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British Airways vs Lufthansa Baggage Allowance
Cabin bag size, checked allowance and excess fees for British Airways and Lufthansa side by side — both from the airlines' official policies, checked 30 October 2026.
British Airways
- Cabin bag: 1 cabin bag, max 56 x 45 x 25 cm including wheels and handles; you must be able to lift it into the overhead locker unassisted
- Personal item: 1 hand bag or laptop bag, max 40 x 30 x 15 cm; must fit under the seat in front of you and is guaranteed in the cabin
- Checked (Economy (hand baggage only)): No checked bag included (hand-baggage-only ticket, per britishairways.com)
Lufthansa
- Cabin bag: 1 item max 55 x 40 x 23 cm, max 8 kg (Economy Basic on short/medium-haul excludes carry-on; purchasable)
- Cabin weight: 8.0 kg
- Checked (Economy Light / Economy Basic (short & medium-haul)): No free checked bag; first bag (23 kg, 158 cm total) available at a reduced price
- Prepaid vs airport: Additional bags bookable during online check-in up to 2 hours before departure; up to 5 bags online, more via service centre/airport
The short verdict
Cabin space: British Airways allows the larger cabin bag by volume (56 × 45 × 25 cm) against Lufthansa (55 × 40 × 23 cm).
Both airlines count baggage differently across fares, so compare the checked tables before you book the cheaper ticket: a fare with no bag included can end up costing more.
British Airways checked baggage by fare
| Fare / class | Checked baggage allowance |
|---|---|
| Economy (hand baggage only) | No checked bag included (hand-baggage-only ticket, per britishairways.com) |
| Economy standard | 1 bag up to 23 kg |
| Premium economy (BA Holidays) | 2 bags up to 23 kg each |
| Business | 2 bags up to 32 kg each |
| First (BA Holidays) | 3 bags (weight per bag not stated in the official excerpt read) |
Figures are from britishairways.com pages as indexed/excerpted in search on 2026-10-30; the live site itself served a high-demand placeholder, so no further detail (sizes, fees) could be verified.
Lufthansa checked baggage by fare
| Fare / class | Checked baggage allowance |
|---|---|
| Economy Light / Economy Basic (short & medium-haul) | No free checked bag; first bag (23 kg, 158 cm total) available at a reduced price |
| Economy | 1 bag up to 23 kg |
| Premium Economy | 2 bags up to 23 kg each |
| Business | 2 bags up to 32 kg each |
| First | 3 bags up to 32 kg each |
Max size per piece 158 cm (W+H+D) all classes; absolute max weight 32 kg per item, heavier items only as cargo.
Policy checked: 30 October 2026. Airlines change allowances and fees — confirm on the official page before you travel.
Policy checked: 30 October 2026. Airlines change allowances and fees — confirm on the official page before you travel.