Contour Airlines Baggage Policy Fees and Size Limits

Contour Airlines Baggage Policy: Dimensions, Fees, and Gate Rules

Contour Airlines operates regional flights using Embraer ERJ aircraft (such as the ERJ-135, ERJ-140, and ERJ-145). Understanding the Contour Airlines baggage policy is straightforward, but passengers must plan ahead because regional jet cabins have smaller storage space than mainline jetliners. While Contour offers generous checked luggage inclusions compared to major domestic carriers, its unique fleet setup creates specific rules for carry-on bags at the gate.

Contour Airlines includes one free personal item (18 × 14 × 8 inches) and one free standard checked bag (up to 50 lbs and 62 linear inches) on standard published fares. Because Contour operates regional jets with limited overhead bin space, standard rollaway carry-on luggage cannot fit in the cabin and must be gate-checked (valet) free of charge at the jetbridge upon boarding.

At a glance

Baggage Allowance Snapshot

Contour Airlines provides a complimentary checked bag on standard published tickets, but standard carry-on suitcases must be valet checked at the jetbridge due to regional aircraft overhead bin constraints.

Personal Item Allowance 1 Item Free Max 18 × 14 × 8 in (45.7 × 35.6 × 20.3 cm)

Carry-on (Valet) Allowance 1 Item Free (Gate Checked) Max 22 × 14 × 9 in (55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9 cm)

1st Checked Bag Fee $0 (Free) Standard published fare tickets

2nd Checked Bag Fee $35 USD Per direction

3rd+ Checked Bag Fee $100 USD per bag Per direction

Standard Weight Limit 50 lbs (22.7 kg) Applies to checked baggage

Standard Size Limit 62 linear in (157.5 cm) Length + Width + Height

Overweight Surcharge $50 or $100 USD 51–70 lbs ($50); 71–99 lbs ($100)

Oversized Surcharge $50 USD 63–80 linear inches

What can change: Special public charter fares, interline itineraries with partner airlines, and promotional routes may carry separate fee structures or luggage rules.

Measurement guide

Baggage Size Visual

Use the airline's stated order of dimensions. Measurements should include external handles, pockets, and wheels.

18 in (45.7 cm) 14 in (35.6 cm) 8 in (20.3 cm)

22 in (55.9 cm) 14 in (35.6 cm) 9 in (22.9 cm)

62 linear in (157.5 cm)

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 Contour Airlines Customer Support & Baggage Guidelines

Source type Operating airline official web publication

Policy scope Network-wide scheduled flights operated by Corporate Flight Management, Inc. d/b/a Contour Aviation

Last checked 2026 - verification required

Confidence High

Important caveat Connecting tickets issued by interline partners (such as American Airlines) may follow partner baggage rules or billing channels under DOT regulations.

How BaggageBase Checks This Information

BaggageBase cross-checks policy data directly against airline contracts of carriage, official customer support guidelines, regional fleet technical specifications, and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulatory filings. For regional feeder carriers like Contour Airlines, we verify cabin storage constraints against the exact aircraft type assigned to the route. Where route exceptions, interline partner rules, or special fare terms introduce variability, we explicitly flag these conditions so you can verify your exact booking details.

Personal Item Dimensions and Under-Seat Sizing

Every ticketed passenger flying on Contour Airlines is permitted one free personal item. To qualify as a personal item, the bag must fit completely beneath the seat in front of you during flight.

The maximum allowable contour airlines personal item size is 18 × 14 × 8 inches (45.7 × 35.6 × 20.3 cm).

Because Contour's fleet consists of regional jet aircraft with narrow overhead bin compartments, your personal item is the only piece of luggage guaranteed to remain in the cabin with you throughout the flight. Typical items that meet these requirements include:

• Small backpacks or daypacks
• Handbags, purses, or totes
• Laptop bags and briefcases
• Small camera cases or diaper bags

When packing your personal item, ensure it does not extend into the aisle or obstruct legroom. To understand how airlines distinguish smaller under-seat bags from standard rolling luggage, review our detailed breakdown on what counts as a personal item.

Carry-On Baggage Rules and Jetbridge Valet Checking

Understanding the contour airlines carry on size requirements requires looking at the airline's regional aircraft fleet. Contour operates Embraer ERJ-135, ERJ-140, and ERJ-145 aircraft. The overhead bins on these regional jets are compact and cannot accommodate standard, hard-shell rollaway suitcases or full-sized carry-on bags.

To accommodate travelers, Contour uses a plane-side valet service (often called gate checking) for carry-on luggage:

1. Bring to Security: You may carry a standard carry-on bag measuring up to 22 × 14 × 9 inches (55.9 × 35.6 × 22.9 cm) through TSA security screeners.
2. Tag at the Gate: When you arrive at the departure gate or boarding ramp, a gate agent will place a valet tag on your carry-on bag.
3. Plane-Side Loading: As you board the aircraft on the jetbridge or tarmac ramp, you leave your tagged bag on the designated valet cart. Airport ramp crew load it into the plane's cargo hold at no charge.
4. Jetbridge Retrieval: Upon arrival at your destination, ramp personnel unload these valet bags immediately. You collect your suitcase right on the jetbridge or air ramp as you deplane, rather than waiting at the main terminal baggage claim.

Critical Valet Packing Precautions

Because valet carry-on bags are stored in the main cargo compartment during flight, you must remove key personal items before leaving your bag on the loading cart. Keep the following items inside your personal item beneath your seat:

• Prescription medications and essential medical supplies
• Laptops, tablets, e-readers, and loose lithium-ion batteries
• Passports, government identification, and cash
• Car keys and delicate valuables

If you are evaluating whether to pack a larger piece of luggage or stick to smaller bags, read our guide on carry-on vs. personal item allowances to plan your packing strategy efficiently.

Standard Checked Baggage Allowance and Fees

The standard contour airlines baggage allowance is generous compared to larger U.S. carriers. On standard published fare tickets, Contour Airlines includes your 1st checked bag free of charge.

To qualify for the complimentary standard checked bag fee, your luggage must adhere to standard weight and dimension limits:

• Maximum Weight: 50 lbs (22.7 kg)
• Maximum Dimensions: 62 linear inches (157.5 cm), calculated as Length + Width + Height.

If you bring additional bags, Contour charges standard checked bag fees per direction.

Contour Airlines Checked Bag Fee Structure

Payment for second or additional checked bags is processed at the airport ticket counter during check-in. If you are comparing the cost of checking luggage against bringing gate-checked valet bags, see our detailed guide on checked bag vs. carry-on tradeoffs.

Overweight and Oversized Baggage Fees

If a checked bag exceeds standard limits (50 lbs or 62 linear inches), Contour Airlines assesses extra fees. Overweight and oversized charges are cumulative: a bag that is both overweight and oversized, or a second bag that is overweight, incurs both the base bag fee and the respective surcharges.

Overweight Fee Tiers

Contour structures its contour airlines overweight baggage fee based on weight tiers:

• 51 lbs to 70 lbs (23.1 kg to 31.8 kg): $50 USD surcharge per direction.
• 71 lbs to 99 lbs (32.2 kg to 44.9 kg): $100 USD surcharge per direction.
• 100 lbs or greater (45.4+ kg): Not accepted. Luggage weighing 100 lbs or more will be rejected at the ticket counter.

Oversized Fee Tiers

• 63 to 80 linear inches (158 cm to 203 cm): $50 USD surcharge per direction.
• Greater than 80 linear inches (>203 cm): Not accepted. Items exceeding 80 linear inches will not be accepted as standard checked baggage.

Fare Exceptions, EAS Routes, and Interline Connections

While standard published fares include 1 free checked bag, specific ticket types and connecting itineraries can follow different terms.

Interline Connections (American Airlines & Alaska Airlines)

Contour Airlines maintains interline agreements with major carriers like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines on select connecting routes. If your journey is booked as a single seamless ticket involving both Contour and a partner airline:

• Baggage fees and allowance rules are determined under Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations governing interline itineraries.
• Under the DOT Most Significant Carrier (MSC) rule, the baggage allowances and fee schedules of the primary marketing carrier on your itinerary may apply across all flight segments.
• Always check the official baggage summary printed on your master e-ticket receipt to confirm which carrier's baggage allowances control your flight.

Public Charters and Special Routes

On rare occasions, private charter arrangements, non-scheduled public charter routes, or specialized promotional fares operated by Corporate Flight Management may carry distinct baggage terms. Always review the fare rules displayed during online booking confirmation.

U.S. Military Personnel Baggage Privileges

Contour Airlines supports active-duty military personnel by extending enhanced luggage allowances. The contour airlines military baggage policy provides:

• Allowance: Active-duty U.S. military personnel are permitted up to 2 checked bags free of charge.
• Weight & Size Limits: Each free military checked bag may weigh up to 50 lbs (22.7 kg) and measure up to 62 linear inches (157.5 cm).
• Requirements: Service members must present valid, active-duty military identification at the airport ticket counter during check-in to claim this exemption.

Note: Military Dependents traveling without active travel orders are subject to standard civilian baggage allowances and fee schedules.

Children, Medical Devices, and Special Assistance Items

Contour Airlines accommodates families and travelers traveling with medical equipment without penalizing their standard allowance.

Infant and Child Equipment

Parents traveling with infants or young children are permitted to bring key child-care items at no extra cost:

• Strollers & Car Seats: Approved infant strollers and child restraint seats (car seats) are accepted free of charge.
• Check-In Options: You may check these items at the airport ticket counter before security or gate-check them at the boarding ramp. They do not count toward your standard checked bag limit.

Medical and Mobility Aids

In compliance with federal air travel regulations, necessary medical equipment and mobility devices do not count toward a passenger's standard personal item or checked luggage limits:

• Mobility Devices: Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and mobility scooters are accepted free of charge and can be gate-checked for immediate pickup upon deplaning.
• Medical Equipment: CPAP machines, portable oxygen concentrators (POCs), and medically necessary supplies are permitted in the cabin without counting toward your one personal item limit, provided they meet safety guidelines.

Traveling with Sports Gear, Instruments, and In-Cabin Pets

Sports Equipment and Musical Instruments

Contour Airlines accepts standard sports equipment and musical instruments as part of your checked baggage allowance:

• Standard Treatment: Equipment such as golf bags, skis, or small instruments (violins, guitars in hard cases) count as standard checked baggage.
• Fees & Limits: If the item fits within 50 lbs (22.7 kg) and 62 linear inches (157.5 cm), it uses your 1st free checked bag allowance (or incurs the standard 2nd bag $35 fee). Items exceeding size or weight thresholds face standard overweight ($50–$100) or oversized ($50) surcharges.
• Instruments in Cabin: Small musical instruments that meet under-seat personal item dimensions (18 × 14 × 8 inches) may be carried into the cabin. Larger instruments that cannot fit under the seat must be gate-valet checked or checked at the ticket counter.

In-Cabin Pet Policy

Contour Airlines permits small domesticated pets (cats and dogs) in the passenger cabin on a limited basis:

• Pet Fee: $50 USD per pet container, each way.
• Cabin Rules: Pets must remain inside an approved soft-sided carrier under the seat directly in front of you for the duration of the flight. The carrier counts as your personal item.
• Cargo Acceptance: Contour Airlines does not accept pets as checked baggage or cargo.
• Space Limitations: In-cabin pet capacity is strictly limited per flight. Reservations should be made in advance through Contour customer service.

Gate Sizing Escalations and Jetbridge Operational Realities

Because Contour operates regional aircraft, gate agents monitor carry-on sizes at the boarding door:

• Valet Bag Tagging: If you carry a standard suitcase (up to 22 × 14 × 9 inches) to the gate, the gate agent will issue a bright valet tag. You leave the bag on the ramp cart, and it is stowed in the aircraft hold free of charge.
• Non-Compliant Items: If a bag presented at the gate exceeds standard carry-on dimensions or weighs more than standard limits, agents will process it as standard checked baggage. If it represents your 2nd or 3rd bag, applicable checked bag fees ($35 or $100) and overweight/oversized surcharges will be charged at the gate.
• Absolute Caps: Any item weighing 100 lbs (45.4 kg) or greater, or measuring more than 80 linear inches (203 cm), will be refused at the gate or check-in desk. These oversized items cannot be transported on Contour regional jets and must be handled by an independent cargo freight service.
• Check-In Deadlines: Passengers checking luggage at the ticket counter must complete check-in at least 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure for domestic flights. Late bag drops may result in luggage being held for a subsequent flight.

Before you fly

Essential Contour Airlines Packing Checklist

Follow these practical steps to avoid unexpected baggage fees or delays when flying Contour Airlines.

• Weigh your primary checked bag at home. Keep your 1st free checked bag under 50 lbs (22.7 kg) to avoid the $50 USD overweight fee.
• Pack essential valuables in your personal item. Put medication, electronics, car keys, and travel documents in your 18 × 14 × 8 in under-seat bag, not in your gate-valet carry-on.
• Verify single-bag linear dimensions. Ensure your standard checked suitcase does not exceed 62 linear inches (Length + Width + Height) to skip the $50 oversized fee.
• Prepare for jetbridge collection. Valet carry-on bags are handed back on the outdoor ramp or jetbridge. Keep a jacket accessible if arriving in cold or wet weather.
• Arrive 45 minutes early for baggage drop. Contour closes baggage drop windows strictly 45 minutes before departure.
• Have active military ID ready at check-in. Active-duty U.S. service members must present valid military IDs at the ticket counter to claim 2 free checked bags.

Contour Airlines Baggage FAQ

Does Contour Airlines include a free checked bag?

Yes. Contour Airlines includes one free checked bag on standard published fare tickets. The bag must weigh 50 lbs (22.7 kg) or less and measure within 62 linear inches (157.5 cm).

What is the personal item size limit on Contour Airlines?

Personal items on Contour Airlines cannot exceed 18 × 14 × 8 inches (45.7 × 35.6 × 20.3 cm). Personal items must fit entirely under the seat in front of you.

Why are carry-on bags valet-checked at the gate on Contour Airlines?

Contour operates regional jet aircraft (Embraer ERJ models) with compact overhead bins that cannot fit full-sized rollaway suitcases. Carry-on bags up to 22 × 14 × 9 inches are valet-tagged at the gate for free, stowed in the cargo hold, and retrieved on the jetbridge immediately upon landing.

How much does a second checked bag cost on Contour Airlines?

A second checked bag costs $35 USD per direction. A third bag or any additional bags cost $100 USD each per direction.

What are the fees for overweight baggage on Contour Airlines?

Luggage weighing 51 to 70 lbs incurs a $50 USD surcharge per direction. Luggage weighing 71 to 99 lbs incurs a $100 USD surcharge. Bags weighing 100 lbs or more are not accepted.

Does Contour Airlines offer free checked bags for active-duty military?

Yes. Active-duty U.S. military personnel receive up to 2 free checked bags (up to 50 lbs and 62 linear inches each) upon presenting valid active military identification at the airport counter.

How much does it cost to bring a pet on Contour Airlines?

Contour Airlines charges $50 USD each way for small in-cabin pets in an approved carrier under the seat. Contour does not transport pets as checked baggage in the cargo hold.

Can I check a stroller or car seat for free on Contour Airlines?

Yes. Strollers and infant car seats can be checked at the ticket counter or gate-checked at the jetbridge free of charge without counting against your standard baggage allowance.

Summary and Final Checklist

Navigating the Contour Airlines baggage policy is straightforward once you account for regional aircraft constraints. On standard published tickets, Contour provides a valuable perk by offering your 1st checked bag free of charge up to 50 lbs (22.7 kg) and 62 linear inches.

To ensure a hassle-free trip, measure your personal item to fit under the seat (18 × 14 × 8 inches) and pack critical items like medications and electronics inside it. Expect to hand over standard rollaway carry-on suitcases on the jetbridge for free valet service, and remember that second checked bags cost $35 USD each way.

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.