A 39 euro flight is rarely a 39 euro flight. On many airlines the cheapest fare includes only one small bag that fits under the seat in front. Suitcases, larger cabin bags and often seat selection cost extra. When you compare prices, compare the flight with the bags you need.
The three kinds of baggage
- Personal item: small, fits under the seat, usually about 40 x 30 x 20 cm. Included on budget airlines.
- Cabin trolley: up to about 55 x 40 x 20 cm. On Ryanair, Wizz Air and the cheapest Eurowings fare it costs extra or is not included.
- Checked bag: the suitcase that travels in the hold, usually 20 or 23 kg.
What checked bags cost (from-prices, 2026)
| Airline | Checked bag on a low fare | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 20 kg from about 19 to 60 EUR booked online, about 40 to 75 EUR at the airport. One small item (40 x 30 x 20 cm) is free. | source |
| easyJet | 23 kg from about 9.50 GBP, up to about 48 GBP depending on route. Large cabin bag from about 6 GBP, 15 to 35 GBP on popular routes. | source |
| Wizz Air | 20 kg from about 13 EUR, up to about 87 EUR depending on route. 10 kg from about 5 EUR. | source |
| Eurowings (BASIC) | 23 kg from about 19 EUR, 12 kg from about 17 EUR. The SMART fare includes 23 kg. | source |
| SunExpress | SunLight has no checked bag (4 kg hand luggage). SunValue includes 20 kg and 8 kg hand luggage. Extra bags from about 20 EUR. | source |
| Lufthansa (Economy Light, Europe) | No checked bag included. 23 kg costs about 25 to 65 EUR when prepaid. | source |
| Pegasus | Since February 2026 the cheapest fare allows only a small item. The next fare up includes 20 kg. An extra 20 kg costs about 25 to 50 EUR. | source |
| Turkish Airlines | On short European routes the cheapest fare has no checked bag. 8 kg hand luggage on all fares. | source |
The figures are a guide, not a price list. Fees depend on route, travel date and when you buy, and airlines change them constantly. What counts is the price the airline shows during booking.
Adding bags online is almost always cheaper
At the airport or the gate, baggage is expensive. Ryanair charges about 40 to 75 EUR there instead of about 19 to 60 EUR. For overweight bags it is 13 EUR per kilo. If you know you need a suitcase, book it with the flight.
Worked example: a family flying to Antalya
Two adults and a child fly return. Two offers:
- Airline A: 80 EUR per person, no suitcase. One shared 23 kg suitcase each way at about 40 EUR: 3 times 80 plus 2 times 40 makes 320 EUR.
- Airline B: 105 EUR per person with 20 kg each included: 3 times 105 makes 315 EUR, with more baggage for everyone.
The cheap offer ends up more expensive once the family needs more than one suitcase. The numbers in this example are made up to show the sum.
What to check when booking
- Tell the search how many suitcases you need. The price shown should include them.
- Check size and weight for cabin bags. Oversized trolleys often cost 50 EUR or more at the gate.
- Compare fares with baggage: a fare with 23 kg included is often barely dearer than the basic fare plus a suitcase.
- Add seat selection if the family wants to sit together.
Seats, priority and special cases
Besides the suitcase, budget airlines often charge for seat selection. A family that wants to sit together pays a few euros per person and sector extra, depending on the route. Ryanair and Wizz Air also sell priority bundles that include a larger cabin trolley and earlier boarding. On Wizz Air priority costs between 0 and 60 EUR online depending on the route. Put it on your list if you are not travelling with just a small rucksack anyway.
Bulky items such as pushchairs, sports gear or musical instruments have their own rules. Some airlines carry pushchairs for free, others charge them like a bag. Ask the airline before you book, especially for items like skis or golf clubs, where prices differ widely from airline to airline.
Weight: why the scale matters
On Ryanair overweight costs 13 EUR per kilo. A suitcase of 23 kg instead of 20 kg can therefore cost 39 EUR extra, more than an additional bag in advance. Weigh the case at home and, if in doubt, book the higher weight class when it costs only a few euros more. On Wizz Air there are large price gaps between 10 and 20 kg, while on Eurowings moving from 12 to 23 kg costs only a few euros more.
More on this: Flights and Car Rentals: What Earns Cashback on daily cashback.