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Air France Carry On Luggage Size Allowance You Should Know 2024
Flying with Air France this summer? It’s essential to know the latest updates on Air France carry on luggage size to avoid last-minute surprises.
Before you pack your bags for your next escapades, check whether your bags exceed the size limits allowed to board. This means the weight and dimensions of your luggage.
There are also certain details on what’s allowed and what’s not, including Air France’s carry-on guide for travelling with babies, which you surely don’t want to miss out on.
Everything you need to fly with carry-on with Air France. Mertbiol, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Air France Baggage Allowances For Carry On
What does Air France carry on luggage size allowance include? When it comes to hand baggage, the allowance refers to the quantity, weight, dimensions (width, height and depth), and authorised personal items.
What Is The Baggage Allowance On Air France?
For Air France, it’s typically 1 carry on and 1 small personal item for Economy hand luggage. Partner airlines with Air France also have their own carry on allowance.
The Air France hand luggage size and weight restriction is as follow:
|
Air France Baggage Allowance |
Size (Metrics) |
Size (Imperial) |
Weight (Max Total) |
|
Carry on |
55 x 35 x 25 |
21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 |
12 kg (26.4 lb) |
|
Personal item |
40 x 30 x 15 |
16 x 12 x 6 |
Depending on your cabin, more weight and quantity are allowed. Here’s a pocket summary for your next summer getaway reference.
|
Cabin |
Number of bags |
Weight (Max Total) |
|
1 carry-on bag 1 personal item |
12 kilograms/26.4 pounds |
|
|
2 carry-on bags 1 personal item |
18 kilograms/40 pounds |
|
*There’s an exception. For Premium Economy flights within Europe /Northern Africa/Israel, you can only carry 12 kilograms/26.4 pounds or less.
But wait, there’s more. There are items that are not counted towards either your carry-on or personal items. Some of them include:
- Jacket, coat, or any other article of clothing on your body
- Umbrella
- Duty-free items purchased on board or at the airport
- Children's accessories, including strollers, car seats, and diaper bags (we will talk more about this later).
Does A Backpack Count As A Carry-On?
Yes. As long as it complies to Air France's luggage size and weight limit, a backpack or suitcase can be counted as a carry-on. Carry-on backpacks are often called cabin bags.
Cabin bags have gained popularity in recent years, with trends like one-bag travel and ultra-lightweight travel. A good cabin bag is not only a bag you fly with but can also be an alternative for exploring your destination.
Interested in taking on adventures with just a carry-on? Check out CabinZero’s cabin bags today for hassle-free and budget-friendly travel!
You don’t have to stress yourself out pre-measuring your baggage at home. They are already perfectly designed to fit comfortably in the aircraft's overhead compartment or the space under the seat in front of you.
Another perk we all secretly love is that travelling with only a cabin bag is technically free. Airlines, with the exception of some budget ones, typically include free carry-on baggage with your ticket.
How Strict Is Air France About Carry-On Size?
Air France's carry-on luggage size is pretty standard. Make sure your carry-on bag does not exceed 55 x 35 x 25 centimetres (21.7 x 13.8 x 9.9 inches) in dimensions and 12 kilograms (26.4 pounds) in weight.
Sometimes, they let it slide if you overpack by a little. Sometimes, they don’t. A few travellers have reported that Air France didn’t weigh their carry-on when flying internationally but did so for domestic flights.
The question is, why should you take the risk? It’s easier to comply with their baggage allowance initially than paying extra at the airport and delaying your boarding. After all, consider it’s one less problem to think about.
Many airlines suddenly become stricter with their carry-on baggage allowances for smooth operation and safety. Bigger and heavier bags mean more time arranged in the overhead compartment, which leads to delays for other passengers squeezing their way down the aisle and the flight crew. Not to mention the danger of luggage falling during turbulence.
Air France Carry On Luggage Size Liquids
Air France carry-on luggage size for liquids follows the 3-1-1 liquid rules. The amount of liquid, gel, cream, or paste in your cabin bag must not exceed 3.4 oz/100ml for one container, and all containers must be put in one bag no larger than 20 x 20 centimetres/7,8 x 7,8 inches.
Some items are allowed without restrictions. They are:
- Baby food
- Approved medication
- Special dietary requirements
However, it's advisable to contact Air France in advance if you need to bring liquids exceeding their allowance for health reasons, which are not listed above, to avoid any travel disruptions.
Air France Child Baggage Allowance
For children above the age of 2, their hand baggage allowance is the same as an adult’s. This means 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item in Economy. The same goes for younger children who have their own seat (their own ticket). Baggage allowance increases when you upgrade their cabin.
If your child sits in your lap during the flight, you’re allowed 1 extra carry-on bag with the same weight and size limit as your other one.
If you’re travelling with an infant, make sure your stroller and car seat/harness are approved as carry-on and safe for use before boarding. Any other accompanying accessories must also be pre-approved.
What’s Not Allowed In Hand Baggage Air France?
Know what you can and can’t bring on the plane.
- Sharp objects, weapons, firearms, illegal substances, and explosives are on every list of things NOT to bring on any flight anywhere, ever.
- Devices with lithium batteries are also not allowed as carry-ons.
- Along with that, liquids, gels, creams, and aerosols violating the 3.1.1 rule will also be refused.
If you’re travelling with your pets, you should notify Air France as soon as you book your ticket or at least 48 hours before departure because animal transportation depends on the type of aircraft and space availability.
Cats and dogs weighing more than 8 kilograms (with kennels/carriers) are not allowed in the cabin. You have to put them in the cargo hold. Ensure your pet breeds are healthy enough to travel in the hold, especially on long-haul flights.
Air France Checked Baggage Allowance & Fees
Checked baggage allowance and fees are similar to Air France carry on luggage size allowance because they depend on your ticket fares, routes, and cabin class. Higher fares mean more allowance, and if you overpack you have to pay extra, either online or at the airport.
Let’s take a look at what the hold baggage in Air France is about.
What Is The Number Of Checked Baggage Allowed?
How many bags you are allowed to check is stated in your bookings. Usually, Air France gives you options to compare before you select and proceed to payment. Some routes have very budget-friendly options in Economy, which may not come with any checked baggage allowance unless you switch to an option with a higher fare.
Generally, here’s what you can expect:
|
Class |
Checked Baggage Allowance |
Weight (Max Total) |
Size (Max Linear) |
|
0-2 checked bags |
23 kilograms / 50 pounds |
158 centimetres / 62.2 inches |
|
|
1-2 checked bags |
32 kilograms / 70.5 pounds |
||
|
3 checked bags |
Air France Oversized Baggage Fees
Travelling with checked baggage requires a bit of planning and budgeting. Photo by siewwy84 - stock.adobe.com
Oversized and overweight baggage are subject to additional fees, which are not cheap. This happens with most airlines, not just Air France. So, if you want to avoid paying more, staying within limits is essential.
Checked baggage larger than 158 centimetres/62.2 inches and heavier than what your fares allow is considered oversized and overweight. It has to be checked in at the oversized baggage counter, and you have to pay an additional fee.
If your luggage exceeds the limits, you’re expected to pay around 21 GBP to 250 GBP depending on the types of flights (long-haul or short) and how many kilograms and/or centimetres you exceed. You can be oversized without being overweight, and vice versa. Or, you can be both. If that’s the case, you will be charged for both types of overage.
Contact Air France cargo services if your checked baggage is heavier than 300 centimetres/118 inches.
How To Book Ticket And Check-In With Air France
Some of you may also be wondering how to book your flights with the airline and breeze through check-in.
Your Air France Bookings And Tickets
The best way to buy your Air France plane tickets is online, either via their official website or through a third party.
To buy tickets on Air France’s website, you just need to hit the “Book A Flight” button and enter your destination, or more.
Air France allows all sorts of trips, from one-way to round trips with multiple different destinations. For example, you can depart from London and fly to Madrid, then end your trip in Paris.
Once you’re done with booking, your ticket confirmation, including your flight information, a summary of your trip, and your Air France luggage allowance will be sent to your email.
Most airports do not require online tickets (e-tickets) to be printed out as long as you have the booking confirmation available for checking on your phone or tablet. You can always print your tickets out if you want to be extra prepared.
There are flights operated by Air France and Air France’s global partners. You can check which company operates your trip on the tickets you purchase.
Online ticket booking is swift and easy. Screenshot of Air France’s booking site.
Air France Tickets On Official Website Vs Third Parties: Which Are Better?
Booking directly through Air France's official website is usually the better option for budget travellers. Booking through a third-party website may involve additional fees or markups that can drive up the cost of the ticket. Even on fare comparison sites like Skyscanner, offers from the airline itself are still typically shown to be the cheapest.
However, third-party apps are still popular for a good reason. Sometimes, they have exclusive deals that aren’t available on official sites.
Checking-In With Air France
You can check in online up to 30 hours before your flight to receive your Air France boarding pass. However, for mobile phone check-in, each passenger needs their own phone number to receive the boarding pass (for departure from France to selected countries).
Like any other airline, your ticket should have the recommended time as well as other important notices written on it. If you can’t find this information, arriving 60 minutes (for low season) to 3 hours (for peak season) early is ideal. For arrival time at the airport when flying with Air France, it depends on where you’re departing from.
The procedure is pretty standard and similar to that of other big airlines. You obtain your boarding pass, have your baggage measured and weighed (which you can do beforehand at the airport), and proceed to the security checkpoint.
FAQs
In case you are still not in the clear about Air France's carry-on luggage size and other policies, here’s a few commonly asked questions and answers.
1. How Many 100ml Bottles Can I Take In My Hand Luggage Air France?
Air France allows passengers to bring liquids in containers of up to 100 ml each in their hand luggage. These containers must fit into a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag, which can hold no more than 1 litre in total.
Typically, this means you can bring up to ten 100ml bottles, depending on their exact size and the size of the bag. Remember, each passenger is limited to one such plastic bag.
However, as advice, it’s best only to bring the essentials to avoid overpacking. Most of the time, toothpaste, body wash and shampoo are provided at the accommodation. Even if they aren’t, you can buy them at just about any grocery store at your destination. So, unless you must use your own, consider leaving some at home to downsize your baggage.
2. What If My Carry-On Is 1 Inch Too Big?
It depends on what kind of 1 inch of overage it is. Is it 1 inch of the plastic handle or the wheels? Or, is it 1 inch of soft and compressible fabric in your backpack?
If it cannot be compressed and squeezed any more to fit into the overhead compartment of the cabin or the space under the seat in front of you, you may need to check it in. If your ticket fare already includes checked baggage, you are not subject to additional fees. If your ticket only covers carry-on baggage, then you have to pay.
Otherwise, you can rearrange your items or use the old trick of wearing the most bulky clothing items on your body. To avoid this from happening in the first place, consider a cabin-friendly bag.
3. Does A Stroller Count As A Carry-On Item With Air France?
Foldable strollers are often put in cargo hold without additional fees unless your ticket doesn’t allow any checked baggage in the first place.
However, there are smaller foldable strollers that are accepted as carry-ons. They should not be larger than 15 x 30 x 100 centimetres/ 5.9 x 11.8 x 39.4 inches. Large strollers as will be treated as 1 carry-on bag, meaning that your child can only have a small personal item.
Another thing to keep in mind is that strollers have to be folded and packed neatly in their cases/carriers.
Zero-Hassle Holiday With Our Air France Carry On Luggage Size Guide
Now you have a better understanding of Air France carry-on luggage size. What’s left is just to grab your best cabin bag, wear your best travel outfits, and enjoy your dream vacation without the stress.
Whether you're headed to a tropical paradise or a bustling city, having the right luggage can make all the difference in your travel experience.
If you find this article useful, be sure to leave a nice comment or reach out to us via social media to share your wondrous travel stories. Don’t forget to check us out for more amazing travel guides, packing tips, and destination recommendations.
Nguyen Tran Gia Khanh
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