How Strict Is Aer Lingus Baggage Allowance?

When traveling with Aer Lingus your cabin and check-in baggage allowances will vary according to your route of travel, and your selected fare type.

In this article, I explain Aer Lingus’ cabin and check-in luggage allowances and the options provided to purchase a carry-on baggage allowance (if your fare type does not include this), and an additional check-in baggage allowance should you need it, up to Aer Lingus’ maximum of three check-in bags per passenger.

As with all airlines, Aer Lingus may change its baggage rules and allowances at short notice, so please consult the Aer Lingus website for any latest information, and carefully check the conditions of travel before you book and confirm your ticket.

Travel Information – Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus Cabin Baggage Allowance

Introduction

Aer Lingus’ cabin baggage allowance depends on your travel zone, which Aer Lingus categorizes as follows:

• Regional – within Ireland, the UK, and the Channel Islands
• Europe
• Transatlantic

All Aer Lingus passengers are allowed to take a small personal item of baggage on board, and all passengers, apart from passengers traveling on Saver Economy fares within Europe, receive a carry-on baggage allowance of either 7kg (15lb) or 10kg (22lb).

Passengers must ensure that their carry-on baggage is within the specified size and weight limits. The baggage must fit inside measuring gauge units at the airport (including protruding items such as wheels and handles). Bags outside of the allowances must be checked in and baggage fees will be charged.

Regional Flights

For Aer Lingus Regional flights, which are operated under a franchise agreement with Emerald Airlines to regional airports within Ireland, the UK, and the Channel Islands, the carry-on baggage limit is 7kg (15lb). This item can be stored in the overhead locker, subject to availability. In addition, a small personal item such as a handbag, a laptop bag, or a baby changing bag can also be taken on board, but this personal item must be stowed under the seat in front of you.

Note that if you are transferring to/from an Aer Lingus Regional flight to an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight, the 7kg (15lb) carry-on baggage allowance applies to both parts of the journey.

The maximum dimensions of the 7kg (15lb) Regional carry-on bag are as follows:

• Height – 48cm (18.5in)
• Width – 33cm (13in)
• Depth – 20cm (8in)

The maximum dimensions of the additional small personal item are as follows:

• Height – 25cm (10in)
• Width – 33cm (13in)
• Depth – 20cm (8in)

Europe Flights

The carry-on baggage limit when traveling with Aer Lingus on flights to/from European destinations is 10kg. A small personal item such as a handbag or a laptop bag is also allowed.

The maximum dimensions of the 10kg (22lb) Europe carry-on bag are as follows:

• Height – 55cm (21.5in)
• Width – 40cm (15.5in)
• Depth – 24cm (9.5in)

The maximum dimensions of the additional small personal item are the same as those for the Regional small personal item.  

Not all passengers are allowed the 10kg (15lb) carry-on baggage allowance on Aer Lingus Europe flights. Qualifying passengers are as follows:

• AerClub – Silver, Platinum and Concierge AerClub members.
• Fare Types – all Plus, Advantage, and AerSpace fare types. Passengers traveling on Saver fares do not qualify for the 10kg (15lb) carry-on baggage allowance.
• Adults traveling with an infant.
• Connections – passengers connecting to/from an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight, or a connecting flight with an interline partner.

If your booking includes the 10kg (15lb) carry-on baggage allowance with priority boarding, you must take this bag on board the aircraft with you. You will not be permitted to drop this bag at check-in. You must also check in online or via the Aer Lingus App.

If your booking does not include the 10kg (15lb) carry-on baggage allowance and you would like to include it, you can purchase ‘Carry-on bag with priority boarding’ online from €6/£6.

If you bring a 10kg bag to the boarding gate but have not purchased  ‘Carry-on bag with priority boarding’, or this is not included in your booking, you will be charged a £/€35 fee to place this bag in the aircraft hold.

Transatlantic Flights

The carry-on baggage limit for Aer Lingus transatlantic flights is 10kg (22lb). This bag can be stored in an overhead locker. An additional small personal item is also allowed, but must be stowed under the seat in front of you. The maximum dimensions of the carry-on baggage and additional personal item are the same as those for the Europe flights. 

As a reminder, if you are connecting to/from an Aer Lingus transatlantic flight to an Aer Lingus Regional flight, the lower 7kg (15lb) carry-on baggage allowance applies for both parts of your journey.

Aer Lingus Check-In Baggage Allowance

Overview

Your Aer Lingus check-in baggage allowance depends on whether you are traveling within Europe, or on a transatlantic flight. It also varies according to the fare type you have purchased.

Flights Within Europe

Aer Lingus offers three check-in baggage options for flights within Europe:

• 20kg (44lb) in one bag (medium bag)
• 25kg (54lb) in one bag (large bag)
• 40kg (88lb) in two bags (extra-large bag)

The maximum dimensions of any single check-in bag are (length + width + height) 158cm (62in), and the maximum weight of a single item of check-in baggage is 32kg (70lb).

There is a free allowance of one 20kg (44lb) check-in bag with Plus, Advantage, and AerSpace fare types. Passengers traveling on Saver fares have no check-in baggage allowance.

If you wish to take more baggage than your allowance, fees apply. These fees vary by the length of your journey (‘near’, ‘mid’, and ‘far’ routes), and also depend on the booking channel used (online at the time of booking, online after the booking was made, or via a call center/at the airport).

For Saver fares the following additional check-in baggage fees apply (per person, one-way):

For Plus, Advantage, and AerSpace fares the following additional check-in baggage fees apply (per person, one-way):

Passengers traveling together on the same booking, and when checking in together can pool or share their check-in baggage allowances.

Transatlantic Flights

The maximum dimensions of any single check-in bag are (length + width + height) 158cm (62in), and the maximum weight of a single item of check-in baggage is 32kg (70lb).

All transatlantic fares except Economy Class Saver fares include a free check-in baggage allowance per customer:

• Economy Smart and Economy Flex fares enjoy a check-in baggage allowance of one item weighing up to 23kg (50lb).
• All business class passengers are allowed to take up to three check-in baggage items weighing up to a combined total of 69kg (150lb).

Aer Lingus allows a maximum of three check-in items per passenger on its transatlantic flights. So, if you are an Economy fare passenger, and you want to take more check-in luggage than your allowance, Aer Lingus offers three check-in baggage purchase options for its transatlantic flights:

• 20kg (44lb) in one bag (medium bag)
• 25kg (54lb) in one bag (large bag)
• 30kg (66lb) in one bag (extra-large bag)

The fees for additional check-in baggage depend on your booked fare type, and the booking channel used (online or at the airport).

If booked online, the following one-way fees apply:

	20kg (44lb)	25kg (55lb)	30kg (66lb)
Saver Fares	€45	€50	€55
All Other Fares	€60	€65	€70

If buying at the airport, you have only one option to buy an additional 23kg (50lb) check-in bag. The fee for all fare types is €75.  

Passengers traveling together on the same booking, and when checking in together can pool or share their check-in baggage allowances.

For Aer Lingus journeys between North America and the UK, or continental Europe, the transatlantic checked baggage allowance applies for all flights within a single reservation.

Sports Items and Musical Instruments

Aer Lingus carries sports equipment as check-in baggage. The maximum weight allowable for sports equipment is 23kg (50lb), and standard excess baggage rates apply for items above this maximum allowance.

For business class passengers, sports equipment is carried free of charge.

Each passenger can carry a maximum of one piece of sports equipment.

For Economy Class passengers on transatlantic flights, an excess baggage rate of €75 each way applies if you carry in excess of your allowance. For all other Aer Lingus flights, sports equipment is subject to a one-way fee of €40 (online prior to departure), or €50 (reservations center or at the airport on the day of departure). Bicycles cannot be booked online, so a one-way fee of €50 always applies.

Traveling With Infants and Children

Europe Flights

When traveling within Europe, one collapsible buggy/stroller is allowed free of charge for an infant or child booking, plus one of the following items – car seat, booster seat, or travel cot free of charge. The buggy/stroller needs will either need to be checked in, or handed to an Aer Lingus staff member at the boarding gate for stowage in the aircraft hold.

All infant cabin baggage must be included in the accompanying adult’s cabin baggage allowance. For children aged 2-12, the cabin baggage allowance is the same as for adults.

There is no checked baggage allowance included in infant or child bookings.

Transatlantic Flights

Infant bookings come with a 10kg (22lb) check-in baggage allowance included. In addition, infants are allowed one collapsible buggy/stroller plus one of the following items – car seat, booster seat, or travel cot free of charge. The buggy/stroller needs will either need to be checked in, or handed to an Aer Lingus staff member at the boarding gate for stowage in the aircraft hold.

For infant bookings, all cabin baggage must be included in the accompanying adult’s baggage allowance. However, if you book your infant as a child so that they can have their own seat, the standard cabin baggage allowance applies.

For children (aged 2-12), the carry-on baggage allowance is the same as for adults.

For infant bookings, a 10kg (22lb) check-in baggage allowance is included. But note that if you book your infant as a child so that they can have their own seat, any applicable checked baggage allowances are included.

For children (aged 2-12), the check-in baggage allowance is the same as for adults and depends on your selected fare type.

Excess Baggage

European Flights

If you choose not to pre-book a check-in bag in advance, or arrive at the airport with more than your booked allowance with bags that need to be checked in, Aer Lingus will charge you for the first 20kg of baggage allowance per customer. After that, charges are applied at a rate of €10 per additional 1kg and then for every additional kilo after that at the per kilo rate.

Transatlantic Flights

Excess check-in baggage charges apply for any additional checked bags or weight over the allowance permitted according to your fare type, or in excess of the weight you have already purchased. For bags weighing 23kg-32kg (50lbs-70lbs), the rate is €75 per item.

Conclusion

Most, but not all Aer Lingus passengers have a carry-on bag allowance. If you are traveling on Saver fare within Europe, you miss out. However, you have the option to purchase a carry-on bag allowance (with priority boarding), or you have the option to select a different fare type which includes a carry-on baggage allowance.

Your Aer Lingus check-in baggage allowance depends on whether you are traveling within Europe, or on a transatlantic flight. It also varies according to the fare type you have purchased.

Within Europe, there is a free allowance of one 20kg (44lb) check-in bag with Plus, Advantage, and AerSpace fare types. Passengers traveling on Saver fares have no check-in baggage allowance. If you wish to take check-in baggage with you on a Saver fare, or wish to take more than your allowance when traveling on other fare types, fees apply.

All transatlantic fares except Economy Class Saver fares include a free check-in baggage allowance per customer, including a generous 3 bags for Business Class passengers.

Aer Lingus allows a maximum of three check-in items per passenger on its transatlantic flights. So, if you are an Economy fare passenger, and you want to take more check-in luggage than your allowance you can purchase an additional check-in baggage allowance.