Lufthansa Checked Baggage Size Policy 2026: New Fees And Rules Guide
Flying with Lufthansa and don’t know how to pack within the airline’s provided baggage guidelines? This blog has got your back, since we have put Lufthansa Checked Baggage size, allowed baggages, fees, and weight limits all together in this blog.
Having a good knowledge of what the airline allows and what items are restricted will keep you away from any disruptions or discomfort at the airport. The baggage allowances and rules vary for all airlines, and on Lufthansa, you’ll be shocked to know how much there is to learn about. Read the full blog for a bonus point to plan your journey with a smart strategy and travel stress-free.
Want help understanding checked baggage allowances on your specific Lufthansa fare? Call at +1-866-673-8391 for a quick response and personalised guidance from the experts.
What Is Lufthansa Updated Checked Baggage Size Policy?
Lufthansa checked baggage rules and policy are dependent on the fare class and route of the passenger. The standard checked bag allowed on Lufthansa is up to 158 cm in total dimensions (L + W + H). Lufthansa Economy Light fares generally don’t include free checked bags, while other fare classes like Classic/Flex fares include one baggage of maximum weight 23kg, and Business/First class tickets have increased piece allowance or a higher bag weight limit.
Carry-On Baggage Limit
|
Fare Class |
Pieces Allowed |
Max Weight |
Max Dimensions |
|
Economy |
1 |
8 kg |
55 x 40 x 23 cm |
|
Premium Eco |
1 |
8 kg |
55 x 40 x 23 cm |
|
Business |
2 |
8 kg each |
55 x 40 x 23 cm |
|
First |
2 |
8 kg each |
55 x 40 x 23 cm |
Personal Item: 1 small bag of dimension not exceeding 40 x 30 x 15 cm max is permitted fee free for all fare classes.
Checked Baggage Limit
Lufthansa checked baggage size limit and weight for different fare type is listed in the table below:
|
Fare Type |
No of Bags |
Max Weight |
Max Dimensions |
|
Economy Light |
0 (No Free Bags) |
23 kg |
158 cm |
|
Economy Class |
1 |
23 kg |
158 cm |
|
Premium Economy |
2 |
23 kg |
158 cm |
|
Business Class |
2 |
32 kg |
158 cm |
|
First Class |
3 |
32 kg |
158 cm |
Lufthansa Baggage Allowance 2026: Overview
Lufthansa 2026, allowance strictly enforces bringing 1 carry-on (max weight 8kg) and 1 personal item (40 x 30 x 15 cm) in Economy fare for free. While other fares are eligible to bring 2 carry-ons in Business/First, and increase the number of checked baggage as per the fare class of the passenger. Lufthansa checked baggage dimensions for different fare classes are similar to the maximum limit of 158 cm in total. Read below to learn about the carry-on and checked baggage allowance of Lufthansa for different fare types:
Carry-On Baggage Allowance
- Personal Item: 1 small item allowed (handbag, laptop bag) of maximum dimensions 40 x 30 x 15 cm.
- Economy/Premium Economy: 1 piece of maximum weight 8 kg.
- Business/First Class: 2 pieces of maximum weight allowed as 8 kg each.
- Dimensions: Carry-on bag with the maximum dimensions accepted is 55 x 40 x 23 cm.
- Infants: Infants (under age 2 yrs) bag in addition is allowed up to 23 kg, except in Economy Light fare.
Checked Baggage Allowance
- Economy Classic/Flex: 1 bag allowed, max weight 23 kg.
- Economy Light: Fees apply, no free checked bag.
- Premium Economy: 2 bags, max weight 23 kg each allowed.
- First Class: 3 bags of a maximum weight of 32 kg each permitted.
- Business Class: 2 bags of a weight of 32 kg each allowed.
How Late Can I Check In My Bag With Lufthansa?
Lufthansa checked baggage drop deadlines at the airport are standard; domestic and international times are usually 40-60 minutes prior to the flight departure time. However, the late baggage check deadline at the airport varies depending on the airport. For a bag early, you should aim to reach 60–90 minutes prior to the scheduled flight time. Late-night baggage check-in is also available at Lufthansa, allowing passengers to drop their bags up to 23 hours before the scheduled flight takes off at several airports.
Lufthansa Bag Drop Deadline
- Early Check-In: 40-60 minutes prior to the scheduled take-off (varies by airport).
- Standard Drop-Off: 3 to 4 hours prior to departure.
- Late Night Drop-Off: 30 hours to 23 hours before the scheduled flight.
What Is Lufthansa Special Baggage Policy?
Lufthansa allows bringing special baggage as carry-on or checked, depending on its size and weight limit. Lufthansa special baggage includes musical instruments, sports equipment, and bulky items, which might be allowed only after taking permission from the airline and require registration at least 72 hours prior to flight take-off time. Sports equipment must fit within the standard allowances, with a weight not exceeding 23 kg and Lufthansa checked baggage size 158 cm in total, while the passenger must pay extra fees if it crosses the limitations.
Here are some of the rules that apply to the Lufthansa Special Baggage Policy:
- Sports and other special baggage require early registrations within 72 hours prior to the flight to the scheduled departure.
- You must confirm about carrying special equipment prior to your Lufthansa booking.
- Golf Bags containing equipment like clubs, a pair of golf shoes, or balls, are considered under special baggage.
- Items that are bulky or in excess and exceed the standard measurements (more than 292 cm in total) can be checked as special baggage with a flat fee.
- Special baggage comes with a maximum weight limit of 32 kg, and in several cases, the maximum length accepted is 315 cm.
- The athletic equipment, vaulting poles, is prohibited from being carried.
Lufthansa Pet Transport Checked Baggage Policy
The airline allows pet transport under the baggage policy of cats and dogs up to a total weight of 8 kg. Lufthansa checked baggage price applies to pets weighing more than 8 kg, which costs $95-$200+ one way, depending on size, cabin, and route the passenger is travelling. Here are some of the pet policies and guidelines that must be followed on Lufthansa:
- You can pay for your pet depending on the applied fees at check-in.
- Registration for your pet for transportation must be made at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure through the Lufthansa Service Center.
- To be eligible to be carried in-Cabin (PETC), pets (dogs & cats) must be within the weight range of 8 kg or less, and the accepted size is 55 x 40 x 23 cm maximum dimension.
- Trained service dogs or assistance dogs are permitted in the Lufthansa cabin for free only after an advance notice within 48 hours prior to the flight departure.
- Larger pets that exceed the cabin weight or size limits travel in Cargo Hold (AVIH) or the climate-controlled hold department of the aircraft.
- Several dog breeds, like snub-nosed faces, face restrictions or bans on transportation.
Lufthansa Infant Checked Baggage Policy
Infant Lufthansa checked baggage weight accepted for transportation is 23 kg and cannot be carried in the cabin with a seat. Here are some of the infant policies applied to Lufthansa:
- Strollers/Buggies: Infant items like a car seat, carrycot, one stroller, or buggy are eligible to be checked for free.
- Separate Seat: Passengers must pay a fee for the seat occupied by the infant (usually 75% of the ticket price or more) and can utilize the approved child restraint system.
- Lap Infants (0-2 Years): Requires no seat and may apply 10% fee of the adult fare plus taxes, except on domestic German flights, which allows fee-free seats.
- Age Requirements: Newborns or infants are allowed to fly on Lufthansa after 7 days.
- Baggage: Infants are allowed a separate 23 kg checked baggage allowance on Lufthansa.
- Meals: Special baby food is not available on the airline, and passengers can bring their own baby food.
- Bassinets: Only available on long-haul flights (fare type Premium Economy/Business), but are subject to availability once requested in advance.
How Much Are Lufthansa’s Checked Baggage Fees?
Lufthansa checked baggage fee depends on the fare class, booking time, and route of the passenger. No bag fees are included with the Economy Light fares on Lufthansa, while other fares charge fees on several routes, and the first bag is free of weight, not exceeding 23kg. The second baggage at Lufthansa costs around $90-$100, depending on the route and fare type.
Here is a detailed list of checked baggage fees that apply on Lufthansa depending on the route and fare type:
|
Route Type |
Fare Type |
First Bag |
Second Bag |
|
USA/Mex/Can/CA |
Light |
$70 – $75 |
$90 – $100 |
|
Within Europe |
Light |
$25 – $30 |
$40 – $50 |
|
Classic/Flex |
Free |
$40 – $50 |
|
|
To/ From Europe |
Economy/Prem |
Free |
$90 – $100 |
|
All other Long-haul |
Light |
$70 – $75 |
$70 – $230 |
|
Economy |
Free |
$70 – $230 |
Lufthansa Extra Checked Baggage Fees
Wondering how much is an extra checked baggage on Lufthansa, learn from the table given below:
|
Baggage Type |
Route Type |
Fees |
|
Overweight (24-32 kg) Oversized (>158 cm) |
Domestic (Germany) |
$90+ |
|
Overweight (24-32 kg) Oversized (>158 cm) |
Long-haul |
$345+ |
|
Additional Baggage (Overweight/ Large) |
Domestic (Germany) |
$170+ |
|
Additional Baggage (Overweight/ Large) |
Long-haul |
$635+ |
What Items Are Restricted As Lufthansa Checked Baggage?
Lufthansa check-in baggage restrictions prevent passengers from bringing several items to the cabin or as checked baggage because of the airline’s safety concerns. Learn about the baggage that is prohibited or restricted on Lufthansa in detail below:
- Flammable Items: Equipment that is flammable or fuel-powered, like lighter fuel, paint, chainsaws, generators, and cleaning agents.
- Dangerous Chemicals: Materials that are dangerous, such as flares, radioactive materials, explosives, fireworks, poisons, mercury, and corrosive substances.
- Lithium Battery Equipment: Electric bicycles, Segways, and Hoverboards equipment is restricted.
- Specific Items: Oxygen generators, Camping stoves with fuel, and substances that can emit gases in contact with water.
- Valuables And Fragile Items: Expensive items like Laptops, cameras, cash, or valuable materials such as jewellery are restricted from being carried as checked due to risk of theft or any damage.
- Weapons And Self-Defence: Several self-defence objects like pepper spray, tasers, or stun guns are banned from carrying both as checked and carry-on baggage.
How Can I Add Checked Bags On Lufthansa?
If you are searching for the topic, ‘how to add checked baggage Lufthansa’, then here is the answer: you can choose any of the following methods. Lufthansa allows online and offline modes of bag check to its customers depending on their preferences. Read further to choose.
Online Lufthansa Bag Check-In
|
Access Booking |
Search lufthansa.com online and go to the ‘My Bookings’ page to log in to your account entering your last name and booking code. |
|
Select Flight |
Click on the specific booking in which you wish to add bags. |
|
Add Bags |
Press ‘Add Baggage’ or ‘Manage Booking’ option and indicate the number of extra bags you are carrying for the flight. |
|
Confirm and Pay |
Follow the on-screen prompts to make the payment of the additional baggage fees. |
Offline Lufthansa Bag Check-In
|
Locate Terminal |
Go to the Lufthansa check-in area or find the self-service bag drop kiosks at the airport. |
|
Check-in |
Utilize your reservation code or scan the passport to retrieve your booking and add bags. |
|
Pay and Confirm |
Make payment of the extra bags purchased and its applied fees. |
|
Print Boarding Pass |
Print boarding pass and tags from the kiosks. Now attach them to each bag and drop off the bags at the drop area assigned. |
Note: If none of the above methods suits you or you are running out of time, call at +1-866-673-8391 to get instant assistance from the experts.
Top 5 Tips To Avoid Paying Lufthansa Checked Baggage Penalties
Here are the top 5 strategies that can help you abide by the Lufthansa baggage security rules and avoid any checked baggage penalties:
- Weigh your baggage at home and avoid packing valuable or expensive items in the checked bags to pass the security check of Lufthansa at the airport.
- Pack most of the items in your carry-on until it’s full and within the size and weight limits of the airline to avoid checked bags fees for extra weight.
- Utilize the online platforms of Lufthansa, using its official website or app to pay for the bags in advance, which will cost less.
- Fly with a premium cabin or elite status for complimentary checked bags at Lufthansa and receive a generous checked bag allowance.
- Use an airline co-branded credit card that provides perks to its customers with free first baggage allowance.
As the blog has reached an end, we hope you now have a comprehensive knowledge of Lufthansa Checked Baggage size, its fees, and standard weight allowed by the airline. This blog will support you in times when you need to understand all the crucial baggage details before rushing for the flight, and experience hassle-free travel. If you need help understanding baggage allowance and policy of your specific Lufthansa fare type, call at +1-866-673-8391 for a professional and quick response from travel experts.
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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Lufthansa is strict with its checked baggage size and enforces the standard limit of 158 cm on total dimensions for passengers to be eligible for transportation at check-in.
Lufthansa’s checked baggage fee depends on the fare class and route of a traveller, with its Economy Light charges ranging from $50 to $90 for the first bag, while the second bag charges between $90 to $200.
Yes, Lufthansa imposes a standard maximum size limit for checked baggage on the international route of 158 cm (total W + H + D).
If your Lufthansa bags exceed 50 pounds (23 kg) in weight, you must pay overweight baggage fees depending on your destination and fare class.
Lufthansa’s international allowance for checked baggage depends on the fare class, which generally allows 1 bag (max 23kg weight) in Economy class, 2 bags of max weight 23kg each allowed in Premium Economy, and for Business class, 2 bags of 32kg each are permitted.
Yes, you are eligible to bring a backpack along with a carry-on on Lufthansa with size bot exceeding more than 40 x 30 x 15 cm in total dimension as a personal item for free.
Yes, Lufthansa allows a free checked bag on most of its premium fares or elite status fares, but low-tier tickets like Economy Light apply a fee.
Yes, Lufthansa checks baggage size and weight at the security check to ensure that the bags are within the strict standard bag limits, especially for the carry-on bags.
About the Author
Matthew Baron is a seasoned travel consultant and writer, currently working with Flightaura to help travelers navigate the complexities of baggage policies, flight changes, and cancellation policies. With a deep understanding of the travel industry and a wealth of experience in travel planning, Matthew has become a trusted advisor to many travelers seeking to make the most of their trips.
