On the commercial transportation, mostly with airlines, the baggage allowance is
the amount of checked or carry-on luggage the airline will allow per
passenger. On some airlines, this is the amount that is allowed free of charge.
In other cases, this is the firm limit, and carrying additional weight for an
extra payment is not an option. General Overview
The general allowance per passenger depends on the policies of the
particular airline. On U.S. domestic flights, it was typical for an airline
to allow passengers to check up to 2 pieces of lugagge that are up to 50
pounds each free of charge, and this can be exceeded for a fee. This changed
during 2007 with most airlines now charging for both the first and second
bag. However, within Europe, and often on flights between the United States and
Europe, the limit is as low as 40 pounds total per passenger, and many airlines
do not allow passengers to exceed this amount, even with payment of a fee. Many
passengers complain about this limit, because after the typical 15-20 pounds
of the suitcase itself, little room remains for any other items.
Checked luggage is usually measured by weight. All checked items are generally
weighed by the airline, and if they exceed the limit, the passenger is
informed by the airline. To avoid any fees, the passenger often must switch
some of the items found in the suitcase to another suitcase, or else carry it
on. Carry-on luggage is judged primarily by
size. Bags are measured by dimension or in total linear measurement. Passengers
can thereby skip weight restrictions by carrying on the item. However, there are
more restrictions on the types of belongings that can be carried on the
plane. Piece Concept
On flights over the Atlantic Ocean, passenger baggage is controlled by the
so-called Piece Concept. Under the Piece Concept, passengers are permitted to
check two bags with a per-bag weight of up to 50 pounds for Economy Class, and
up to 70 pounds for Business or First Class. Certain airlines operating under
the Piece Concept may add additional checked baggage allowance for their
Elite Level fliers. Weight restrictions are per bag, unlike the Weight Concept.
Most airlines have changed the policy and allow as of November 2009 only one
bag to be checked in for free. The second bag will cost between $50-100.
Weight Concept On flights not serving the United States
or Canada, passenger baggage is controlled by the so-called Weight
Concept. Under the Weight Concept, each passenger is permitted to check a total
bag weight in however many bags they have. Typically, Economy Class is
permitted to check in up to 20 kilograms, Business Class is permitted
to check in 30 kilograms, and First Class is permitted 40 kilograms. Some
Airlines mainly based in the Middle East such as Emirates, Gulf Air, Qatar
Airways, Etihad Airways, etc. offer 10kg extra per class, so 30kg Economy, 40kg
Business and 50kg in First Class. Unlike the Piece Concept, in which weight
restrictions are per bag, the Weight Concept allows passengers to combine
their bag weight into fewer bags which would otherwise be too heavy to travel
under the Piece Concept. For students some airline allow additional extra for
each class. This would make the weight limit as 40kg in Economy, 50kg in
Business and 60kg in First Class; these are in addition to 7kg cabin allowance.
So in effect a student can carry a total of 47kg in Economy Class, 57kg in
Business Class and 67kg in First Class. External links
TSA List of Permitted and Prohibited Items
References New IATA link for reference:
ww.iata.orgpassengerPages/check-bag.aspx