Baggage fees can turn a cheap flight into an expensive one. Budget airlines charge for almost everything beyond a small personal bag, while full-service carriers increasingly offer basic fares with no checked baggage. This table compares baggage policies across 10 major European airlines.
Source: BestTravelScout research, verified 2026-03-12. Data from Official airline websites and fare class documentation, verified March 2026..
| Airline | Type | Carry-On Allowance | Checked Bag | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air France | Full-service | 1 cabin bag (55x35x25cm) + 1 personal item | 1x23kg in Standard/Flex; Light fares carry-on only | Light fares mirror budget carriers — no checked bag included |
| British Airways | Full-service | 1 cabin bag (56x45x25cm) + 1 personal item | 1x23kg in most fares; Basic (cheapest) is hand baggage only | Basic fare competes directly with easyJet on short-haul |
| easyJet | Budget | 1 cabin bag (56x45x25cm) included | 15kg, 23kg or 26kg from €11 pre-booked | More generous cabin bag vs Ryanair — most weekend trips need no checked bag |
| KLM | Full-service | 1 cabin bag (55x35x25cm) + 1 personal item | 1x23kg in Standard/Flex; Light fares carry-on only | Policy mirrors Air France (same airline group) |
| Lufthansa | Full-service | 1 cabin bag (55x40x23cm) + 1 personal item | 1x23kg in Classic and above; Economy Light carry-on only | Economy Light fare is baggage-restricted like a budget airline |
| Norwegian Air | Budget | LowFare: small personal bag only; LowFare+: 1 cabin bag (55x40x23cm) | 20kg in LowFare+; from €18 pre-booked on LowFare | LowFare+ with bag and meal often better value than base + add-ons |
| Ryanair | Budget | 1 small bag (40x20x25cm) free; larger cabin bag €6-50 add-on | 10kg, 20kg or 25kg from €8 pre-booked | Always pre-book bags online — airport prices are significantly higher |
| TAP Air Portugal | Full-service | 1 cabin bag (55x40x20cm) + 1 personal item | 1x23kg in Basic+ and above; Discount fare carry-on only | Free Lisbon/Porto stopover on long-haul — excellent added value |
| Vueling | Budget | 1 personal bag (45x35x20cm) free; cabin bag in Basic+ or €10-50 add-on | 23kg from €15 pre-booked with Basic+ | Optima fare includes flexibility and checked bag — good value |
| Wizz Air | Budget | 1 small bag (40x30x20cm) free; larger cabin bag €14-60 add-on | 10kg, 20kg, 26kg or 32kg from €12 pre-booked | Most restrictive free allowance — small bag must fit under seat |
All prices are approximate and vary by route, season and booking time. Pre-booking bags online is always cheaper than buying at the airport or gate. Full-service airlines increasingly offer budget-style base fares without checked bags — always check what is included in your specific fare class.
The distinction between budget and full-service airlines has blurred significantly. Air France, KLM, British Airways, Lufthansa and TAP all now offer basic fare classes with no checked baggage — functionally identical to budget carriers. The key difference is that full-service base fares still include a full-sized cabin bag and personal item, while Ryanair and Wizz Air's cheapest fares include only a small under-seat bag.
For travellers who can pack light, easyJet offers the best deal among budget carriers: a full-sized cabin bag (56x45x25cm) included in every fare. Ryanair and Wizz Air restrict free baggage to a small personal bag, with larger cabin bags costing €6-60 as add-ons. Norwegian's LowFare+ fare class is worth considering — it bundles a cabin bag, checked bag and meal at a price often lower than buying each separately on the base fare.
Ryanair offers checked bags from €8 when pre-booked online, making it the cheapest per-bag option. However, easyJet includes a larger cabin bag for free, which may eliminate the need for a checked bag entirely.
Not always. Air France Light, KLM Light, BA Basic, Lufthansa Economy Light and TAP Discount fares all exclude checked baggage. Only Standard/Classic/Flex fare classes include a checked bag.
Wizz Air has the most restrictive free allowance: a small bag no larger than 40x30x20cm that must fit under the seat. Ryanair is similarly restrictive at 40x20x25cm.
Always pre-book online. Budget airlines charge 2-3x more at the airport or gate. For example, a Ryanair 20kg checked bag might cost €15 online but €40-70 at the airport.
Full-service airlines (Air France, BA, Lufthansa, KLM) in Standard or Flex fare classes include 1x23kg checked bag. For multiple bags, these carriers offer the best value as additional bag fees are lower than budget carriers.
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