Chair Airlines Baggage Policy: Carry-On and Checked Limits

Chair Airlines Baggage Policy and Allowance Limits

Chair Airlines (IATA code: GM) is a Swiss boutique leisure airline based at Zurich Airport (ZRH). Formerly known as Germania Flug, the carrier operates scheduled flights and charter services connecting Switzerland to destinations across the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Balkans. Because Chair Airlines serves both independent travelers and package holiday tour operators, luggage rules and inclusions vary depending on how and where you book your ticket.

Chair Airlines permits one piece of cabin baggage weighing up to 6 kg (13.2 lbs) with maximum dimensions of 55 x 40 x 20 cm (21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 in) across standard fares. Basic flight-only tickets exclude checked luggage, while Classic fares and package holiday bookings generally include one 20 kg (44.1 lbs) checked suitcase. Check your booking confirmation and add hold luggage online before arriving at the airport to avoid counter surcharges.

At a glance

Baggage Allowance Snapshot

Chair Airlines includes one 6 kg carry-on bag on standard tickets, but checked baggage depends on your fare tier. Basic fares exclude hold luggage, whereas Classic tickets and charter packages include 20 kg.

Carry-on allowance 1 piece up to 6 kg (13.2 lbs) All standard passenger fares

Carry-on dimensions 55 x 40 x 20 cm (21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 in) Exterior limit for overhead storage

Personal item Under-seat accessory Counted within the 6 kg total cabin limit

Basic checked baggage 0 kg (0 lbs) Hold luggage requires an extra fee

Classic / tour package checked bag 1 piece up to 20 kg (44.1 lbs) Included in standard holiday fares

Maximum single bag weight 32 kg (70.5 lbs) Strict European airport safety limit

Infant stroller allowance 1 collapsible stroller or buggy Free of charge in the hold

Baggage purchase channels Online portal vs. airport counter Airport check-in desks charge higher rates

What can change: Ticket type (Basic vs. Classic vs. Flex), charter tour operator agreements (e.g., Air Prishtina), departure airport outstations, and whether extra bags are purchased online or at the gate.

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 20 cm

Standard Suitcase Hold Bag

Heavy Bag Limit

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 Chair Airlines Conditions of Carriage and Baggage Terms

Source type Carrier baggage provisions and fare rules

Policy scope All flights operated by Chair Airlines AG (GM / CHW)

Last checked 2026 - verification required

Confidence Medium

Important caveat Charter operator contracts (such as Air Prishtina or holiday package deals) can assign different luggage allowances than direct chair.ch bookings.

How BaggageBase Checks This Information

BaggageBase monitors official airline channels, published conditions of carriage, dynamic booking portals, and civil aviation authority notices. For Chair Airlines, our editorial team reviews guidelines directly from chair.ch, verifies fare structure terms, and isolates charter allotment practices from direct consumer tickets.

Because regional carriers occasionally modify ancillary fees, seasonal luggage supplements, and ground-handling rules without public announcements, we mark route-specific prices and unverified desk surcharges as requiring confirmation through your active booking reservation.

Chair Airlines Carry-On Bag Size and Weight Limits

Chair Airlines enforces strict boundaries for overhead cabin luggage across its Airbus fleet. Every passenger paying a standard fare is entitled to bring one piece of hand luggage into the aircraft cabin.

• Maximum Dimensions: 55 x 40 x 20 cm (approximately 21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 in).
• Maximum Weight: 6 kg (approximately 13.2 lbs).

The official source does not clearly state whether wheels, pockets, and grab handles are excluded from the 55 x 40 x 20 cm allowance. Because European airport gate agents use solid metal sizer boxes to verify luggage compliance, you should measure your carry-on bag including the wheels and retracted handle. If any part of the bag protrudes outside the metal frame, ground staff can reject it for cabin storage.

A 6 kg weight limit is significantly lighter than the limits enforced by most major European scheduled airlines. To see how these measurements compare across the industry, review our guide to international carry-on size standards as well as the broad airline carry-on size comparison guide. Many rolling cabin bags weigh between 2 kg and 3 kg when completely empty, meaning you have only 3 kg to 4 kg of usable packing capacity before exceeding the limit.

Cabin overhead bin volume on narrow-body aircraft is limited. On fully booked holiday flights, crew members may transfer compliant cabin bags into the aircraft hold at the boarding gate if overhead space runs out. When this occurs due to operational space constraints rather than policy violations, the gate check is performed without an additional fee. Keep all essential medicine, travel documents, and lithium-ion batteries with you in the cabin.

Chair Airlines Personal Item Guidelines

Chair Airlines focuses its cabin baggage policy around a single piece allocation. Unlike some full-service carriers that automatically grant a large roller bag plus an independent, separate laptop bag, Chair Airlines expects carry-on baggage to fit within a single item concept.

• Personal Item Acceptance: Small accessories such as a handbag, compact camera case, or slim laptop sleeve are accepted at the discretion of ground staff and cabin crew.
• Storage Location: Any personal accessory carried into the aircraft must fit completely under the seat directly in front of you. It cannot block the aisle or emergency exits.
• Weight Integration: The official policy states that your hand luggage must not exceed 6 kg in total. If you bring both a small under-seat accessory and a primary cabin bag, agents at check-in or the boarding gate may weigh both items together.
• Standardized Dimensions: The official source does not define separate numerical dimensions for a second personal item.

To avoid disputes at the gate, choose a soft-sided shoulder bag or pack your accessory inside your 55 x 40 x 20 cm cabin suitcase until boarding is complete.

Chair Airlines Checked Baggage Allowances by Fare Tier

Checked luggage parameters on Chair Airlines depend on whether you purchased a flight-only ticket directly from the airline website or booked your trip as part of a package tour.

The official source does not explicitly publish a total linear dimension limit (such as 158 cm / 62 in) for standard hold luggage. However, standard commercial suitcases conforming to the 20 kg (44.1 lbs) weight threshold are accepted.

Travelers flying out of Zurich who wish to evaluate Chair Airlines against Switzerland's primary international carrier can read our detailed breakdown of the Swiss International Air Lines baggage policy.

Chair Airlines Baggage Fees and Overweight Charges

Adding hold luggage to a Basic fare or packing beyond the standard weight limit triggers supplementary fees. Chair Airlines divides baggage fees into advance digital bookings and airport counter transactions.

Advance Purchase vs. Airport Desks

Adding luggage through the "Manage My Booking" section on chair.ch before arriving at the airport delivers the lowest available price. Airport desk rates at Zurich (ZRH) or international outstations carry higher administrative surcharges. Luggage fees are billed primarily in Swiss Francs (CHF) when departing Switzerland, or in Euros (EUR) when departing EU and regional destinations.

Excess Weight Limits

The baseline checked bag allowance is 20 kg (44.1 lbs). If your suitcase weighs between 21 kg and 32 kg, you must pay an excess weight fee. The official excess-per-kg rates vary by route zone; exact current fee tables must be checked via the airline's baggage tool or booking confirmation before payment or departure.

European occupational safety regulations strictly forbid any single piece of passenger baggage weighing more than 32 kg (70.5 lbs). Baggage handlers will not accept or load a suitcase that exceeds this threshold. You must repack items into an additional bag or send the excess as cargo.

Direct Bookings vs. Package Holiday Charter Rules

A substantial percentage of Chair Airlines seats are chartered by holiday providers or sold through flight consolidators such as Air Prishtina. Baggage allowances on these flights do not always match direct Chair.ch policies.

• Flight Numbers GM 1000 to GM 9999: Flights within this series often operate on behalf of charter partners. Your contractual baggage entitlement is governed by the conditions agreed upon with the tour provider.
• Tour Operator Vouchers: If your booking document states "20 kg included," that allocation takes precedence over generic website fare tiers. Always carry a printed or digital copy of your tour operator confirmation to the check-in desk.
• Baggage Pooling: When two or more passengers travel together under the exact same reservation, some airport ground handlers permit pooling the total weight allowance (for example, two travelers combining two 20 kg allowances). However, individual suitcases must never exceed the 32 kg legal maximum, and acceptance of pooled weight remains at the discretion of the handling agent.

Traveling with Children, Strollers, and Special Assistance Items

Chair Airlines offers adjusted provisions for families flying with babies and young children, as well as passengers requiring medical or mobility support.

Infants (Under 2 Years Old)

Infants traveling without an individual seat (sitting on an adult's lap) have specific equipment entitlements:

• Stroller or Buggy: One fully collapsible pushchair, stroller, or baby carriage is transported in the cargo hold free of charge. You can generally use the stroller through the airport terminal up to the aircraft boarding door, where ground staff will tag it and place it in the hold.
• Infant Hold Baggage: A checked luggage allowance for an infant (commonly up to 10 kg) depends on the specific fare class and route contract. Check your ticket confirmation to verify whether infant hold luggage is included.

Children (Aged 2 and Older)

Children occupying their own seat are granted the full adult baggage allowance corresponding to the purchased fare tier. If you wish to bring a child safety seat (car seat) on board, you must book a separate seat for the child, and the car seat must be certified for aviation use with appropriate manufacturer labeling.

Mobility Aids and Wheelchairs

Passengers with reduced mobility are entitled to transport their personal mobility equipment without extra cost:

• Up to two mobility items (such as a manual wheelchair, electric wheelchair, or walking frame) are carried free of charge in addition to your standard ticket allowance.
• Passengers traveling with electric wheelchairs must notify Chair Airlines customer service at least 48 hours before departure. Ground staff must verify the battery type (dry cell, wet cell, or lithium-ion) to ensure safe handling and isolation in compliance with international dangerous goods regulations.

Chair Airlines Sports Gear, Musical Instruments, and Pets

Special items cannot be packed as regular checked luggage without prior arrangement. Chair Airlines requires advance registration for sports gear, instruments, and live animals.

Sports Equipment

Sports equipment is not included within the standard free baggage allowance and requires payment of a special baggage fee. Space for oversized sporting equipment is limited on Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft.

• Winter Sports: Ski sets (one pair of skis, poles, boots, and helmet) or snowboard equipment must be packed securely in dedicated transit bags.
• Golf Bags: Golf equipment including clubs, balls, and shoes must be secured in a recognized golf travel bag.
• Bicycles: Bicycles must be packaged in a rigid travel case or protective cardboard bicycle box. Pedals must be removed, handlebars turned parallel to the frame, and tires deflated.
• Diving Equipment: Scuba tanks must be completely empty with valves open or removed. Underwater torches must have batteries disconnected and packed to prevent accidental activation.

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments can travel in the cabin or the aircraft hold depending on their physical dimensions:

• Cabin Carry: Small instruments (such as violins or flutes) can be taken into the cabin instead of your primary carry-on bag, provided they do not exceed 55 x 40 x 20 cm and weigh less than 6 kg.
• Extra Seat (Cello / Large Instruments): If you wish to keep a fragile or valuable instrument in the cabin that exceeds carry-on dimensions, you must book an additional passenger seat in advance.
• Hold Transit: Instruments checked into the cargo hold must be packed in a certified, rigid flight case to guard against transit damage.

Traveling with Pets

Chair Airlines permits small domestic dogs and cats to travel in the passenger cabin on select routes, subject to strict capacity caps per aircraft:

• The animal must remain inside an approved, leak-proof, soft-sided transport container for the duration of the flight.
• The total weight of the pet and carrier combined typically cannot exceed 8 kg.
• Live animal transport must be requested and confirmed with the airline prior to travel, and health documents (pet passport, microchip, and rabies vaccination records) must be presented at airport check-in.

Airport Check-In Deadlines and Gate-Check Policies

Arriving at the airport with non-compliant luggage can cause significant delays and financial penalties. Understanding the operational timelines at Zurich Airport and destination stations ensures a smoother departure.

Check-In Deadlines

• Counter Opening: Chair Airlines check-in desks typically open 2 hours prior to scheduled departure.
• Counter Closing: Desks close strictly 45 minutes before departure for Schengen flights, and up to 60 minutes before departure for non-Schengen or long-range charter sectors.
• Any baggage presented after the check-in desk has closed will be refused, and the passenger will forfeit their flight.

Gate Sizing and Enforcement

Chair Airlines ground staff monitor cabin bag size and piece counts during boarding. If your hand luggage exceeds the 55 x 40 x 20 cm exterior dimensions or weighs more than 6 kg:

1. The gate agent will intercept the bag before you enter the jet bridge or boarding bus.
2. The bag will be tagged with a hold luggage label and transferred to the aircraft cargo compartment.
3. You will be required to pay an airport gate fee on the spot using a credit or debit card. Gate baggage surcharges are substantially higher than online baggage fees.

Before you fly

Chair Airlines Luggage Preparation Checklist

Run through this pre-flight verification checklist before packing and leaving for the airport.

• Weigh your hand luggage with a luggage scale. Ensure your cabin bag and any accessory do not exceed the strict 6 kg (13.2 lbs) combined limit.
• Check exterior dimensions including wheels. Confirm that your carry-on suitcase fits inside the 55 x 40 x 20 cm frame without forcing or expanding zippers.
• Verify your fare conditions on your booking receipt. Determine whether you hold a Basic ticket (0 kg checked) or a Classic/Charter ticket (20 kg included).
• Pre-book checked baggage online. Purchase any needed hold luggage through chair.ch or your tour operator in advance to avoid higher desk fees.
• Pack essential medications and valuables in your under-seat bag. If overhead bins fill up and your carry-on is moved to the hold, you must keep your vital items.
• Ensure no individual checked bag exceeds 32 kg. Repack into two smaller bags if necessary, as ground handlers will reject any bag heavier than 32 kg.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the carry-on baggage allowance on Chair Airlines?

Chair Airlines allows one piece of cabin baggage weighing a maximum of 6 kg (13.2 lbs) with exterior dimensions not exceeding 55 x 40 x 20 cm (21.6 x 15.7 x 7.8 in). All standard tickets include this allowance.

Does Chair Airlines allow a personal item in addition to my cabin suitcase?

A small personal accessory like a handbag or laptop sleeve may be brought on board if it fits under the seat, but it counts toward your total 6 kg cabin allowance. Ground staff may require you to fit the accessory inside your primary cabin bag.

How much checked baggage is included in a Chair Airlines flight?

Checked baggage allowances depend on the fare tier you purchased. Basic fares include no free hold luggage, while Classic fares, Flex fares, and most tour operator package deals include one checked bag weighing up to 20 kg (44.1 lbs).

What are the size and weight limits for checked bags on Chair Airlines?

Standard checked bags must not exceed 20 kg (44.1 lbs) under normal fare allocations. While linear dimension limits are not strictly defined on passenger tickets, standard commercial luggage is accepted up to an absolute safety cap of 32 kg (70.5 lbs).

How much does it cost to add a checked bag at the airport versus online?

Adding a 20 kg checked bag online before departure is significantly cheaper than buying allowance at the airport check-in desk. Counter fees and gate-check penalties include higher administrative surcharges.

What is the fee for overweight luggage exceeding 20 kg on Chair Airlines?

Overweight luggage between 21 kg and 32 kg incurs an excess weight surcharge at the airport check-in desk. Charges are assessed on a per-kilogram or flat heavy-bag basis depending on your route zone, and any single bag exceeding 32 kg will be denied carriage.

Can I bring a baby stroller or car seat for free on Chair Airlines?

Chair Airlines carries one collapsible stroller or pushchair free of charge in the aircraft hold for infants under 2 years of age. A car seat may be used in the cabin only if an individual seat has been purchased and the restraint system is certified for air travel.

What is the policy for traveling with sports equipment on Chair Airlines?

Sports equipment such as skis, snowboards, golf sets, and bicycles is not covered by standard checked baggage allowances. You must register sporting equipment in advance and pay the applicable special baggage fee before arriving at the airport.

Final Luggage Considerations for Chair Airlines

Traveling on Chair Airlines requires careful attention to both cabin weight and ticket fare conditions. The carrier's 6 kg hand luggage allowance is among the lightest cabin weight limits in European aviation, making a home luggage scale an essential pre-flight tool. Keeping your cabin suitcase within the 55 x 40 x 20 cm limit ensures you avoid steep gate-check penalties at Zurich or destination outstations.

When planning hold luggage, determine whether your booking was made directly on chair.ch or arranged via an independent tour operator. Travelers holding Basic flight-only tickets must add a 20 kg suitcase online prior to arrival to secure the lowest rates. If you booked through a holiday agency or charter consolidator, verify your ticket voucher to confirm that your 20 kg luggage inclusion is properly registered in the airline's passenger manifest.

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.