Alitalia Baggage Fees 2023: What To Expect
Alitalia, with its hub in Rome, is one of the most popular airlines in Italy, offering flights to nearly 100 destinations across the globe. If you’re in the midst of planning a trip to Italy, this is one of the airlines you may be looking into—especially if you’ll be doing additional travel to any nearby countries during your trip.
When flying with any airline for the first time, it’s always a good idea to become familiar with their specific policies and fees as they relate to checked and carry-on baggage. If you need another reference, check out All Nippon Airways baggage fees. Alitalia’s baggage policies are not too complicated, but their fee structures can vary quite a bit depending on your fare and route, so preparation is key if you want to avoid any unexpected fees or other baggage surprises.
Alitalia Checked and Carry-On Allowances
Specific baggage policies vary depending on the type of fare you book (Alitalia offers Light, Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class fare options) as well as your destination. However, there are some general guidelines to keep in mind as you prepare to pack for your trip.
Checked Bag Allowances and Fees
Most Alitalia fares will include at least one standard checked bag with your purchase. The exception to this is their Light fare, which does not include any free checked luggage. With this fare, you can expect to pay anywhere from about $30 to $70 per bag, depending on your route.
Economy fares, on the other hand, include one free checked bag with a weight of up to 50 pounds. Premium Economy fares enjoy an additional checked bag of the same weight at no extra charge.
Fly Business Class with Alitalia and you’ll enjoy two free checked bags as well, but the maximum weight increases here to 70 pounds.
Regardless of the fare you book, all checked bags on Alitalia must measure no greater than 62 linear inches. This measurement should include any handles or wheels for accuracy.
Carry-On Allowances and Fees
If you need to carry on luggage any baggage with Alitalia, you’ll be pleased to know that you’re permitted one free personal item and one free standard carry-on item. Personal items should be able to easily fit underneath the seat in front of you and may include something like a purse or laptop bag.
Standard carry-on items can be a bit larger and may weigh up to 17.6 pounds. Specific measurements for your carry-on size with Alitalia should measure no greater than 21.6″ x 13.8″ x 9.8″. Again, measurements for baggage should always include any accessories, such as handles and wheels. If you bring a bag that is larger or heavier than the allowance, you’ll be asked to check the bag at the gate and pay any applicable fees.
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?
If you’re traveling with a lap infant, you’ll be entitled to bring an additional carry-on bag at no extra fee. This can include anything from a diaper bag to a breast pump bag. Just be sure that the bag doesn’t weigh any more than 22 pounds. If you’ll be bringing a stroller along with you, this can be checked free of charge as well.
Charges For Additional Bags and Overweight Luggage
If you need to purchase additional checked bags beyond what is included with your fare, fees can vary depending on your destination. In general, however, you can expect to spend about $100 for your first additional bag and up to $285 for each extra bag beyond that. However, these fees can vary greatly based on where you’re traveling, so if you need to purchase additional bags, your best bet is to contact the airline ahead of time so a customer service representative can give you a better idea of how much you’ll need to pay.
For most fares, checked baggage on Alitalia should not exceed 50 pounds. Some fares (such as Business Class) are permitted bags of up to 70 pounds. If you check a bag that is overweight, you’ll be assessed an overweight fee of $100 for most routes.
Checked bags should also not measure any greater than 62 linear inches, and oversized bags can easily cost you $300 in additional fees. If you check a bag that is both overweight and oversized, you will be charged both fees, so plan accordingly or you can charter a private jet.
Saving On Alitalia Baggage Fees (Or Avoiding Them Altogether)
When you’re planning a trip, the last thing you want is to spend your hard-earned money on baggage fees. Save money on your travels by taking measures to avoid baggage fees when flying with Alitalia.
Pre-Pay for Your Baggage When Possible
If you’re purchasing a Light Fare (which doesn’t include any checked bags), you can actually save on your checked luggage fees by paying for them ahead of time. Specifically, if you pay for your baggage online or over-the-phone prior to your flight, you can pay as little as $29 for your first checked bag. For reference, the same bag would cost you $51 to check at the airport ticket desk or gate, so that’s a pretty significant savings.
Get Reimbursed By Your Credit Card
Plenty of credit card companies, including Chase and Capital One, include baggage fee reimbursement for some travel rewards cards. If you have a travel rewards card or have been looking into opening one, you may want to choose one that offers baggage fee reimbursement. This will allow you to pay for your baggage fees initially with your travel credit card and fill out a request for an account credit after your trip.
Become a MilleMiglia or Skyteam Member
If you do a lot of flying with Alitalia, see if you’re eligible to become a MilleMiglia member. This is the airline’s unique loyalty program that allows you to earn airline rewards for the miles you fly with Alitalia. When you collect enough miles, depending on your status, you may be able to redeem them for waived baggage fees or additional checked bags.
Alitalia also participates in the well known Skyteam rewards program, so if you’re a member, you may be entitled to additional baggage (depending on your fare and route).
Limit Your Luggage When Traveling
Since most fares except for Light Fares permit at least one free checked bag, you may be able to avoid baggage fees with Alitalia altogether by simply limiting what you pack to your included checked bags and carry-ons. Of course, this may be easier said than done on a longer trip where you need to pack more items. If you’re traveling for just a quick weekend trip, however, it shouldn’t be too difficult to limit what you pack to your included baggage.
If you want to save money and avoid the wait at the baggage claim altogether, you might even see about limiting your luggage to your carry-on. This is a great option if you’re able to pack lightly enough!
Alitalia Baggage Policies: Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions regarding Alitalia baggage policies and fees.
How can I save on baggage fees with Alitalia?
There are many ways to save on baggage fees, such as seeking reimbursement from your credit card company when possible. You can also save on baggage fees by limiting what you pack to your included checked/carry-on bags and being careful to weigh/measure your bags so as to avoid costly overweight and oversized baggage fees.
What if I’m traveling with special equipment?
If you’ll be flying with any special baggage, such as sporting equipment or musical instruments, your best course of action will be to contact the airline prior to your flight for further instructions. Certain items may be subject to additional fees or may need to be packed in a specific way in order to be checked, whereas some items may be eligible for waived fees.
What are Alitalia’s weight and size allowances for checked bags?
All checked bags on Alitalia must measure no greater than 62 linear inches, including any accessories (such as wheels and handles). Weight allowances can vary slightly by fare, but the maximum weight for most fares is 50 pounds per bag. Business fares are permitted checked bags of up to 70 pounds at no additional charge.
Overweight and oversized bag fees can vary depending on your route/destination but can be quite costly with Alitalia. This is why it’s always a good idea to measure and weigh your bags before you leave for the airport so you can make sure to avoid these fees.
What is considered a personal carry-on item?
Alitalia doesn’t specify what is considered a personal carry-on in terms of size or weight, but with most airlines, a personal item is generally considered to be a purse, laptop bag, briefcase, or other small items that can be easily stowed underneath the seat in front of you during your flight. If you need help finding a carry-on, check out the carry-on luggage page. Your personal item should certainly not be any larger than your standard carry-on bag. Otherwise, you may be asked to check it and pay applicable fees.
Alitalia Customer Service Number
If you’re planning to fly with Alitalia and have any questions or need assistance, it’s always helpful to have their customer service number on hand. The Alitalia customer service number is 1-800-223-5730. This number will connect you to a dedicated team of customer service representatives who can assist with a range of inquiries, including booking flights, making changes to existing bookings, checking flight status, and resolving any issues or concerns you may have. Whether you have questions about baggage policies, flight cancellations, or anything else related to your Alitalia experience, the customer service team is available 24/7 to provide the assistance you need. Remember to save this number in your contacts or write it down before your trip, so you can easily reach out to Alitalia’s customer service if needed. With their reliable and helpful support, you can have peace of mind knowing that your journey with Alitalia is taken care of.
