SWISS Checked Baggage: Allowances by Fare and Route

Start with the checked-baggage allowance on your e-ticket. SWISS does not give every Economy or Business ticket the same number of bags. Standard checked pieces are limited to 158 cm total (length + width + height); the usual per-piece weight is 23 kg in Economy/Premium Economy or 32 kg in Business/First.

European flights

Intercontinental flights

These are the published general SWISS allowances, before status benefits and route-specific exceptions. Certain journeys have a higher allowance. Long-haul Economy Basic includes a checked bag; the short-/medium-haul Basic exclusion must not be applied to it. Older fare names on an existing ticket should be checked against that ticket's conditions.

Size, weight and the price of extra baggage

Measure the packed suitcase and add its three external dimensions. A piece over the ordinary 158 cm or its booked weight limit can attract an excess charge. More than 32 kg, or more than 292 cm total, is not accepted as ordinary checked baggage. Business does not allow you to pay a surcharge for a single 35 kg suitcase. Special equipment and freight require their own arrangements.

SWISS's public overview does not establish one universal extra-bag, overweight or oversize price. Use the official baggage option in your booking, or request a route-specific quote. Before paying, confirm:

1. The flights covered by the purchase, including the return journey.
2. The number of pieces and the weight allowed for each one.
3. Whether the charge is for an extra piece, excess weight, excess size or several conditions.
4. Whether a status benefit already applies and where it must be registered.

A checked-bag purchase is not permission to take that suitcase to the boarding gate. Follow the bag-drop instructions. The cabin guide separately explains Basic, Light and the 8 kg cabin limit.

Status benefits: check the exceptions

SWISS's checked-baggage page lists an extra piece for HON Circle, Senator and Star Alliance Gold on eligible fares, and an additional Economy piece for Frequent Travellers. Short-/medium-haul Economy Basic and Light have exceptions: do not assume an extra free bag merely because your membership appears in the booking.

For eligible intercontinental Light journeys, HON Circle, Senator and Star Alliance Gold can receive the first Economy bag or a second Premium Economy/Business bag. SWISS excludes specified routes, including Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It says this Light benefit must be registered at the check-in counter; booking the piece in advance through online, service-centre or agency channels can incur a charge. Confirm eligibility with SWISS before purchasing.

Children and connecting flights

On European services, infants in Comfort, Comfort Green and Flex receive one checked piece up to 23 kg. For intercontinental services, SWISS lists one infant piece up to 23 kg except on Light fares. Foldable pushchairs or fully foldable travel prams have a separate allowance on all fares. Aircraft-door use and collection depend on the airport. For cabin use, a child seat needs a separate booked seat, air-travel certification and a base no larger than 40×40 cm; see SWISS's family conditions.

For a multi-airline checked journey, do not substitute the smallest cabin-bag limit. SWISS describes a most-significant-marketing-carrier rule, with a first-carrier/first-marketing-carrier exception for itineraries whose origin or furthest destination is the USA or Canada. Separate tickets or a stopover can change the allowance. The e-ticket shows the applicable checked allowance; confirm where the bag is tagged and whether collection is needed during a connection.

Use the SWISS bag checker for your cabin bag, and the route checker for cabin rules on each operating carrier. Those tools do not quote checked-baggage fees or verify through-checking.