BAGGAGE RULES

A personal item is a smaller bag designed to fit completely beneath the seat in front of you. A carry-on bag is generally larger and is stored in an overhead bin.

Common personal items include purses, laptop bags, briefcases, and small backpacks. Carry-ons often include small roller bags, duffels, or travel backpacks. Always check the airline’s published dimensions for both types of baggage.

No. Many standard economy fares include one carry-on and one personal item, but certain basic economy, light, saver, and low-cost fares may include only a personal item.

Review the baggage allowance shown during booking and in your reservation. Do not rely only on the fare name because similarly named fares can have different rules on different airlines and routes.

There is no single carry-on size that applies to every airline. Each carrier sets its own maximum height, width, depth, and sometimes weight.

Measurements normally include wheels, handles, exterior pockets, and attachments. International and regional airlines may allow smaller or lighter cabin bags than travelers expect.

The airline may charge an overweight fee, an oversized fee, or both in addition to the regular checked-bag charge. You may also be required to remove or redistribute items before the bag is accepted.

Bags that exceed the airline’s absolute maximum may be refused or require separate cargo shipment. Paying an extra fee does not guarantee that every bag will be accepted.

Many airlines allow travelers to add and pay for checked baggage through the airline website, mobile app, or online check-in process. Some airlines offer a lower advance price, while others charge the same amount at the airport.

Prepaying does not excuse an overweight or oversized bag. The bag must still meet the airline’s size, weight, quantity, and restricted-item rules.

At U.S. security checkpoints, most liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes must be in containers holding no more than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters. The containers must fit inside one clear, resealable quart-size bag.

Medically necessary liquids, infant nourishment, and certain other items may qualify for exceptions and additional screening. Larger nonessential liquids should usually be packed in checked baggage.

Pack essential medications in your personal item or carry-on so they remain accessible during the flight and in case checked baggage is delayed or lost.

Bring enough for the trip plus a reasonable extra supply for disruptions. For international travel, check whether the destination requires original containers, prescription copies, physician letters, or advance permission.

Power banks and spare lithium batteries generally must remain in carry-on baggage. Battery terminals should be protected from contact with metal objects and accidental short circuits.

If your carry-on is gate-checked, remove power banks, spare batteries, and electronic smoking devices before handing the bag to the airline.

It may, especially when all flights are issued on one ticket and the airlines have baggage-transfer agreements. However, automatic transfer is not guaranteed.

Separate tickets, customs procedures, airport changes, overnight stopovers, and unrelated airlines may require you to collect and recheck the bag. Always read the final airport code printed on the baggage tag and ask the check-in agent when you will see the bag again.

Some countries require travelers to collect checked baggage at the first point of entry, proceed through customs, and return the bag to a transfer belt or airline recheck counter.

This may be required even when the baggage tag shows your final destination. Allow enough connection time for immigration, baggage claim, customs, recheck, terminal changes, and security.

Before handing over the bag, remove anything essential, valuable, fragile, or prohibited from the aircraft cargo hold.

• Prescription medications and medical supplies
• Passports, identification, and travel documents
• Power banks and spare lithium batteries
• Cash, jewelry, keys, and valuables
• Laptops, tablets, cameras, and fragile electronics
• Anything needed during the flight or connection

It depends on the airline, aircraft, airport, and type of gate-check tag. The bag may be returned beside the aircraft on the jet bridge, sent to the regular baggage carousel, delivered to an oversized-baggage area, or transferred to your final destination.

Ask the gate agent where the bag will be returned and keep the claim receipt until you recover it.

Many airlines allow one stroller and one child safety seat per traveling child without a fee, but policies vary. Large jogging strollers, wagons, travel systems, and oversized equipment may follow different procedures.

Confirm whether the item can be gate-checked, where it will be returned, and whether it counts toward the traveler’s baggage allowance.

Review the airline’s policy for the exact item rather than relying only on its general baggage rules. Some equipment counts as a standard checked bag, while other items have specialty fees, advance-notice requirements, packaging rules, or route restrictions.

Use a protective case, secure loose components, remove prohibited fuels or batteries, photograph the item, and check the airline’s liability limits before departure.

Check the regular carousel, oversized-baggage area, and any gate-checked baggage location. If the bag is still missing, report it to the baggage service office for the airline that operated your final flight before leaving the airport.

Obtain a written or electronic report number, tracking instructions, delivery information, and guidance about reasonable necessary purchases. Keep all baggage tags and receipts.

Photograph the damage and report it to the airline before leaving the airport whenever possible. Keep the suitcase, damaged parts, baggage tags, and contents until the airline provides claim or repair instructions.

Airlines may distinguish significant damage from ordinary wear, scratches, scuffs, dents, or damage caused by overpacking. Reporting deadlines can be short, so act promptly.

Airlines can update general baggage fees, dimensions, procedures, and restricted-item policies. The allowance shown on your ticket or reservation may depend on the rules that applied when the fare was purchased, but safety and operational requirements can still change.

Save the baggage information displayed at booking and verify the current policy again before departure.

Codeshare and multi-airline itineraries can be complicated. Ticketing rules may determine the allowance and fees, while the operating airline may control baggage acceptance, cabin storage, safety procedures, and restricted items.

Review both the ticketing and operating carriers and confirm the allowance for every segment directly with the airlines when the itinerary is unclear.

You may use an approved luggage lock, but security officers must be able to inspect checked baggage when necessary. A lock can help prevent accidental opening, but it does not protect the suitcase from all loss, theft, or damage.

Never place cash, jewelry, medication, electronics, passports, or other essential valuables in checked baggage simply because the suitcase is locked.

• Use sturdy luggage that closes securely
• Remove outdated airline tags and barcode labels
• Place current contact information inside and outside
• Photograph the bag and its contents before departure
• Keep essentials and valuables in cabin baggage
• Confirm the destination printed on every baggage tag
• Retain claim receipts until all bags are recovered
• Report missing or damaged baggage immediately