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1Kg=2.2lb 2.54cm=1 inch
This chart is intended to help photographers with heavy expensive and fragile telephoto lenses choose which airlines to fly based on carry-on luggage limits. It is work in progress and any additional data is appreciated. Economy fares are assumed.
Please note that some airlines codeshare with other companies for the whole or part of a route. In this case the allowances may be the lower of the two companies. Where only one dimension is given, it is the total of width+length+height.
Green background = Lowepro Lenstracker 600 with 600mm lens
compatible.
Note the 600 bag is 56cm high but bulges with Sigma 300-800mm lens. A
bag of max carry-on size will fit the lens diagonal but with little
padding.
Yellow background = compatible with my new bag 55 x 35 x 25 and at least 10kg
See also country specific regulations beneath table.
European union restrictions: Carry-on size now 56x45x25cm.
Fluids in 100ml max containers in a single
transparent resealable plastic bag max 20cm x 20cm.
Spare lithium batteries should be in carry-on luggage with terminals
covered. Equipment with installed lithium batteries is OK to
check.
|
Airline |
Checked |
Carry-on |
Carry-on size |
Source |
Date checked |
Notes |
|
British Airways |
23kg (90cm x 75cm x 43cm ) |
23Kg - must be able to lift in overhead. (+laptop or handbag ) |
56x45x25cm +Laptop or handbag 45x36x20cm including handles and pockets must go under seat. |
August 2012 |
Fee for overweight or oversize checked bags (up to 32kg, 240cm x 75cm x 65cm ) £40/ $60. Additional checked bags £34 online,
£42 at airport 2 bags allowed Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and connecting jouneys between India, and USA, Bermuda, Canada.. |
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Continental |
Merged with United |
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Easyjet |
20kg total weight* |
Able to lift it overhead |
56x45x25cm |
August 2012 |
*Checked bags are not free - cost displayed when booking. Up to 8 bags but total 20kg - additional £10/kg up to 50kg max. Sports equipment fee £25 - raises checked allowance to 2 bags with total 32Kg but one bag must be sports equipment although doesn't have to be the entire 12kg extra weight. |
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Aeromexico |
23kg x 2 (158cm) |
10kg Plus one briefcase, handbag or Laptop. |
115cm |
August 2012 |
Additional restrictions during holiday times - see website. |
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Monarch |
20kg* |
10kg Scheduled flights |
56x45x25cm |
August 2012 |
*Scheduled flights checked bags cost 11.99 - 18.99 Pounds each way if booked online or 25 Pounds at the airport. There is no free allowance . Excess baggage £10 for 1st 3kg online the £22.50 per 3 Kg(max 12kg) or £10 per kg at airport or by phone. Charter flights normally 20kg total including the carry-on weight up to 5kg but check with tour company. |
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American Airlines |
Europe, Mexixo, Caribbean, Bermuda, Bahamas, Central and
S. America 1x23kg (158cm) Brazil 2 x 32kg
No free allowance within USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and US virgin Most routes charge for 2nd bag. See airlines website |
No longer stated (used to be 18kg) |
56x35x23cm Personal item 91cm to fit under seat. |
August 2012 |
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Iberia (Spain) |
23kg 2x 32kg Brazil (tourist express - no free bags) (158cm) |
10kg plus small briefcase, handbag, small camera or video camera or binoculars, laptop. |
115cm |
August 2012 |
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Kenyan |
Intra Africa 30kg. 40Kg to/from Africa to Middle East, Asia, Far East 23kg x 2 Europe |
10kg |
55x38x20cm 1 piece plus 1 laptop, 1 small camera, ladies handbag. |
August 2012 |
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Delta Airlines |
1 x 23kg free to most locations 32kg x2 Brazil No free allowance within USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and US virgin islands. ($25 first bag, $35 2nd) |
No longer stated (used to be 18kg) |
56x36x23cm plus a personal item (Purses, briefcases, camera cases, and diaper bags or item of similar or smaller size) |
August 2012 |
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Air France |
Complex (From 20kg) |
12kg (Total of 1 item and personal item) |
55x35x25cm |
August 2012 |
Use the calculator on the website to find your checked allowance. |
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KLM |
23kg 2 x 23kg some routes |
12kg (Including one of the following: handbag, briefcase, camera, small laptop) |
55x35x25cm |
August 2012 |
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Aerogal |
Domestic 2 pieces total 23Kg USA 2 x 23kg |
10Kg (plus camera, video camera or laptop, blanket, handbag for women) |
115cm |
August 2012 |
Purchase annual VIP card to increase checked allowance to 30kg (used to be $400 in 2010 but cant find current price). |
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United Airlines |
2x 23kg on most routes but 1st and 2nd bag fees may apply. |
? no limit |
56x35x23cm plus purse, briefcase or laptop, coat |
August 2012 |
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AllegianAir |
18Kg (127cm)* x2 *up to $35 per segment per bag |
11.34kg for $30 |
55.9x38.1x17.8cm |
August 2012 |
Prices per fliight segment one way. Overweight to 31.8kg $50 Excess carry-on $35 and may be checked. |
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RyanAir |
15kg £15 1st bag (£25 high season) 20kg £25 1st bag (£35 high season) Max 2 bags Prices one way. (+/- £5 on selected flights) |
10kg |
55x40x20cm |
August 2012 |
Excess weight £20 per kg at airport only |
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Flybe |
20kg for a fee* |
10kg |
50x35x23cm |
May 2009 |
Checked luggage fee £13 or £7.99 if booked online. Excess baggage £10/kg for 1st 3 kg, £15/kg for 4-6kg, £20 for every kg above 6 . |
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Austrian Airlines |
20kg |
8kg |
55x40x23cm |
May 2009 |
23kg x2 checked for USA, Canada, Mexico |
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Swiss Int. |
20kg |
8kg |
55x40x20cm |
May 2009 |
23kg x2 checked for USA |
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Air India |
20kg |
8kg |
55x40x20cm |
May 2009 |
23kg x2 checked for USA |
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Air Greenland |
20kg |
8kg |
50x40x23cm |
May 2009 |
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Lufthansa |
20kg |
8kg |
55x40x20cm |
May 2009 |
Checked baggage 23kg x2 long haul. |
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LAN (Equador, Peru, Chile) |
23kg total (2 pieces) |
8kg |
55x35x25cm |
May 2009 |
Checked baggage varies with route |
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S. African Airways |
20kg |
8kg |
115cm |
May 2009 |
More checked to USA see website |
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Carribean Airlines |
23kg x2 |
7kg |
119cm + laptop sized bag or briefcase. |
October 2010 |
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Qantas |
23kg |
7kg |
115cm (56x36x23) |
May 2009 |
Checked allowance varies |
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Air Seychelles |
23kg |
7kg |
115cm |
May 2009 |
20kg checked on regional sectors |
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Singapore Airlines |
20kg |
7kg |
115cm |
May 2009 |
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Air Mauritias |
23kg |
7kg |
115cm |
May 2009 |
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Emirates |
See calculator |
7kg |
55x38x20 |
May 2009 |
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Etihad |
20kg |
7kg |
115cm |
May 2009 |
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Qatar Airways |
20kg |
7kg |
50x37x25cm |
May 2009 |
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Cathay Pacific |
20kg |
7kg + small camera, coat, notebook, laptop, briefcase 4kg (except Heathrow) |
56x36x23cm |
May 2009 |
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Eva Air |
20kg |
7kg |
56x36x23 |
May 2009 |
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Thai Air |
20kg |
7kg |
56x46x25 |
Aug 2007 |
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Tame (Galapagos) |
20kg |
7kg |
61x40x25cm |
April 2008 |
Excess checked baggage 1% fare per kg if available. |
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Virgin Atlantic |
23kg |
6kg |
56x36x23cm |
Dec 2008 |
Double checked on some routes but size restrictions |
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British Midland |
20kg |
Able to lift in overhead + small personal item. |
55x40x23cm |
April 2008 |
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TAP Portugal |
20kg |
6kg |
55x40x20cm |
April 2008 |
Checked to Brazil, Caracas and NY is 2 x 23kg |
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Loganair (Scotland) |
15kg |
6kg |
51x38x25cm |
April 2006 |
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SN Brussels |
20kg |
6kg |
55x40x20 |
April 2006 |
23kg x2 checked to USA |
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Thomson Fly |
Flight only customers 20kg (longhaul premium seats 23kg) if booked and paid for with ticket from £6.50 per item. Package holidays see ticket. |
5kg Premium seats 7kg |
55x40x20cm |
May 2009 |
Excess baggage fees vary - 50% discount for advance online booking. Package tours have different allowances - see brochure or ticket. |
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Air Malta |
20kg |
5kg |
50x45x18cm |
April 2008 |
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Varig (Brazil) |
20kg |
5kg |
115cm |
April 2008 |
Some routes checked is 2 x 32kg. |
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Alitalia |
20kg |
5kg |
55x35x25cm |
Feb 2007 |
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China Eastern |
30kg |
5kg |
none stated |
April 2008 |
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TAM (Brazil) |
23kg |
5kg |
55x40x20cm |
April 2008 |
2 carry-ons to Europe and USA except UK; Checked 32kg x2 to some dests inc Europe, USA. |
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KoralBlue |
20Kg |
5Kg |
55x40x20cm |
April 2009 |
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Malaysia Airlines |
20kg |
5kg |
56x36x23cm |
Aug 2008 |
Link downloads a pdf file |
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Egyptair |
20kg |
8kg |
55x40x23cm |
Sept 2010 |
More checked to USA see website |
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NatureAir |
13.6kg (127cm) |
4.5kg |
84cm |
May 2009 |
No overhead compartments |
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(These are difficult to verify on Internet so they are based
mainly on individual reports)
The lower of the Airline and country allowances will apply.
Germany maximum carry-on weight 8kg
New Zealand carry-on 7kg plus laptop plus ladies handbag
(weight checked at security)
Australia - one report of 5kg limit from 1997 (can anyone
verify this more recently ?)
UK - Carry-on size of 56x45x25cm
23Kg. Fluids must be in 100ml or smaller bottles. All bottles to be
in transparent resealable plastic bag maximum size 20cm x 20cm. One
plastic bag per person only.
Government guidlines now allow a second carry-on bag but see
individual airlines restrictions plus not all airports comply
yet.
UK Stanstead Airport - Carry on size maximum 56x40x20cm
Brazil - Congonhas Airport (SBSP/CGH - Sao Paulo's domestic airport) Hand luggage 5Kg 55cm tall. Source
Rio airport security would not allow my Monopod in hand luggage even though it collapsed to allowable size and was in the same bag as the longer 800mm f5.6 lens. They said it was because it extended and sent me back to check it in. Also they would not allow an allen key found in my pocket. Expensive equipment has to be declared on entering the country and they wanted all serial numbers listed so it would be wise to have a list ready. You then have to show the declaration and equipment before you go through security when leaving. BA pre-checkin assistant felt the weight of my carry-on bag and commented on the size but did not actualy weigh it - it was about 15kg and exactly allowable size.
Please be aware that restrictions that apply to specific countries or airports may also apply to flights that pass through them even though your journey does not start or end at them.