How Strict Is Singapore Airlines Baggage Allowance?

When traveling with Singapore Airlines your cabin and check-in baggage allowances will vary according to your route of travel, and your selected class of travel/fare type.

In this article, I will explain Singapore Airlines’ free cabin and check-in luggage allowances based on the weight and item concepts. I also describe how you can purchase any additional baggage allowance that you may require.  

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

Baggage Info | Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines Cabin Baggage

Number of Cabin Baggage Items

When you fly with Singapore Airlines you can carry up to two carry-on bags into the cabin with you, depending on your class of travel. You must be able to stow your baggage securely in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front of you. Allowances by travel cabin are as follows:

  • Suites, First Class and Business Class – two carry-on bags
  • Premium Economy Class and Economy Class – one carry-on bag

In addition, you can carry one of the following items with you, free of charge:

  • Ladies’ handbag
  • Camera/camera bag
  • Document bag
  • Overcoat
  • Umbrella
  • Laptop/notebook in a bag
  • Infant amenities and food for consumption on board. The total weight of these items should not exceed 6kg
  • A walking stick, a pair of crutches and/or other prosthetic devices, if you are dependent on them
  • A small amount of duty-free goods (where permitted)

Cabin Baggage Size and Weight Limitations

Each item of carry-on baggage has a maximum weight limit of 7kg, and the sum of the length, width, and height of each carry-on item should not exceed 115cm. If your cabin baggage exceeds these limits, it will be collected by Singapore Airlines staff and stored in the aircraft hold. You may also have to pay additional baggage charges if the combined weight or pieces of baggage exceed your free allowance.

The maximum dimensions of personal items – handbags, camera bags, document bags, and laptop bags – are 40cm x 30cm x 10cm. If your personal item exceeds these total dimensions (80cm), it will be counted as part of your standard carry-on baggage allowance. You will then be required to check-in either your carry-on bag or your personal item.

Singapore Airlines Check-In Baggage

Overview

When flying with Singapore Airlines, your check-in baggage allowance is based on either the weight concept or the item concept, depending on your final destination. Your class of travel and your fare type will then determine your allowed weight or number of items.  

If your journey involves multiple legs, and/or multiple airlines you should check your baggage allowance at the time of booking.

Weight Concept Routes

Weight concept check-in baggage allowances apply to most Singapore Airlines destinations. All flights to Singapore Airlines destinations, except for those in Canada and the United States, operate on the weight concept.

On these routes the following check-in baggage allowances apply:

Travel Class/Fare TypeWeight Allowance
Suites and First Class50kg
Business Class40kg
Premium Economy Class35kg
Economy Class Flexi30kg
Economy Class Standard30kg
Economy Class Value25kg
Economy Class Lite25kg

Item Concept Routes

For flights to/from the USA and Canada the following check-in baggage allowances apply:

Travel Class/Fare TypeItem Allowance
Suites and First Class2 items, 32kg each
Business Class2 items, 32kg each
Premium Economy Class2 items, 23kg each
Economy Class Flexi2 items, 23kg each

Check-in Baggage Size and Weight Limitations

The maximum permitted weight of check-in bags is 32kg. If your bag weighs more than 32kg you will be required to repack/redistribute your baggage so that no item exceeds 32kg.

The sum of the length, width, and height of each check-in baggage item cannot exceed 158cm (62in).

Frequent Flyer Members

On both weight and item concept routes members of the Singapore Airlines PPS Club and the KrisFlyer/Star Alliance frequent flyer programs receive additional check-in baggage allowances, depending on their class of travel.

If you are lucky enough to belong to the PPS Club you get a double check-in baggage allowance. So, for weight concept routes in Suites and First Class you can take up to 100kg with you free of charge, and if traveling on an Economy Lite fare you get a 50kg total weight allowance. On item concept routes you can take twice your allocated number of check-in bags. This means that if you are traveling in Suites or First Class you can take up to four 32kg check-in bags with you, and if you are traveling on an Economy Lite fare you can take up to four 23kg check-in bags.  

If you’re not a PPS Club member but are a Krisflyer Elite Gold or Star Alliance Gold member you get an additional 20kg check-in baggage allowance on weight concept routes regardless of your travel cabin/fare type. On item concept routes you get one additional check-in item weighing up to 32kg in Suites, First Class, and Business Class, and 23kg in Premium Economy Class and Economy Class. 

Additional and Excess Baggage

Overview

You can purchase additional baggage weight, or items, online if your standard allowance is not sufficient for your needs.

A discounted rate of up to 25% applies to purchases made more than 48 hours before your flight’s departure time. Between 48 hours and 6 hours before your flight’s departure time, a 10% discount applies. You can also benefit from discounts if you are a KrisFlyer member.

For weight concept journeys (i.e. not to/from the United States), you can pre-purchase additional baggage weight in blocks of 5kg up to a maximum of 100kg per flight.

For journeys to/from the United States and Canada, you can pre-purchase any combination of the following:

  • up to two additional baggage pieces in addition to your free check-in baggage allowance
  • additional weight for each item of check-in baggage, within your free baggage allowance, that exceeds the weight limit in your chosen class of travel (e.g. if you want to take a bag heavier than 23kg in Economy Class)
  • oversize baggage for each item of baggage, within your free baggage allowance, that exceeds the 158cm maximum dimensions total

Weight Concept Routes

If you purchase up to 48 hours before your flight’s departure time the rates range from $US5 to $US42 per 1kg.

Last-minute purchases between 48 hours and 6 hours before your flight’s departure time range from $US6 to $US51 per 1kg.

At airport check-in, the rates range from $US6 to $US56 per 1kg.

The highest rates apply to routes to/from Africa and Europe.

Item Concept Routes

If you are traveling to/from Canada or the United States, additional check-in baggage charges are based on your routing and range from $US40 to $US280 per item for online purchases more than 48 hours before your flight’s departure time. Last-minute purchases between 48 hours and 6 hours before your flight’s departure time range from $US45 to $US315 per item. These compare to charges levied at the airport of between $US50 to $US350 per item.

If you want to add up to an additional 9kg to 23kg bags within your free allowance, up to a maximum of 32kg per item, or if you have oversized bags which exceed the 158cm dimensions total, the fee ranges are as follows:

  • online more than 48 hours before departure – $US40 to $US180
  • online 48 hours to 6 hours before departure – $US45 to $US203
  • at the airport – $50 to $US225

Sports Items

Sports equipment such as golf clubs, surfboards, canoes, scuba diving kits, skis, and bicycles count towards your check-in baggage allowance. If you exceed your allowance, the standard additional/excess baggage charges apply.

Singapore Airlines does not accept any single item above 32kg as check-in baggage, and these items may have to be sent as cargo.

Musical Instruments

Depending on its size and weight, a musical instrument can be classed as either check-in baggage, cabin baggage, or own-seat cabin baggage. 

To qualify as carry-on baggage, the sum of the length, width, and height of your musical instrument (including its case) should not exceed 115cm, and should not weigh more than 7kg.

Musical instruments that exceed the standard carry-on baggage size/weight allowances need to be checked in and counted as part of your check-in baggage allowance. If you exceed your free check-in baggage allowance, additional baggage charges apply.

If you prefer not to check in your musical instrument, you can purchase an additional seat by contacting your local Singapore Airlines office. Seated instruments should not exceed the following size and weight limitations: 

  • 127cm (height) X 45cm (width) x 30cm (depth)  
  • 40kg in weight

Traveling With Infants and Children

Weight Concept Routes

An infant is entitled to a 10kg check-in baggage allowance, and you can check in one of the following items:

  • a fully collapsible stroller or pushchair
  • carry-cot or car seat

Item Concept Routes

An infant is entitled to one item of check-in baggage, up to 23kg or 32kg, depending on your class of travel. And, you can check in one of the following items:

  • a fully collapsible stroller or pushchair
  • carry-cot or car seat

Conclusion

When traveling with Singapore Airlines, your cabin and check-in baggage allowances will vary according to your travel route and your selected class of travel/fare type.

All passengers are allowed one free personal item and at least one carry-on item in the cabin.

Relatively generous free check-in baggage allowances are provided for all passengers. Singapore Airlines operates on the weight and item concepts for check-in baggage, with check-in allowances on routes to/from the USA and Canada based on the item concept, and all other routes based on the weight concept. The number of check-in bags allowed and the weight of check-in bags varies according to your travel class and fare type. All passengers have the option to purchase an additional check-in baggage allowance if required. If you are a member of Singapore Airlines’ PPS Club you get a double check-in baggage allowance, and there is an additional allowance for high-tier members of the KrisFlyer/Star Alliance frequent flyer programs.


1 thought on “How Strict Is Singapore Airlines Baggage Allowance?”

  1. Singapore Airlines is incredibly strict, and left us in the lurch when no other airline in 26 years of flying with these bags in the same class has had an issue. They deemed two bags to be “too big and heavy”, despite NOT EVEN WEIGHING OR MEASURING THEM. As a result of this, two of our cabin bags were lost – we only flew with cabin bags as a result of the current checked-in baggage chaos.

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