economy — verify routing conditions at ba.com)

Check ba.com’s baggage calculator for your specific route before paying for a second bag.

Avios vs Economy Basic — An Easy Saving to Miss

The Avios option actually includes a better baggage deal than the cheapest cash fare. An Economy Basic cash ticket comes with zero free checked bags. An Avios Economy Reward ticket in the same cabin includes 1 x 23 kg — the same as paid Economy Classic. If you’re a British Airways Club member weighing a Basic cash fare against using points, factor bags into that comparison.

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British Airways Extra Bag Fees: Online vs Airport Pricing

Adding a BA bag at the airport costs significantly more than booking online. BA baggage fees use route-based dynamic pricing with no flat table — use the baggage calculator at ba.com or the British Airways app under Manage My Booking for your specific route. Long-haul routes tend to sit toward the top of these ranges. As a guide:

Extra Bag	Online (in advance)	At Airport
1st additional bag (Basic fares)	£35–£80	£75–£95
2nd additional bag	£65–£80	£75–£95
3rd or 4th bag	£80–£140	£95–£165

Overweight fee: £65 per bag, per one-way journey (also €75 / $100 USD). This is charged on top of any oversized fees — both can apply to the same bag.

Add bags before you fly. The gap between online and airport pricing is one of the steepest in UK aviation.

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The British Airways Club: Tier Baggage Benefits

In April 2025, BA rebranded “Executive Club” as The British Airways Club. Tier names (Blue, Bronze, Silver, Gold) stayed the same. The earning thresholds moved to a revenue-based model: members now earn 1 Tier Point per £1 of eligible spend, with thresholds of Bronze: 3,500 / Silver: 7,500 / Gold: 20,000 Tier Points.

Tier	Extra Baggage Benefit
Blue	None
Bronze	None
Silver	2 x 32 kg bags in Economy; extends to all passengers on same booking
Gold	1 additional bag on top of fare allowance, in any cabin

Bronze gives you nothing on baggage. This surprises people who assume any loyalty tier earns something. It doesn’t, for luggage.

British Airways Gold tier bags aren’t a flat two-bag allowance. Gold gives you one extra bag on top of whatever your fare already includes:

Gold in Economy = 2 bags (1 standard + 1 extra)
Gold in Club World = 3 bags (2 standard + 1 extra)
Gold in First = 4 bags (3 standard + 1 extra)

Most competitor articles state Gold = 2 bags. That’s only true in Economy.

Tier benefits do not apply on Economy Basic fares. A Gold member on a Basic fare gets zero checked bags.

OneWorld equivalences: Emerald = Gold benefits. Sapphire = Silver benefits. Ruby = Bronze (no extra baggage).

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Avios Reward Flights and Baggage

Avios redemption tickets follow the same rules as their equivalent paid fare class:

Economy Reward = 1 x 23 kg bag
Premium Economy Reward = 2 x 23 kg bags
Club World Reward = 2 x 32 kg bags
First Reward = 3 x 32 kg bags

Your allowance is determined by the cabin class, not by whether you paid cash or Avios. As noted above, an Avios Economy Reward ticket includes a free hold bag where Economy Basic cash gets none — a distinction worth knowing before you assume the cheapest fare is cheapest overall.

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Sports Equipment on British Airways

Equipment	Counted As	Max Size	Max Weight	Notes
Bicycle	1 checked bag	190 x 95 x 65 cm	23 kg	Notify BA at least 72 hrs before departure
Skis/Snowboard	1 checked bag	190 x 75 x 65 cm	23 kg	Boots can travel in the same bag
Golf clubs	1 checked bag	158 cm linear max	23 kg	One set per adult

Bicycles have a wider permitted width (95 cm) than the general oversized bag allowance (75 cm). The 72-hour advance notification for bikes is a firm requirement — don’t leave it until check-in.

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Musical Instruments on British Airways

Small instruments that fit within 56 x 45 x 25 cm and stay within the 23 kg combined cabin bag weight travel as your standard cabin bag — no extra charge.

For larger instruments, BA allows them to travel in the cabin on a purchased extra seat. Arrange this through BA customer services at least 48 hours before departure. The permitted dimensions on an extra seat are up to 140 x 50 x 46 cm. If the instrument weighs more than 23 kg, BA’s standard overweight charge applies — the maximum accepted is 45 kg. The instrument must be secured with a seat belt; BA allocates a window seat that is not an emergency exit row.

Instruments too large for an extra seat travel as checked baggage or cargo. Contact BA cargo for oversized or very heavy items.

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CPAP Machines and Medical Equipment on British Airways

BA allows CPAP machines as a free extra item — on top of your standard cabin bag and personal item allowance. No medical clearance is required, though BA recommends carrying a letter from your doctor explaining the need for the machine.

The CPAP can travel in the cabin or the hold, at no charge either way. If you use it onboard, BA cannot guarantee a power supply at the seat — bring a battery pack. The machine is not permitted during taxi, take-off, approach, or landing.

Other medical equipment (oxygen concentrators and similar devices) may require advance notification. Contact BA’s accessibility team before booking if you’re travelling with anything other than a CPAP.

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Power Banks and Lithium Battery Rules on British Airways

Power banks must always go in cabin baggage — never in the hold. Lithium battery fires in cargo holds are significantly harder to contain than fires in the cabin. If you pack a power bank in your checked suitcase, it will be removed at check-in.

Up to 100 Wh (approximately 20,000 mAh): allowed without approval, maximum 2 per passenger
100–160 Wh: requires airline approval — contact BA before flying
Over 160 Wh: not permitted

If your cabin bag is gate-checked into the hold at the aircraft door, remove power banks and spare batteries before handing it over. They must travel with you in the cabin. This is the main reason to keep power banks in your personal item rather than your main cabin bag — the personal item never gets gate-checked.

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Duty-Free Purchases: The Rule That Trips People Up at the Gate

Duty-free from your departure airport travels as an extra item on top of your cabin bag and personal item. Keep it in the sealed store bag with the receipt visible.

Duty-free picked up at a connecting or transit airport counts toward your cabin allowance for the onward flight. If your bags are already full, you may have a problem at the next gate.

The distinction is whether you’ve passed through departures once (departure airport, where it’s extra) or whether you need to pass security again (connecting airport, where the next airline assesses what you’re carrying against the allowance for the next leg).

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Codeshare Flights: When BA’s Baggage Rules Don’t Apply to You

More BA passengers hit this than realise it. British Airways codeshare baggage rules don’t apply when the ticket code isn’t BA’s — the marketing carrier’s policy does instead.

On codeshare flights, the marketing carrier’s rules apply — the airline whose code appears on your ticket, not necessarily the airline that operates the plane. If your ticket shows an American Airlines flight number (AA456), American Airlines’ baggage policy applies, even if British Airways crew and aircraft are operating the flight. BA’s free checked bag in Economy Classic does not apply in that case.

The same principle applies to Iberia-coded flights within the OneWorld joint business arrangement on European routes.

If you booked through a travel agent, an online consolidator, or directly through American Airlines, check whether your ticket is BA-coded or AA-coded before assuming BA’s allowance applies. On transatlantic routes in particular, the difference can mean losing a free checked bag.

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Families: Children’s Allowance and Pushchairs

Children aged 2 and over with their own seat get the same full baggage allowance as an adult on their fare type. A 4-year-old on Economy Classic has 1 x 23 kg hold bag and the same cabin allowance as their parent. A 4-year-old on Economy Basic has zero free hold bags.

Infants under 24 months on an adult’s lap:

One 23 kg checked bag free
Two free baby equipment items: pushchair/pram, car seat, travel cot, baby carrier
Exception: Economy Basic fares — infants receive no free hold bag

If your pushchair folds down to 117 x 38 x 38 cm or smaller, it gets an orange tag and is returned at the aircraft door on landing. Larger pushchairs go into the hold and come out at the baggage carousel. The aircraft-door service isn’t available at every destination — confirm at check-in.

A very small fold-flat buggy that fits within 56 x 45 x 25 cm folded can travel in the cabin in place of your main cabin bag.

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Liquids at Heathrow and Gatwick: The 100ml Rule Is Gone

Several UK airports have lifted the 100ml restriction following CT scanner upgrades:

100ml rule lifted at: London Heathrow (January 2026), London Gatwick (June 2025), Edinburgh (July 2025), Birmingham (July 2025)

At these airports:

Liquids up to 2 litres are permitted in cabin baggage
Laptops and tablets can stay inside your bag — no need to remove them at security
Exception: vacuum flasks must still be emptied — CT scanners cannot see inside double-insulated walls

The 100ml rule still applies at Manchester and other UK airports that have not yet completed their CT scanner rollout. Check your specific departure airport’s status before packing.

Regardless of your departure airport, the 100ml rule still applies at overseas airports for your return flight. Most European airports have not yet upgraded.

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AirPortr: Doorstep Bag Drop

BA partners with AirPortr to collect bags from your home or hotel, check them in remotely, and deliver them to the aircraft. You arrive at the airport with just your cabin bag.

Available departing from: central London (Heathrow or Gatwick), Zurich, Geneva, and Vienna.

Pricing starts from £19 depending on location and time slot, rising to £30+ from central London — verify current rates at airportr.com before booking. Not cheap, but for families with multiple heavy cases or anyone who wants to remove the worst part of the airport morning, it’s worth a look.

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What Happens at the BA Gate: Size Checks and Gate-Vesting

BA’s enforcement is tightening in 2026. On busy routes from Heathrow and Gatwick, size checks happen more frequently than before. The personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm) is rarely measured. The main cabin bag gets more scrutiny on full flights.

On very busy services, BA may ask passengers in later boarding groups to have their cabin bag placed in the hold. It’s loaded below and returned at your destination. Keep everything you genuinely need in-flight in your personal item — it stays with you regardless.

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Is BA More Expensive Than Ryanair? Running the Numbers

People assume BA is expensive. On some routes that’s true. On others — once bags are factored in — it isn’t.

Which? research confirmed that on a London–Malaga comparison, BA came out cheaper than Ryanair once the cost of Ryanair’s cabin bag fee (to access the overhead locker) and seat selection were added. The cheapest Ryanair headline fare is rarely the cheapest all-in fare. BA Economy Classic wraps the overhead cabin bag, personal item, and a 23 kg hold bag into a single price.

The comparison is route- and date-specific — check both before assuming the cheaper headline fare is cheaper overall. Our UK airline carry-on comparison covers this in detail, including the Ryanair baggage allowance and Jet2 baggage allowance side by side.

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Lost or Delayed Baggage on British Airways: How to Claim

If your bag doesn’t appear on the carousel:

Step 1: Before you leave the baggage hall, go to the BA baggage services desk and file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Without a PIR, there is no claim. Don’t leave the airport hoping the bag will show up — file it before you go. BA’s app also offers WorldTracer bag tracking to monitor your delayed bag’s status.

Step 2: Keep receipts for all essential purchases while your bag is missing — underwear, basic clothing, toiletries. Items required for a business commitment may qualify. Luxury purchases don’t.

Step 3 — deadlines:

Damaged bag: claim within 7 days of receiving it
Delayed or lost bag: claim within 21 days
A bag not recovered within 21 days is legally classified as lost

Submit your claim at: baggageclaim.britishairways.com

BA typically processes claims within 2 to 8 weeks. Travel insurance often pays out faster — check your policy before assuming the Montreal Convention maximum is your only option.

Maximum compensation under the Montreal Convention is approximately 1,519 SDRs — roughly £1,600 at current rates for international flights, or approximately £1,000 for domestic UK flights. These figures fluctuate with SDR exchange rates.

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Key Tips for Flying British Airways

Check your fare type before assuming you have hold luggage included. Economy Basic means zero free checked bags.
Avios Economy Reward includes 1 free checked bag; a Basic cash fare includes 0. Factor this into any comparison.
Add hold bags online or via the BA app — the airport price is significantly higher.
BA’s personal item is 15 cm deep, not 20 cm — shallower than Ryanair, easyJet, and Jet2.
Gold tier gives you one extra bag on top of your fare allowance, not a flat two bags. A Gold member in First gets 4 bags.
Tier benefits don’t apply on Basic fares — not even Gold gets them.
West Africa and Saudi Arabia routes include two Economy bags as standard — check before paying for a second.
CPAP machines travel free as an extra item on top of your cabin allowance.
Power banks must come out of your bag if it’s gate-checked — keep them in your personal item.
Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, and Birmingham no longer apply the 100ml liquids rule.
On codeshare bookings, check whether your ticket is BA-coded or AA-coded — the code determines which airline’s bag rules apply.
File a PIR before leaving the baggage hall if your bag doesn’t show up.

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British Airways Baggage Allowance FAQ

What is the BA cabin bag size in 2026?

56 x 45 x 25 cm for the main overhead bag, plus a 40 x 30 x 15 cm personal item under the seat. Both are free on all fares. Combined weight limit for both bags is 23 kg.

Does Economy Basic include any hold bags?

No. Economy Basic (Hand Baggage Only) includes zero checked bags. You can add them online from £35. Note: an Avios Economy Reward ticket does include 1 free checked bag — a meaningfully different deal to the cash Basic fare.

What is the British Airways overweight bag fee?

£65 per bag, per one-way journey (also €75 / $100 USD). This is charged on top of any oversized fees — both can apply simultaneously to the same bag.

What is the Silver tier baggage benefit?

Silver members get 2 x 32 kg bags in Economy (up from the standard 1 x 23 kg) and this extends to all passengers on the same booking.

What happened to the BA Executive Club?

It was rebranded as The British Airways Club in April 2025. Tier names are unchanged. The earning model moved to revenue-based: 1 Tier Point per £1 of eligible spend, with thresholds at Bronze: 3,500 / Silver: 7,500 / Gold: 20,000.

Does BA charge for infants under 2?

Infants under 24 months on an adult’s lap receive one 23 kg checked bag free plus two free baby equipment items (pushchair, car seat, travel cot). On Economy Basic fares, infants receive no free hold bag.

Does the Gold tier benefit work on Basic fares?

No. Tier benefits do not apply on Economy Basic fares. A Gold member on a Basic fare gets zero checked bags.

Can I carry a CPAP machine on British Airways?

Yes. A CPAP machine is allowed as a free additional item, on top of your standard cabin bag and personal item. No medical clearance is required. It can travel in the cabin or the hold, both at no charge.

What are the power bank rules on British Airways?

Power banks must travel in cabin baggage only — never the hold. Maximum 100 Wh (approximately 20,000 mAh), maximum 2 per passenger. If your cabin bag is gate-checked, remove power banks before handing it over.

Does the 100ml liquids rule still apply at Heathrow?

No. Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, and Birmingham have all lifted the 100ml restriction. Containers up to 2 litres are now permitted at those airports. The 100ml rule still applies at Manchester and other UK airports that have not yet completed their CT scanner rollout, and at most overseas airports for your return flight.

What happens if I booked through American Airlines and fly on a BA plane?

If your ticket has an American Airlines flight number, American Airlines’ baggage policy applies — not BA’s. This affects whether you get a free checked bag in economy. Check your ticket code if you booked through a travel agent or via AA’s website on a transatlantic route.

Does my 5-year-old get their own baggage allowance?

Yes. Children aged 2 and over with their own seat get the same full baggage allowance as an adult on their fare type. A child on Economy Classic gets 1 x 23 kg hold bag. A child on Economy Basic gets zero hold bags.