When traveling with KLM your cabin and check-in baggage allowances vary according to your selected class of travel, fare type, and destination.
In this article, I explain KLM’s cabin and check-in luggage allowances for both Economy Class and Business Class. I describe KLM’s free baggage allowances and how you can purchase any additional baggage allowance that you may require.
As with all airlines, KLM may change its baggage rules and allowances at short notice, so please consult the KLM website for any latest information, and carefully check the conditions of travel before you book and confirm your ticket.
Baggage information for your KLM flights – KLM
KLM Cabin Baggage Free Allowances
Economy Class
In KLM Economy Class, you can bring the following items into the aircraft cabin:
- One item of carry-on baggage.
- One personal item such as a small handbag or a laptop bag.
For passengers traveling on Economy Light fares, KLM may send you a message in advance if they expect space in the aircraft cabin to be tight. In this case, you will need to check in your hand baggage, free of charge. Even if you haven’t received a message to check in your hand baggage, and there’s still not enough space in the overhead bins, and your luggage does not fit underneath the seat in front of you, KLM may still ask you to check it in at the gate, also free of charge.
Business Class
In KLM Business Class, you can bring the following items into the aircraft cabin:
- Two items of carry-on baggage.
- One personal item such as a small handbag or laptop bag.
KLM Check-In Baggage Free Allowances
Economy Class
The number of checked bags you can bring when traveling in Economy Class depends on your destination, your travel class, and your fare type.
KLM’s free standard baggage allowances for Economy Class passengers are as follows:
- Economy Light fare – no check-in baggage is included.
- Economy Standard or Flex fares – one item of check-in baggage.
There are some exceptions to KLM’s standard check-in baggage rules. On certain routes, the Economy Light fare includes one item of check-in luggage, and the Economy Standard and Flex fares include two items of check-in luggage.
Note that on some routes, KLM offers an Economy Standard Plus fare. Passengers traveling on these fares enjoy the same benefits as Economy Standard passengers but are allocated an Economy Comfort seat with extra legroom, increased seat recline, and an upgraded in-flight entertainment screen.
KLM’s website includes a baggage calculator so you can check the exact baggage allowances for your particular route, class of travel, and fare type.
Checked baggage allowances in the hold of KLM flights – KLM
If you need to take additional check-in baggage above your free allowance, KLM allows you to purchase extra bags when you are making your booking, or after your booking was made.
Business Class
When flying with KLM Business Class, you can take two items of check-in luggage with you.
Additional Check-in Baggage
You can buy an additional check-in baggage allowance online, at 23kg per item, after you have booked your ticket and up to 24 hours before departure. The prices for each item range from €20 to €70 on flights within Europe, and between €30 to €240 on intercontinental flights.
If you decide at the last minute that you want to purchase an additional check-in baggage allowance, within 24 hours of your departure, you can do this online but the price will increase to KLM’s excess baggage fees.
Baggage Size and Weight Limitations
KLM Cabin Baggage
The maximum permitted dimensions for KLM cabin baggage items are as follows:
| Item | Height/cm | Width/cm | Depth/cm |
| Carry-on baggage* | 55 | 35 | 25 |
| Personal item | 40 | 30 | 15 |
*Dimensions include any protruding parts such as wheels or handles
Your carry-on baggage items have a combined weight limit of 12kg in Economy Class, and 18kg in Business Class.
KLM Check-in Baggage
The maximum permitted dimensions total of a single item of check-in baggage is 158cm (height + width + depth), including any protruding parts such as wheels, or handles, for both Economy Class and Business Class.
The maximum permitted weight of each check-in baggage item is 23kg in Economy Class, and 32kg in Business Class.
Baggage items that are larger than these limits will need to be carried as excess baggage, and a fee will be payable.
If you are a member of the Flying Blue frequent flyer program you can enjoy discounts on the additional check-in baggage fees as follows:
- Explorer – a discount up to €10 on the first additional item of check-in baggage when purchased at least 24 hours before departure.
- Silver, Gold, or Platinum – you can bring 1 additional item of check-in baggage with you over and above your free allowance when you travel with KLM Economy Class.
Excess Baggage
If your check-in baggage weighs more or is larger than KLM’s weight and size limits specified for your class of travel and fare, you’ll need to pay KLM’s excess baggage fees. These fees are cheaper online than the charges that are applied at the airport. The typical charges are as follows:
- Between €10 and €250 online.
- Between €20 and €350 at the airport.
The maximum weight and size of baggage accepted by KLM are 32kg and 300cm (length + width + height).
Sports Items
KLM accepts various items of sporting equipment, including:
- Bikes
- Golf equipment
- Skis and snowboards
- Surfing equipment
- Diving equipment
- Fishing equipment
- Sports weapons
Some smaller items of sporting equipment, such as golf bags and short surfboards, can be accepted as ‘normal’ check-in luggage. For other ‘specialty’ sporting equipment, these cannot be included as part of your normal check-in allowance, and online booking is not possible. Therefore, you will need to contact a KLM Customer Contact Center for these types of equipment. A fee is charged for these items, ranging from €40 to €250.
The KLM rules and requirements for sporting equipment are specific to your particular item. These rules can be found by consulting the relevant pages of the KLM website.
Traveling with sports equipment and other special baggage – KLM
Musical Instruments
When it comes to musical instruments, KLM gives you plenty of options – cabin baggage, check-in baggage, or buy an extra seat.
If your musical instrument meets KLM’s carry-on baggage size and weight limits (55 x 35 x 25cm, and up to 12kg in Economy Class, or 18kg in Business Class), you can take it into the aircraft cabin with you.
If your musical instrument is too big or heavy for the cabin and weighs up to 45kg, you can book an additional seat. In this case, the maximum allowed height of your instrument is 140cm, or 122cm on European flights operated by Embraer aircraft.
Another alternative is to use your check-in baggage allowance for your musical instrument. But note that if your instrument is heavier or larger than the allowance provided by your ticket you will need to pay an excess baggage fee. The maximum musical instrument weight and height that are accepted by KLM are 45kg and 300cm (length + width + height).
Traveling With Infants and Children
Cabin Baggage
Infants without a seat booking can bring one item of cabin baggage into the aircraft cabin with a maximum size of 55 x 35 x 25cm, and a maximum weight of 12kg.
Infants and children with a seat booking have the same cabin baggage allowances as adults.
Check-in Baggage
The check-in bag allowance for infants and children depends on their ticket type and whether or not they have their own seats. Infants and children with their own seat booking are allowed the same check-in baggage as adults, whereas children and infants without a seat booking are allowed one check-in item up to 10kg in weight.
Buggies, Strollers, and Car Seats
For each child, you can also bring a buggy, stroller, or back carrier free of charge.
A collapsible baby stroller with a maximum size of 15 x 30 x 100cm can be taken into the aircraft cabin with you, assuming it can fit underneath the seat in front of you, or in the overhead bin. Otherwise, it will need to be checked in at the gate, free of charge. Larger buggies should always be checked in or taken to the gate for loading into the aircraft.
For each child, you can also bring a car seat or Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES), free of charge, either onboard or checked-in.
If you have booked a separate seat for your child, you can bring an inflight bed or leg-rest extension into the aircraft cabin.
Conclusion
When traveling with KLM your cabin and check-in baggage allowances vary according to your selected class of travel, fare type, and destination.
All passengers are allowed one free personal item and at least one carry-on item in the cabin. Although passengers traveling on Economy Light fares may be asked to check in their carry-on bag if space in the cabin is tight.
Free check-in baggage allowances are provided for all passengers, except for passengers traveling on Economy Light fares. Economy Standard and Economy Flex fares are allowed one item of check-in luggage, and passengers in Business Class benefit from a two-bag check-in bag allowance, as well as an additional weight allowance. The exception to this is some of KLM’s routes between Europe and Africa, where Economy Light fares come with a single item of check-in luggage, and other Economy fares come with an additional item of check-in luggage.
All passengers have the option to purchase an additional check-in baggage allowance if required.
KLM has family-friendly baggage policies with many infant and child-related items allowed inside the cabin, or can be checked in, both free of charge.
