Michael Turner
Carry-on allowances: free small item: 40 x 20 x 25 cm. Purchasing Priority permits a second cabin bag 55 x 40 x 20 cm, maximum 10 kg. If carrying a garment bag, fit it into those dimensions or add a hold-bag to your booking.
Hold-bag options and timing: add a checked item during booking or via Manage Booking up to 2 hours before departure; online rates are almost always lower than airport prices. Typical weight tiers offered are 10 kg, 20 kg and 32 kg; fees vary by route and booking time, commonly ranging from roughly €10 to €80 when bought in advance.
Airport procedure: present a mobile or printed boarding pass at the bag-drop counter; bag-drop closes 40 minutes before scheduled departure and boarding gates close 30 minutes prior. Bags that exceed purchased weight or dimensions may incur immediate charges or be refused entry to the hold.
Quick checklist: buy your hold allowance online, confirm exact dimensions and weight limits for your fare, secure the boarding pass no later than 2 hours before departure, arrive early enough for bag-drop and security, keep all payment confirmations for reference.
Bag-drop and preparation for flights on the carrier
Purchase a hold-bag allowance online as soon as you book; pre-purchased fares often cost far less than payments made at the terminal.
Carry-on policy: a free small personal item up to 40 x 20 x 25 cm is normally allowed. Paying for Priority typically permits an additional 10 kg wheeled cabin bag sized 55 x 40 x 20 cm; confirm the operator’s exact dimensions on the booking page before departure.
At the terminal, proceed to the designated bag-drop desk after presenting a mobile or printed boarding pass. Aim to arrive at least two hours before short-haul departures; bag-drop desks commonly stop accepting checked items around 40 minutes before scheduled departure time.
Weigh your case at home and redistribute contents to meet your purchased allowance. If excess mass is likely, upgrade online to a higher allowance rather than paying airport overage fees; on-the-spot surcharges can be several times higher than pre-booked options.
Pack valuables, medications and fragile articles inside your hand item only. Secure straps, lock zippers and attach a printed tag showing booking reference and destination; place a copy of the itinerary inside the case as backup.
Special items such as sports gear, musical instruments or pet transport require advance purchase and booking confirmation via the carrier’s baggage portal; oversized pieces may be routed to special handling and incur additional charges. Check permitted item lists and prepare required documentation before arriving at the airport.
Which hold-bag options can I add to my booking and by what deadlines?
Buy at least one 20 kg hold bag during booking; add extra pieces via Manage Booking up to 2 hours before departure to avoid steep airport fees.
Typical hold-bag options sold online: 10 kg hold bag (budget short-trip option) and 20 kg hold bag (standard). Depending on route and fare you can usually add up to three bags per traveller; individual bag allowance commonly capped at 20 kg.
Overweight and oversize rules: items above the paid allowance are treated as excess and incur additional charges at the airport; very heavy items (around 32 kg and over) may be refused or require special handling fees. Splitting content into an extra paid bag online almost always costs less than paying excess at the desk.
When to add: during initial booking (lowest rates); via Manage Booking on the carrier website or app up to 2 hours before scheduled departure; at the airport bag-drop counter until it closes (typically about 40 minutes before departure). Buying extra allowance at the airport or at the gate is allowed in some airports but is significantly more expensive and not guaranteed after bag-drop closes.
Price notes and tip: online pre-purchase usually offers the best price; expect airport and gate purchases to be multiple times higher. If plans change, update allowances through Manage Booking rather than waiting until arrival at the airport.
Add and pay for hold bags online – step-by-step guide
Add a hold bag via the carrier’s Manage Booking area or mobile app and complete payment using a debit/credit card, PayPal or mobile wallet; keep the payment confirmation and booking reference for airport desk presentation.
Step 1 – gather the booking reference (PNR), passenger surname and the email used during purchase; have the primary card and a backup card ready in case of card authentication failures.
Step 2 – open Manage Booking on the carrier website or launch the official app, enter PNR and surname, then select the passenger whose booking requires an extra hold item.
Step 3 – choose the number of pieces and the weight class required, confirm the total shown (base fee + taxes + service charge) and review the displayed policy notes about weight limits and prohibited items before proceeding to payment.
Step 4 – select payment method: Visa, MasterCard, American Express (if accepted), PayPal or Apple/Google Pay on supported devices; complete any card issuer 3D Secure step when prompted to avoid a decline.
Step 5 – once payment authorisation finishes, download or screenshot the amendment confirmation and the updated booking summary; the system usually sends a separate email confirming the add-on fee and showing the updated booking reference.
If the payment fails, try an alternate card, switch between desktop and mobile app, clear browser cache or use an incognito window; if errors persist, contact the carrier’s reservations team and provide the PNR, transaction timestamp and the error code displayed.
To reassign or increase purchased hold allowance, return to Manage Booking and pay for an additional item or higher weight; cancellations of paid extras are typically non-refundable unless the carrier cancels the flight, so verify the refund policy before purchase.
At the airport, present the payment confirmation at the bag drop desk; staff will attach the hold tag and record the paid allowance. Account for potential overweight charges at drop-off if actual weight exceeds the paid allowance.
For group bookings, add extras per passenger to ensure each person’s allowance is applied correctly; a single transaction can often cover multiple passengers but verify passenger names on the amendment before finalising payment.
Protect fragile valuables by keeping them in the cabin bag and consider insurance for high-value items; for compact night photography gear consider checking this resource: best digital camera binoculars with night vision.
Size, weight limits and excess fees for registered baggage
Purchase a 20 kg hold bag online at booking; airport purchases and overweight penalties are significantly higher.
Permitted dimensions per item: maximum 81 x 119 x 119 cm (height × width × depth). Individual-piece maximum weight sold through the carrier’s options is normally 10 kg or 20 kg per item depending on the fare or add-on purchased.
Typical weight tiers offered online: 10 kg and 20 kg. You can add multiple items (subject to route rules), but each added piece must not exceed its purchased weight allowance; any single item over the allowed weight must be upgraded or surcharged.
Excess-weight handling: upgrade to the next weight band before departure to avoid airport surcharges. Online extra‑weight prices commonly range from €6–€40 per item (route-dependent); airport purchases or overweight penalties often start from about €40–€65 per item or charged per kilo at a higher rate than online.
Overweight examples (illustrative): adding +10 kg online frequently costs under €30; buying the same allowance at the airport can exceed €50. If an item exceeds the maximum permitted piece weight and cannot be reallocated, a fixed excess fee will be applied at bag drop.
Practical steps to avoid extra charges: weigh and measure items before travel; buy the correct weight tier during booking or at least several hours before departure via the booking management page; if a piece is overweight, either redistribute contents across paid items or upgrade the allowance online rather than paying the airport surcharge.
Complete airport bag drop: documents, timing and the counter process
Arrive at the bag-drop counter at least 60 minutes before scheduled departure for regional flights and 90 minutes for non‑Schengen or long‑haul services; allow extra time during peak hours and at major hubs.
Required documents and items
Present a valid boarding pass – mobile or printed – and matching government photo ID (passport for non‑Schengen travel, national ID for eligible domestic/EU movements).
Keep your booking reference or e‑ticket QR code ready on your phone or as a printed copy.
Have the payment card available for any on‑the‑spot charges; cash acceptance varies by airport and desk.
If transporting restricted goods, sports equipment or oversized pieces, bring permits, receipts or manufacturer paperwork to speed up processing.
Counter procedure and timing rules
Join the designated bag‑drop queue (priority/fast lanes exist at many airports). At the counter, present boarding pass and ID; the agent scans the booking and places the item on the scale for weighing and into a linear gauge for measurement.
Agent prints and attaches the tag, returns a tag stub and a receipt – retain both until collection at destination. If the item exceeds the booked allowance, payment is requested by card or at a pay terminal; airport rates for extra weight or additional pieces are significantly higher than pre‑paid online rates.
Self‑service kiosks: scan the boarding pass, pay surcharges via touchscreen, print tags, affix them and drop the item at the indicated belt. This option commonly reduces queue time when available.
Most carriers close bag‑drop desks ahead of gate closure: commonly 40 minutes prior for short‑haul sectors and up to 60 minutes prior for non‑Schengen or long‑range sectors – confirm the exact deadline shown on your booking confirmation and the airport monitors upon arrival.
To avoid counter queues and potential excess fees arrange door‑to‑door transport via a specialist service: best luggage transfer service.
If a hold bag is overweight, delayed, damaged or lost
Report the problem immediately at the airport bag-drop or transfers desk and keep boarding pass plus bag tag(s); get a written reference before leaving the terminal.
Immediate steps by problem
- Overweight: Weigh your case at home using a digital scale. Buy additional allowance through Manage Booking before arriving (online rates usually lower than airport counter). At the desk either remove items into permitted cabin items, transfer to another paid allowance, or pay the counter excess fee; insist on a printed receipt and the new bag tag showing the paid allowance.
- Delayed: File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the desk and obtain the PIR reference and contact details for baggage tracing. Provide a delivery address and mobile number for bag return. Keep receipts for essential purchases (toiletries, clothing) for reimbursement requests.
- Damaged: Photograph damage immediately, keep the damaged item and outer case for inspection, and obtain a PIR. Note serial numbers and retain original purchase receipts for repairs or replacement claims.
- Lost: Ensure a PIR exists. If the carrier confirms non-recovery or 21 days pass without delivery, submit a formal lost-bag claim via the carrier’s claims portal using the PIR reference and booking code.
Documentation, timelines and claim content
- Always retain: boarding pass, booking reference, bag tag, PIR number, photos of bag and contents, purchase receipts, and any desk correspondence.
- Standard international timelines: damage claims should be submitted in writing within 7 days of bag receipt; delay or loss claims are normally pursued within 21 days from scheduled arrival. File as early as possible to avoid rejection.
- Claim pack should include: PIR reference, flight number, date, booking reference, itemised list of lost/damaged contents with approximate values, photos, original receipts, repair estimates and bank account details for payment.
- Liability note: carrier liability for international flights is governed by the Montreal Convention and expressed in SDRs; convert to local currency when preparing a claim and mention legal basis in your submission.
Practical prevention tips: weigh and photograph packed items before departure; buy extra allowance online rather than at the counter; place high-value or essential items in cabin baggage; keep receipts and serial numbers for valuables; consider travel insurance that covers delay, damage and loss.
