What is checked (hold) baggage?

Checked baggage — also called hold baggage — is luggage you hand over at the airline check-in desk. It travels in the aircraft's cargo hold and isn't accessible during the flight; you collect it at baggage claim after landing.

Typical size and weight limits

Your exact allowance is shown during booking and on your booking details page. Budget and low-cost airlines sometimes sell 10-, 15-, or 20-kg bags separately.

Is checked baggage included?

It depends on the airline and fare:

• Full-service airlines (most long-haul flights) usually include 20–32 kg in the ticket.
• Low-cost airlines (Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet, and similar) charge for checked baggage as an add-on.
• Mixed fares (economy light vs. economy standard) vary — your booking screen always shows what's included.

Need checked baggage? You can add it during checkout, or at any time afterwards from your booking details page. See How do I add checked baggage to my booking? for step-by-step instructions. Adding it in advance is almost always cheaper than paying at the airport.

What to pack in checked baggage

Checked baggage is best for items that are too large, heavy, or restricted for the cabin:

• Clothing, shoes, and toiletries for longer trips
• Liquids over 100 ml (shampoo, perfumes, food)
• Gifts and souvenirs

Keep these in hand baggage, not checked: passport and documents, medication, cash, jewelry, electronics (especially laptops), and anything fragile or irreplaceable.

Special equipment and sports gear

Bulky or specialist items — skis, snowboards, bikes, surfboards, golf clubs, diving gear, fishing rods, large musical instruments — are usually treated as special baggage. Most airlines:

• Require you to declare the item in advance, either during booking or by contacting the airline directly
• Charge a separate fee, often €30–€100 per leg depending on size, route, and airline
• Have specific packaging rules (e.g. hard-shell case for bikes, pedals removed, handlebars turned)

Small musical instruments (violins, ukuleles) can often go as hand baggage. Large instruments (cellos, guitars) may need their own purchased cabin seat if you don't want to check them. Contact the airline as early as possible — availability for oversized items is limited per flight.

Travelling with young children

Airlines usually carry baby equipment free of charge, in addition to your standard allowance:

• Strollers, prams, and pushchairs — can be gate-checked right before boarding and returned at the aircraft door or at baggage claim.
• Car seats and travel cribs — usually free as checked baggage or gate-checked.
• Baby carriers — can stay with you in the cabin.

What's not allowed in checked baggage

Commonly prohibited items include:

• Explosives, fireworks, and flammable gases
• Spare lithium batteries and power banks — these must travel in hand baggage
• Certain chemicals, paints, and pressurised containers
• Smart bags with built-in batteries — the battery must be removable, and if you check the bag, take the battery out and carry it in hand baggage

For the authoritative list, check your airline's restricted-items page or the IATA dangerous-goods guidance.

If your checked baggage is overweight or oversized

Airlines apply excess-baggage fees at the airport — these are usually significantly higher than pre-purchased allowance. To avoid surprises:

• Weigh your suitcase at home — most bathroom scales work if you stand on them holding the bag and subtract your own weight.
• If you're close to the limit, pre-purchase a larger allowance online before heading to the airport.
• If a bag is well over the limit and splitting items isn't practical, buying a second bag at the desk is often cheaper than excess-weight fees.

At the airport

Drop your checked bag at the airline's check-in desk or an automated bag-drop kiosk. You'll receive a baggage receipt — keep it safe until you've collected your bag. After landing, follow the signs to baggage claim and find your flight number on the carousel display.

If your baggage is lost, delayed, or damaged

If your bag doesn't arrive at baggage claim or arrives damaged, report it before you leave the airport at the airline's baggage service desk (often signed as "Lost and Found" or "Baggage Services"). You'll need:

• Your boarding pass or e-ticket
• Your baggage receipt(s) — the sticker given to you at check-in
• A description of the bag and its contents

The airline will issue a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with a file reference you'll use to track the bag and claim any compensation.

Delayed baggage. Airlines usually deliver recovered bags to your address within 24–72 hours at their own cost. Keep receipts for essential items you have to buy while waiting (toiletries, a change of clothes) — most airlines reimburse reasonable amounts.

Lost baggage. A bag is normally considered lost after 21 days. Under the Montreal Convention, airlines are liable for up to approximately 1,288 SDR (around €1,600 / US$1,700) per passenger on international flights. File a written claim with the airline; for EU-departing or EU-carrier flights, you also have rights under EU passenger regulations.

Damaged baggage. Report damage immediately at the airport if possible — airlines often refuse claims filed later. For international flights you generally have 7 days to file a written claim for damage and 21 days for delay.

Tip: photograph your bag and its contents before you travel — it helps significantly with claims.

Learn more

• Baggage basics: hand vs. checked baggage
• What is hand baggage?
• How do I add checked baggage to my booking?