Whether you’re taking a weekend trip with Air France or a transatlantic vacation, knowing how much luggage you can take will prevent surprise costs from popping up once you get to their airport. Here’s everything you need to know about Air France’s baggage allowance, broken down by fare.
Economy
The economy is the most affordable fare, so with it, you get only the most basic allowances for both your cabin baggage and checked bags. You can purchase additional items for a fee.
Cabin Baggage
You are allowed one piece of carry-on luggage and one personal item when you are flying economy with Air France.
- Your carry-on luggage needs to be 55 x 35 x 25 cm or smaller.
- Your personal item needs to be 40 x 30 x 15 cm or smaller, including wheels, pockets, and handles. It should be small enough to fit under the seat in front of you unless you are in an exit row. Personal items in exit rows need to be placed in the overhead bin, as loose items can be a hazard in the case of an emergency.
The weight of both items must be no more than 12 kg. It is unlikely that Air France will weigh your bags, but you don’t want to take the chance of having to check them or pay for additional weight.
Checked Baggage
In addition to your cabin baggage, you can also check a bag. This is free if you are traveling in regular economy.
- Checked bags can be any size, but you may have to pay an additional premium if it is considered oversized. You’ll want to keep it under 158 cm to be considered standard size.
- Checked bags should weigh no more than 23 kg. If it is more than that, you will have to pay a heavy fee, though some agents will let you move items around into your checked bag if you are close.
One checked bag is included in the price of your fare. You can pay for additional bags, though the cost will vary based on the type of luggage and the length of your flight. Expect to pay between $55 and $300, though you can get a discount is you purchase the checked bag online in advance.
Light Fare Economy
Light fare economy is Air France’s cheapest fare, but it’s not available on all flights. There are different baggage allowances with this fare. You get one free piece of hand baggage and one personal item. However, there are no free checked bags included in this fair. If you want to check a bag, you will need to pay for it in advance or at the airport.
If you plan to check a bag, it may be best to purchase the standard economy fare.
Premium Economy
You get some extra perks when you travel in premium economy, including extra legroom and more luggage allowance.
Cabin Baggage
You are allowed two carry-on bags and one personal item when you are traveling in premium economy on Air France.
- Your hand luggage should be no bigger than 55 x 35 x 25 cm. This includes any pockets, wheels, and handles.
- Your personal item should not exceed 40 x 30 x 15 cm in size. It should be small enough to fit under the chair in front of you unless you’re in an exit row. If you are, you should place it in the overhead container.
The combined weight of your hand baggage and personal items should not exceed 12 kg in total. Air France has the right to weigh your hand luggage, though in most cases, they will not unless the airplane is close to its weight restrictions.
Checked Luggage
Two checked bags are included in the price of your fare, so you don’t have to worry about paying additional fees unless you plan to bring another bag to check. This does not include if you need to check an item because the overhead bins are filled.
- Your checked luggage should not exceed 158 cm in size. Anything bigger than that could be considered an oversized bag, and you will have to pay a premium for those items.
- Your checked luggage should weigh 23 kg or less. This allowance is for each suitcase so you can check a total of 46 kg.
Additional fees apply if you want to check more than two bags. You are able to pre-pay for additional bags online at a discount; however, you will be subject to fees if any of your bags are overweight at the airport. Each bag must be less than 23 kg. You cannot spread out the weight over multiple bags, even if you are within the acceptable range.
Business Class
You start to worry less about your baggage allowance when you are traveling on business class as you get even more with this fare.
Carry-on Bags
Like in premium economy, you get two carry-on bags and an additional personal item. There is one difference. You get a little bit more weight in your bag allowance.
- Your carry-on luggage should be 55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm or smaller. This applies to both bags.
- Your personal item should not exceed 40 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm.
- All of your items together should not exceed 18 kg in weight.
While there is typically more leeway given to business class travelers, Air France is within their rights to measure and weigh any carry-on bags. If they are found to be in violation of the policy, you may be asked to check your bags. Depending on if you are asked to check based on space limitation or violation, you may or may not be asked to pay a fee.
Checked Luggage
Again, your checked luggage allowance is similar to what you get in premium economy seats. The main difference is the increased weight allowance, so you don’t need to worry about overpacking!
- Business class travelers get two pieces of checked luggage that should not exceed 158 cm in size.
- Your checked luggage cannot weigh more than 32 kg a piece or 64 kg in total. You cannot share weight across your bags.
Pre-pay for additional bags at a discount online or purchase them at the airport. All checked luggage will be weighed upon check-in, so be sure to check your bag’s weight before arrival. If it is overweight, the bag will be marked as heavy and be subject to additional fees.
La Premiere
La Premiere is Air France’s first class, and you get the most benefits when it comes to baggage allowance with this fare
Carry-on Luggage
There’s not much difference when it comes to hand luggage with la premiere. You can still carry on two pieces of luggage and one personal item.
- Your carry-on bag should not exceed 55 cm x 35 cm x 25 cm.
- Your hand luggage should not exceed 18 kg in weight.
- Your personal item should fit underneath the seat.
Your carry-on luggage will be given first priority, and it is unlikely that Air France will run out of space or that they will weigh it, unlike other classes if it is a full flight. You can rest easy knowing what you want to bring with you on the plane will most likely make it.
Checked Bags
You get the best value if you travel heavy when you are in la premiere.
- You get three checked bags for free, and they should not exceed 158 cm in size.
- Each of your bags should weigh no more than 32 kg. That means that you can bring up to 96 pounds across all three bags.
This incredible luggage allowance is in addition to the two pieces of carry-on luggage and your personal item, so in total, you can bring up to 114 pounds of luggage with you on the flight. Keep in mind that not all flights offer la premiere, so be sure to check into it before you choose your flight and destination.
What About Duty-Free Shopping Bags?
If you get to the airport early or have a layover, you may find yourself spending time in the duty-free shops. Everything you buy is allowed on the plane, but there are some restrictions. For example, you cannot drink your own liquor on the flight, even if it was purchased in the shops.
If the bag is sealed after you purchase it, you may not be able to bring it with you on the plane if it is open. Your duty-free bags may count against your hand baggage allowance when you are traveling with Air France, so it’s best to try to fit it within your bag instead of carrying it on separately.
If you cannot fit it, you may need to check a bag at the gate. The plane has limited space in its overhead bin, so it is critical that you only take up the space you are allowed so there is room for everyone else’s bags.
How Do I Know How Many Bags I Can Bring?
Because there are a lot of nuances to Air France’s baggage allowance, it can be difficult to know exactly what you can and cannot bring on the flight with you in terms of luggage amount. As you book your ticket, it will tell you how many bags you can bring. If you have questions, you can always contact Air France’s customer service team.
Additionally, as part of the booking process, Air France will ask if you want to purchase additional luggage. If you change your mind, you can always go back into your booking and add an extra bag prior to arrival to help streamline the check-in process. You can even get a discount if you buy it in advance. Keep in mind that all bags will be weighed, and you may be subject to fees if your bag is deemed heavy.
Why Should I Pre-Pay for Luggage?
The biggest perk of purchasing additional luggage in advance is the discount. You get 20 percent off the fee if you do so, which can add up if you are bringing multiple bags. The cost will depend on your fare, the number of additional bags, size, weight, and more.
Pre-paying will also help the check-in process go more smoothly. All you need to do is weigh the bag. As long as it’s not heavy, it is ready to be tagged and sent along to meet its flight. If the bag is too heavy, you should be able to move around items until you meet your weight allotment to avoid incurring a fee.
You do not have to pre-pay for your luggage, but it is a great way to save a little bit, especially if you need to buy several bags. Keep in mind that light fare economy does not come with any free bags because it is the cheapest fare. If you want to check a bag, you will need to purchase one.
Always compare prices to ensure it was not more cost-efficient to purchase regular economy in this case. For those looking for a quick trip with just a carry-on, it may be perfect; however, for those who need to get somewhere with at least one bag, it may be worth the upgrade to regular economy or premium economy.
Conclusion
Air France Baggage allowance varies based on the type of fare you have.
- Light fare economy: No free checked bag, 1 carry-on, 1 personal item.
- Economy: 1 free checked bag, 1 carry-on, 1 personal item
- Premium economy: 2 free checked bags, 2 carry-ons, 1 personal item
- Business: 2 free checked bags, 2 carry-ons, 1 personal item
- La Premiere: 3 free checked bags, 2 carry-ons, 1 personal item.
The weight allowance varies for each, so make sure you know what it is before you get to the airport. You may pay a fine for heavy luggage if your bags are overweight. You can always purchase additional luggage in advance or on-site as long as there is space.
