Bluebird Airways allows all ticketed passengers to bring one free personal item that fits underneath the seat in front of them. Standard 8 kg carry-on trolleys (measuring up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm) and 20 kg checked suitcases (up to 158 cm total linear dimensions) depend on your purchased fare tier or tour operator package. Excess weight incurs per-kilogram charges at the airport check-in counter.
Baggage Allowance Snapshot
Bluebird Airways includes a free under-seat personal item on every ticket, while overhead cabin bags and checked luggage depend on your fare bundle. Charter flights and tour operator bookings may set different weight limits than direct scheduled flights.
What can change: Ticket bundle (Basic vs. Flex), booking channel (direct booking vs. vacation charter package), and international departure station fees.
Baggage Size Visual
Use Bluebird Airways' stated measurements. Measurements for overhead bags include all handles, outer pockets, and wheels.
Overhead Cabin Bag
Published limit: 55 × 40 × 20 cm, up to 8 kg
Included on select fares or purchased as an add-on
Small Personal Item
Published limit: Must fit completely under the seat
Included on all ticket types
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.
1. Bluebird Airways Cabin Baggage Rules
Bluebird Airways enforces a strict cabin baggage policy to ensure safety and quick boarding across its Boeing 737 fleet. Your cabin allowance depends primarily on the fare family selected during booking.
Personal Item (Under-Seat Bag)
All passengers, regardless of ticket price, can bring one small personal item on board for free.
- Storage Location: Must fit under the seat directly in front of you.
- Eligible Bags: A small backpack, handbag, purse, laptop bag, or small briefcase.
- Target Size: Approximately 40 × 30 × 15 cm.
- Weight Limit: Must be light enough to hold comfortably on your lap during boarding (usually under 4 kg to 5 kg).
If you are seated in an emergency exit row, you cannot place personal items under the seat in front of you during takeoff and landing. Aviation safety laws require exit row passengers to place all luggage into overhead bins for critical flight phases.
Larger Overhead Cabin Bag
An overhead cabin trolley is not included in every Bluebird Airways ticket. On light or basic fares, you only receive the personal item. To bring a standard rolling bag, you must book a bundle that includes it or purchase it as an extra service.
- Dimensions: Maximum 55 × 40 × 20 cm, including wheels and handles.
- Weight Limit: Maximum 8 kg (17.6 lbs).
- Bin Space: Bags must fit easily into the overhead storage compartment without assistance from airport staff.
If you bring an unpaid 8 kg cabin bag to the boarding gate, ground staff will intercept the bag and send it to the aircraft cargo hold, charging an airport gate handling penalty.
If you are booking connecting flights across Europe, compare these measurements against our broader guide to international carry-on size rules to avoid gate repacking fees on other carriers.
| Hand Luggage Piece | Allowance Quantity | Maximum Dimensions | Maximum Weight | Fare Class Inclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Under-Seat Item | 1 item per traveler | Approx. 40 × 30 × 15 cm | Must fit under seat | Free on all fares |
| Overhead Cabin Bag | 1 item per traveler | 55 × 40 × 20 cm | 8 kg | Fare bundle or paid add-on |
2. Checked Baggage Allowances and Weight Tiers
Bluebird Airways uses the weight concept for checked baggage. Baggage rules differ depending on whether you bought a regular scheduled seat or a seasonal vacation package.
Scheduled Flight Allowances
- Basic / Light Fares: 0 kg included. You must pay to check a bag.
- Standard / Flex Fares: 1 checked bag up to 20 kg included.
- Size Limit: The total linear dimensions ($Length + Width + Height$) must not exceed 158 cm (62 inches).
Charter Flights and Package Holidays
Bluebird Airways operates many charter services between Greek islands (such as Crete, Rhodes, and Kos), Tel Aviv, and other European hubs on behalf of tour operators.
- Tour Operator Rules: Tour companies set their own baggage limits. Many charter packages assign a checked luggage limit of 15 kg rather than the standard 20 kg airline threshold.
- Verify Your Documents: Check your flight voucher or e-ticket PDF to confirm whether your allowance is 15 kg or 20 kg before packing.
| Ticket Type | Included Checked Bags | Base Weight Limit | Max Linear Dimensions ($L + W + H$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic / Light Ticket | 0 bags | Not included | Paid add-on required |
| Standard / Flex Ticket | 1 bag | 20 kg | 158 cm |
| Charter / Vacation Package | 1 bag (if included) | 15 kg or 20 kg | 158 cm |
| Pre-Purchased Extra Bag | 1 extra bag | 20 kg | 158 cm |
3. Excess, Overweight, and Oversized Baggage Fees
Exceeding the allowed weight or size at the airport leads to extra fees. Paying for baggage online in advance is always cheaper than paying at the departure terminal.
Heavy Luggage Charges
- Per-Kilogram Fees: If your checked bag weighs more than your ticketed allowance (such as weighing 23 kg on a 20 kg ticket), the airline charges an excess fee for each additional kilogram at check-in.
- Station Currencies: Excess fees are paid in Euros (€) or US Dollars ($), depending on your departure airport.
- Absolute 32 kg Limit: No single bag may ever exceed 32 kg (70.5 lbs). This is a strict international safety rule to protect airport baggage workers from injury. If your bag weighs more than 32 kg, you must unpack items into a second bag or send it as commercial cargo.
Gate Baggage Surcharges
Bringing a rollaboard bag to the boarding gate without pre-booking an overhead allowance results in a gate bag check. Ground crew will tag the bag, put it in the aircraft hold, and charge an expedited fee that is much higher than standard online rates.
4. Special Baggage, Sports Gear, and Equipment
Non-standard items, including sports equipment and musical instruments, must be arranged before your flight. These items do not count toward your standard free baggage allowance.
Sports Equipment
- Bicycles: Must be packed in a cardboard bike box or hard travel case. Turn the handlebars sideways, remove the pedals, and let the air out of the tires.
- Golf Equipment: Accepted in a protective golf travel cover containing clubs, balls, and a pair of golf shoes.
- Diving Gear: Scuba tanks must be completely empty with the valve open. Diving lights must have batteries removed or disconnected.
- Fees: Sports gear carries a separate sports equipment handling fee for each flight segment.
Musical Instruments
- Small Instruments: Instruments like violins, violas, or flutes can be taken into the cabin instead of an overhead carry-on bag if the case fits inside 55 × 40 × 20 cm and weighs under 8 kg.
- Large Instruments: Instruments like cellos or guitars in hard cases must either be booked into the cargo hold with special handling tags or travel on an extra purchased cabin seat.
5. Traveling with Infants and Children
Bluebird Airways provides specific baggage provisions when traveling with babies and young children:
- Lap Infants (Under 2 Years): Infants who do not have their own booked seat do not receive a separate checked suitcase allowance.
- Free Pushchairs and Strollers: Parents traveling with an infant can check one fully collapsible stroller, pushchair, or car seat into the cargo hold free of charge.
- Gate Check Option: You can push your stroller through airport security all the way to the boarding gate. Ground handlers will load the stroller into the hold at the aircraft steps and return it at the gate or baggage hall upon arrival.
6. Comparing Regional Mediterranean Competitors
Travelers flying around Greece and the Mediterranean often choose between Bluebird Airways, Aegean Airlines, and SKY express. Compare their baseline allowances below before purchasing your tickets:
- Greek Network Carrier: Check the Aegean Airlines baggage policy to see how standard international 23 kg allowances compare with Bluebird's 20 kg tiers.
- Island Hopper Routes: Read the SKY express baggage policy to review carry-on and hold luggage rules on regional ATR turboprops and Airbus aircraft.
| Carrier | Personal Item Limit | Standard Carry-On Limit | Standard Checked Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluebird Airways | Fits under seat (~40 × 30 × 15 cm) | 8 kg (55 × 40 × 20 cm) | 20 kg (or 15 kg charter) |
| Aegean Airlines | Fits under seat (40 × 20 × 25 cm) | 8 kg (56 × 45 × 25 cm) | 23 kg standard |
| SKY express | Fits under seat (40 × 30 × 15 cm) | 8 kg (55 × 40 × 23 cm) | 15 kg to 23 kg (Fare-dependent) |
Bluebird Airways Packing and Check-In Checklist
Follow these steps before heading to the departure airport to avoid unexpected luggage charges.
- Review your ticket confirmation document. Check if your ticket includes 20 kg, 15 kg, or no hold luggage at all.
- Weigh your overhead rollaboard at home. Ensure it weighs 8 kg or less and measures within 55 × 40 × 20 cm including the wheels.
- Buy extra weight online before check-in. Paying for added bags or kilograms via the airline website costs less than paying at the airport desk.
- Pack lithium batteries in your hand luggage. Power banks and spare electronics batteries are banned from the cargo hold and must stay under your seat.
- Remove hanging straps from bags. Tuck away loose duffel bag straps so they do not jam the automated airport baggage machinery.
- Have a repacking backup plan. If your checked suitcase is over 20 kg, keep a small foldable tote bag handy to move heavier clothing into your allowed carry-on space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bluebird Airways allow a free carry-on bag?
Every passenger can carry one small personal item for free, such as a purse or laptop bag that fits under the seat in front. A larger 8 kg overhead cabin bag (55 × 40 × 20 cm) is only included if you buy a higher-tier ticket bundle or pay for it as an add-on.
What is the checked baggage weight limit on Bluebird Airways?
On standard scheduled flights where hold baggage is included, the limit is 20 kg per bag with a maximum size of 158 cm ($L + W + H$). On vacation charter flights, the tour operator may cap your checked suitcase at 15 kg. Always check the allowance printed on your flight voucher.
Can family members pool their luggage allowance together?
Yes, passengers traveling together under the exact same booking reference can usually combine their baggage weight at check-in. However, no single suitcase can weigh more than 32 kg because of airport safety laws.
What happens if my carry-on bag is too big at the boarding gate?
If your hand luggage exceeds 55 × 40 × 20 cm or weighs more than 8 kg, the airline will remove it at the gate and put it in the cargo hold. You will be charged an airport gate check-in fee before you are allowed to board.
How much does Bluebird Airways charge for extra weight?
Checked bags weighing more than your booked limit (up to a maximum of 32 kg) are charged on a per-kilogram basis at check-in. The price per kilogram depends on your departure airport and local currency.
Does Bluebird Airways give free baggage for infants?
Infants seated on an adult's lap do not get a separate checked bag allowance. However, parents can check one fully collapsible baby stroller, pram, or car seat into the cargo hold at no extra cost.
Can I take my guitar or violin on Bluebird Airways?
Small instruments like violins can be brought into the cabin in place of your overhead cabin bag if they fit within 55 × 40 × 20 cm and weigh 8 kg or less. Larger instruments like guitars must travel in a rigid case in the cargo hold or on an extra purchased cabin seat.
Baggage rules, weight thresholds, and airport fees can change based on flight route, seasonal charter agreements, and ticket conditions. The operating airline's official terms of carriage and your issued travel itinerary always prevail.
