Scandinavian Airlines Baggage Fees 2023: What To Expect

Scandinavian Airlines is the official flag-carrying airline of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. With more than 150 aircraft in its fleet and service to more than 120 destinations worldwide, Scandinavian Airlines is known for its large selection of flights and budget-accommodating fares. If you’ll be traveling out of Copenhagen Airport, Oslo Airport, or even Stockholm Arlanda Airport in the near future, there’s a very good chance you’ll be flying with Scandinavian Airlines. You can compare these baggage fees to another national airline such as Philippine Airlines. Check out our Philippine Airlines baggage fees guide.

Preparing yourself for your flight should include making sure you’re aware of the airline’s specific policies and fees as they relate to baggage/luggage. Since airlines can vary greatly in their baggage allowances, policies, and fees, getting to know those of Scandinavian Airlines will help you prepare for your trip, pack accordingly, and avoid unnecessary expenses.

Scandinavian Airlines Checked and Carry-On Allowances

Overall, Scandinavian Airlines’ policies regarding checked and carry-on luggage are pretty standard when compared to other airlines in the industry. However, your specific allowances can vary a bit depending on the type of fare you’ve purchased and where you’re traveling.

Checked Bag Allowances and Fees

Those preparing for a Scandinavian Airlines flight will be happy to know that most fare types booked with this airline are permitted at least one checked bag, regardless of destination. However, the specific number of checked bags that is included will depend on the type of fare you’ve booked and where you’re flying.

Scandinavian Airlines offers three main fare types: SAS Go, SAS Plus, and SAS Business. With most SAS Go fares, passengers are permitted to bring one free checked bag weighing no more than 50 pounds (23kg). SAS Plus, on the other hand, generally include two checked bags of the same weight limit. SAS Business fares also include two free checked bags, but for most routes, the weight limit is increased to 70 pounds (32kg) per bag.

No checked bags on Scandinavian Airlines should measure larger than 62 linear inches (158cm). This means the total dimensions of the bag’s length, width, and height should not add up to more than 62 linear inches of 158 linear centimeters.

On some domestic flights, a fourth fare option known as SAS Go Light is also available to budget-conscious travelers. It is worth noting that this is the only fare type offered on Scandinavian Airlines that does not include any free checked baggage.

Carry-On Allowances and Fees

Scandinavian Airlines’ policies for carry-on baggage are very straight-forward and do not vary based on your fare type or destination. Specifically, all ticketed passengers are permitted one standard carry-on bag in addition to a personal item. Standard carry-ons should not measure larger than 22″ x 18″ x 9″ (55cm x 40cm x 23cm) and cannot weigh more than 17 pounds (8kg). When measuring your carry-on baggage, be sure to include any wheels, handles, or other accessories with your measurement for accuracy. You can check our carry-on size guide if you need help. Bags that are too large or heavy will need to be checked, and you will be responsible for any applicable fees.

Personal carry-on restrictions with Scandinavian Airlines aren’t as clear, but generally, a personal item is considered to be something small, like a purse or laptop bag. The main thing to remember here is that all carry-ons with Scandinavian Airlines must be able to fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you—and some aircraft may not offer under-seat storage.

Best Scandinavian Tours

Tours in Scandinavian countries are an excellent way to explore the various sights and the beautiful surrounding areas. Unless you’re considering renting a car in Scandinavia (which is not advisable!), tours provide the most convenient means of transportation as costs for getting around can accumulate rapidly.

What About Infants, Strollers, and Baby Gear?

On Scandinavian Airlines, children under the age of two years are able to travel as lap infants, meaning they don’t require their own paid ticket. For those who will be traveling with a lap infant, you are permitted to bring one collapsible stroller and one additional carry-on bag weighing up to 50 pounds (23kg) aboard the flight at no charge. The only exception here is for those who have booked SAS Go Light fares, where no additional carry-on allowance is provided for lap infants.

Charges For Additional Bags and Overweight Luggage

Checked bags on Scandinavian Airlines must conform to weight restrictions. For most fares, individual checked bags should not exceed 50 pounds (23kg), though some fares/routes permit checked bags weighing up to 70 pounds (32kg) each. Bags that exceed weight allowances will be assessed additional fees, which can vary based on whether the flight is domestic or international. Overweight bag fees for domestic flights are typically around $40-$60 each way, whereas fees for international flights can range between $60 and $110.

Checked bags on Scandinavian Airlines should never exceed 62 linear inches (158cm) in size. On some flights, larger bags may not be able to be accommodated at all.

If you need to purchase additional checked baggage beyond what is included with your Scandinavian Airlines fare, you can do so ahead of time before your flight or at the airport. Prices for extra bags can vary depending on your route, but buying online can save you up to 40%. For example, adding a bag online for a domestic flight can cost $40 versus $65 at the airport. Check out Scandinavian Airlines’ extra baggage page online for more information.

Saving On Scandinavian Airlines Baggage Fees (Or Avoiding Them Altogether)

No traveler wants to spend their hard-earned money on baggage fees. The good news is that there are plenty of steps you can take to cut down on Scandinavian Airlines baggage fees—or possibly even avoid them altogether.

Limit What You Pack to Your Included Checked Baggage

Since almost all fares with Scandinavian Airlines include at least some checked baggage, you can avoid additional fees by limiting what you pack to your included baggage allowance. Between at least one checked suitcase and your carry-on allowance, you can pack the essentials—especially if you’re traveling on a shorter trip.

Pay for Excess Baggage Ahead of Time

If you already know you’ll need to purchase additional checked baggage, you can save up to 40% by paying for it online in advance of your flight. This will also save you time and hassle at the airport. For most flights, you can check up to nine bags per ticket.

Seek Reimbursement From Your Credit Card Company

If your credit card company offers baggage fee reimbursement, take advantage of this to save money. Just be sure to follow all requirements set forth by your credit card company, such as using your card to pay for your baggage fees and filling out any necessary forms after your trip for account credits or reimbursement. Also, keep in mind that most credit card companies will not reimburse for overweight or oversized baggage fees.

Take Advantage of EuroBonus or Star Alliance Perks

If you do a lot of flying with this airline, consider joining the EuroBonus loyalty program, which allows you to accumulate points for each flight. From there, you can redeem points or even enjoy automatic baggage allowance upgrades on some flights. Another membership option that can help you earn additional baggage allowances with Scandinavian Airlines is the Star Alliance program, which is accepted across a number of airlines.

Scandinavian Airlines Baggage Policies: Frequently Asked Questions

Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we receive about Scandinavian Airlines baggage policies and fees.

Do all fares on Scandinavian Airlines include free checked baggage?

Most fares with Scandinavian Airlines, including SAS Go, SAS Plus, and SAS Business, include at least one free checked bag weighing up to 50 pounds (23kg), and for some routes, a higher weight allowance of up to 70 pounds (32kg) is included for SAS Business passengers. For routes that offer SAS Go Light fares, this is the only fare type that does not include any checked baggage at all.

What are Scandinavian Airlines’ policies for carry-on baggage?

All fares on Scandinavian Airlines include one standard carry-on luggage and one personal item, such a purse or laptop bag. There are size and weight restrictions in place for all carry-ons, and they should be able to fit in the overhead bins provided. Carry-ons that do not conform to size and weight limits will be required to be checked at the passenger’s expense.

How can I pre-pay for baggage with Scandinavian Airlines?

You can pre-pay for your baggage online before your flight, at the airport check-in counter, or at the gate. If you’ll be adding any excess baggage to your fare, your best bet is to pre-pay online and save up to 40% by doing so. You can also call the airline directly to pay for excess baggage before your flight, if you’d prefer.

What if I’m traveling with special equipment?

If you’ll be traveling with any special baggage, such as sporting equipment or large media gear, you should contact the airline at least a couple days prior to your flight to find out about accommodations and potential fees. Baggage capacity is limited on most Scandinavian Airlines flights, and baggage of exceptional size may not be able to be accommodated on all aircraft. With enough notice, the airline will try to work with you.