Checked baggage rules differ a lot from airline to airline — one includes 23 kg in the fare, another charges up to $55 for 20 kg. Add overweight penalties and the list of items you must never put in the hold, and a simple suitcase becomes a minefield. This guide collects everything you need to know before you drop your bag at the counter.
⚖️ Weight limits by airline type
- Full-service carriers (Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, LOT): economy usually includes 1 piece up to 23 kg
- Low-cost carriers (Wizz Air, Pegasus, Ryanair): checked baggage is always a paid extra — Wizz Air sells 10/20/26/32 kg tiers
- Maximum per piece: 32 kg — no airline will accept a heavier single bag
- Size: the sum of three dimensions usually must stay under 158 cm
- Business class: often 2 pieces of up to 32 kg each
💸 What baggage and overweight cost
Adding a bag is cheapest at booking or online later — the same service at the airport costs 2-3x more. On Wizz Air, 20 kg bought online runs $30-55 depending on the route, while at the airport desk it exceeds $90.
Overweight is expensive too — every kilogram above the limit costs $10-20. For the full anatomy of these charges see our airline ancillary fees guide. On short trips, consider traveling with hand luggage only — you may not need to check anything at all.
Weigh your suitcase at home with a hand scale — the overweight penalty at the airport almost always exceeds the price of extra kilograms bought in advance.
🚫 What never goes in checked baggage
- Power banks and lithium batteries — allowed in hand luggage only
- E-cigarettes — also carry-on only
- Documents, cash, jewelry and expensive electronics — always keep them with you
- Medications — pack them in your carry-on so a delayed bag doesn't interrupt your treatment
- Lighters — banned in checked baggage
- Fragile items — airlines accept only limited liability for damage
A power bank in checked baggage is a fire hazard and strictly forbidden — if the scanner finds one, your suitcase will be opened and you'll lose time in queues.
🧷 Packing and protection
Use a TSA-approved lock — security can open it with a master key instead of breaking it. Attach a name-and-phone tag outside and inside the suitcase, and photograph the bag before check-in — it speeds up the search enormously if it goes missing.
For weight distribution and a full packing strategy, see our suitcase packing guide.
🛬 Damaged or missing baggage
If your suitcase arrives damaged or doesn't show up at all, file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) at the Lost & Found desk before leaving the airport. A written claim for damage must follow within 7 days, for delayed baggage — within 21 days.
Under the Montreal Convention, compensation reaches roughly $1,700. For step-by-step instructions see our lost luggage guide.
Compare fares with baggage included from the start — a low-cost 'cheap' ticket often matches a full-service fare once you add a bag. Search flights and compare prices on Travel365's price calendar, and find the cabin bag rules in our carry-on guide.
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