Air France Baggage Fees 2023: What To Expect
Planning to fly with Air France in the near future? If so, then you’ll want to familiarize yourself with their policies, especially as it pertains to baggage allowances and fees. This is especially recommended if you’ve never flown with this airline before, as their specific fees and allowances can vary quite a bit depending on the type of fare you book, your destination, and some other factors.
By being aware of Air France’s baggage allowances and fees, you can better plan for your trip and possibly save some money in the process; that’s money you can keep in your savings account or use to have a little more fun on your upcoming trip!
Air France Checked and Carry-On Allowances
When you’re traveling with Air France to any of their 200+ destinations across the globe, there are some basic guidelines you should keep in mind with regards to their checked and carry-on baggage allowances.
Checked Bag Allowances and Fees
Air France has some of the more complicated policies regarding checked bags, especially when compared to other airlines. Your specific baggage allowances and fees can vary significantly depending on the type of fare you book, where you’re flying to, and even your dates of travel.
As a general rule, however, you can expect to pay for all of your checked bags if you book an Economy Light fare, regardless of your destination. For Economy Standard fares, you’ll probably have one or two pieces of checked luggage included (depending on your route). Premium Economy and Business fares generally include two checked bags, and La Premièr fares include three free checked bags.
Additional baggage can be checked for a fee, but your best bet for determining your specific fees for additional checked bags is to use Air France’s online baggage calculator tool. This will allow you to calculate your baggage fees based on your specific route and fare booked.
Carry-On Allowances and Fees
Despite being a little strict when it comes to checked baggage, Air France actually offers some of the most generous carry-on policies in the industry. Regardless of your route or fare, you’re entitled to bring one small personal carry-on item (such as a purse or briefcase) free of charge, as well as anywhere from 1-2 standard-sized carry-on bags. The specific number of standard carry-ons allowed will depend on the type of fare you have booked. Most fares, with the exception of Economy fares, can bring two carry-on bags for no additional charge.
Keep in mind that size restrictions do apply to carry-ons when you fly Air France. Specifically, personal items must measure no greater than 16″ x 12″ x 6″, whereas standard carry-ons cannot be larger than 21.7″ x 13.8″ x 9.9″. Unlike many other airlines, Air France also has weight limits in place for carry-on baggage—the specifics of which can vary by fare. For example, carry-on bags for Economy fares should weigh no more than 26 pounds, whereas all other fares have a carry-on allowance of 39.7 pounds per bag.
Are you getting stopped at the gate with your bag? Get CHESTER luggage. Find the perfect carry-on and checked luggage for all airlines.
What About Infants, Strollers, and Baby Gear?
Those traveling with a lap infant under the age of two are permitted to bring one additional carry-on bag, regardless of fare. For many, this will be a diaper bag or perhaps a breast pump storage bag. However, this additional item must weight no more than 26.4 pounds and measure no greater than 21.6″ x 9.8″ x 13.7″.
If traveling with an infant car seat and/or stroller, these must also be checked at no additional charge. Just be aware that if you’re traveling with a larger stroller (larger than 21.7″ x 13.8″ x 9.8″), this may replace your extra baggage allowance for carry-on items.
Charges For Additional Bags and Overweight Luggage
All checked bags and luggage sets on Air France must weigh no more than 50 pounds and measure no larger than 62 linear inches. If any of your checked bags are heavier or larger than these permitted sizes, you will be charged additional fees. These fees will vary depending on your route. For example, a single oversized bag flying within France will be subject to a €40 ($45) fee, whereas oversized bags flying to/from North America can cost you a minimum of €250 ($280) in additional fees.
The same general rules apply to overweight bags, as pricing will vary based on your destination. With France, for example, you can expect to pay €70 ($79) in extra fees for a bag weighing more than 50 pounds. For North American destinations, that fee can increase to €85 ($95) or more.
Saving On Air France Baggage Fees (Or Avoiding Them Altogether)
Looking for ways to cut down on your baggage fees when flying Air France or Air Canada or Air Canada? We’ve got some practical suggestions for saving money or possibly even avoiding these fees altogether.
Seek Reimbursement From Your Credit Card Company
If you have a travel credit card that offers travel perks, check to see if baggage fee reimbursement is one of them. A lot of credit card companies these days will allow you to charge your baggage fees to your card and then fill out a request for an account credit after your trip, effectively covering your baggage costs. Just be aware of your credit card company’s specific rules and restrictions here, as most will only provide reimbursement for standard baggage fees. In other words, if you rack up oversized/overweight luggage fees, you probably won’t be able to get these covered.
Limit the Size and Number of Checked Bags
Since Air France offers anywhere from 1-2 free standard-sized carry-on bags for all fares and destinations, you may be able to save on your baggage fees by simply packing all your luggage into your carry-ons. Of course, this may not be possible depending on the length of your trip, but for shorter trips, it’s something to consider. By fitting all of your luggage into your carry-ons, you may be able to avoid paying any baggage fees at all.
You might also want to consider booking the appropriate fare to suit your baggage needs. For example, it may save you money to book an Economy Standard fare (which includes 1-2 free checked bags) rather than booking an Economy Light fare (which doesn’t include any checked bags).
Use Flying Blue Points to Cover Your Baggage Fees
If you’re a member of Air France’s Flying Blue program, consider using some of the points you’ve accumulated to pay for your checked baggage fees.
Become an Air France Skyteam Member
Likewise, if you’re a Skyteam member with Air France, you may also be entitled to extra checked baggage at no additional fee. Allowances will vary depending on whether you’re an Elite or Elite Plus member, but you should be able to receive one checked bag for free on most routes.
Air France Baggage Policies: Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Air France baggage fees and policies.
How can I best determine baggage fees for my upcoming Air France flight?
Because Air France’s checked baggage fees can vary so greatly based on fare, route, and date of flight, your best bet for determining how much you’ll need to pay in baggage fees is to use the Air France online baggage calculator tool. If you want to compare with other airlines, check out the JetBlue baggage fees.
What are the size and weight restrictions on Air France baggage?
Like many other airlines, all checked bags on Air France must weigh no more than 50 pounds and measure no greater than 62 linear inches. To avoid overweight or oversized bag fees, it is recommended that you measure your bags ahead of time (being sure to include handles and wheels in your measurements) and use a luggage scale to weigh them after you’ve packed for your trip.
What are Air France’s carry-on allowances and policies?
Air France has pretty generous carry-on policies, allowing one free personal item and anywhere from 1-2 standard-sized carry-on items (depending on your fare). Just be sure that your carry-ons conform to the airline’s size and weight restrictions. Passengers traveling with lap infants can also bring one additional carry-on bag, such as a diaper bag, at no charge. Note that the best carry-on luggage will be sized to meet most if not all international airlines.
How can I pre-pay for my luggage with Air France?
You can easily pay for your baggage online with Air France to save time and hassle at the check-in counter or at the gate. You can do this at the time you book your flight all the way up to 30 minutes before departure.
What’s the best way to save on Air France baggage fees?
The best way to avoid baggage fees on Air France is to choose a fare that includes enough checked bags to suit your needs or to pack everything you need in your carry-ons. You can also save on baggage fees by taking advantage of credit card reimbursement (where available) or using points from your Flying Blue membership to cover these costs.
