Kenya Airways Baggage Allowance Rules 2024 Carry on Fees

Kenya Airways Baggage Allowance put together the guidelines for carrying a bag as a checked or carry-on item. Its policies are designed based on the customer-centric concept, satisfying every need of its passengers. Thus, the airline offers free luggage allowance for budget-conscious passengers. Learn what you can or cannot carry when traveling with Kenya Airlines. Otherwise, pay excess charges for not meeting the Kenya Airways baggage restrictions. Scroll through the page to get in-depth details of the baggage dos and don’ts. 

Kenya Airways Cabin Baggage Allowance

Kenya Airways hand baggage allowance includes cabin bags and personal items that passengers can carry for free. These items are permitted inside the flight cabin. However, it is necessary to ensure they are up to the Kenya Airways baggage limit, which is 55 cm x 25 cm x 35 cm (Length x Width x Height). As for the luggage weight limit and quantity, it changes according to the purchased travel class. 

If you are flying in Business Class, you can bring two pieces of carry-ons and one accessory. The combined weight should be 18kg or 39 lbs maximum. For Economy Class, you can bring one piece of carry-on and an accessory up to 12kg in total. If you are flying on Embraer 145, you are permitted to bring only one cabin bag in Business Class up to 8kg (40 cm x 15 cm x 30cm). 

Kenya Airways carry-on baggage allowance lets passengers carry one personal item as well. This is applicable to both travel classes. However, keep in mind that whatever item you bring should be within 40 cm x 15 cm x 30cm.

• Handbag
• Backpack
• Suitcase
• Camera bag
• Laptop or Tablet
• Duty-free Item

Kenya Airways Infant Baggage Allowance

Infants under two years of age are allowed to bring a carry-on bag if they occupy a seat. Kenya Airways weight limit should not be more than 12kg and 55 cm x 25 cm x 35 cm. Children without a seat will require a device such as a car seat for air travel. Accompanying passenger can carry car seats for inflight usage towards their free allowance if permitted. Note that the passenger accompanying the child is responsible for installing the car seat safely on board.  

Purchase Additional Seats For Cabin Baggage

Passengers can purchase extra seats for stowing their cabin bags, such as musical instruments, paintings, or any other valuable items. Seats must be purchased in advance by getting the approval from the Revenue Management. Moreover, the free checked baggage allowance is applicable on every extra seat purchased. For instance, if a passenger buys two additional seats, he/she will get three times the free allowance in total. The Kenya Airways weight limit of the bag should be within 46kg per seat. Passengers are informed that they cannot bring trunks or crates as cabin bags or purchase an additional seat for that purpose. While you can purchase additional seats for your baggage, it is also important to note the following points: 

• Passengers cannot purchase additional seats if seated in the emergency exit row. 
• Item kept on the seat should not disrupt the use or access to the regular or emergency exit. 
• Pack the item securely to cover all the sharp edges to prevent possible injury. 
• The item should not come in the way of other passengers or restrict the movement.

As per the Kenya Airways Baggage Allowance, the size of the item stowed on an extra seat varies according to aircraft type. 

Kenya Airways Checked Baggage Allowance

Kenya Airways weight limit for checked bags is decided according to the travel class, flight origin, and destination. The same rule is followed for the number of pieces. Details shown in the table below are applied to flights operated by Kenya Airlines. It may change based on the aircraft used on the day of departure. In case the other airline operates the flight with the KQ flight number, the baggage restrictions of the other airline may apply. 

• Domestic – Kisumu, Mombasa, Malindi and Eldoret
• Africa – All African locations
• Middle East/Asia – Middle East and Asian locations
• Europe/America – All European and American locations
• 5th freedom Sectors – Flights to and from any location without any connecting 

Note – If you are a frequent flyer member, you can carry one additional piece of checked bag up to 32kg. 

Ensure that your checked bag is labeled with a tag indicating the passenger’s name, address, phone number, and place of origin/destination. The name mentioned should be similar to the one written on the ticket. It is advisable to write your active email address as well. 

Exceptions to Kenya Airways Hold Luggage Allowance

• Passengers flying from Jeddah have permission to carry one bottle of holy water for free. The quantity should not exceed 5 liters. Such bottles should be sealed using a plastic covering to avoid possible leakage. The airline does not hold any liability for Holy Water, so passengers cannot file any kind of claim. For smooth handling of baggage, the Kenya Airways weight limit should not exceed 32kg and shall be within 158 cm or 62 inches in total. 
• Passengers with mobility concerns are permitted to carry motorized wheelchairs. You may also bring sports equipment under special conditions and with proper authorization. The dimensions of bags should be under 180 cm or 71 inches if submitted in Dubai, Mumbai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou airports. 
• Infants traveling with Kenya Airlines are entitled to free additional baggage. Accompanying passengers can bring one foldable stroller with a car seat.
• Physically challenged passengers can bring one wheelchair or any other mobility device free of charge. 
• The free allowance is subject to change if your ticket includes codeshare flights or there is an involvement of interline traffic. Under such circumstances, the allowance is calculated in accordance with IATA Resolution 302.

Baggage Allowance for Interline and Codeshare Flights

IATA Resolution 302 helps in determining the baggage allowance when interline and codeshare flights are involved. This decides whose allowance will be considered. The free allowance indicated on the ticket, trip summary, or in the codeshare/ interline flight check-in system is applied. The piece concept is used for flights departing to or arriving in the United States and Canada. If the bag incurs an excess baggage fee, it is applied to the whole journey.  Passengers are entitled to an extra Flying Blue allowance only when they are members of the Sky Team Alliance. 

Checked Baggage Pooling

According to the Kenya Airways baggage rules, passengers are allowed to pool the excess bags. This is eligible for families, groups of travelers flying to the same destination, sportsmen, affinity groups, etc. For this purpose, interested parties will have to submit their baggage to the common destination on the same flight together. Each passenger will have to tag their bag with proper information. However, the airline permits only families to register their hold luggage in a single check-in record due to security concerns. For other groups, passengers will have to check in bags individually, but their allowance will be grouped. 

Any bag that exceeds the free allowance of the family, group, or party will incur an excess baggage fee. Please note that the pooling of baggage applies only to pieces of bags and not to the per-bag weight allowance. For instance, if you are allowed to carry two pieces of bag up to 23kg each, passengers cannot bring one 18kg bag and another 26kg. 

Kenya Airways Extra Baggage Allowance

All checked bags that exceed the free allowance are subject to Kenya Airways baggage fees. The fee amount is decided based on your chosen fare and selected destination. If you require more bags, you may purchase extra baggage according to the KQ Airline Baggage Allowance. Please note that bags over 32kg are accepted for transportation in cargo. For your convenience, we suggest purchasing additional baggage in advance to get up to 20% discount on the prices. At the same time, purchasing bags close to the departure time will cost you more. 

1. First Additional Baggage Fee

2. Second Additional Baggage

3. Third Additional Baggage

4. Heavy Baggage Fee

Such baggage is over 23.5kg and can weigh up to 32kg maximum. Passengers can check in these bags by paying a penalty. These charges are applicable regardless of whether the bag is within the free allowance or in excess. Passengers flying in Business Class can easily dodge these charges as their allowance permits bags up to 32kg. 

Additionally, you can pay the Kenya Airlines heavy baggage charges only at the airport on the departure date. If your bag is within the fare allowance, you will have to pay the charges per piece. For bags over the permitted allowance, computation or excess baggage fee + heavy bag charges will apply. 

KQ Airline Baggage Allowance for Special Items

An item is termed “special” because of its unique shape, size, weight, and nature. Such special baggage is accepted under special conditions if in accordance with Kenya Airways baggage restrictions. Some items require prior approval from the airline for transportation approval. If approved, the passenger is responsible for packing the item to protect it from any kind of damage. Note that the airline may not always accept bags with weird shapes. Approval depends on the aircraft space availability. When you submit special baggage at the check-in counter, the concerned agent will go through your PNR to verify the approval. If you bring any of the following items, make sure to contact the airline to confirm the requirements:

• Bulky Items
• Fragile Articles
• Medicines
• Helium Balloons
• Lithium Batteries
• Human Remains
• Battery-operated Wheelchairs
• Sports Equipment
• Entertaining Baggage

While you confirm the Kenya Airways baggage restrictions, you may also note the following applicable charges:

Kenya Airways Baggage Rules for Pet Carriage

Kenya Airways Baggage Allowance does not permit live animals transportation as checked baggage or carry-on items. They are allowed as cargo only. However, it shall be accepted in the case of service dogs. Passengers who require assistance from a service animal can travel with their well-trained pets in the same cabin. No additional fee is charged for the carriage. Note the following related points:

• Service dogs are permitted inside the flight cabin without a cage, given they are harnessed.
• Pets with aggressive behavior are strictly prohibited inside the flight cabin. 
• For 8-hour or more long flights, passengers have to provide proper documents stating that the pet need not relive itself during the course of a flight. To avoid such conditions, passengers must carry nappies or use medications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)