Checked Baggage When Flying And Things You Should Know

When traveling or working by plane, people often tend to prepare a lot of luggage and need to check it according to the airline’s regulations. Normally, you need to learn in advance about the airport’s checked baggage regulations to avoid bringing prohibited items as well as prepare in advance the amount of money to check in corresponding to the weight. Let’s learn in detail about the regulations and standards for checked baggage in the article below.

What is checked baggage?

Checked baggage is a type of baggage that passengers are not allowed to bring on the plane like carry-on baggage. Specifically, the characteristics of this type of baggage are quite bulky, cannot be placed in a separate baggage compartment, so the baggage will be placed in the baggage compartment of the plane and passengers will only receive their baggage upon arrival. Regarding the weight and size of domestic and international checked baggage, there will be different regulations depending on each airline.

Size of checked baggage

Each airline will have different standard regulations on the size of checked baggage. Below are the baggage size regulations of some famous airlines in Vietnam that you can refer to:

• Vietnam Airlines: According to the latest adjustment regulations from August 1, 2019, passengers are allowed to check in baggage with dimensions of length x width x height not exceeding 158cm or 62 inches.

• Vietjet Air: Vietjet Air’s regulations on checked baggage size on board the plane are length x width x height not exceeding 119cm x 119cm x 81cm.

• Jetstar Pacific: The airline stipulates that each passenger’s checked baggage must not exceed 270cm. If it exceeds the specified size, passengers will have to divide it into another piece of baggage and pay an additional fee according to regulations.

• Bamboo Airways: Bamboo Airways’ regulations on checked baggage size in all 3 dimensions (length x width x height) must not exceed 203cm.

Weight of checked baggage

• Vietnam Airlines’ baggage weight regulations: According to Vietnam Airlines’ regulations, passengers will be exempted from 32kg of baggage when booking Business Class tickets. For Economy Class tickets, passengers are exempted from a maximum of 23kg of baggage.

• Vietjet Air’s baggage weight regulations: When booking Vietjet Air’s tickets, the checked baggage weight must not exceed 32kg.

• Jetstar Pacific’s baggage weight regulations: According to Jetstar Pacific’s baggage weight regulations, the maximum allowed checked baggage weight is 32kg and the checked baggage weight will vary by weight class from 15 – 40kg.

• Bamboo Airways’ checked baggage weight regulations: For Bamboo Airways, the checked baggage weight regulation must not exceed 32 kg.

What can and cannot be carried on board a plane in checked baggage?

Airlines have specific regulations on items allowed on board when carrying checked baggage. Specifically, the general regulations on liquids allowed to be carried must be tightly covered, contained in a transparent plastic bag with a maximum area of ​​15cm x 25cm or 20cm x 20cm. In addition, you should also note items that are not allowed on the plane such as:

• Dangerous goods such as: toxic substances, radioactive substances, acids.

• Alcoholic beverages with an alcohol concentration of over 70%.

• Valuable items such as gemstones, jewelry, security contracts, money, etc.

• Foods with strong odors such as durian, shrimp paste, etc.

• Limit bringing fragile items such as glassware, bottles, jars, etc.

• Limit bringing perishable foods such as meat, vegetables, fruits, etc. and do not bring flowers or leaves that have been cut off the stem on the plane.

Current regulations on checked baggage of some airlines

Regarding regulations on international and domestic checked baggage and fees, each airline will have separate regulations. Below are specific regulations of popular airlines today such as: Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific, Bamboo Airways and Vietjet Air.

Vietnam Airlines checked baggage regulations

For Vietnam Airlines, each airline’s flight class will clearly define the maximum free baggage weight as well as the fee for purchasing additional items for each flight segment. Specifically, the regulations on baggage by each flight class are as follows:

• Business class: Passengers are allowed 1 free piece of baggage up to 32kg for all domestic and Southeast Asia routes, and 2 free pieces of baggage up to 32kg for flights to Australia, Northeast Asia, America, and Europe.

• Economy class: Passengers are allowed 1 free piece of luggage up to 23kg for all domestic flights, Europe, Australia, Northeast Asia, 2 free pieces of luggage up to 23kg for flights to America or Japan.

• Premium economy class: Passengers are allowed 2 free pieces of luggage up to 23kg for all flights to Australia, Western Europe, Northeast Asia or America, 1 free piece of luggage up to 32kg on the Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City route equivalent to business class.

In case passengers carry luggage that exceeds the free weight according to the regulations for each class of aircraft, they need to purchase additional checked baggage with fees ranging from 120,000 – 181,000 VND/10kg package and 230,000 – 300,000 VND/23kg package for domestic flights. For international flights, checked baggage fees range from 80 – 200 USD.

Jetstar Pacific checked baggage regulations

• The size of checked baggage must not exceed 270cm/piece of baggage.

• The maximum weight of checked baggage is 32kg.

• The checked baggage fees range from 330,000 – 590,000 VND/domestic flight and 600,000 – 1,650,000 VND/international flight.

Bamboo Airways checked baggage regulations

• Passengers are exempt from the maximum fee of 32kg/piece of baggage and the maximum size of each piece must not exceed 203cm.

• Passengers can purchase additional checked baggage weight at the following levels: 5kg, 10kg, 15kg, 20kg, 25kg, 30kg, 35kg or 40kg.

• The airline’s checked baggage fee ranges from 132,000 – 396,000 VND/route.

Vietjet Air’s checked baggage regulations

• Passengers are allowed 20kg of free checked baggage for flights under 7 hours and 40kg for international flights over 7 hours (Deluxe ticket class); 30kg free for flights under 7 hours and 50kg for international flights over 7 hours (Skyboss ticket class); 40kg free for flights under 7 hours and 60kg for international flights over 7 hours (Skyboss Business ticket class).

• Checked baggage size must not exceed 119cm x 119cm x 81cm.

• The airline’s checked baggage fee ranges from 180,000 – 470,000 VND/domestic flight and 360,000 – 2,000,000 VND/international flight.

How to collect checked baggage at the airport

In addition to the regulations on checked baggage and fees, you also need to pay attention to the issue of collecting your baggage properly after landing at the airport. Specifically, the way to collect checked baggage at the airport will be different for each domestic and international flight:

• For domestic flights: When the plane has landed safely, the staff will guide passengers to the area to collect checked baggage for that flight. At this time, you need to go to the baggage control area and the staff will compare the code on the baggage with the code printed on the boarding pass. After checking the correct information, you can take your luggage out.

• For international flights: You need to declare your luggage and put it through the scanner at the gate. If the luggage is not allowed to go through the green gate, the customs department will re-check whether the luggage is yours or not.

Notes when using the checked baggage service at the airport

When using the checked baggage service at the airport, you need to pay attention to learn in advance the regulations of the airline you booked your ticket with as well as arrange your luggage properly. This is to limit confusing situations when on the day of the flight, there are problems with overweight luggage, incorrect luggage size, etc. In addition, you also need to note some important things after using the checked baggage service as follows:

• Absolutely do not accept to transport or look after the luggage of strangers.

• If you need to buy additional luggage, you should buy it right when booking your ticket to save time and get a good price.

• Passengers cannot check-in online at home when using the baggage check-in service.

• Mark your luggage with a tag with full personal information such as full name, phone number and address to avoid loss.

• Pack your goods carefully, especially fragile items.

• In case of an emergency, immediately notify the patrol or security at the airport for quick handling instructions.

Above, we have compiled information related to checked baggage as well as notes when using the baggage check-in service at the airport. Regarding baggage check-in service, each airline has its own regulations on size, weight, and fees for each domestic route and international. In addition, you also need to pay attention to the issue of items that are not allowed to be brought on the plane to avoid inconvenient situations at the airport, wasting time, and even forcing flight cancellation.