British Airways Baggage Rules: Cabin Bag, Handbag and Checked Bag Fees

Where these numbers come from

British Airways separates cabin baggage from the hold. Every fare carries a cabin bag up to 22 x 18 x 10 inches including wheels and handles, plus a smaller handbag or backpack of 16 x 12 x 6 inches that goes under the seat. The airline asks that you can lift the cabin bag into the locker yourself. No weight limit for it appears on the page we read.

The hold bag depends on the fare. Economy Standard includes one checked bag up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms). Basic, called hand baggage only, includes none, so a first bag is an extra. The airline's US optional-extras page says extra bags cost more, and its FAQ says the price depends on destination and how many bags you add. A guide to US dollar prices, updated June 2026, lists Basic first bags near $70 to $75 and second bags at $90.

Here is a worked example. A couple flies New York to London and back on Standard, each with two bags, one of them 55 pounds. Per person that is a free first bag plus about $90 for the second, and about $100 for the overweight one, each way. So ($0 + $90 + $100) x 2 directions = $380 per person, using the low second-bag figure. On Basic, add roughly $70 to $75 per direction for the first bag.

We could not confirm an oversize price. The size limit is 90 x 75 x 43 centimeters (35 x 30 x 17 inches) per bag, and the guide notes items up to 190 x 75 x 65 centimeters can travel if within weight allowance, with charges beyond that. Premium Economy usually gets two bags, Business two at 32 kilograms, and First three. A 2024 roundup put second bags at $90 to $100 and overweight at $100, so the two sources agree on the core numbers.

Paying online at a discounted rate through Manage My Booking is cheaper than at the airport; you can add up to 10 extra bags this way, with Avios or card. Compare other Europe carriers with the cheapest airline for my bags calculator, see Lufthansa for a similar structure, and use the overweight and oversize fee calculator for any overweight case.

Gold and Silver Club members get added allowances. Prices on codeshare flights operated by another airline can differ, so check the operating carrier on your ticket.

Sources

• British Airways baggage essentials
• British Airways: extra checked baggage FAQ
• British Airways US optional extras
• Upgraded Points: British Airways baggage fees (USD tables)
• Eurocheapo: baggage fees US to Europe

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.