Carry-On Baggage
Allowance:
- Economy Class: One carry-on bag + one personal item (e.g., purse, laptop bag, briefcase).
- First/Prestige (Business) Class: Two carry-on bags + one personal item.
Size and Weight:
- Carry-on: Maximum dimensions 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm (21.7 in x 15.7 in x 7.9 in) or 115 cm (45 in) total (length + width + height), including handles and wheels.
- Economy: Max 10–12 kg (22–26 lbs).
- First/Prestige: Max 18 kg (40 lbs) total for two bags.
- Personal item: Must fit under the seat (e.g., 40 cm x 30 cm x 10 cm); no specific weight limit but typically lightweight.
Additional Notes:
- Strict enforcement of size/weight; bags may be checked at the gate, incurring fees if oversized/overweight.
- Flights from the U.S. or connecting to U.S. domestic flights: Limited to one carry-on + one personal item due to security measures, regardless of class.
- Flights from India: Limited to one laptop + one carry-on item.
- Small musical instruments (e.g., violin, max 115 cm) allowed in the cabin free; larger instruments require an extra seat purchase.
- Infants: One additional personal item (e.g., diaper bag) allowed, fitting under the seat.
Checked Baggage
Size and Weight:
- Maximum dimensions: 158 cm (62 in) total (length + width + height) per piece.
- Maximum weight per piece: 23 kg (50 lbs) for Economy, 32 kg (70 lbs) for Prestige/First. Bags over 32 kg or 158 cm may be rejected or incur fees.
SKYPASS Members (Elite Status):
- Morning Calm Club: +1 piece (23 kg Economy, 32 kg Prestige/First) or +10 kg on weight-based routes.
- Morning Calm Premium Club: +1 piece (23 kg Economy, 32 kg Prestige/First) or +20 kg.
- Million Miler Club: +1 piece (32 kg all classes) or +30 kg.
- SkyTeam Elite/Elite Plus: +10 kg/+20 kg or one extra piece.
Special Notes:
- Combined weight concept on some routes allows distributing total weight across bags (e.g., two bags totaling 46 kg for Economy to Americas).
- Codeshare/SkyTeam partners: The operating carrier’s policy may apply; for U.S. routes, the marketing carrier’s policy prevails.
- Check baggage through to the final destination on single-ticket itineraries.
Excess/Extra Baggage
Fees (approximate, vary by route):
To/From Americas:
- Extra piece: $200.
- Overweight (23–32 kg): $100; (33–45 kg): $200.
- Oversized (158–203 cm): $200; (204–292 cm): $400.
Other International Routes (Europe, Asia, Middle East, Oceania, Africa):
- Extra piece: $100–$200.
- Overweight (23–32 kg): $100; (33–45 kg): $200.
- Oversized (158–203 cm): $200; (204–292 cm): $400.
Pre-Paid Baggage:
- Available online up to 24 hours before departure (15% discount); non-refundable.
- U.S./Canada/UK/Paris routes: Pre-pay from 24 hours prior.
Notes:
- Fees apply per segment; check the baggage calculator on www.koreanair.com for exact costs.
- Excess baggage subject to space availability.
Restricted/Prohibited Items
Cabin Restrictions:
- Liquids: Max 100 ml per container in a 1-liter zip-top bag.
- Prohibited: Sharp objects, firearms, lithium battery-powered vehicles (e.g., hoverboards), explosives, flammable substances. One lighter/matchbox allowed.
- E-cigarettes: Carry-on only, not usable in cabin.
Checked Baggage:
- Prohibited: Paint, lighter fluid, butane gas, aerosols (e.g., insecticide), lithium batteries over 160 Wh.
- Lithium batteries: Removable batteries in carry-on only; non-removable in checked baggage limited to 0.3 g lithium metal or 2.7 Wh lithium-ion.
Valuables: Laptops, jewelry, currency, fragile items should be in carry-on; Korean Air not liable for damage/loss in checked baggage.
Delayed/Lost/Damaged Baggage
- Delayed: Report immediately at arrival; file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with a reference number. Check status online. Fee of ~$50 until baggage is delivered.
- Damaged: Notify within 7 days; online damage reports available. Compensation varies by damage extent; TSA may leave a notice for screening-related damage.
- Lost: File PIR at the airport or contact Korean Air’s local office.
Additional Information
- Strict Enforcement: Korean Air is strict with carry-on size/weight (weighed at check-in/gate, especially in Australia) and checked baggage dimensions. Oversized bags (e.g., 166 cm vs. 158 cm limit) may incur fees (~$200).
- Customer Feedback: Users on Reddit report generous allowances (e.g., 2x 23 kg to/from U.S.) but note strict dimension checks for checked bags. Some faced fees for oversized luggage; others had no issues with slightly oversized bags.
- Online Check-In: Available 24–48 hours before departure; closes 2 hours prior. Pre-pay baggage via “Manage Booking.”
- SkyTeam Benefits: Seamless baggage transfers on SkyTeam flights; Elite status adds allowances.
Recommendations
- Check your ticket for specific allowances (route, fare class, SKYPASS status).
- Use a luggage scale to ensure compliance with weight/size limits; keep checked bags under 158 cm to avoid fees.
- Pre-pay excess baggage online for discounts; confirm restrictions
- For special baggage/pets, notify Korean Air 48 hours in advance.
- Arrive early (2–3 hours before departure) for check-in, especially with oversized/special baggage.
- If traveling to/from the U.S., confirm two-bag allowance for Economy; for other routes, expect one bag unless in Prestige/First.
