Behind the scenes: The mysterious science of baggage weight

The travel season is in full swing, and we’re delighted to take you to your holiday destinations. To make your journey as smooth as possible, please follow our baggage rules. Here we have compiled the most frequently asked questions.

What are the current rules for baggage transport with airBaltic?

The following allowances are always included in the price of a flight ticket and apply to all flights operated by airBaltic.

Economy fare

Economy FLEX, Economy CLASSIC, Economy BASIC: 1 cabin bag (55 x 40 x 23 cm) + 1 personal item (30 x 40 x 10 cm). The maximum weight is 8 kg for all pieces.

Business fare

BUSINESS and Business EXPERIENCE: 2 cabin bags (55 x 40 x 23 cm each) + 1 personal item (30 x 40 x 10 cm). The maximum weight is 24 kg for all pieces.

airBaltic Club

For airBaltic Club Executive passengers travelling with Economy BASIC, Economy CLASSIC, and Economy FLEX tickets: 1 cabin bag (55 x 40 x 23 cm each) + 1 personal item (30 x 40 x 10 cm). The maximum weight is 12 kg for all pieces.

For airBaltic Club VIP passengers: 2 cabin bags (55 x 40 x 23 cm each) + 1 personal item (30 x 40 x 10 cm) irrespective of travel class. The maximum weight is 24 kg for all pieces.

Heavy cabin baggage

If you have an Economy BASIC, Economy CLASSIC Plus, or Economy FLEX ticket, you can upgrade your cabin baggage allowance from 8 kg to 12 kg for an additional fee starting from EUR 13.99. Cabin baggage dimensions and the number of pieces remain the same.

Checked baggage

The maximum weight for one piece of standard checked baggage is 23 kg. The maximum weight for a piece of heavy checked baggage is 32 kg (an extra charge applies).

Also, please make sure that your bags are the right size. If they are not, they may be classified as bulky baggage. Bulky baggage is any checked bag larger than 100 x 50 x 80 cm. If your bag is bigger but weighs up to 23 kg, you’ll be charged EUR 75 at the airport. If it weighs more than 23 kg, the fee is EUR 135 (EUR 75 per bag at the airport +  EUR 60 per overweight) per bag per direction.

If your baggage exceeds 32 kg, it cannot be transported as checked baggage but must be transported to the destination via the Baltic Cargo Hub.

You may travel with your sports equipment and other special baggage (musical instruments, fragile items, extra cabin baggage, pram, etc.). Add these when purchasing your flight ticket or later in the Manage My Booking section on the airBaltic website. 

Where can I weigh and measure my baggage?

If this is not possible at home, baggage can be weighed and measured at the airport at the check-in counter (both cabin and checked baggage) or at the gate (cabin baggage). Travellers should also note that airBaltic staff at the gate may ask to weigh and/or measure your baggage, and if the allowance is exceeded, the staff may ask you to pay the required fees. Therefore, if you suspect that you will need more or heavier baggage for your trip, it is easier and more economical to pay for checked baggage or heavy cabin baggage before your flight.

With regard to cabin baggage, you can purchase heavy cabin baggage for EUR 17.99 in the Manage My Booking section of the airBaltic website up until you board the aircraft. Otherwise, gate agents will ask you to pay a fee of EUR 30.

Why is it important to follow these rules?

Cabin baggage guidelines are crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and to avoid safety risks and flight delays.

Effective evacuation

Cabin baggage must not obstruct access to emergency exits. Incorrectly stowed or oversized baggage may hinder evacuation in an emergency.

Space in the cabin

There is limited space for storing baggage in the overhead compartments and under the seats. If passengers do not comply with the size and weight restrictions, there may not be enough space for everyone’s baggage.

Passenger comfort

Properly sized and stowed cabin baggage helps keep the cabin orderly, allows passengers to move around more freely, and ensures a more comfortable flight for everyone.

In addition to operational efficiency, compliance with baggage guidelines also supports environmental responsibility. Overweight or excessive cabin baggage increases the aircraft’s overall weight, leading to higher fuel consumption and greater CO2 emissions. Reducing excess weight on flights helps lower fuel use and contributes to minimising our carbon footprint. By adhering to baggage guidelines, passengers support more sustainable and environmentally friendly air travel.

What should I do if my journey involves several airlines?

airBaltic has concluded codeshare agreements with more than 20 airlines worldwide, thus providing passengers with more travel options. Each airline has its own hand baggage regulations.

If your journey includes a codeshare or interline connection with another airline(s), their cabin baggage regulations will apply to the respective segments of your trip. Because cabin baggage policies may vary, we recommend consulting the other airlines’ websites directly for detailed information. To ensure a smooth travel experience, follow the stricter cabin baggage allowance guidelines if rules differ between airlines.

Did you know?

1. During the first four months of this year (January to April 2025), airBaltic observed a notable increase in baggage-related ancillary services, with approximately 30% more passengers choosing the heavy cabin baggage option and over 13% more opting for checked baggage compared to the same period last year.
   

2. airBaltic collects a wide range of information about its passengers’ habits. For example, this summer, the most checked baggage is on flights to Lisbon, Reykjavik, and Malaga. On average, more than 100 pieces of baggage are checked in per flight.

3. The weight of baggage on each flight affects the amount of fuel required, and this is calculated separately. The historical weight of 100 flights without fuel is taken as a basis. The Flight Dispatch Centre then makes further calculations, taking into account the expected weather conditions for the specific flight, the flight plan, and other factors. Actual data for each flight is also taken from the check-in system, such as the number of passengers, the actual baggage weight, and cargo and mail weight.

4. The way baggage, cargo, and mail are arranged in the cargo compartment of an aircraft significantly impacts fuel consumption. Each flight plan specifies the ideal trim. This is an indicator related to the aircraft’s balance and stability that is taken into account when loading baggage. The primary consideration is the seating of passengers on the aircraft, followed by the placement of so-called dead load (baggage, cargo, mail).