Michael Turner
Immediate recommendation: select a fare that includes one hold piece or add a single bag during web check-in – advance purchase commonly saves 50–300% compared with payment at the desk or gate.
Typical allowance examples: Economy usually permits 1 piece up to 23 kg (50 lb); Premium and Business classes commonly allow 2 pieces up to 32 kg (70 lb) each. Maximum linear dimensions per case generally cap at 158 cm (length + width + height).
Estimated extra costs depend on route and timing: intra‑Europe add‑ons bought online often range €20–€70; intercontinental routes typically run €50–€150. Overweight penalties span roughly €40–€200 per bag depending on weight band and sector. At‑airport purchases and gate transactions sit at the high end of these bands.
Practical steps: check your fare rules immediately after booking, add hold baggage via the carrier’s website or mobile app, print or screenshot the confirmation, and weigh suitcases at home to avoid overweight surcharges. For specific route pricing and exact weight limits, refer to the carrier’s baggage rules tied to your ticket code and travel class.
Hold-bag fees and allowances on LX (IATA)
Purchase hold-bag allowance at booking; online fares are usually significantly lower than airport desk rates.
Short-haul (Europe): “Light” fare excludes hold-bag; “Classic” normally includes 1 piece up to 23 kg; “Flex” adds ticket flexibility while typically keeping the 1-piece 23 kg allowance. Typical add-on costs when bought online range €15–€50 per extra bag on intra-European sectors; airport purchase commonly costs substantially more.
Long-haul: Economy typically includes 1 piece up to 23 kg; Premium Economy and Business include larger allowances or extra pieces – Business frequently allows 2 pieces up to 32 kg each. Fees to add an extra piece or extra weight usually run €60–€200, depending on route and purchase channel (online vs. check-in).
Practical tips: prepay hold-bag allowance during booking to reduce overall expense; weigh and measure bags at home since the usual linear size limit is 158 cm; if a bag exceeds the weight limit, buy overweight allowance online when possible. Loyalty status (Miles & More Silver/Gold/Senator) and certain fare classes provide complimentary additional allowance; verify entitlements on the itinerary or ticket summary.
Special items such as sports equipment, pets, or musical instruments require advance notice and a separate fee schedule; reserve these services ahead to guarantee space and avoid high on-site costs.
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Hold baggage allowance and fees by fare type (Light, Classic, Flex, Business)
Recommendation: Add hold bag allowance during booking to save up to 50% compared with airport desk rates; typical online fees range €30–€80 per piece short-haul and €60–€150 per piece long-haul, while airport prices are commonly 30–60% higher.
Economy: Light • Classic • Flex
Light – zero included hold pieces. Add-on available via booking management; standard maximum per piece 23 kg, linear dimensions 158 cm. Typical online add-on short-haul €30–€80; long-haul €60–€150. Overweight band 24–32 kg usually billed €70–€200; pieces exceeding 32 kg may require special cargo handling and higher tariffs.
Classic – one included piece, normally 23 kg with 158 cm linear size accepted on most routes. Extra piece purchased online typically €60–€130 depending on route and date. Overweight and oversize rules match the Light band values; buying extras ahead reduces total cost.
Flex – commonly includes more generous hold allowance than Classic, frequently 2×23 kg on intercontinental services and 1×23 kg plus flexible exchange conditions on regional flights. When two pieces are included, extra-piece online fees drop into the lower end of the Classic range or are waived on certain routes.
Business
Business fares generally include 2 pieces at up to 32 kg each with 158 cm linear dimension per item on long-haul; regional business allowances may use 2×23 kg instead. Additional piece fees vary widely (€100–€300), overweight penalties follow the same 24–32 kg band but at higher absolute rates. Heavy or bulky items beyond standard limits should be booked as cargo in advance.
Practical tips: purchase hold allowance during initial booking or at least 24–48 hours ahead via the carrier website to minimize cost; weigh and measure bags at home; consolidate items under the per-piece weight limit to avoid overweight penalties; always confirm the exact allowance tied to the specific itinerary inside the booking summary prior to travel.
How to add and pay extra hold baggage online, during web check-in, and at the airport
Add hold bags via the carrier website or mobile app during booking to secure the lowest online fee and avoid higher kiosk/counter prices.
- Online (Manage booking / Booking flow)
- Open the carrier website or app, choose Manage booking and enter your booking reference plus passenger surname.
- Select the passenger and the option to add hold baggage; pick number of pieces or weight-based option shown and confirm.
- Accepted payment methods: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, major debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay where available.
- After successful payment you will receive an updated itinerary and an email receipt; the booking will show the added hold bag and the bag allowance will be reflected on the boarding pass.
- Recommendation: add at least 24 hours prior to departure to access the lowest online tariffs and to avoid availability limits during check-in.
- During web check-in
- Start web check-in at the carrier site or app; an add-bag option appears before the boarding pass is issued.
- Select additional pieces or excess weight option as presented, then complete payment with the same card and e-wallet options listed above.
- Web check-in typically closes between 60–120 minutes before departure depending on route; add bags before that cutoff to avoid needing the airport counter.
- After payment the boarding pass will update; keep the confirmation email and have the digital boarding pass ready at bag drop.
- At the airport (kiosk, bag drop, check-in desk)
- Use a self-service kiosk where available: enter your reference or scan the boarding pass, select add-bag, pay by card or contactless, print tag and proceed to bag drop.
- If using the check-in desk, present your booking and pay at the counter; expect higher fees than online or web-check rates and possible additional overweight/oversize fees.
- Payment at smaller stations may be card-only; some airports accept cash but policies vary – carry a card to avoid issues.
- Keep the baggage tag number and the receipt; tags printed at the airport must remain attached until you collect items at destination.
- Practical tips
- Compare per-piece vs weight-based options when adding items online; one option can be cheaper depending on travel needs.
- Add extras early: online additions are usually the cheapest, web check-in is acceptable close to departure, airport purchases are most expensive.
- Have booking reference, passport and payment method ready when adding items at any stage to speed the process.
- Overweight or oversize items will incur separate fees at the airport; weigh and measure bags at home when possible to avoid surprise costs.
- Save all confirmation emails and check the updated itinerary within the app to confirm items were applied to the correct passenger and flight.
Weight and size limits and overweight/oversize fees – Zurich-based carrier
Keep each hold bag at or below 23 kg and total linear dimensions ≤158 cm to avoid extra fees.
Overweight: 23–32 kg incurs a surcharge; items above 32 kg cannot travel on passenger flights and must be transported as air cargo. Oversize: combined dimensions between 158 cm and 300 cm attract an oversize fee; items larger than 300 cm are typically refused or require cargo handling.
Typical surcharge ranges and purchasing tips
Surcharges depend on route and purchase channel. Typical ranges: short-haul within Europe €50–€70 when bought online and about €100–€120 at the airport; medium and long-haul roughly €70–€150 online with higher airport rates. Each overweight or oversized piece is billed separately. Pre-purchasing via Manage Booking or during web check-in usually reduces the cost versus paying at the counter. If a bag exceeds 32 kg or 300 cm, arrange cargo shipment well ahead of travel; airport agents cannot accept very heavy or very long items onto passenger services.
Practical recommendations
Weigh and measure bags at home with a bathroom scale and tape measure; redistribute contents or split items between bags to stay under limits. If excess weight or size is unavoidable, buy the overweight/oversize option online at least 24 hours before departure to secure lower rates. For connecting itineraries, verify each carrier’s limits during booking to avoid unexpected surcharges. Related reading: best patio umbrella lights for outdoors
Baggage entitlement: Miles & More members, infants, special items (sports equipment, instruments)
Confirm Miles & More status within your booking and pre-register special items online to avoid higher airport costs.
Miles & More status allowances
Frequent Traveller typically receives one additional piece of hold baggage, usually up to 23 kg. Senator members typically receive two additional pieces, each commonly up to 23 kg. HON Circle members normally receive two additional pieces with higher per-piece weight limits on selected cabins; per-piece weight may reach 32 kg in premium cabins. Add your Miles & More number during booking so the itinerary displays the exact entitlement applied to your reservation.
Infants and special items: sports gear, musical instruments
Lap infants commonly qualify for one small bag up to 23 kg plus one collapsible buggy or one car seat without extra cost; infants who occupy a paid seat receive baggage allowance aligned with the paid fare class. Register baby equipment during reservation to obtain priority handling and correct handling codes on the boarding pass.
Ski bags, golf bags, surfboards, bicycles and windsurf rigs generally count as one piece in the hold when booked in advance. Standard accepted weight per piece is 23 kg on Economy, 32 kg on premium cabins, with maximum linear dimensions often accepted up to 300 cm subject to prior approval. Overweight or oversized items incur additional fees and may require special handling requests submitted via Manage Booking or the carrier’s special-baggage portal.
Musical instruments that meet cabin-dimension limits may travel in the cabin as a carry-on item if onboard space exists; larger instruments should be booked as special baggage or an extra seat purchased to guarantee carriage onboard. Remove internal rechargeable batteries when carriage in the hold is restricted; portable lithium-ion batteries up to 100 Wh may be carried in cabin without approval, batteries between 100 Wh and 160 Wh require carrier approval and must travel in cabin only.
Packing and booking tips: use rigid cases, secure loose parts, document contents with photos, label items with contact details, declare and pre-pay special items at least 48 hours prior to departure to secure lower supplemental rates compared with airport counter handling.
How codeshare flights and partner carriers impact your LX baggage allowance
Assume the operating carrier’s baggage rules will be applied at the airport and confirm those rules before travel; if allowances differ, buy the extra allowance directly from the operator to avoid higher desk fees.
Locate the operating carrier on your itinerary (look for “operated by” or a different flight number). If the segment is marketed as LX but shows “operated by” LH, UA, AC, WK or another operator, open that operator’s baggage page and match piece/weight limits, size rules and excess fee levels to your booking.
If a codeshare segment crosses from a piece-based system to a weight-based system (common between some intercontinental and European networks), carry documentation of your original entitlement and pre-pay additional allowance on the operator’s website. Operators often enforce their own concept (piece vs weight) at check-in.
For through-checked items: interline agreements determine whether bags travel to final destination on a single tag. Ask the check-in agent to confirm “through-check to final destination” and inspect the baggage tag–if the agent issues only a segment tag, you must reclaim and re-check at the transfer point and the operator’s allowance will apply there.
When you buy extra allowance online, use the operating carrier’s portal if available – it usually displays accurate fee tiers and produces a baggage receipt that the operating staff accept at the desk. Keep screenshots and reference numbers in your mobile wallet.
When two carriers in the same alliance market the same itinerary, allowances can still differ by fare bucket: a marketing carrier’s handout may show an allowance that the operating carrier’s fare bucket does not honour. If allowances conflict, get written confirmation from the ticketing agent or a stamped note at check-in.
At transfers, overweight/oversize rules follow the operating carrier handling the physical bag at that point; plan piece distribution and weight per piece to avoid last-minute repacking. Buying an extra piece is usually cheaper online than paying an airport overweight fee.
Carry a compact, weatherproof umbrella in your cabin case such as the best rainbow umbrella and a printed copy of your e-ticket and baggage purchase receipts to speed up resolution if baggage allowances are disputed at the desk.
