The Albastar baggage policy permits passengers one piece of hand luggage measuring up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm (typically 7 kg to 10 kg depending on ticket conditions) plus one small personal item placed under the seat in front. Standard checked baggage allowances range between 15 kg and 20 kg depending on whether you travel on a scheduled flight or a tour operator charter. Individual bags must never exceed 32 kg.
Baggage Allowance Snapshot
Albastar allows one main cabin trolley and one compact personal item on board, while hold baggage is governed by your specific ticket type or charter package agreement. Checked luggage is strictly capped at 32 kg per piece across all routes for airport worker safety.
What can change: Tour operator charter agreements frequently reduce checked allowances to 15 kg compared to standard 20 kg scheduled airline tickets. Specific airport desk excess fees vary by origin airport handling agents.
Baggage Size Visual
Use the airline's stated order of dimensions. Measurements must include external wheels, handles, and side pockets.
Overhead Cabin Bag
Published limit: 55 × 40 × 20 cm (7–10 kg)
Standard carry-on allowance on all Albastar aircraft
Visual guide - not to scale. Use the published numerical limit as the controlling rule.
Official Source Verification
Baggage rules can vary by fare, cabin, route, operating carrier, traveler status, and purchase channel. BaggageBase separates published rules from practical guidance.
Albastar Hand Luggage & Cabin Baggage Allowance
Albastar operates a standardized cabin baggage structure across its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft. Cabin space is shared among all passengers, meaning dimensional and weight parameters are actively monitored at airport boarding gates.
Overhead Cabin Bag Limits
Every passenger holding a confirmed seat reservation is entitled to bring one piece of hand luggage into the passenger cabin.
- Maximum Dimensions: Up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm (21.6 × 15.7 × 7.8 in). These measurements are inclusive of all protruding parts, such as spinner wheels, side handles, and expanded front pockets. This sizing adheres strictly to the standard international carry-on size framework used across European carriers.
- Weight Limits: Carry-on bags are typically capped between 7 kg and 10 kg. On inclusive-tour charter flights, ground agents often enforce the stricter 7 kg limit, whereas direct scheduled flights may permit up to 10 kg depending on your booking class.
- Placement: The primary cabin bag must be stowed inside the overhead luggage bins, placed wheels-first or sideways to maximize shared bin volume.
Under-Seat Personal Item
In addition to the primary overhead bag, Albastar passengers may carry one compact personal accessory free of charge.
- Accepted Items: A small handbag, slim laptop briefcase, compact camera bag, or duty-free shopping tote purchased after airport security.
- Size Parameters: The item must not exceed approximate dimensions of 40 × 30 × 20 cm.
- Placement: The personal item must fit completely under the seat directly in front of you. Travelers sitting in emergency exit rows or behind cabin bulkhead dividers cannot keep items on the floor and must place all personal effects in the overhead lockers for taxi, takeoff, and landing.
Gate-Check Procedures & Lithium Safety
When flights operate at full passenger capacity, the overhead bins cannot always accommodate every passenger's carry-on trolley. Ground handlers may select standard-sized cabin bags at the boarding gate to be loaded into the cargo hold.
If your bag is gate-checked due to cabin space limitations, it is loaded free of charge provided it meets the 55 × 40 × 20 cm dimensions. Before handing your bag to the ramp crew, you must remove all critical safety items:
- Spare lithium-ion batteries and portable power banks.
- E-cigarettes, vaporizers, and individual replacement cartridges.
- Essential prescription medications and medical documents.
- High-value personal items such as passports, jewelry, laptops, and car keys.
Under international aviation safety regulations, lithium-based battery packs are strictly prohibited inside the unmonitored aircraft cargo hold due to fire risk.
Checked Baggage Allowances: Scheduled vs. Charter Flights
Albastar operates a dual business model that splits between direct scheduled commercial routes and tour operator charter flights. Understanding which ticket type you hold is critical for avoiding surprise airport luggage charges.
ALBASTAR PASSENGER TICKETS
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DIRECT SCHEDULED FLIGHTS CHARTER TOUR PACKAGES (Booked on albastar.es) (Booked via Travel Agency) │ │ • Standard 20 kg hold tier • Often limited to 15 kg • Fixed fare conditions • Ruled by tour contract • Linear limit: 158 cm • Weight printed on voucher
Direct Scheduled Services
When purchasing a flight directly from Albastar's commercial sales channels, hold baggage rules are integrated into the chosen fare family:
- Included Hold Allowance: Standard fares generally include one checked bag weighing up to 20 kg (44 lbs).
- Dimensional Envelope: The total sum of length + width + height must not exceed 158 cm (62 linear inches).
- Basic Fares: Select promotional or hand-luggage-only fares may exclude checked baggage. Travelers flying on these fares must purchase hold luggage either during the online reservation process or at the airport check-in counter.
Tour Operator Package Charters
Albastar frequently flies seasonal charters on behalf of European travel agencies, holiday companies, and pilgrimage organizations (such as regular services to Lourdes, Rome, and Greek or Spanish islands).
- Variable Weight Allowances: Charter flight baggage rules are set by the tour operator contracting the aircraft. Many inclusive package holidays limit checked bags to 15 kg per person to account for passenger payload constraints. Other operators purchase a 20 kg tier for their customers.
- Governing Document: The baggage allowance printed on your tour operator booking voucher, electronic ticket, or agency itinerary overrides standard published website tiers. If your voucher states 15 kg, you will be billed for excess weight if your bag weighs 18 kg, even though scheduled Albastar tickets benchmark at 20 kg.
Luggage Pooling
Passengers traveling under the same reservation reference who present themselves at the check-in desk at the same time are generally permitted to pool their checked weight allowances. For example, two passengers with a combined 40 kg allowance (2 × 20 kg) may check one 22 kg bag and one 18 kg bag. However, no single suitcase in a pooled pool may exceed the 32 kg health-and-safety ceiling.
Allowance and Fee Breakdown
The matrix below outlines standard luggage dimensions, typical weight parameters, and billing rules for Albastar flights.
| Luggage Type | Allowed Count | Size Dimensions | Weight Allowance | Pricing & Operational Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Item | 1 piece | Approx. 40 × 30 × 20 cm | Must fit under seat | Included free on all fares |
| Cabin Baggage | 1 piece | Max 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 7 kg to 10 kg | Included; subject to overhead locker room |
| Charter Checked Bag | As per voucher | Max 158 cm total ($L+W+H$) | 15 kg or 20 kg | Determined by package tour agreement |
| Scheduled Checked Bag | 1 piece | Max 158 cm total ($L+W+H$) | 20 kg | Included on standard fares; fee on basic fares |
| Overweight Checked Bag | Per bag | Max 158 cm total | Tier weight up to 32 kg | Charged per excess kg at airport counter (Official verification required) |
| Oversized Baggage | Per item | Exceeding 158 linear cm | Max 32 kg | Requires advance approval; handling fee applies |
| Bicycles | 1 per passenger | Standard bike travel box | Max 32 kg | Advance booking required; special flat fee |
| Golf Equipment | 1 bag | Standard travel cover | Max 15 kg to 20 kg | Special sports baggage handling fee |
| Wheelchairs / Mobility | Up to 2 devices | Aircraft door dimensions | Device weight | Free carriage under EU Reg (EC) 1107/2006 |
Disclaimer: Exact excess baggage tariffs, sports equipment rates, and gate fines depend on route contracts, departing airport tariffs, and tour operator agreements. Official verification required.
Excess, Overweight, and Oversized Baggage Rules
Passengers whose baggage exceeds the allowance specified on their ticket will face excess luggage procedures at the airport check-in desk.
The 32 kg Absolute Maximum Weight
Under European Union workplace safety directives, airport ground staff and baggage handlers are legally protected against lifting excessively heavy single loads:
- Hard Limit: No individual piece of checked baggage may weigh more than 32 kg (70.5 lbs), regardless of whether the traveler is willing to pay excess baggage fees.
- Desk Rejection: If a bag weighs 32.1 kg or more, check-in agents will refuse to accept the bag until items are removed and repacked into a separate piece of luggage.
- Repacking Solution: Always keep a light, foldable duffel bag in your luggage in case you must split heavy contents at the check-in scale.
Airport Excess Fees
If your bag exceeds the weight limit printed on your ticket (for example, bringing a 19 kg bag on a 15 kg charter allowance, or a 24 kg bag on a 20 kg scheduled allowance):
- Billing Mechanism: Excess baggage is calculated on a per-kilogram basis directly at the airport check-in desk.
- Typical Market Rates: Across southern European leisure and charter flights, per-kilo excess fees typically range between €10 and €15 per kilogram. These fees must be settled at the airport ticket desk before a boarding pass will be issued.
- Uncertainty Notice: Albastar does not publish a universal static fee table across all charter routes, as ground handling contracts differ between Spanish, Italian, and European stations. Official verification required via your tour operator or check-in desk.
Sports Equipment, Musical Instruments, and Special Baggage
Albastar transports sporting equipment, musical instruments, and special items in the aircraft hold, provided items are registered in advance.
Sports Equipment
Because the cargo hold capacity on narrow-body aircraft is limited, sporting gear must be requested prior to departure.
- Bicycles: Must be packed in a rigid bicycle travel box or purpose-made cardboard bike carton. The pedals must be removed, handlebars turned parallel to the bicycle frame, and tire pressure fully deflated to prevent blowouts from cabin pressure changes.
- Golf Bags: A standard golf bag should contain clubs, golf balls, and a pair of golf shoes enclosed in a secure travel cover. Standard sports equipment handling fees apply.
- Ski & Snowboard Gear: One pair of skis or one snowboard, poles, and boots packed in a protective travel bag are treated as one piece of sports equipment.
- Booking Window: Notify Albastar or your tour operator at least 48 to 72 hours before flight departure to confirm cargo space for sporting gear.
Musical Instruments
- Small Instruments: Instruments such as violins, violas, flutes, or clarinets may be brought into the cabin in place of your standard 55 × 40 × 20 cm carry-on bag, provided the instrument case fits into the overhead compartment.
- Large Instruments: Instruments that exceed cabin dimensions (such as cellos or guitars) cannot be stowed overhead. Passengers must purchase an extra seat in the passenger cabin at the applicable fare, or pack the instrument inside a certified, heavy-duty flight case to travel in the cargo hold.
- Hold Disclaimer: Albastar does not accept liability for instruments packed inside soft gig bags that suffer damage in the cargo hold.
Carriage of Holy Water on Pilgrimage Flights
Albastar operates extensive charter programs to pilgrimage destinations, particularly Lourdes-Tarbes-Pyrénées Airport (LDE). The transport of sanctuary holy water is subject to strict civil aviation rules:
- Hold Luggage Only: Because European airport security checkpoints enforce the 100 ml liquid rule on cabin baggage, holy water in standard commercial sanctuary containers cannot be carried as hand luggage. It must travel inside checked hold luggage.
- Packaging Standards: Holy water containers must be constructed of rigid plastic, fitted with screw-top leakproof lids, sealed inside heavy-duty waterproof plastic bags, and cushioned inside suitcases.
- Spill Hazards: Baggage handlers will reject luggage that shows signs of active leaking at the check-in desk, as water seepage can compromise baggage compartment electronics.
Infant and Child Baggage Rules
Families flying with infants (children under 2 years of age seated on an adult's lap) are granted specific equipment allowances to facilitate transit through the terminal.
- Infant Hand Luggage: Parents are permitted to carry a small baby care bag containing milk, formula, baby food, and disposable diapers needed for the duration of the flight.
- Stroller & Pushchair Policy: One fully collapsible pushchair, buggy, or travel stroller is carried free of charge per traveling infant or toddler.
- You may wheel your child in the stroller through airport security and straight to the aircraft boarding gate.
- Ground crew will tag the stroller at the gate and load it into the forward cargo hold just before departure.
- Upon landing, strollers are returned either at the aircraft steps or delivered directly to the oversized baggage carousel in the baggage reclaim hall, depending on airport regulations.
- Car Seats: Car seats intended for use on board must be certified for aircraft travel (bearing ECE R44/04, FMVSS 213, or equivalent safety labeling). You must purchase a separate paid seat for the child to use a car seat in the passenger cabin.
Comparison: Albastar vs. Regional Leisure Carriers
Travelers using Albastar across Mediterranean holiday corridors often evaluate alternative European low-cost and regional carriers. The table below illustrates key differences in cabin allowances and hold tiers.
| Carrier | Personal Item Included | Cabin Trolley Policy | Standard Checked Bag Tier | Primary Luggage Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albastar | Yes (fits under seat) | 55 × 40 × 20 cm (7–10 kg) included | 15 kg or 20 kg | Checked allowance heavily dictated by charter package terms |
| Volotea | Yes (under seat) | Priority boarding required for 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 10 kg, 20 kg, or 25 kg tiers | Check the detailed Volotea baggage policy for strict priority carry-on boarding rules |
| Vueling | Yes (40 × 30 × 20 cm) | Overhead bag restricted to premium fares/priority | 15 kg, 20 kg, 25 kg, or 30 kg tiers | Review the comprehensive Vueling baggage policy for dynamic online add-on costs |
Albastar Baggage Preparation Checklist
Review this operational checklist 24 to 48 hours before heading to the airport for your Albastar flight.
- Verify your booking type. Check your documentation to see whether your ticket is an Albastar direct scheduled fare (usually 20 kg) or a tour operator charter voucher (often 15 kg).
- Weigh your packed suitcases at home. Ensure no bag exceeds your ticket tier, and verify that no single bag weighs more than 32 kg to avoid check-in desk rejection.
- Measure your carry-on luggage. Ensure your trolley measures within 55 × 40 × 20 cm including the wheels and handles so it fits into the overhead bins.
- Keep lithium batteries in your cabin bag. Pack all power banks, spare camera batteries, vape devices, and essential prescription medications in your under-seat personal item.
- Pack liquids and holy water in the hold. Double-seal all liquids over 100 ml inside watertight plastic bags and place them securely inside your checked luggage.
- Attach visible luggage identification tags. Place external baggage tags with your name, phone number, and flight number on every checked piece, and insert a contact sheet inside the bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hand luggage size limit on Albastar?
Albastar allows one piece of hand luggage measuring no more than 55 × 40 × 20 cm (weighing between 7 kg and 10 kg depending on your ticket conditions) plus one small personal item that fits underneath the seat in front of you.
Why does my Albastar ticket only allow 15 kg of checked luggage?
Albastar operates numerous flights on behalf of tour operators and package holiday companies. These travel agencies define luggage allocations within their charter contracts, frequently establishing a 15 kg weight ceiling to manage aircraft weight. Direct scheduled flights purchased on Albastar's website typically include a 20 kg allowance.
Can I bring a handbag in addition to my cabin suitcase on Albastar?
Yes. Passengers are permitted one primary overhead cabin bag (55 × 40 × 20 cm) and one small personal item, such as a compact handbag, laptop bag, or small backpack (approx. 40 × 30 × 20 cm) that must be placed under the seat in front.
What is the maximum weight allowed for a single bag on Albastar?
The absolute maximum weight for any single piece of checked luggage is 32 kg. Bags weighing over 32 kg will not be accepted at the airport check-in desk under European airport health and safety rules, even if you are willing to pay an overweight surcharge.
Can I take Holy Water from Lourdes on an Albastar flight?
Yes, but it must be packed inside your checked hold baggage. Standard airport security rules prohibit containers of liquid larger than 100 ml in cabin hand luggage. All holy water must be sealed in leakproof, pressure-resistant containers and packed inside your checked suitcase.
Can I pool luggage weight with someone else on Albastar?
Yes. Passengers traveling under the exact same booking reference who check in together at the airport counter may pool their total weight allowance. However, no individual suitcase within the pooled group may weigh more than 32 kg.
Can I bring a baby stroller to the boarding gate?
Yes. One fully collapsible pushchair or travel buggy is carried free of charge for each infant. You may use the stroller through the airport terminal up to the aircraft door, where ground staff will stow it in the cargo hold for the flight.
What should I do if my luggage is lost or arrives damaged?
You must report missing or damaged luggage immediately at the arrival airport's ground handling baggage desk before leaving the customs hall. Complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and keep a stamped copy. Under the Montreal Convention, damage claims must be submitted in writing within 7 days, and delayed baggage claims within 21 days.
Baggage policies, weight allowances, and handling fees can vary by route, operating carrier, charter contract, and booking channel. The operating transport company's official terms and conditions of carriage always prevail over third-party summaries. Always review your final ticket voucher or booking confirmation before traveling.
