Baggage Allowance

The free baggage limit included in a fare — by weight or number of pieces. It varies by airline, cabin class and sometimes loyalty status, and exceeding it triggers an additional ancillary fee. Travellers and travel policies both need to account for baggage allowance when planning longer or equipment-heavy trips.

Airlines use two main systems. Under the piece concept, common on many long-haul routes, the fare includes a set number of bags, each with a maximum weight — often 23 kg in economy. Under the weight concept, the traveller is allowed a total weight regardless of the number of bags. In addition, there are separate limits for cabin baggage, usually one bag plus a personal item. Basic or light fares may include cabin baggage only, while higher fares and premium cabins include more.

Baggage allowance becomes more complicated on journeys involving several airlines, where different rules may apply to different segments. Exceeding the allowance at the airport can be expensive, while buying extra baggage in advance is usually much cheaper. For business trips that involve exhibition materials, samples or equipment, checking the allowance and pre-purchasing additional baggage should be part of trip planning to avoid unexpected costs.

In Tumodo, baggage conditions are shown with the fare before booking, so travellers can compare options with and without baggage side by side. Companies can use the travel policy to define which fare types are allowed — for example, requiring fares with baggage for longer trips or permitting hand-luggage-only fares for short visits. The full cost of each flight, including any extras, appears in the company's reports.