Lufthansa Baggage and Carry-on

What are Lufthansa’s regulations on carry-on baggage (hand luggage)?

On Lufthansa flights, the carry-on baggage allowance depends on the booking class. In addition to the hand luggage allowance, one personal item may be carried on board.

What regulations regarding checked baggage apply on Lufthansa flights?

Lufthansa uses the standard Piece Concept for the free baggage allowance. The free baggage allowance can vary in terms of the number of free bags allowed, as well as the weight of those pieces of baggage, depending on the booking class and route. Miles & More status customers and Star Alliance Gold Members enjoy an additional free baggage allowance.

Maximum weight of 32 kg per bag is accepted for checked baggage, irrespective of travel class.

What rules apply when the journey includes flights with other airlines?

Regarding hand luggage on flights operated by one of Lufthansa’s cooperation partners, the respective partner’s rules apply.

As for checked baggage, the applicable free baggage allowance is shown on your ticket. Except for journeys to/from/across the US, when booking a journey with several airlines, the most significant stretch of the journey (usually the longest geographically) will determine the baggage regulations that apply until a stopover (a break in a journey of more than 24 hours). The baggage regulations of the airline whose code appears in the flight number for the most significant leg of the journey will apply, regardless of which airline actually operates the flight. For example, on a flight from Vienna to Johannesburg connecting in Munich, the most significant stretch of the journey is Munich to Johannesburg with flight number LH 9542 operated by South African Airways. Although South African Airways is operating the flight, Lufthansa’s baggage regulations will apply (LH – Lufthansa’s airline code appears in the flight number).

Special baggage rules apply for flights to/from/across the US as follows:

• Baggage rules apply consistently to all parts of the journey. These rules include hand luggage regulations, the free baggage allowance, the dimensions and weight of each of your bags, and the level of any charges that may be incurred.
• Usually, the baggage rules of the airline which is listed first on the ticket apply. If Lufthansa is listed on the first flight segment of your ticket, Lufthansa’s baggage regulations will apply to your entire journey (both your outbound and return flight).
• However, the airline listed as the first carrier can transfer the baggage rule stipulation to another airline, the so-called “Most Significant Carrier” in the itinerary. In such a case, that other airline’s rules would then apply to the entire journey.
• Therefore, Lufthansa cannot guarantee that the Lufthansa baggage rules will always apply for a Lufthansa-issued ticket. Other airlines often have baggage rules, which differ from those of Lufthansa. For details of the free baggage allowance applying to your individual flight, you should check your ticket and the e-mail confirmation which you receive from Lufthansa.

Carry-on (Hand Luggage)

Passengers with First and Business Class tickets may take two pieces of hand luggage on board with them. Passengers with an Economy Class ticket are only permitted one piece of hand luggage. A piece of hand luggage cannot be larger than 55 x 40 x 23 cm or weigh more than 8 kg. As an exception, foldable garment bags count as hand luggage up to a size of 57 x 54 x 15 cm.

In some cases, such as flights with small aircraft, mainly on regional routes (Lufthansa Regional Partner), or in countries with restrictive government regulations (e.g. Italy, the US), First and Business Class passengers may be asked to check their second piece of hand luggage. On almost all Lufthansa Regional flights, you are given the opportunity to keep your carry-on baggage until boarding and hand it over directly before entering the aircraft. As baggage carts are positioned next to the aircraft stairs, you will receive your carry-on baggage directly at the aircraft upon disembarking.

In addition to the carry-on allowance, passengers may take the following items into the cabin:

• One personal item (e.g. women’s handbag, laptop case, shoulder bag) with a maximum size of 30 x 40 x 10 cm.
• A child’s car seat, carrycot, foldable pushchair, or baby buggy when traveling with a child (these items will be transported in the cargo hold if there is insufficient storage space in the cabin).
• Crutches or other orthopedic aids on which the passenger is dependent

Checked Baggage

Lufthansa may transport, free of charge, a certain amount of checked baggage (free baggage allowance) that may vary depending on your route, booking class, Miles & More status, etc. After you have received your boarding pass online or on your mobile, you can check your baggage conveniently at the Lufthansa baggage drop-off counter. If you are checking baggage at a conventional check-in counter, you should inform the Lufthansa employee that you have already checked in.

At Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Geneva, and Vienna airports you can check bags included in your free baggage allowance, quickly and easily, at self-service baggage kiosks. The only requirement is to have your boarding pass and valid travel documents with you. The self-service baggage kiosk will print a self-adhesive baggage tag, which you must attach to your bag, as well as a receipt for your checked baggage.

Upon delivery of baggage to be checked, Lufthansa will make an appropriate entry on the ticket which act shall constitute the issue of the baggage check. Checked baggage must have your name or other personal identification affixed to it, but baggage tags that may be issued by Lufthansa are for identification purposes only. You will receive a part of the baggage tag as a receipt for your checked baggage. You should keep this until you have collected all your bags. Checked baggage will be carried on the same aircraft as you, whenever possible. If your checked baggage is carried on a subsequent flight, Lufthansa will deliver it to you, unless your presence is required for customs clearance by applicable law.

Free Baggage Allowance

Depending on the service class, free baggage allowances vary by the number of free bags allowed and the permitted weight of each bag. The maximum size per item must not exceed 158 cm (length + width + height). Fees will apply for bags that go over the free baggage allowance either in dimensions, weight, or number.

The following allowances apply on flights that have Lufthansa flight numbers and/or are exclusively operated by Lufthansa:

For Economy Class passengers, there are separate free baggage allowances with regard to the number and weight of baggage items, on certain routes or with particular products. For example, when flying from Canada to India via Europe or holding a Star Alliance Around-the-World ticket, Economy Class passengers may check free of charge 2 bags, each weighing up to 23 kg. On flights departing Brasil, Economy Class passengers have a free baggage allowance of 2 bags, each weighing up to 32 kg.

Excess Baggage Charges

For the 1st extra bag (up to 23 kg and 158 cm), Lufthansa offers attractive fees to Economy Class passengers traveling with the Economy Class Light fare:

• On flights within Germany:
  • Online, up to two hours before departure: 15 EUR.
  • At the Lufthansa ticket counter at the airport: 50 EUR.
  • At the departure gate: 50 EUR.
• On European flights:
  • Online, up to two hours before departure: 25 EUR.
  • At the Lufthansa ticket counter at the airport: 50 EUR.
  • At the departure gate: 50 EUR.
• On intercontinental flights – 60 EUR.

To/from the US, Mexico, Canada, and Central America (Belize, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama), Economy Class passengers can add a 2nd piece of baggage to the booking online for a EUR 80 fee or via the Lufthansa Service Center or at the Lufthansa service counter at the airport for a EUR 90 fee.

If your checked baggage exceeds the free baggage allowance, you can still take it with you upon payment of an excess baggage fee. Excess baggage fees are cumulative (e.g., an extra bag that is both oversized and overweight will be subject to a EUR 350 fee when traveling to/from Dubai.

Sporting Equipment

The first piece of ski/snowboarding equipment up to 2 m in length is free of charge (in addition to your free baggage allowance) except when traveling to/from the US, Mexico, and Central America (Belize, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama) or with an Economy Class Light ticket. However, the maximum weight of the first piece of ski or snowboarding equipment must be within the relevant free baggage limits of the respective booking class.

For standard sports equipment (e.g., first ski/snowboarding equipment on flights to/from the US, Mexico, additional ski/snowboarding equipment, water ski equipment, fishing equipment, bicycle, golf equipment, shortboards up to 2 m in length, etc.), Lufthansa charges the standard additional piece fee (exception – EUR 100 to/from Japan). When traveling on the Economy Light fare, you cannot take sports equipment (e.g. skis, snowboarding equipment, etc.) free of charge as your booked item of baggage or in addition to your booked item of baggage.

For bulky sports equipment (windsurfing equipment, longboard from 2 m to 3.15 m in length, tandem bicycle, hang glider, rubber dinghy, boat, horse riding gear, and pole vaulting equipment), Lufthansa charges the following fees:

If you are booking your flight online and want to take your sporting equipment with you, you must register your sporting equipment under your booking code by calling your local Lufthansa Service Center, preferably within 24 hours after you have made your online booking.

Baggage Service

If your baggage is missing or damaged, or items are missing from your baggage, you must report this immediately to the local Lufthansa baggage tracing desk or online so that an official report can be filed and you receive a written confirmation with a reference number. If you first notice items missing from your baggage or that your baggage is damaged at home or in a hotel, you must report it within 7 days after your flight. You must produce evidence that the damage occurred while the bag was in the care of Lufthansa. You can use the reference number to check the status of your baggage online.

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