British Airways Baggage Allowance by Cabin, and How to Claim When Bags Go Wrong
Every BA passenger gets two cabin items, but checked allowances range from none to three 32 kg bags. The breakdown by cabin, plus claim deadlines for delayed and damaged bags.
British Airways lets everyone take two items into the cabin, even on its cheapest fares. The differences between cabins appear in the hold, where the allowance runs from nothing at all to three heavy bags. Below is the allowance for each cabin as BA publishes it, followed by the part most people only look up when it's too late: how to claim for a delayed, lost or damaged bag, and the deadlines that can sink a claim.
We are an independent guide, not British Airways. To check your exact allowance, add bags or file a claim, use britishairways.com (Manage My Booking) or the BA app.
Hand baggage: two items for everyone
On flights operated by British Airways, BA Cityflyer and BA Euroflyer, every passenger may carry:
- One hand bag of up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm (16 × 12 × 6 in). It must fit under the seat in front and is guaranteed to stay with you in the cabin. BA suggests keeping medication, phones and other electronics, and passports in it.
- One cabin bag of up to 56 × 45 × 25 cm (22 × 18 × 10 in), wheels and handles included. You must be able to lift it into the overhead locker yourself. On busy flights it may be moved to the hold, so BA says not to pack valuables, electronics or essential medicines in it.
Passengers whose accessibility needs prevent them from lifting their bag may bring one that an able-bodied adult could reasonably lift. Wheelchairs and mobility aids for personal use travel free.
Checked allowance by cabin
| Cabin | Checked bags included | Weight per bag |
|---|---|---|
| Economy, hand-baggage-only fare (often called Basic) | None | — |
| Economy | 1 | Up to 23 kg (50 lb) |
| Premium Economy | 2 on most routes (1 on a few) | Up to 23 kg (50 lb) |
| Business | 2 | Up to 32 kg (70 lb) |
| First | 3 | Up to 32 kg (70 lb) |
Every checked bag can measure up to 90 × 75 × 43 cm (35 × 30 × 17 in).
Frequent flyers get more. Gold and Silver members of the British Airways Club, and the equivalent oneworld (Emerald, Sapphire) and AerClub tiers, can check two bags of up to 32 kg in Economy. In Business and First, top-tier members get an extra bag on top of the standard allowance. Companions on the same booking generally share the benefit, though not on group bookings or for infants without their own seat.
Children and infants can also check up to two items free from this list: a fully collapsible pushchair, a car or booster seat, a travel cot, or a baby back carrier.
Extra, heavy or oversized bags
If you're on a hand-baggage-only fare, or need more than your allowance, you can pay for up to 10 extra bags for personal items, subject to space on the flight. The price depends on your route and how many bags you add. BA's baggage calculator and Manage My Booking show the exact figure. BA says adding bags online before check-in is cheaper than paying at the airport.
One safety rule that catches people out: power banks and spare batteries must go in your hand baggage, never in a checked bag.
Delayed, lost or damaged bags: what to do and when
At the airport: report the problem before you leave the baggage hall and keep the reference BA gives you. You'll need it for every later step.
Deadlines for a claim, as BA lists them:
| Situation | Report within |
|---|---|
| Bag missing | 21 days of it going missing |
| Bag or contents damaged | 7 days of receiving the bag |
These match the Montreal Convention, the treaty that governs baggage on most international flights. It requires a written complaint within 7 days for damage to checked baggage and within 21 days for delay, both counted from when the bag is returned to you. If you miss these windows, the airline can refuse the claim.
What you can claim, according to BA:
- essentials such as toiletries and basic clothing while your bag is delayed, up to a reasonable value (keep the receipts)
- damage to the bag itself (BA may offer a repair or replacement, so talk to them before you throw it away)
- damage to the contents, or items missing from the bag
- the bag itself, if it has been missing for more than 21 days
How much BA has to pay. Under the Montreal Convention, the airline's liability for lost, damaged or delayed baggage is capped at 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger, about £1,600 according to BA. You can raise that limit by declaring a higher value at check-in and paying a fee. For checked baggage the airline is liable even if it wasn't at fault, unless the bag was already defective. Any court action must be started within two years.
Check your insurance first. BA itself points out that a personal travel insurance policy often covers more than the airline's liability limit. BA's Customer Relations team can provide proof of the loss, damage or delay if your insurer asks for it.
Flights through the US: if a bag was opened and damaged during a US security inspection, the claim goes to the US Transportation Security Administration, not BA.
If BA rejects your claim
Reply in writing with your reference, receipts and photos. If you still can't agree, the UK Civil Aviation Authority's complaints team can look at baggage complaints. It cannot force an airline to pay, and the CAA does not enforce the Montreal Convention itself. A small claims court remains an option within the two-year limit.
Beware of fake helplines. Websites and ads offering a "British Airways baggage helpline" are often not BA. Some charge fees or harvest booking details. File reports and claims only through britishairways.com or the official BA app.
Bottom line
Two cabin items are standard on every BA fare, while checked bags range from none on hand-baggage-only fares to three 32 kg bags in First. If a bag goes wrong, report it at the airport, then put your claim in writing: within 7 days for damage and 21 days for delay. Keep every receipt.