Baggage and Carry-On: How Not to Overpay at the Airport
The price of a ticket without baggage and the price of a trip with a suitcase are often very different. A bag fee at the check-in desk can be larger than what you saved on a "cheap" fare. Here is what to check before you book.
The fare decides everything
Almost every airline sells the same flight in several fares. The cheapest (Light, Basic, Promo and so on) often includes only cabin baggage, sometimes just a small under-seat bag. Higher fares add a suitcase, seat selection, refunds or changes. So compare not the first price in the search but the price with the baggage you actually need.
This matters most with low-cost carriers such as Pegasus, but full-service airlines like AZAL, Uzbekistan Airways or Air Astana also sell fares without checked bags. Look up each airline's rules on its own website; the list of carriers is in airlines.
How to read a baggage allowance
- Weight concept: a total weight, say 20 kg, which you can split between bags.
- Piece concept: 1PC means one bag, usually up to 23 kg. Two 12 kg suitcases on a 1PC allowance count as an extra bag.
- Size matters too. Besides weight, bags have a limit on the sum of the three dimensions. Oversized items (skis, bikes, prams) are often handled separately.
Carry-on
Every airline sets its own carry-on size and weight, and low-cost carriers check them more strictly. Before you go:
- measure your bag including wheels and handles;
- check whether a backpack or handbag counts as a separate item;
- keep liquids in containers of up to 100 ml, all in one clear bag: the general rule at many airports;
- carry power banks and spare lithium batteries in the cabin only; they are not allowed in checked baggage.
How to save
- Add baggage online in advance. On the airline's website it is usually cheaper than at the airport.
- Weigh your suitcase at home. Excess weight fees for a couple of extra kilos can be painfully high.
- Check connections. If your trip uses two airlines or two separate tickets, the allowance can differ on each flight.
- Travel light on short trips. For a weekend, cabin baggage is often enough, and then the cheapest fare really is the best deal.
The trip budget calculator helps you add up tickets, accommodation and daily costs, and the price calendar shows the cheapest dates.
If your bag is delayed or damaged
Do not leave the baggage hall. Go to the airline's or airport's Lost & Found desk, file a report (PIR) and keep its reference number, your boarding pass and bag tag. Keep receipts for essentials you have to buy because of the delay. Always carry valuables and medicines in your cabin bag, as we explain in long-haul flight tips.
