Michael Turner
Recommendation: Keep all travellers on one reservation and pre-purchase extras during booking. Buying a 20 kg hold bag online and adding Priority for one passenger is typically the cheapest way to increase permitted pieces and cabin rights; purchasing at the airport frequently costs two to three times more.
Key dimensions and weight limits: complimentary small personal item – 40 × 20 × 25 cm. Priority passengers may bring an additional wheeled cabin bag up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm with a 10 kg weight limit. Checked options are usually offered in 10 kg, 20 kg and up to 32 kg bags, with a single-bag maximum of 32 kg; oversized or overweight items trigger extra charges.
Booking rules: extras are tied to the booking reference. Items bought on reservation A cannot be transferred to reservation B. Within one PNR, purchased extras can be managed centrally via the airline website or app; that makes redistribution among travellers simpler than handling separate reservations.
Fee guidance and timing: expect online prices for a 20 kg checked bag roughly in the range of €8–€45 depending on route and season; airport purchase and check-in desk additions can exceed €50–€90. Priority upgrades follow a similar pattern: lowest online, highest at the gate. Pre-weigh bags at home and add necessary weight/bag products before arrival to avoid steep onsite fees.
Practical checklist before departure: 1) verify each passenger’s booked pieces on the confirmation email; 2) measure and weigh every bag against the stated dimensions and kilogram limits; 3) add Priority to one traveller if a second cabin piece is needed; 4) buy hold bags in advance and consolidate travellers onto a single booking when travelling together to lower aggregate costs.
Pooling baggage entitlements on the carrier
Purchase Priority & 2 Cabin Bags for any traveller who needs both the small free item (40×20×25 cm) and a larger cabin case (55×40×20 cm, max 10 kg); each extra item must be allocated to a named passenger and cannot be pooled across bookings.
- Per-passenger rule: all permitted items, paid upgrades and checked pieces are tied to the passenger name on the booking – shared weight or sharing of paid pieces between travellers is not allowed.
- Cabin specifics: free small personal item dimensions 40×20×25 cm; Priority upgrade adds a 55×40×20 cm bag with a 10 kg limit.
- Hold baggage: purchase online in predefined weight bands (typical options include 10 kg and 20 kg bands on many routes); each checked piece must meet the carrier’s per-piece weight limit and be assigned at booking.
- Decide allocation before arriving at the airport: assign heavier items to the passenger who has bought the larger bag or checked quota.
- Book extras during initial purchase or via the “manage booking” page to obtain the lowest fees; last-minute airport purchases often cost 2–4× more.
- Weigh and measure at home with a luggage scale and tape; keep any items exceeding cabin limits in checked pieces purchased in advance.
- If an item exceeds the booked weight or piece count at the gate, expect a surcharge or requirement to repack into correctly booked pieces; typical excess fees are substantially higher than online rates.
Practical checklist before travel:
- Confirm which passenger holds Priority or checked-piece purchases in the booking.
- Consolidate heavy items into the named passenger’s paid bag rather than attempting informal transfers.
- Keep valuables and essentials in the small personal item to avoid loss if checked pieces are separated.
- Check the carrier’s official baggage page for route-specific weight bands and up-to-date fee tables before departure.
Merging two passengers’ hold items into a single checked suitcase
Recommendation: Pooling two passengers’ paid hold entitlements into one oversized suitcase is not permitted; purchase an extra checked item under the traveller who will present the case or split contents so each checked piece meets the airline’s per-piece weight limit.
How the process works: checked items are assigned to a named passenger at booking or during baggage purchase. At bag-drop the belt tag will show the passenger name whose booking covers that piece. Ground staff will refuse a single piece that exceeds the maximum permitted weight per item, even if the total combined weight equals two paid entitlements.
Practical limits and fees: most low-cost carriers set a single checked-piece cap around 20–23 kg; oversized or overweight charges at the airport commonly range from roughly €40–€130 per bag, while pre-booking an extra checked item online is usually cheaper (typical online rates vary widely by route, from about €8 up to €60+). Paying overweight at the desk is the most expensive option.
Step-by-step options:
1. Add an extra checked piece to one passenger’s booking before travel (cheapest if done online).
2. Ensure the suitcase weight does not exceed the carrier’s per-piece maximum; if it does, redistribute items between two labelled checked pieces.
3. At bag-drop present the boarding pass of the passenger who purchased the checked piece; the tag will be issued to that name.
4. If unable to split, expect to pay the airport overweight/oversize charge or buy a higher-weight option when available.
Alternatives: send excess items via courier or ship to destination, upgrade one passenger to a fare that includes higher hold entitlement, or buy two separate checked pieces and divide contents to stay within per-piece limits–these approaches often cost less than paying oversized fees at the desk.
How to transfer a cabin item to a hold bag on the same booking
Purchase a hold bag via Manage Booking at least 48 hours before departure – online prices are substantially lower than airport or gate purchases (typical ranges vary by route but expect roughly €10–€60 when bought in advance).
Steps: log in with the reservation reference and surname, select the relevant passenger, choose “Add hold baggage” and pick a weight tier (common options: 10 kg, 20 kg, 25 kg – exact choices depend on route). Complete payment and save the confirmation; the booking will show the added checked piece and the transaction reference.
At the airport present the item at the bag-drop counter or self-service kiosk; counters normally close 40 minutes before scheduled departure on short-haul flights. Staff will tag the piece and issue a receipt. If the item is oversized or detected at the gate, expect higher gate-check charges.
Weight management: the checked piece is limited to the purchased weight tier. Overweight incurs either a flat overweight fee or per-kilogram penalty at the airport – both are costlier than upgrading online beforehand. Pre-weigh baggage at home and, if needed, purchase a higher weight tier in Manage Booking rather than paying at the terminal.
Practical tips: ensure prohibited items and liquids comply with hold regulations; keep important documents and valuables in a carry-on. If the original booking includes priority cabin benefits, those do not automatically convert to a checked piece – add the hold bag explicitly. For last-minute changes, expect premium fees and longer processing times at check-in.
Merging baggage entitlements across separate bookings: fees, online steps, airport options
Purchase an extra checked bag on the reservation intended to carry consolidated items and add it online via Manage Booking at least two hours before scheduled departure to secure the lowest tariff.
Online process and typical charges
Steps: log into Manage Booking with the booking reference and email address, select the passenger who will accept responsibility for the consolidated suitcase, choose “Add hold bag” (select weight option), complete payment and save the confirmation PDF or screenshot.
Weight options: common choices offered on short-haul routes: 10 kg, 20 kg or 23 kg; verify the exact options for the route on the carrier’s site before purchase.
Fee guidance: pre-purchase online commonly ranges from €10–€60 per bag on intra-Europe flights (route and season dependent). Airport additions are substantially higher – expect roughly 1.5–3× the online price, frequently between €25–€120. Overweight or oversized surcharges typically start from about €10–€15 per kilo or a flat overweight fee that may exceed €50; exact figures vary by airport.
Airport options, practical tactics, and staff discretion
At check-in / bag drop: present the booking holder who purchased the extra hold bag, the physical suitcase, and the payment confirmation. Use kiosks where available to add a bag first – kiosks generally apply the same fees as online or slightly higher. If staff assistance is required, allow additional time for manual processing.
Transferring items between two separate reservations: most carriers require each ticket to cover any checked item presented under that passenger’s name. Ground agents sometimes accept the physical act of placing two suitcases under one paid bag only if the passenger accepting responsibility is present and both items meet weight and size limits, but that remains discretionary and may result in denial or excess fees. Have both passengers attend the desk together; if the agent refuses, be prepared to purchase an extra bag on the second reservation.
Cost-saving tactics: redistribute belongings so only one bag exceeds cabin limits and fits within the purchased hold bag weight; use a weighing scale at home to avoid overweight charges; consolidate soft items into a tote such as a best canvas travel tote bag to maximize usable space.
Documentation and timing: keep the booking confirmation and payment receipt on hand (printed or screenshot). Arrive at the airport earlier than usual when merging items across bookings to allow time for agent decisions and possible re-ticketing.
Note on pets and special items: items related to pet transport or grooming may require specific handling or documentation; see guidance such as how to clean a cat that hates water for practical care tips prior to travel.
Fees and penalties when merged baggage exceeds the carrier’s limits at check-in or gate
Pay for extra checked weight online before arriving at the airport to avoid the highest surcharges and gate interventions.
Typical fee tiers and examples
| Situation | Typical charge (EUR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-purchase online (before airport) | €8–€40 per additional 10 kg or fixed extra bag fee | Lowest rates; payment via booking manage page or app up to a few hours pre-departure. |
| Airport check-in desk (bag drop) | €40–€80 per extra bag or weight top-up | Higher than online; card payment required at counter; longer queues possible. |
| Gate/boarding area | €60–€120 flat or equivalent | Highest surcharge for oversized/cabin items forced into the hold; immediate payment required or denial of carry-on. |
| Overweight (per bag above weight limit) | €10–€20 per kg or a flat overweight fee €30–€100 | Applied where per-kg pricing is used or a single flat penalty is charged; absolute per-bag maximum weight typically 32 kg – heavier items usually refused. |
| Oversize (dimensions exceed limits) | €50–€120 | Item likely to be checked in at gate with a surcharged rate; very large items may require freight handling charges. |
Fees depend on route, season and ticket type; the lowest possible fee is offered via online purchase, while gate charges are substantially higher and applied without discounts.
How charges are applied and enforcement outcomes
Airline staff assess at bag-drop or gate. Outcomes include: payment of a surcharge to check the item, redistribution of contents between pieces to meet per-piece limits, refusal to accept the item if above absolute maxima, or requirement to book an additional checked parcel. Payments are card-only at many gates and desks; refunds for later corrections are rare.
Suggested on-the-spot responses: repack belongings to meet per-piece weight/dimension limits, buy prepaid weight online via the booking management tool, or accept the higher gate fee if time is insufficient for changes.
