Bulgaria Air Baggage Policy: Allowances and Fees

Bulgaria Air Baggage Allowance, Carry-On Rules, and Checked Bag Fees

Bulgaria Air serves as the national flag carrier of Bulgaria, connecting Sofia, Varna, and Burgas with major commercial centers across Europe and the Middle East. Flying a fleet that includes Airbus A220 and Embraer 190 regional aircraft, the airline operates standard short-haul and medium-haul flights with specific allowances for cabin luggage and checked bags.

Your baggage entitlement on Bulgaria Air depends on the fare brand you purchase, your travel class, and the route you fly. Understanding these allowances before reaching the terminal prevents unexpected fees at check-in or the boarding gate, especially when flying on light hand-baggage-only fares or through partner airline connections.

Bulgaria Air allows Economy passengers one carry-on bag weighing up to 10 kg (22.0 lbs) with dimensions up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.6 × 15.7 × 9.0 in), plus one small personal item under the seat. Standard Economy includes one 23 kg (50.7 lbs) checked bag, while Business Class includes two 32 kg (70.5 lbs) checked bags. Hand Baggage Only fares exclude free checked luggage entirely.

At a glance

Baggage Allowance Snapshot

Allowances depend on your ticketed cabin class and fare brand. Hand Baggage Only tickets carry zero free checked bags, while Business Class provides higher piece and weight limits.

Carry-on (Economy) 1 piece up to 10 kg 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.6 × 15.7 × 9.0 in)

Carry-on (Business) 2 pieces up to 10 kg each 55 × 40 × 23 cm each piece

Personal Item 1 small item included Must fit under forward seat; all classes

Light Fare Checked Bag 0 bags included Hand Baggage Only; fee applies to add

Economy Checked Bag 1 piece up to 23 kg Standard Economy; max 158 linear cm

Business Checked Bag 2 pieces up to 32 kg each Max 158 linear cm per piece

Infant Checked Bag 1 piece up to 10 kg Max 115 linear cm + 1 collapsible stroller

Maximum Weight Ceiling 32 kg per item Items over 32 kg must ship as cargo

What can change: Ticket fare brand, frequent flyer status (FLY MORE), codeshare operating carriers, domestic versus international routes, and whether you pay online or at the airport.

Measurement guide

Baggage Size Visual

Use the airline's stated order of dimensions. Measurements may include wheels and handles only when the official source says so.

55 cm 40 cm 23 cm

Under-seat fit required

158 cm total linear

Visual guide - not to scale. Use the published numerical limit as the controlling rule.

Source check

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.

Official source Bulgaria Air Conditions of Carriage & Baggage Rules

Source type Airline policy and general conditions of carriage

Policy scope Scheduled commercial flights operated by Bulgaria Air (FB)

Last checked 2026 - verification required

Confidence High

Important caveat Partner-operated codeshares follow the operating carrier's baggage rules and airport fees.

How BaggageBase Checks This Information

BaggageBase verifies airline baggage policies by extracting published specifications directly from carrier conditions of carriage, fee tables, and regulatory notices. We cross-reference dimension limits, weight thresholds, and ticket classes against standard ticketing conventions to ensure accuracy.

When policies do not publish explicit parameters-such as the dimensions of under-seat personal items or whether external handles and wheels count toward carry-on measurements-we identify those items as unverified rather than assuming standard industry norms. Ancillary baggage fees fluctuate across booking channels and departure airports, so we document the scope of each rate.

Bulgaria Air Carry-On Allowance and Overhead Bin Limits

Bulgaria Air allows cabin baggage based on your booked travel class. Economy Class travelers can bring one standard carry-on piece into the passenger cabin. Business Class passengers receive an allowance of two separate carry-on bags.

Every carry-on bag must comply with a maximum dimension limit of 55 × 40 × 23 cm (approximately 21.6 × 15.7 × 9.0 inches). The linear sum of these three dimensions equals 118 cm. The maximum allowable weight is strictly 10 kg (22.0 lbs) per individual piece.

To see how these dimensions compare to worldwide standards, review our guide to international carry-on size limits.

The official source does not explicitly state whether the 55 × 40 × 23 cm dimensions include wheels, side handles, and exterior pockets. Because airport baggage sizers have rigid metal frames, travelers should measure the total exterior profile from the bottom of the wheels to the top of the retracted handle to prevent boarding issues.

If you fly on Bulgaria Air regional services operated with smaller aircraft such as the Embraer 190, overhead bin capacity can fill up rapidly on busy flights. Gate personnel may ask you to hand over compliant carry-on bags at the aircraft steps for loading into the cargo hold. This gate-delivery service is provided free of charge for bags that meet standard cabin specifications.

Bulgaria Air Personal Item Guidelines Under the Forward Seat

In addition to your overhead carry-on allowance, Bulgaria Air permits every passenger to bring one small personal item into the cabin at no extra cost. This rule applies across all travel classes, including Hand Baggage Only tickets.

Approved personal items include:

• A women's handbag or purse
• A laptop bag or briefcase
• A small daypack or camera bag
• An umbrella, walking cane, or small duty-free purchase bag

The official carrier policy does not publish fixed dimensional limits (such as exact height, width, or depth) for personal items. Instead, the item must be small enough to fit completely underneath the passenger seat directly in front of you.

If you are seated in an emergency exit row or at a bulkhead partition, you cannot place any baggage on the floor during taxi, takeoff, and landing. You must store all items, including your personal item, in the overhead compartment for those phases of flight.

Pack essential medication, travel identification, house keys, and portable electronic devices containing lithium-ion batteries inside your under-seat item. If your main carry-on is moved to the hold at the boarding gate due to limited overhead room, you will retain your valuables with you in the cabin.

Bulgaria Air Checked Baggage Allowances by Ticket Type

Bulgaria Air applies a piece concept for checked baggage on its scheduled routes. The number of complimentary checked bags included with your reservation depends entirely on the fare brand selected during booking.

The standard dimensional limit for any checked bag on Bulgaria Air is 158 cm (approximately 62.2 inches) in linear dimensions. You determine this measurement by adding together the total external length, width, and height ($L + W + H$), including handles and wheels.

Hand Baggage Only (Economy Light / No Bag)

Travelers booking the lowest promotional fares have no checked baggage allowance included in the ticket price. If you choose this fare brand, you travel with cabin baggage only. If you decide later to check luggage, you must pay an ancillary baggage fee.

Standard Economy (Economy Classic)

Standard Economy tickets include one piece of checked baggage. The individual piece must not exceed a maximum weight of 23 kg (50.7 lbs) and must stay within the 158 linear cm boundary.

Economy Flex

On select routes where Economy Flex or Premium Economy tickets are issued, travelers may receive an allowance of up to two pieces of checked luggage, with each piece capped at 23 kg (50.7 lbs). Review your individual booking confirmation to verify whether your specific Flex fare includes one or two bags.

Business Class

Business Class tickets provide an elevated baggage allowance of two pieces of checked luggage per passenger. Each Business Class checked bag may weigh up to 32 kg (70.5 lbs), with the same standard linear dimension limit of 158 cm per piece.

Checked Baggage Fees for Hand Baggage Only Tickets and Additional Bags

If you purchase a Hand Baggage Only fare or need to check more luggage than your ticket includes, you can purchase extra bags. Bulgaria Air charges fees based on when and where you make the purchase.

Baggage fees are structured across three payment tiers:

1. Advance Purchase: Adding bags online through the airline website or customer service center before check-in opens.
2. Airport Counter: Adding bags at the physical check-in and bag-drop desk on departure day.
3. Boarding Gate: Paying for non-compliant or excess cabin bags intercepted at the departure gate.

Fares and fees within Bulgaria are charged on domestic route schedules (such as Sofia to Varna or Burgas), which cost less than international routes connecting Bulgaria with other European hubs. Tariffs are billed in Bulgarian Lev (BGN) or Euros (EUR).

Note: The fees listed represent typical airline rate bands. Exact ancillary charges fluctuate based on departure station taxes and local ticket office processing surcharges. Check the airline's official baggage calculator or booking portal before departure.

Overweight and Oversized Baggage Limits and Penalties

If your checked luggage exceeds the weight or size allowances of your ticket, Bulgaria Air charges excess baggage fees. These fees apply when bags exceed standard limits but remain below safety thresholds.

Overweight Luggage (23 kg to 32 kg)

In Economy Class, any bag that weighs more than 23 kg (50.7 lbs) up to a maximum of 32 kg (70.5 lbs) is classified as overweight.

Instead of charging a per-kilogram rate, Bulgaria Air applies a flat overweight penalty per piece. For international flights, this surcharge typically runs around 50 EUR per bag at the airport desk. For domestic flights, the fee is typically between 20 and 30 EUR.

Business Class passengers do not pay this fee as long as each bag remains under 32 kg, since their ticket already includes the higher weight limit.

Oversized Luggage (158 cm to 203 cm)

Any suitcase whose combined dimensions ($L + W + H$) exceed 158 cm up to 203 cm (80 linear inches) is classified as oversized. Oversized bags incur a handling fee, generally between 50 and 70 EUR depending on the route. If an item is both overweight and oversized, both surcharges apply to the same bag.

Strict Acceptance Ceilings

Bulgaria Air enforces absolute safety limits on passenger luggage:

• Weight Limit: No single bag may weigh more than 32 kg (70.5 lbs). Ground-handling health and safety regulations prohibit loading individual passenger items heavier than this limit.
• Size Limit: No single piece of checked passenger luggage may exceed 203 linear cm (80 inches).

Any item exceeding 32 kg or 203 linear cm will not be accepted at the passenger check-in desk. You must arrange transport through an air cargo freight forwarder instead.

Frequent Flyer Baggage Benefits

Members of Bulgaria Air's frequent flyer loyalty program, FLY MORE, receive extra baggage allowances based on their membership tier when flying on scheduled services operated by Bulgaria Air:

These frequent flyer baggage privileges do not apply to charter flights or codeshare partner operations unless specifically confirmed on your ticket receipt.

Traveling with Children and Infants on Bulgaria Air

Bulgaria Air provides dedicated baggage allowances for families traveling with young children:

Infants Under 2 Years Old

An infant under the age of two traveling on an adult's lap (without an individual seat) is entitled to:

• One checked bag weighing up to 10 kg (22.0 lbs) with maximum linear dimensions not exceeding 115 cm (45.3 linear inches).
• One fully collapsible baby stroller (buggy) or approved infant car seat carried free of charge in the cargo hold.

Stroller Handling at the Airport

You can use a collapsible stroller through airport security and directly to the boarding gate or aircraft door. Ground staff will tag the stroller and load it into the aircraft hold just before departure. Upon arrival, strollers are returned either at the aircraft door or in the oversized baggage claim area, depending on local airport handling procedures.

Children aged two and older travel with their own reserved seat and receive the standard baggage allowance corresponding to the purchased fare class.

Sports Equipment, Musical Instruments, and Assistive Devices

Transporting specialty gear on Bulgaria Air requires compliance with carrier-specific dimensions, packing guidelines, and advance reservations.

Sports Equipment

Bulgaria Air accepts standard sports equipment such as ski equipment, snowboard gear, golf bags, and diving kits.

• Advance Notification: You must declare sports gear to the airline or booking agent at least 24 to 48 hours prior to departure, as regional aircraft cargo holds have limited capacity.
• Fee Application: On select full-fare tickets, one piece of sports equipment may be substituted for your free checked bag if it meets the weight criteria. On Light fares or when exceeding your piece count, a flat sports equipment fee applies (typically 30 to 70 EUR per direction, depending on the item and flight route).
• Bicycles: Bicycles must travel in an appropriate protective box or bag with handlebars turned sideways, pedals removed, and tires deflated.

Musical Instruments

Small musical instruments (such as violins or flutes) may be taken into the cabin in place of your carry-on bag, provided they do not exceed 55 × 40 × 23 cm and 10 kg.

Instruments that exceed carry-on dimensions must travel in the hold inside a rigid hard case and will be processed as checked luggage. If you prefer to transport a valuable or delicate larger instrument (such as a cello) in the cabin, you must purchase an extra passenger seat when making your reservation.

Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids

Bulgaria Air carries passenger wheelchairs, mobility equipment, and certified assistive devices free of charge. These items do not count toward standard checked baggage allowances.

If you use an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter powered by batteries, you must notify the airline at least 48 hours before your flight. You must provide details regarding the battery type (dry cell, gel, or lithium) so airport operations can confirm compliance with international dangerous goods safety standards.

Bulgaria Air Codeshares and Connecting European Flights

Bulgaria Air maintains codeshare partnerships and interline agreements with major European and global carriers, including Air France, KLM, TAROM, and Qatar Airways.

When your journey involves multiple airlines on a single ticket, determine which carrier's baggage rules apply to your trip:

The Most Significant Carrier Rule

Under IATA Resolution 302, baggage allowances on multi-airline itineraries are governed by the Most Significant Carrier (MSC)-typically the airline operating the first international or transcontinental flight segment.

If you book a Bulgaria Air flight number (FB), but the flight is operated by partner metal (such as an Air France aircraft from Sofia to Paris), the operating carrier's cabin luggage size constraints, gate enforcement standards, and excess fees apply at the gate.

Traveling across Central and Southeastern Europe? Allowances may differ if you connect via other carriers; see the Croatia Airlines baggage policy for comparison.

For seasonal leisure flights in the region, check the Smartwings baggage policy before packing.

Airport Check-In Deadlines and Gate Enforcement

Meeting airport deadlines ensures your bags make it aboard your flight and helps you avoid gate penalty fees.

Check-in Deadlines

• Sofia Airport (SOF) and European Hubs: Check-in counters open 2 hours prior to scheduled departure.
• Counter Closure: Check-in and bag-drop counters close strictly 40 minutes prior to scheduled departure.
• Boarding Gate Closure: Boarding gates close 15 to 20 minutes before departure time.

Boarding Gate Bag Enforcement

Bulgaria Air ground agents actively inspect carry-on luggage at departure gates. If you bring a carry-on that exceeds the 55 × 40 × 23 cm limit or 10 kg weight allowance, or if you bring an extra unauthorized piece, staff will remove the bag and check it into the hold.

Gate-checked baggage fees range from 30 to 70 EUR, making this the most expensive way to check luggage with Bulgaria Air. Boarding gate payments typically require a credit or debit card.

Before you fly

Bulgaria Air Luggage Preparation Checklist

Review this checklist before leaving for the airport to avoid unexpected fees and check-in delays.

• Measure external luggage boundaries. Measure your carry-on bag including wheels and handles to ensure it stays within the 55 × 40 × 23 cm limit.
• Check your fare type on your receipt. Confirm whether your ticket is an Economy Light (Hand Baggage Only) fare before packing a checked suitcase.
• Purchase checked bags online early. Add checked bags through the airline website at least 24 hours in advance to secure lower advance rates.
• Weigh your packed suitcases. Keep Economy checked bags under 23 kg to avoid paying the flat overweight airport fee.
• Pack essentials in your personal item. Keep medications, power banks, and passports in your under-seat bag in case your carry-on is gate-checked on full flights.
• Declare sports gear or wheelchairs ahead of time. Notify customer service at least 48 hours prior to departure for sports items, oversized instruments, or battery-operated mobility devices.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bulgaria Air Baggage

What are the maximum carry-on dimensions on Bulgaria Air?

Bulgaria Air allows carry-on bags measuring up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm (sum of 118 linear cm / 21.6 × 15.7 × 9.0 inches) with a maximum weight of 10 kg (22.0 lbs). Economy travelers are permitted one piece, while Business Class travelers may bring two pieces of the same size and weight.

Does Bulgaria Air allow a personal item with a carry-on bag?

Yes, Bulgaria Air allows all passengers one small personal item in addition to their carry-on bag across all fare classes. The personal item can be a handbag, laptop briefcase, or small backpack, and it must fit completely underneath the seat in front of you.

Do Bulgaria Air carry-on measurements include wheels and handles?

The official carrier policy does not explicitly state whether wheels and handles are included in the published 55 × 40 × 23 cm limits. Travelers should ensure their bags fit within those measurements, wheels and handles included, to pass airport sizers without issue.

How much checked baggage is included in a Standard Economy ticket?

Standard Economy (Classic) tickets include one checked bag weighing up to 23 kg (50.7 lbs) with a maximum linear size of 158 cm (62.2 inches). If you hold a Hand Baggage Only (Light) ticket, no free checked bag is included.

What is the fee to add a checked bag to a Bulgaria Air Light fare?

Adding a checked bag online in advance typically costs between 15 and 30 EUR, depending on whether you are flying a domestic or international route. Purchasing a bag at the airport check-in desk or boarding gate is more expensive, ranging from 20 to 60 EUR.

What happens if my checked suitcase weighs more than 23 kg?

If an Economy checked bag weighs between 23.1 kg and 32 kg, you must pay an overweight fee of approximately 20 to 30 EUR for domestic flights or 50 EUR for international routes. Bags weighing more than 32 kg are prohibited as passenger luggage and must travel via air cargo.

Can I bring a stroller and car seat for an infant on Bulgaria Air?

Yes, infants traveling without an allocated seat are entitled to one checked bag up to 10 kg (max 115 linear cm) plus one collapsible stroller or car seat free of charge. Strollers can typically be used through the airport and handed over at the aircraft boarding door.

What rules apply if my flight is operated by a partner airline?

If your flight is operated by a partner airline (such as Air France, KLM, or TAROM) under an FB flight number, the operating carrier's baggage rules apply. You must follow the operating carrier's cabin dimensions, weight limits, and airport fee structures.

Making Your Decision

To avoid unnecessary baggage fees on Bulgaria Air, confirm your ticket brand before packing. If you are traveling on an Economy Light fare, travel with only a compliant carry-on and personal item, or pay for a checked bag online at least 24 hours prior to departure.

Economy travelers with checked luggage should keep their suitcases below 23 kg and within 158 linear cm to avoid flat overweight and oversize penalties at the counter. Business Class travelers receive two checked bags up to 32 kg each alongside two 10 kg cabin bags.

Remember that partner-operated flights follow the rules of the operating airline rather than Bulgaria Air. Verify your ticket confirmation and operating carrier details before arriving at the airport.

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.