Lufthansa Checked Baggage Rules: Fees, Limits & Free Bags

Lufthansa's checked baggage policy is structured around fare tiers, with the Economy Light fare the key outlier — it includes no checked bags at all. Understanding how bags are bundled across Lufthansa's fare classes, and how Miles & More status affects your allowance, is essential for budgeting any Lufthansa flight.

Lufthansa Fare Classes and Checked Baggage

Lufthansa uses four main Economy fare tiers, each with a different checked baggage inclusion:

Economy Light

• No checked bag included
• This is Lufthansa's base fare and the only one without a free checked bag
• Checked bags must be purchased separately — prices increase closer to departure and are significantly higher at the airport
• Light fares are common on intra-European routes and some long-haul bookings

Economy Classic

• 1 checked bag up to 23 kg included in the fare
• The standard mid-tier Economy option on most routes
• A second bag can be purchased for an additional fee

Economy Flex

• 1 checked bag up to 23 kg included
• Flex fares include more flexibility on changes and cancellations, but the baggage allowance matches Classic
• A second bag can be pre-purchased

Business Class

• 2 checked bags, each up to 32 kg
• Applies across short-haul and long-haul Business Class
• Total potential allowance: 64 kg across both bags

First Class

• 3 checked bags, each up to 32 kg
• Total potential allowance: 96 kg across all three bags
• Applies to Lufthansa's Frankfurt and Munich First Class product

Lufthansa Checked Baggage Weight Limits

Fare Class	Pieces	Weight per Piece
Economy Light	0 included	23 kg if purchased
Economy Classic / Flex	1	23 kg
Business Class	2	32 kg each
First Class	3	32 kg each

Overweight surcharges:

• Bags weighing 24–32 kg: EUR 100 per bag (surcharge on top of standard fee)
• Bags weighing 32–45 kg: Must be pre-booked in advance and are subject to special handling fees; cannot simply be presented at the airport
• Bags over 45 kg: Refused at check-in; Lufthansa will not accept them under any condition

If your bag will be between 32–45 kg, contact Lufthansa before your flight to arrange the oversized/overweight booking. Arriving at the airport with such a bag without pre-arrangement risks your bag being left behind.

Lufthansa Checked Baggage Size Limits

• Standard maximum: 158 cm total linear dimensions (length + width + height)
• Oversized bags (over 150 cm total linear): Must be pre-booked in advance; an additional oversized fee applies
• Lufthansa considers bags over 150 cm as requiring special handling

Note that Lufthansa's stated maximum is 158 cm total, but the pre-booking requirement kicks in at 150 cm — a subtle but important distinction. A bag measuring 80 × 50 × 30 cm totals 160 cm and would require pre-booking and an additional fee.

Miles & More Status Benefits

Lufthansa's frequent flyer program Miles & More offers additional baggage allowance at higher status tiers:

Status	Alliance Tier	Extra Baggage Benefit
Miles & More Frequent Traveller	Star Alliance Silver	First extra bag fee waived on many routes
Miles & More Senator	Star Alliance Gold	Additional checked bag(s) included depending on route
Miles & More HON Circle	Beyond Gold	Significant extra allowance, specific to routes flown

Star Alliance Gold recognition (held by Senator and HON Circle members) generally provides extra bag benefits when flying Star Alliance member airlines. The specific benefit varies: on some routes it means one extra bag free, on others it means a weight uplift.

Verify your specific benefit through Lufthansa's website or Miles & More account, as baggage benefits for status members are calculated at check-in based on the fare booked, the route, and the status tier.

Lufthansa Group Consistency

Lufthansa's weight tier approach and overweight fee structure is shared across the Lufthansa Group carriers:

• Austrian Airlines — same weight limits and overweight tier policy
• SWISS International Air Lines — same fare-based bag structure and 23/32 kg weight tiers
• Brussels Airlines — same framework as Lufthansa Group for checked baggage

If you're booked on a Lufthansa code-share ticket operated by Austrian or SWISS, the Lufthansa baggage allowance on your ticket should be honored by the operating carrier. However, verify this during booking, as codeshare baggage rules can have exceptions.

How to Avoid Lufthansa Baggage Fees

Avoid the Light fare if you need a checked bag. The price difference between Light and Classic fares is often EUR 20–40, while adding a bag to a Light fare typically costs EUR 40–80 per direction. Classic fare is almost always the better deal if you plan to check a bag.

Pre-purchase bags online. Lufthansa's online prices for additional bags are lower than airport counter prices, often by 30–50%. Buy as soon as you know you'll need the extra bag — the later you purchase, the higher the online price climbs as well.

Weigh bags at home. The EUR 100 overweight surcharge for a 24–32 kg bag represents the single most avoidable airport fee on Lufthansa. A 24 kg bag costs you EUR 100 extra. A kitchen scale or luggage scale is a worthwhile investment.

Book in Business for heavy loads. If you're traveling with significant gear, the 2 × 32 kg Business Class allowance can be more economical than paying overweight fees in Economy on multiple bags.

Lufthansa Checked Baggage at a Glance

Lufthansa's Light fare includes no checked bags — the most important policy to know. Economy Classic and Flex include 1 bag at 23 kg. Business Class includes 2 bags at 32 kg each; First Class includes 3 bags at 32 kg each. Overweight surcharges of EUR 100 apply from 24 kg, and bags over 32 kg must be pre-arranged. Bags over 45 kg are refused. Oversized bags over 150 cm total must also be pre-booked. Austrian, SWISS, and Brussels Airlines follow the same tier structure as part of the Lufthansa Group.