Two value systems
When checking baggage, airlines adhere to one of two generally accepted systems. The first is the weight concept, adopted in most countries of the world except the USA, Canada, South and Central America. This system determines the amount of baggage in kilograms that passengers in first, business, and economy class can carry free of charge. The allowances apply to all passengers except children under two years old. For economy class passengers, who most of us fly with, airlines allow free carriage of just over or just under 20 kg, and the threshold typically does not fall below 10 kg. True, there are extremes: Ural Airlines introduced very strict restrictions last summer – only 6 kg of free baggage – for some of its flights to Egypt. But this is rather an exception… First and business class passengers are allowed to carry 40 and 30 kg free of charge respectively. The sum of three dimensions of a suitcase, box, or bag must not exceed 203 cm in first and business class, and 158 cm in economy class.
You will have to pay for extra kilograms. German Lufthansa charges about €20 per kilogram of excess weight on flights in zone 3 (between European countries and CIS and Middle Eastern countries), Swiss charges €27, and Air France charges €30 per kg.
The principle of the second system – the piece concept – is based on the fact that each passenger is entitled to carry free of charge only two pieces of baggage weighing up to 32 kg each for first and business class passengers, and up to 23 kg for economy class passengers. On flights from Europe to South American countries, between Japan and the USA or Canada, some airlines allow 32 kg for economy class passengers as well. The sum of three dimensions (width + length + height) of a suitcase or bag must not exceed 158 cm for economy class and 203 cm for first and business class. It is important to know that the weight of pieces is not combined. This means that if the weight of one piece exceeds 32 kg, you will have to pay for excess weight, even if the second piece does not reach the coveted 32 kg.
All information about baggage nuances will definitely be reflected in your ticket. So study it carefully. And then carefully weigh and measure your items before check-in.
Musical and live non-standard items
Regarding the carriage of oversized baggage (e.g., sports equipment – alpine and water skis, surfboard or snowboard, diving equipment, bicycle), fragile or valuable baggage, this must always be negotiated with the airline in advance – when booking the ticket. Some carriers allow free carriage of sports equipment on flights to ski resorts or resort regions – places of pilgrimage for divers. Thai Airways provides its customers with the opportunity to carry an additional 10 kg of diving equipment free of charge, and on Swiss flights you can carry one set of ski equipment (one pair of skis or one snowboard) free of charge.
Many airlines have a number of items to which free baggage allowances do not apply. These include musical instruments, which are transported in the cabin on a separate ticket (75 kg per seat), and animals. A small domestic pet (up to 5 kg) can be carried in the aircraft cabin, but only in a special container (cage); other four-legged and feathered animals will have to be checked in as baggage, unfortunately. In a spacious container or cage.
Difficulties of carriage
Although free baggage allowances are defined by uniform standards, they still vary greatly depending on the route, booking class, passenger status in the airline's bonus program, and other factors. Each airline has its own rules for baggage and carry-on luggage, and it does not matter what dictates them – the fight against terrorism, passenger safety, aircraft capacity, company policy, loyalty to frequent flyers, or all together. To avoid ruining your trip, it is better to familiarize yourself with the "individual" rules in advance. We must not forget about the internal rules of airports, which all airlines and all passengers obey. For example, most airports allow a lightweight baby stroller, and use of a wheelchair up to boarding. They are transported free of charge.
So, let's start with Russian companies. Aeroflot traditionally adheres to the weight system of baggage registration. In 2007, the largest Russian carrier, to the delight of passengers, changed the carry-on luggage allowance, doubling it from 5 to 10 kilograms. The size of carry-on luggage in sum of three dimensions must not exceed 115 cm. Now it is allowed to take a laptop on board. Participants of the bonus program are entitled to carry an additional 10-20 kg of baggage free of charge, depending on the class. If you are flying with a child under two years old without a separate seat, you are entitled to an additional free 10 kg.
Another major Russian carrier – Transaero – allows economy class passengers to carry 25 kg free of charge (though including the weight of carry-on luggage), and business class – 35 kg. Up to 5 kg can be carried into the aircraft cabin.
S7 Airlines, like many others, prohibits taking any models and dummies of weapons, including even children's toy pistols, into the cabin. S7 does not accept as baggage experimental animals, rodents, bees, and fish stocking material.
As for foreign airlines, the most picky about baggage and carry-on luggage awaits you on flights to the USA and Israel. For example, on all American Airlines flights, carrying lighters is strictly prohibited – neither in checked baggage nor, especially, in the cabin. You will not be allowed to bring any liquids on board either. Be prepared for very strict and impartial screening on flights of the Israeli airline El-Al. But the Israelis have a concession for first-class passengers: they are allowed to bring up to 24 (!) kg of carry-on luggage, but no more than two items.
Airlines generally like to experiment with carry-on luggage. For example, Air France allows 12 kg of carry-on luggage in the cabin, while Alitalia limits the weight to five kilograms and pays no attention to the size of bags.
New baggage rules came into effect last September at British Airways, which uses the piece concept for baggage. For passengers with only one piece of baggage, carrying one suitcase or bag weighing up to 23 kg is free. For a second piece, you will have to pay even if the total weight does not exceed the proverbial 23 kg. However, if a passenger can prove that they cannot limit themselves to one piece (say, they need to transport bulky but light items), they will be allowed to carry two pieces free of charge. Free carriage of two pieces of baggage each weighing up to 23 kg remains on British Airways' transatlantic flights: to the USA, Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean islands, and Nigeria.
Emirates Airlines allows on its flights, in addition to 40, 30, and 20 kg of free baggage (depending on class), an extra 10 kg, but only for a child without a separate seat.