Cargo luggage and handbag allowance for domestic and international flights

The weight of the luggage allowed in the airlines varies from airlines to airlines as well as from domestic to international sector. The baggage allowance is different for different classes also. As most of us travel in economy class I will cover here only economy class and those who are interested to know it for I class or business class can refer to airline sites for details.

For example in Air India, domestic sector, in economy class, the check in baggage (cargo) is allowed up to one piece up to 25 kg for an adult as well as children and 10 kg for an infant child. As regards the cabin baggage or hand baggage only 1 piece up to 8 kg is allowed but it should be within the size of Height 55 cms (22 inches) + Length 35 cms (14 inches) + Width 25 cms (10 inches). Travellers on wheel chair are allowed the additional weight of wheel chair up to 15 kg free of charge. In Air India international flight, in economy class, 2 pieces of checked in baggages each weighing up to 23 kg are allowed per person and the cabin baggage is same as mentioned above for domestic flight. In addition to this one can carry a Laptop or an overcoat or a camera or a blanket or a few books or infants feeding bottle etc or a walking stick or an umbrella or some medicines like for asthma. I have used 'or' between these items but many airlines do not mind if you take 2-3 out of them with you especially when you are going in a group.

Another example is Indigo airlines. Here in domestic economy class only 1 piece of 15 kg is allowed in checked in baggage (cargo) and 20 kg in international flight. For hand baggage only 1 piece of 7 kg is allowed. Size limitation same as above in Air India. One personal item like laptop or books or umbrella or stick or overcoat etc will be allowed.

Most of the other airlines will be similar to Indigo airlines.

If you want to carry medicines with you it is better to put them in the cargo. You can keep them in hand bag also and in any case the doctors prescription should also be with you. If you are going abroad this prescription is mandatory otherwise you will not be allowed to take them with you.

There are variations in the baggage allowance from the airlines to airlines and in economy class most of them allow one piece of check in baggage and one piece of cabin baggage along with some general personal items like laptop or jacket etc. In general the baggage allowance in economy class varies from 15 kg to 23 kg for check in baggage depending upon the type of airlines as well as whether it is flying in domestic sector or international sector. The cabin baggage is restricted to 7 or 8 kg only and one has to adhere to the overall dimensions of 55 x 35 x 25 cm only. If overall dimensions differ in any dimension then the total length + width + height should not exceed 115 cm. In business class for check in baggage 32 kg is allowed and hand baggage is only 7 or 8 kg.

Some airlines have some flying programs and can give special additional benefits to its members.

Keeping that background in mind the answer to the point wise queries are -

1. The total weight allowed in economy class in cargo is in the range 15-23 kg for domestic sector depending upon the airline while it is 20-46 kg for international flight. For cabin luggage it is in the range of 7-8 kg only but some personal things like book or laptop or overcoat or infant's accessories like feeding bottle etc are also allowed. In business class another 5-10 kg more is allowed in cargo only.

2. For the infant child most of the airline grant additional 10 kg. For a person in wheel chair the weight of wheel chair unto 15 kg is exempted and is free of charge. They will provide palace also for parking the foldable wheel chair if it belongs to you.

3. You can put essential medicines and liquids (less than 100 ml in volume) in the hand bag and there is no problem but you may be asked to produce the doctor's prescription if the security insists for it.

1. How much is the permissible weight of luggage for the cabin and for the luggage put in the cargo? Would this differ for a domestic flight from that of an international flight?

A. The permissible weight of cabin baggage and luggage booked will be different from airline to airline. But the difference is not very huge. In domestic flight, the cargo luggage weight allowed for one person varies between 15 to 25 kgs. There is no rule that you have to carry only one bag for cargo luggage. You can have multiple packages but the total weight should be within that range only.
Many domestic flights allow only one cabin baggage for a person but some may not insist. The weight that is allowed for cabin pieces of baggage also varies from one service provider to another provider. Generally, the allowed weight is 7 or 8 kg. Even though the weight is less than specified if the baggage dimensions are higher than 55 x 35 x 25 cm the baggage can't be allowed inside the cabin.
The weight allowed on international flights is different from that of domestic flights.
The weight allowed for cargo for international flights will vary between 20 to 45 kgs. Many will be around 30 per person. You can carry as many bags as you can but the total weight should not exceed the mentioned limit. The cabin baggage weight and dimensions allowed are almost similar to that of domestic flights. But some service providers will allow up to 10 Kg.
2. If I am travelling with an infant or a senior citizen and would require to carry some extra items, will the airline agree to a request to be allowed to carry more than the permissible allowance?

A. If you are travelling with a senior citizen or an infant the weights allowed will be in proportion to the number of tickets you have. A senior citizen is also allowed to carry whatever a traveller is allowed. The weights will be the same. For an infant, they will allow generally additional weight up to 10 kg. If the Senior citizen is using a wheelchair and if he is carrying his own, the weight of the wheelchair will not get counted in the weight and that will be free.
You can carry additional luggage in the cargo by paying extra charges as informed by the service provider in the airport when they weigh your luggage. But the charges will be very high. The charges will some times cross the cost of the material also. These charges for international flights are much higher than domestic flights. It is always better to make the luggage within the limits.
No requests are entertained without making the payment. One advantage you will get when you are travelling in a group is the total luggage of the group will be considered if your ticket is booked as a member of the group.

3. Currently, which items are permitted to be carried in the handbag? For example, is it Ok to put essential medicines and liquid products in the handbag?

A. You can carry liquids in hand baggage in a properly sealed condition with identification about the identity of the liquid. They will be more serious in international flights.
Medicines you can carry either in luggage or hand baggage in domestic flights. Generally, they will not ask any prescription for those items. But when you are going on an international flight it is good to carry the prescription of the doctor. If you have the prescription you can carry the medicines even in your hand baggage in international flights also.

'There is no rule that you have to carry only one bag for cargo luggage. You can have multiple packages, but the total weight should be within that range only.'
The information provided in the response is incorrect. A passenger cannot check-in multiple packages within the permissible weight. Airlines stipulate the dimension of the baggage and the number of pieces of baggage allowed in each class.

For example, if the permissible allowance is 23 kgs, the airline will specify the dimension of the baggage, and mention the number of pieces allowed. Passengers are required to confine their luggage to the weight and size mentioned in the ticket, to avoid paying excess baggage charges.

Attaching a copy of baggage allowance specifications that come attached with the ticket.

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Coming to the question -
There are special allowances offered to international students by individual airlines. If someone is travelling overseas for education and have a valid student visa, hey can avail of special fares and baggage allowance offered by the airlines.

British Airways allows passengers travelling on a student visa to carry a total of 69 kgs of baggage. It includes 23 kgs of cabin baggage and 46 kgs of checked-in baggage.

Students flying by Air India are entitled to an extra piece of checked-in baggage of 23 kgs. The offer is valid for specific destinations, such as the UK, the USA, Europe, Australia, Far East Asia and South East Asian countries.

Qatar Airlines allows three pieces of checked-in baggage weighing 23 kgs per piece, for Indian students travelling to the US. And if the destination is Europe a student can carry 40 kgs baggage.

Indian students travelling to the UK, USA and Australia, flying Etihad, are entitled to a baggage allowance of three bags of 23 kgs each.

All have just answered about the weight of the luggage but the items that can be carried in luggage and hand carry is still left out. I would like our members to provide more information on the same.