Direct recommendation: Purchase an extra baggage allowance via the carrier’s Manage Booking page or mobile app at least 24 hours before departure to secure lower online rates. Prepare your booking reference, passenger surname and flight number; pay with a card and keep the payment confirmation on your phone and in email.
How to proceed: Open Manage Booking, select the passenger, choose the option to purchase extra baggage or increased weight, specify the number of extra bags or the overweight option, review allowed dimensions and per-item weight, confirm payment and save the receipt. If the online option is unavailable for your fare, contact the airline call centre or purchase the allowance at the check‑in desk.
Typical weight guidance for checked items: many international fares use 23 kg per bag for economy and 32 kg per bag for business; maximum linear dimension is commonly 158 cm (length + width + height). Overweight and oversized items are billed either per kilogram or as a flat excess-fee depending on route and fare family – check your specific fare rules on the itinerary page before travel.
Practical tips: label each bag and attach the paid-baggage receipt; print or save the updated e-ticket showing the purchased allowance. Expect higher charges at airport counters, so buy online whenever possible. For sports equipment or musical instruments, reserve the appropriate special-baggage service in advance and verify whether the item must travel as checked or as cargo.
Buying an extra checked bag for the Russian carrier
Buy the extra checked bag on the airline website or mobile app with your booking reference and surname before online check‑in to avoid higher airport surcharges.
Required data: booking reference (PNR), passenger last name, flight number and passport/ID for international trips. Use the “Manage booking” or “My bookings” section, select the baggage option, choose weight or number of bags, then pay by card or with miles when the option appears.
Size, weight and fare rules
Typical limits: 23 kg per checked bag for economy; 32 kg per checked bag for business. Maximum dimensions: 158 cm total (length + width + height). If a bag exceeds the class limit, an overweight fee applies; for small overages compare overweight rate versus buying another checked bag before arriving at the airport.
Timing and purchase channels
Best rates: online prior to arrival (preferably 24+ hours before departure). Alternatives: call center, airport ticket office or check‑in desk (these locations usually charge more). If online purchase is blocked by fare rules, contact reservations with your PNR and passenger details to request an exception or paid upgrade.
Practical tips: weigh and measure at home on a reliable scale; distribute weight across cases to avoid overweight charges; keep the purchase confirmation and baggage receipts until final baggage collection; attach fragile markers and photograph contents for claims if necessary.
Verify your fare’s baggage allowance and eligibility for an extra item
Check the fare rules in your booking confirmation immediately: locate the “Baggage allowance” entry and confirm whether it is expressed as “PC” (number of units) or “KG” (weight limit).
Open Manage Booking or the e‑ticket PDF, note the fare code (single letter) and download the fare conditions. If allowance states “1 PC” that authorises one checked bag up to the listed weight; if it shows “30 KG” that is the total checked‑weight allowance across all bags. Common examples: Economy often 1PC/23kg or 30kg; Premium/Business frequently 2PC or 32kg per item.
Differentiate checked entitlements from carry‑on: typical cabin limits are 55×40×20 cm and 7–10 kg plus a small personal item. Confirm whether the route uses a piece system or a weight system – mixing systems on connecting flights affects whether an extra unit or extra kilograms must be purchased.
Eligibility for an extra unit appears in the fare conditions under “Excess baggage” or “Purchase of extra baggage”; booking through Manage Booking or the airline app usually yields lower fees than airport purchases. Status holders, corporate contracts and infant/child rules may include complimentary units; for codeshare segments the operating carrier’s allowance governs when stricter.
Watch overweight and oversize limits: fees typically apply above 23 kg; items above 32 kg may be refused for carriage on the aircraft. Standard maximum linear dimensions for checked items are 158 cm (length + width + height). Keep screenshots or confirmation emails for any bought allowance or fee waiver.
If the fare conditions remain unclear, contact reservations with your PNR and request the exact baggage clause by email. For weight distribution tips and robust bags consult these resources: best way to weigh down cantilever umbrella and best luggage sets south africa.
Manage Booking – purchase an extra bag on the carrier’s website: step-by-step
Purchase the extra bag via Manage Booking at least 24 hours before departure for lower fees and immediate confirmation; use a card or mobile wallet and save the payment receipt.
Quick steps
- Open the airline’s official site and choose “Manage Booking”.
- Enter your booking reference (PNR) and the passenger’s surname; press Continue or Retrieve.
- Select the passenger and flight segment to modify.
- Find the baggage options labeled “Buy baggage”, “Purchase bag” or similar; choose quantity (e.g., 1 bag) and weight option (23 kg or 32 kg), then Add to basket.
- Review route-specific fee shown on screen, accept terms, and complete payment (major credit/debit cards, Apple/Google Pay where supported).
- Download or screenshot the updated e-ticket/receipt and the booking summary that shows the purchased bag allowance.
- At airport check-in or bag drop present the confirmation if the new allowance is not visible in your mobile boarding pass.
Troubleshooting & practical tips
- If the online option is missing, the fare class may prohibit online purchases or sales may be closed for that flight; contact the carrier’s call center with PNR and passport details.
- Online rates are typically lower than airport counter fees; buying within 24–2 hours before departure may increase cost, and some routes allow sales up to 1 hour before scheduled departure.
- Keep the payment confirmation (transaction ID) until after travel; airport staff may request it during drop-off or at boarding.
- If associating special items (sporting equipment, instruments), purchase the correct category rather than a standard bag to avoid check-in surprises.
- Use the mobile app as an alternative when the website’s Manage Booking page is unresponsive; the flow and fees are usually identical.
Buy an extra item during online check-in: timing and payment methods
Purchase immediately when web check-in opens – typically 24 hours before departure – to lock in the lowest online tariff and guarantee allowance for one extra bag.
Typical check-in windows: most carriers open web/mobile check-in at 24 hours before scheduled departure; some international or partner-operated flights open between 30 and 48 hours. Web transactions are normally accepted throughout the check-in window but may be blocked during the final 1–3 hours before the published check-in close.
Check-in close examples: domestic flights often close 40–60 minutes before departure, international flights 60–90 minutes. If the online purchase is no longer available, the next options are the self-service bag-drop (if open) or the airport ticket/baggage desk, where fees are usually higher and processing may take extra time.
Accepted payment methods vary by route and site, typical options include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), digital wallets like PayPal where supported, and regional schemes (for example Mir on Russian sales). Charges appear in the currency of the booking; bank/PSP conversion fees may apply.
If a card decline occurs, try an alternate card or a mobile wallet, complete the transaction via the carrier’s Manage Booking section or the mobile app, or call the reservation line for assistance. Keep a copy of the payment confirmation and booking reference – present that receipt at bag drop or the counter if any dispute arises.
Typical pricing behavior: online checkout usually offers lower rates than airport sales (savings often visible as a percentage), so purchasing early online is the most cost-effective route. Always check the checkout total (fare + taxes + service fee) before confirming.
Buy a checked bag at the airport check-in counter
If no prepayment was made, purchase the checked bag directly at the check‑in desk. Expect desk tariffs to exceed online rates; plan for short‑haul charges roughly €30–€90 (or USD 30–100) and long‑haul roughly €80–€220 (or USD 90–250), depending on route and currency of sale.
Arrival and deadlines: arrive at the airline counter at least 60 minutes before international departures and 45 minutes before domestic services to complete purchase and tagging; counters typically stop accepting paid checked items 30–45 minutes prior to departure–confirm the specific closing time printed on your ticket or airport displays.
Payment methods: major credit/debit cards accepted (chip/PIN/contactless); carry local cash as backup (small notes preferred). For transfers or codes issued by third parties, present the booking reference and government ID; airport agents often require the card used for booking for verification.
Weight and size rules: standard weight limits remain 23 kg for economy and 32 kg for business; overweight surcharges apply per kilo or per band (e.g., 24–32 kg one rate, >32 kg refused or charged at premium rates). Ask the agent to weigh the bag in front of you and request the exact surcharge amount before paying.
Documentation and disputes: obtain a printed receipt and the checked‑bag tag number; retain until final arrival. If the counter quotes a fare that contradicts the carrier’s published online price, photograph the posted tariff board and insist on a manager if discrepancy remains unresolved.
Frequent‑flyer status and exceptions: present elite membership or family/infant booking details at the desk–entitlements (complimentary checked allowance) are applied at agent discretion but require verification at the counter.
If the counter is closed, visit the airline service desk or airport ticket office immediately; gate agents have limited authority to accept paid checked items after check‑in closure.
Confirm size, weight and labeling requirements for an extra bag
Check limits before arrival: standard checked bag allowance is 23 kg for economy and 32 kg for business-class fares; maximum linear dimensions (length + width + height) must not exceed 158 cm; standard cabin allowance is 55×40×25 cm and typically 7–10 kg depending on fare rules.
Dimension and mass limits – quick reference
Fare class | Max checked weight | Max linear size (L+W+H) | Typical cabin allowance |
---|---|---|---|
Economy | 23 kg | 158 cm | 55×40×25 cm, 7–10 kg |
Premium / Flex | 23 kg (sometimes 2×23 kg) | 158 cm | 55×40×25 cm, 7–10 kg |
Business / First | 32 kg | 158 cm | 56×45×25 cm, up to 10 kg |
Measure three dimensions with wheels and handles extended; use a rigid tape measure and add wheel thickness. For mass, use a luggage or bathroom scale and target 1–2 kg under the published limit to avoid surcharges at check-in. If sending sports equipment or musical instruments, check the specific dimensional caps – many carriers treat those separately and allow larger linear size at a different rate.
Labeling, on-bag information and safety markings
Attach an external tag with full name (matching travel document), mobile number (international format), and final destination airport code. Remove old tags and adhesive residues before travel. Place a copy of the booking reference and contact details inside a zipped compartment. If contents are fragile, request a “FRAGILE” sticker at the counter; this does not replace proper internal packing but helps handling.
For batteries: spare lithium-ion batteries must travel in the cabin with terminals taped or in original packaging; devices with non-removable batteries follow carrier-specific rules – declare at check-in if capacity exceeds airline thresholds. Do not attach external locks that prevent security inspection; use TSA-accepted locks where permitted.
At the airport, present the bag for dimensional check on the airline’s sizer frame; if oversized or overweight, accept the surcharge option or reconfigure contents between bags. If unsure about a rule, show the booking confirmation at the desk and request written tag information. For a brief guide to unrelated packing topics see which is not an example of a complete protein.
Redeem Bonus miles or use elite status for a complimentary extra bag
Use your Bonus miles or elite tier to receive one complimentary extra checked bag: make sure your loyalty number is attached to the reservation and request the benefit before check‑in.
Verify entitlement in your Bonus account under “Status & Benefits” – the benefits table lists whether your tier grants an extra checked bag, an increased weight allowance, or only priority handling. If the booking lacks your membership number, add it through the airline’s Manage Booking or by calling the loyalty centre; allow at least 24 hours for the reservation to update so airport agents see the benefit.
To spend miles instead of using status, sign into the Bonus programme portal, open the “Use miles / Award services” section, search for the baggage-related award for your route and fare, select your booking and confirm. If the online option is not visible, contact the loyalty desk by phone with your booking reference – agents can process mile redemptions or issue the service manually. Redemption rates vary by route and fare class; the portal shows the exact cost in miles before confirmation.
At check‑in, present your digital membership card (or a screenshot) together with passport and boarding pass. For international flights arrive 90–120 minutes earlier than usual to allow time for manual baggage allowance overrides. If the free extra bag is not applied, ask the agent to refresh the PNR and apply the status benefit or award code; if needed request escalation to the supervisor or to the loyalty centre for post‑issuance correction.
Keep proof: save the updated booking confirmation and take a photo of the check‑in tag showing the extra allowance. After mile redemption, monitor your Bonus account for the miles debit and keep the redemption receipt; if a refund or reversal is required, file it with loyalty support within 7 days with screenshots and boarding documentation.