Norwegian Air Checked Baggage Rules: Fare Types, Fees & Practical Guide

Norwegian Air Shuttle is one of Europe's leading low-cost carriers, known for competitive fares across short-haul European routes and a growing long-haul network. Like most budget airlines, Norwegian's pricing model separates the base fare from ancillary services including checked baggage. Understanding exactly what each fare type includes — and how much bags cost when added separately — is essential to accurately comparing Norwegian's prices against full-service competitors.

Norwegian Fare Types and Checked Baggage

Norwegian sells tickets under several fare categories, each with different baggage inclusions.

Short-Haul European Routes

Fare Type	Checked Bag	Weight Limit	Notes
LowFare	No free bag	—	Carry-on only (small bag under seat)
LowFare+	1 bag	20 kg	Carry-on also included
Flex	1 bag	20 kg	Fully flexible, carry-on included

LowFare is Norwegian's entry-level product. It includes only a small personal item that fits under the seat in front of you. A standard carry-on that goes in the overhead bin costs extra, and checked baggage must be purchased separately. This fare is genuinely competitive for passengers traveling with only a small bag.

LowFare+ adds both a standard carry-on bag and one checked bag up to 20 kg. For passengers who know they need to check luggage, LowFare+ is often better value than purchasing baggage separately on top of a LowFare ticket.

Flex mirrors LowFare+ in terms of baggage but adds full flexibility — free date changes, cancellation refund, and seat selection. It's designed for business travelers or anyone who needs maximum flexibility.

Long-Haul Routes (Transatlantic and Beyond)

Norwegian's long-haul operation connects Scandinavia and the UK to North America, and historically to Asia and South America. On these routes:

Fare Type	Checked Bag	Weight Limit	Notes
LowFare (long-haul)	No free bag	—	Carry-on only
LowFare+ (long-haul)	1 bag	20 kg	Standard economy
Premium	2 bags	20 kg each	Premium cabin, priority boarding

Long-haul LowFare is genuinely spartan — no checked bag and limited service. For a transatlantic flight, purchasing baggage separately is typically necessary for most travelers.

Premium is Norwegian's long-haul business-class-style product. Passengers receive two checked bags at 20 kg each, lie-flat seats, premium meals, and lounge access at select airports. It's a strong value proposition on transatlantic routes where legacy business class can cost multiples more.

Weight Limits: The 20 kg Standard

Norwegian's standard checked baggage weight limit across all routes is 20 kg per bag — lower than the 23 kg standard used by most legacy carriers. This is worth noting if you're accustomed to KLM, Lufthansa, or British Airways, which typically allow 23 kg.

Standard limit: 20 kg
Maximum linear dimensions: 90 cm x 75 cm x 43 cm (length + width + height must not exceed 158 cm total)
Bags over 20 kg but under 32 kg: Subject to excess weight fee
Bags over 32 kg: Not accepted as standard checked baggage; must be shipped separately

The 20 kg limit catches many travelers off-guard, especially on longer trips. Packing with a scale at home and aiming for 18–19 kg gives a small buffer for items purchased at your destination.

Additional Bag Fees

When adding bags to a LowFare ticket or booking a second bag, Norwegian's fees vary by route and when you purchase:

Additional Checked Bag Pricing

Short-haul (intra-European): approximately €35–€60 per bag when purchased online in advance
Short-haul at the airport: approximately €65–€80 per bag
Long-haul (transatlantic and beyond): approximately €60–€100 per bag online
Long-haul at the airport: approximately €100–€140 per bag

These are approximate ranges — Norwegian's baggage pricing is dynamic and fluctuates with demand, route, and timing. Prices are generally lowest when purchased at the time of booking and increase as the departure date approaches.

Overweight Fees

If your bag exceeds the 20 kg limit:

20–32 kg: approximately €10–€20 per kilogram over the limit, depending on route
Airport overweight fees are always higher than fees paid online in advance
Norwegian does not typically offer a flat overweight fee — it is charged per kilogram over the limit

This per-kilogram structure means a bag at 25 kg on a short-haul route could cost €50–€100 extra in overweight fees. Redistributing weight between bags or removing items is almost always cheaper.

Buying Baggage: Online vs. At the Airport

Norwegian makes it easy to add baggage online, and the savings are significant:

Visit norwegian.com and go to Manage My Booking
Enter booking reference and last name
Select Add Baggage from the menu
Pay at the discounted online rate

Key timing rules:

Baggage can be added online until check-in closes (typically 90 minutes before departure for airports, 60 minutes for smaller airports)
After online check-in closes, baggage must be purchased at the airport check-in desk
You cannot add baggage at the gate — Norwegian does not accept bags at the gate

Reward Flights and Norwegian Reward

Norwegian's loyalty program (Norwegian Reward) does not currently provide free or discounted checked baggage as a standard tier benefit. CashPoint earnings can be applied toward the cost of added baggage, but there is no status-based free bag allowance comparable to Flying Blue or SAS EuroBonus.

This is one area where Norwegian differs significantly from legacy carriers. Frequent Norwegian flyers should factor baggage costs into their overall fare comparison.

Long-Haul vs. Short-Haul Policy Differences

The differences between Norwegian's short-haul and long-haul baggage policies are worth summarizing:

Feature	Short-Haul	Long-Haul
LowFare bag included	No	No
LowFare+ bag included	1 bag, 20 kg	1 bag, 20 kg
Premium bags included	N/A	2 bags, 20 kg each
Extra bag fee (online)	€35–€60	€60–€100
Overweight fee	Per kg over 20 kg	Per kg over 20 kg

Long-haul routes to the United States and other distant destinations generally have higher additional bag fees, reflecting both the longer journey and higher operating costs.

Premium Cabin Baggage Benefits

Norwegian's Premium cabin on long-haul routes offers a substantially better baggage deal:

2 checked bags included (up to 20 kg each)
Priority check-in and bag drop
Priority baggage handling — bags are among the first off the carousel at destination
Carry-on bag included (up to 10 kg in overhead bin)
Personal item included

For families or business travelers with equipment or multiple bags, Premium's inclusive two-bag allowance can represent genuine savings over buying bags on top of an economy fare.

Sports Equipment and Special Items

Norwegian accepts a range of sports equipment as checked baggage with applicable fees:

Skis/snowboard: Accepted as oversized equipment; fee typically €45–€80 depending on route
Bicycle: Deflate tires, remove pedals, protect handlebars. Counts as oversized baggage; fee applies
Golf clubs: Standard oversized fee applies; must be packed in a protective bag or hard case
Musical instruments: Small instruments in a case may count as a personal item; larger instruments should be pre-booked as sports equipment or checked baggage

Pre-booking special items online is strongly recommended. Norwegian's airport handling for unbooked special items can be expensive and not guaranteed to be accepted on busy flights.

Practical Tips for Flying Norwegian

1. Always weigh your bag before you leave. The 20 kg limit is strictly enforced, and overweight fees per kilogram add up quickly.

2. Compare LowFare + baggage vs. LowFare+. Sometimes buying baggage separately on a LowFare ticket costs more than simply booking LowFare+ from the start. Do the math at booking.

3. Add baggage at time of booking. Norwegian's lowest baggage prices are at the time of initial booking. Prices increase as the flight date approaches.

4. Use the Norwegian app. Mobile check-in through the Norwegian app saves time. You can add baggage through the app up until check-in closes.

5. Long-haul Premium is often competitive with economy + bags. On transatlantic routes, Norwegian Premium with its two free bags and premium service can be comparable in total cost to a LowFare+ fare with one added bag — worth checking during booking.

Summary

Norwegian Air's checked baggage policy is straightforward once you understand the fare structure:

LowFare: No checked bag included — purchase separately
LowFare+ and Flex: 1 bag at 20 kg included
Premium (long-haul): 2 bags at 20 kg each included
Extra bags: €35–€100 online (route-dependent), significantly more at the airport
Weight limit: 20 kg, lower than most legacy carriers
Overweight fees: Charged per kilogram over the limit

The most important action is to buy baggage online in advance if you know you need it. Airport prices for Norwegian baggage are among the highest in European aviation, and pre-planning always yields better value.