Aurigny Baggage Policy Explained with Cabin and Hold Rules
Aurigny Air Services serves as the flag carrier of Guernsey, linking the Channel Islands with the United Kingdom and destinations across Europe. Because Aurigny operates regional turboprop aircraft such as the ATR 72-600 and the Dornier 228, its overhead locker dimensions and weight allowances are more restrictive than those found on larger commercial jetliners.
Aurigny passengers on ATR flights can bring one main cabin bag up to 10 kg (22 lbs) measuring at most 55 x 36 x 20 cm (21.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 in), plus one small personal item. On inter-island Dornier flights, travelers may bring under-seat personal items only. Standard fares include one 20 kg (44 lbs) checked bag, while Light fares exclude hold luggage entirely. No individual bag may exceed 32 kg (70.5 lbs).
Baggage Allowance Snapshot
Carry-on baggage limits depend on aircraft type, while checked luggage inclusions depend on your fare tier. Additional hold bags and excess weight incur fees that increase substantially at the airport.
What can change: Aircraft model (ATR 72 vs. Dornier 228), fare category purchased, and whether baggage is booked online or at the departure counter.
Baggage Size Visual
Use the airline's stated order of dimensions. Measurements may include wheels and handles only when the official source says so.
Main Overhead Cabin Bag
Published limit: 55 x 36 x 20 cm (21.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 in), up to 10 kg (22 lbs)
ATR 72-600 routes only; includes wheels and handles
Small Personal Item
Published limit: 35 x 25 x 20 cm (13.8 x 9.8 x 7.9 in)
Must fit under the forward seat; allowed on all fleet types
Standard Checked Bag
Published limit: 20 kg (44 lbs) base allowance; 32 kg (70.5 lbs) max cap
Standard and Fully Flexible fares; excess fees apply above 20 kg
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.
How BaggageBase Checks This Information
BaggageBase monitors published baggage notices, standard conditions of carriage, and airport terminal advisories across Aurigny's route network. We verify dimensions and weight allowances against regional airport equipment constraints at Guernsey Airport (GCI), Alderney Airport (ACI), and London Gatwick (LGW). Ancillary fee amounts can fluctuate based on booking channels and fuel tariffs, so variable costs are labeled for direct confirmation on the carrier's booking portal.
Aurigny Cabin Baggage Rules
Cabin baggage rules on Aurigny depend heavily on which aircraft operates your specific flight segment. Because regional turboprops have compact overhead lockers, the airline enforces strict dimensional frames and scale checks at boarding gates.
Hand Luggage Allowance on ATR 72 Aircraft
On routes operated by Aurigny's ATR 72-600 fleet, passengers may carry one main cabin bag free of charge. This bag must weigh no more than 10 kg (22 lbs) and fit within maximum dimensions of 55 x 36 x 20 cm (21.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 in).
These dimensions include wheels, retractable handles, and exterior zip pockets. Aurigny's 20 cm (7.9 in) depth allowance is noticeably slimmer than the 23 cm or 25 cm depth permitted on many mainline jets. If you pack a standard rolling carry-on, compare its exterior measurements against the international carry-on size limits to avoid unexpected gate-check fees.
Personal Item Allowance and Placement Rules
In addition to the main cabin bag, passengers on ATR flights may carry one small personal item. This item must not exceed 35 x 25 x 20 cm (13.8 x 9.8 x 7.9 in). Suitable items include:
- A small handbag or purse
- A slim laptop sleeve or briefcase
- A compact daypack
Your personal item must fit entirely beneath the seat in front of you. If you sit in an emergency exit row or at a bulkhead partition, safety regulations require you to store all personal items in the overhead bins for taxi, takeoff, and landing.
Regional Turboprop Aircraft Constraints
Overhead lockers on ATR turboprops run narrower and shallower than the bins found on Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 aircraft. Rigid, hard-shell suitcases that meet the length limit may still fail to close if packed beyond the 20 cm depth boundary.
Routes connecting Guernsey and Alderney, as well as Alderney and Southampton, frequently use Dornier 228 commuter aircraft. These 19-seat planes have no overhead storage bins. On Dornier flights:
- Passengers may only bring their small personal item into the cabin to place beneath the seat.
- Standard rollaboard carry-on bags are weighed and collected at the aircraft boarding steps.
- Baggage handlers place these bags into the nose or rear luggage holds of the aircraft.
- Passengers retrieve their bags either planeside upon arrival or at the destination reclaim belt.
Airlines operating small aircraft must calculate takeoff trim using exact passenger and baggage weights. To understand why regional carriers monitor cabin poundage so strictly, review the guide to carry-on weight limits.
| Item | Allowance | Size or fit rule | Important condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Cabin Bag (ATR 72) | 1 piece up to 10 kg (22 lbs) | Max 55 x 36 x 20 cm (21.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 in) | Includes wheels and handles; must fit in sizer frame |
| Small Personal Item (All Fleet) | 1 piece | Max 35 x 25 x 20 cm (13.8 x 9.8 x 7.9 in) | Must fit fully under the seat in front |
| Main Cabin Bag (Dornier 228) | 0 pieces inside cabin | Checked at aircraft steps | Loaded into aircraft hold due to lack of overhead bins |
Checked Baggage Allowances and Fare Brands
Aurigny unbundles hold luggage from its base fares. Whether a checked suitcase is included depends on the ticket family you purchase.
Included Checked Baggage by Fare Class
Aurigny sells three primary fare tiers across its standard commercial schedule:
- Light Fare: This option is aimed at day-trippers and short business hops. It includes hand luggage and a personal item, but no hold baggage allowance. Adding a checked bag requires an additional fee.
- Standard Fare: This ticket includes one checked bag weighing up to 20 kg (44 lbs).
- Fully Flexible Fare: Designed for travelers needing ticket flexibility, this tier includes two checked bags of up to 20 kg (44 lbs) each, giving a total checked allowance of 40 kg (88 lbs).
The official source does not specify a strict total linear dimension (length + width + height) for standard suitcases, relying instead on conventional luggage sizes and the 20 kg weight cap. Aurigny does not permit pooling weight across multiple bags under a single-item allowance; an individual bag over 20 kg on a Standard ticket is considered overweight even if other travelers in your party carry underfilled bags.
| Eligible traveler | Free allowance | Weight/size cap | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Fare passenger | 0 checked bags | No free hold allowance | Hand luggage only; must pre-pay to check luggage |
| Standard Fare passenger | 1 checked bag | 20 kg (44 lbs) | Single-piece limit; overweight fees apply over 20 kg |
| Fully Flexible passenger | 2 checked bags | 20 kg (44 lbs) per bag | 40 kg (88 lbs) combined; maximum 20 kg per single case |
| Lap Infant (under 2 years) | 0 standard bags | Gear only | Includes 1 collapsible stroller and 1 car seat free |
Aurigny Baggage Fees and Excess Charges
Purchasing your hold luggage online before checking in costs significantly less than paying at the departure counter. Aurigny quotes its fees in British Pounds Sterling (GBP / £).
Pre-Booking vs. Airport Counter Rates
If you travel on a Light fare, or if you need an extra bag on a Standard fare, purchase the allowance via the Manage My Booking portal on Aurigny's website.
- Online Pre-Booking: Adding a 20 kg checked bag in advance generally costs between £20 and £30 per flight sector.
- Airport Check-In Desk: Paying for a bag at the check-in desk on departure day increases the cost, typically running £40 to £50 or more per bag per flight.
- Gate Baggage Fee: If your hand luggage exceeds cabin size or weight limits at boarding, staff will tag it for the hold and assess airport baggage fees before you board.
Exact ancillary baggage fees vary by route and booking channel. Check the airline's baggage booking tool before departure.
Overweight and Excess Baggage Charges
If your checked bag exceeds the 20 kg (44 lbs) weight allowance, Aurigny levies an excess baggage fee for each extra kilogram up to the health and safety limit.
The standard overweight charge historically ranges from £10 to £15 per excess kilogram at the check-in counter. For example, checking a suitcase that weighs 24 kg on a Standard ticket results in a 4 kg penalty charge.
The maximum weight limit for any single piece of luggage on Aurigny is 32 kg (70.5 lbs). Under UK and European health and safety regulations for baggage handlers, bags heavier than 32 kg are rejected at check-in and cannot travel as passenger luggage. Items over 32 kg must be forwarded via a licensed commercial freight forwarder.
| Condition | Threshold | Additional fee | Acceptance limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional Hold Bag (Online) | Up to 20 kg (44 lbs) | ~£20 – £30 per flight sector | Must be purchased prior to flight check-in |
| Additional Hold Bag (Airport) | Up to 20 kg (44 lbs) | ~£40 – £50+ per flight sector | Subject to hold capacity at departure desk |
| Overweight Checked Bag | 21 kg to 32 kg (46.3–70.5 lbs) | ~£10 – £15 per excess kg | Assessed and paid at physical check-in scale |
| Absolute Maximum Single Piece | Over 32 kg (70.5 lbs) | Refused as passenger bag | Must be sent separately through air cargo |
Route Nuances and Partner Airlines
Luggage rules can change when your travel involves connecting itineraries or commuter-class routes.
Connecting Flights via London Gatwick
Many Aurigny travelers connect to international flights through London Gatwick (LGW). If your journey involves a transfer on a separate ticket to a carrier like British Airways, your Aurigny allowances do not carry over.
For example, the British Airways baggage policy permits a generous 23 kg hand luggage piece plus a personal bag. If you return home on an Aurigny ATR flight with that same BA-sized rollaboard, it will likely fail the 55 x 36 x 20 cm dimension check or the 10 kg limit, requiring hold-check fees.
When traveling on a single through-ticket booked through a codeshare or interline partner, luggage allowances are defined by the Most Significant Carrier (MSC) under IATA Resolution 302. However, regional carry-on dimensions remain physically bounded by the operating aircraft's cabin size.
Alderney Route Operations
Flights operating into Alderney Airport (ACI) are governed by strict aircraft weight restrictions due to short runway lengths. Ground crews in Guernsey, Alderney, and Southampton may ask passengers for their individual weight alongside their baggage weights.
Ensure you pack vital medication, cash, and travel documents in a small personal bag that fits under the seat. Any larger hand luggage will be placed into the aircraft hold compartments during boarding.
Special Baggage: Family, Medical, Sports, and Music Items
Aurigny provides allowances for families traveling with young children, passengers requiring medical mobility items, and travelers carrying specialty gear.
Traveling with Infants and Children
Infants under two years of age traveling on an adult's lap do not receive an independent checked baggage allowance. However, Aurigny allows accompanying adults to check up to two pieces of infant equipment free of charge:
- One fully collapsible pushchair, buggy, or stroller
- One car seat or travel cot
You can use a collapsible stroller through airport security and push it to the aircraft steps. Ground crew tag the stroller at the gate and stow it in the cargo compartment, returning it to you at the aircraft steps upon arrival where local airport handling allows.
Medical and Mobility Aids
Mobility equipment, including manual and electric wheelchairs, is transported free of charge and does not count toward your ticketed baggage allowance.
Passengers traveling with powered wheelchairs or mobility scooters must notify Aurigny at least 48 hours prior to departure. You must provide details regarding the battery type (sealed wet, dry, or lithium) and the physical dimensions of the mobility aid to ensure it can be safely loaded into the turboprop hold. Essential medical equipment and necessary medication may be brought into the cabin free of charge alongside standard allowances with appropriate medical certification.
Sports Equipment and Musical Instruments
Because hold space on the ATR 72 and Dornier 228 is limited, Aurigny requires passengers to register sports gear in advance. Common sports items include:
- Golf bags and clubs
- Bicycles (must be partially dismantled with handlebars turned and tires deflated)
- Surfboards and windsurfing gear
- Scuba diving equipment (tanks must be completely emptied)
Sports gear often incurs a fixed handling fee of £30 to £40 per flight sector rather than standard checked bag rates, though some compact gear may be substituted for a ticketed checked bag if within weight limits. Always verify space availability through Aurigny customer support before travel.
Small musical instruments (such as violins or flutes) may be taken into the cabin on ATR flights as your single piece of hand luggage, provided they fit within the 55 x 36 x 20 cm size limit and 10 kg weight cap. Larger instruments (such as cellos) require the purchase of an extra passenger seat in advance.
What Happens if Baggage Exceeds Size or Weight Limits
Airport ground staff verify baggage parameters at both check-in desks and boarding gates across Aurigny's network.
Outcomes at the Check-In Desk
When checking a bag that registers between 21 kg and 32 kg, you have two choices:
- Re-distribute the weight by repacking heavier items into another paid bag or your hand luggage (provided your hand luggage remains under 10 kg).
- Pay the per-kilogram excess baggage fee for all weight above 20 kg.
Bags heavier than 32 kg will not be loaded into the hold under any circumstances. You will be instructed to remove items until the bag meets the 32 kg threshold.
Outcomes at the Departure Gate
Aurigny positions bag-sizing metal cages and scales at departure gates in Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, London Gatwick, and regional UK stations.
If your cabin bag cannot slide freely into the sizer without force, or if it exceeds 10 kg on the scale, ground crew will reject it from the cabin. The bag will be tagged, transferred to the ramp handlers for hold loading, and assessed an airport collection fee before you are cleared to board.
Aurigny Baggage Preparation Checklist
Use this pre-departure checklist to avoid gate fees, hold rejections, and repacking delays at regional airport terminals.
- Verify the operating aircraft on your itinerary. Dornier 228 flights have no overhead lockers, requiring standard carry-ons to be checked at the steps.
- Measure suitcase depth across wheels and pockets. Aurigny allows a maximum depth of 20 cm (7.9 in), which is shallower than standard mainline international rollaboards.
- Weigh your hand luggage at home. Keep cabin bags under 10 kg (22 lbs) to pass gate scale checks on ATR flights.
- Pre-book checked baggage online. Adding hold bags through the Manage My Booking page costs significantly less than paying at the airport counter.
- Keep essential items in your personal bag. Place medications, lithium batteries, keys, and passports in the under-seat bag in case your main bag is gate-checked.
- Cap any single checked bag at 32 kg. UK and European occupational safety rules strictly forbid loading passenger bags over 32 kg (70.5 lbs).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the maximum hand luggage dimensions for Aurigny?
On ATR 72 flights, your main cabin bag cannot exceed 55 x 36 x 20 cm (21.7 x 14.2 x 7.9 in) including wheels and handles, with a 10 kg (22 lbs) weight limit. You may also bring one small personal item measuring up to 35 x 25 x 20 cm (13.8 x 9.8 x 7.9 in). On Dornier commuter flights, only the small personal item fits in the cabin.
Does an Aurigny ticket include a free checked bag?
Checked baggage inclusion depends on your fare tier. Light fares include hand luggage only and charge a fee to add hold luggage. Standard fares include one 20 kg (44 lbs) bag, while Fully Flexible fares include two 20 kg bags.
Why are cabin baggage rules different on flights to Alderney?
Flights between Guernsey and Alderney use 19-seat Dornier 228 aircraft, which lack overhead storage lockers. Passengers may only bring a small personal item beneath the seat; all larger hand luggage must be tagged and loaded into the aircraft hold compartments.
How much does Aurigny charge for an overweight bag?
Aurigny charges an excess baggage fee per kilogram (historically £10 to £15 per kg) for bags weighing between 21 kg and 32 kg. No bag exceeding 32 kg (70.5 lbs) will be accepted for travel.
Can I bring both a carry-on bag and a handbag on Aurigny?
Yes, on ATR flights you may bring one main cabin bag plus one small personal item like a handbag, small backpack, or laptop sleeve. The personal item must fit under the forward seat and measure no more than 35 x 25 x 20 cm.
What is the maximum weight permitted for a checked bag on Aurigny?
The standard weight allowance is 20 kg (44 lbs) on Standard and Flexible fares. You can pay excess weight fees up to an absolute ceiling of 32 kg (70.5 lbs), beyond which bags must travel via freight.
Are baby strollers and car seats free to check on Aurigny?
Yes. Passengers traveling with an infant or young child can check one fully collapsible stroller or pushchair and one car seat completely free of charge in addition to any ticketed baggage allowances.
How do I add extra baggage to an existing booking?
Log in to the Manage My Booking section on the official Aurigny website prior to flight check-in. Pre-purchasing hold luggage online saves substantial money compared to paying check-in desk or gate prices.
Final Summary and Booking Advice
Aurigny operates regional turboprop aircraft where baggage space and aircraft balance are strictly controlled. When packing, prioritize your bag's depth: the 20 cm (7.9 in) limit means many standard international rolling bags will fail cabin sizing checks.
If you book a Light fare, decide whether you need hold luggage before arriving at the airport. Purchasing a 20 kg bag online in advance saves roughly half the price charged at the departure desk. For flights involving Alderney, expect to surrender larger cabin bags at the boarding steps for hold loading, and keep your valuables packed inside a small under-seat personal item.
Airline baggage rules and fees can change by route, fare, cabin, operating carrier, traveler status, purchase channel, and departure date. Check the airline's official baggage policy or calculator before booking, paying, or traveling. BaggageBase reviews information for 2026 where possible, but the airline's published terms remain the final authority.
