How Much Do Overweight Luggage Fees Cost?


Written by:  Howmuchisit.org Staff

Overweight luggage fees can cost you an extra money when you are flying with almost any airline.  Most of the time, the weight limit on a single suitcase is 50 pounds, and if your suitcase is heavier than this, you will need to pay extra in order to check your bag.

IMG_3626 by Paul Iwancio, on Flickr
IMG_3626” (CC BY 2.0) by  Paul Iwancio

How much are airline overweight baggage fees?

The costs of overweight luggage will greatly depend on the airline and the exact weight of your luggage.  Most of the time, the fees can range from as little as $50 to more than $200.  Refer to our table below to see what most domestic airlines will charge for its overweight baggage fees:

AirlineOverweight Baggage Fees
Alaska Airlines$75
Allegiant Airlines$50 to $75, depending on the weight
American Airlines$100 to $200, depending on the weight
Frontier Airlines$35 to $200, depending on the weight
Hawaiian Airlines$35 to $200, depending on the weight
JetBlue$100
Southwest$75
Spirit$30 to $100, depending on the weight
Sun Country$75
United Airlines$100 to $200, depending on the weight
Virgin Airlines$50 to $100, depending on the weight

As for international airlines, the costs of overweight luggage fees are inside the table below:

AirlineOverweight Baggage Fees
Aer Lingus$100
Aeroflot Russian Airlines$100 to $150, depending on the weight
Aeromexico$35 to $200, depending on the weight
Air Canada$105
Air China$75 to $110, depending on the weight
Air France$100 to $200, depending on the weight
Air New Zealand$150
Air Tahiti Nui$75 to $100, depending on the weight
Air Transat$75
Aviaca$90 to $150
Cathay Pacific Airways$100
El Al Israel AIrlines$55 to $100, depending on the weight
Emirates$50
Eva Airways$30 to $500, depending on the weight
Finnair$100
Iberia$100
Insel AIr$40
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines$100
Korean Air$100 to $200, depending on the weight
LOT Polish Airlines$70 to $225, depending on the weight
Lufthansa German Airlines$75 to $450, depending on the weight
Philippine Airlines$150 to $450, depending on the weight
Qantas Airlines$75
Sas Scandinavian Airlines$250
Singapore Airlines$100 to $225, depending on the weight
South African Airways$200 to $400, depending on the weight
Swiss$300 to $450, depending on the weight
Turkish Airlines$80 to $150, depending on the weight
WestJet$55 to $65
WOW Air$20

Tips to know:

Be careful when going on vacation.  If your luggage is very close to the limit on the way there, you may have trouble on the way back.  Purchasing clothing and souvenirs while on vacation is a common practice, and you need to make sure you have the room to get all your new things home while staying under the weight limit.  Adding a few new t-shirts could put you a few pounds over the limit.

Most of the airlines charge additional fees when the bag’s weight is over 50 pounds.  If your luggage is going to be over 100 pounds, they may ask you to break it up or can simply prevent you from bringing it on board.  In some cases, depending on the airline policy, they may combine the average of all bags checked in to determine the total weight.

How can I save money?

Travel light.  There is no best way to cut down expenses on luggage than to travel with the prescribed number and weight of bags.  If you are unsure of what a bag is going to weight, consider purchasing a luggage scale or using one at the airport ahead of time.

Consider shipping your bags ahead of time, especially if they are overweight.  Even if the prices are similar, you won’t have to worry about losing your bags during the flight or carrying them around the airport parking lot.

If you are a frequent flyer or even hold a premium credit card from one of the airlines, refer to the documentation to see if you can avoid these fees.


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