Israir Baggage Policy: Cabin & Checked Luggage Rules

Israir Baggage Policy: Cabin Bags, Checked Luggage, and Extra Fees

The Israir Airlines baggage policy depends on your booked fare tier, route, and whether you purchased a flight-only ticket or an all-inclusive vacation package. Most basic international flight-only tickets include a single personal item or an 8 kg (17.6 lbs) carry-on bag, while checked baggage up to 23 kg (50.7 lbs) is either included on package fares or must be purchased separately.

At a glance

Baggage Allowance Snapshot

Israir standard fares separate cabin baggage from checked hold baggage. Allowances vary significantly between flight-only tickets and bundled holiday packages.

Carry-on weight Up to 8 kg (17.6 lbs) When included or purchased

Carry-on dimensions 55 × 40 × 20 cm Includes wheels and handles

Personal item 1 item under seat Small backpack, purse, or laptop bag

Standard checked bag 23 kg (50.7 lbs) Bundled packages and Plus fares

Checked bag size Max 158 cm (62 in) Length + Width + Height

Maximum weight ceiling 32 kg (70.5 lbs) Strict health and safety limit

Domestic shuttle bag 20 kg to 23 kg Tel Aviv (TLV) to Eilat (ETM)

Infant stroller Checked free of charge 1 collapsible pushchair or car seat

What can change: Ticket tier (Lite vs. Plus), booking channel (direct flight vs. tour package), route (domestic vs. international charter), and wet-lease operating partner rules.

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

40 cm 30 cm 15 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 Israir Airlines Conditions of Carriage & Customer Regulations

Source type Airline conditions of carriage and service schedules

Policy scope Scheduled domestic, international scheduled, and Mediterranean charter operations

Last checked Official verification required

Confidence Medium

Important caveat Holiday package tickets issued by tour operators often bundle checked luggage, whereas flight-only Basic tickets require a paid add-on.

How BaggageBase Checks This Information

Israir Airlines (IATA: 6H / ICAO: ISR) operates both as a scheduled domestic carrier within Israel and as an international leisure airline serving Europe and the Mediterranean. Because Israir sells seats through direct flight bookings, third-party travel agencies, and wholesale vacation package consolidators, baggage allowances differ depending on the type of booking.

To provide clear information, our team cross-references:

1. Conditions of Carriage: The primary legal guidelines governing passenger rights, liability ceilings under the Montreal Convention, and maximum safety weights.
2. Aircraft Specifications: Overhead bin and hold constraints across Israir's fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft and domestic equipment.
3. Airport Ground Handling Directives: Check-in desk and boarding gate enforcement policies at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) and Ramon Airport (ETM).

When specific fees or dimensions differ between booking classes, we flag those differences rather than assuming single universal rules.

Israir Carry-On Baggage Rules

Israir maintains strict cabin luggage limits to prevent boarding delays and keep aircraft aisles unobstructed. Depending on the ticket tier you hold, your cabin baggage allowance may consist of a single under-seat personal item or an under-seat item combined with an overhead trolley bag.

Personal Item Allowance

All standard passenger tickets permit one small personal item that must fit entirely beneath the seat in front of you. Examples of acceptable personal items include:

• A compact handbag or purse
• A slim laptop sleeve or messenger bag
• A small daypack

Your personal item must not block the footwell or the emergency aisle. It cannot be placed in the overhead lockers, which are reserved for larger rolling bags.

Overhead Cabin Bag Allowance

Passengers who book bundled fares, purchase package deals, or add a cabin bag to a flight-only ticket may bring one standard overhead bag on board:

• Maximum Weight: 8 kg (17.6 lbs)
• Maximum Dimensions: 55 × 40 × 20 cm (including wheels, handles, and pockets)

On flights with full passenger loads, cabin space can fill quickly. Ground staff at Ben Gurion Airport may request that passengers gate-check compliant rollaboard bags into the hold free of charge to speed up the boarding process.

If you are traveling through the Eastern Mediterranean on regional itineraries, you can review related airline policies. Compare these rules to the Bluebird Airways baggage policy and the Tus Airways baggage policy. For a broader overview of sizing standards across European and Mediterranean carriers, read our guide to international carry-on sizes.

Cabin Luggage Comparison

Hand luggage that exceeds the 8 kg limit or exceeds the dimension sizer will be stopped at the boarding gate. These bags are tagged, placed in the cargo hold, and charged an airport gate-handling fee.

Israir Checked Baggage Allowances

Israir divides checked baggage allowances across two main categories: unbundled flight-only bookings and packaged leisure tickets.

Standard Checked Luggage Limits

When your ticket includes a checked bag, standard dimensions and weight rules apply:

• Weight Limit: 23 kg (50.7 lbs) per bag
• Linear Dimensions: 158 cm (62 inches), calculated as Length + Width + Height ($L + W + H$)

Route and Fare Inclusions

• Basic / Lite Fares (Flight-Only): Designed for travelers with light luggage. These tickets do not include a free checked suitcase. You must purchase a checked bag separately online or at the airport.
• Plus / Flex Fares: Include one checked piece up to 23 kg, along with seat reservation options.
• Holiday Packages & Charters: Vacation packages purchased through Israeli tour operators or Israir's package holiday division usually include 1 checked bag up to 23 kg per ticketed passenger.
• Domestic Flights (TLV to Eilat Ramon): On domestic shuttle routes, allowances depend on the fare class. Hand-luggage-only fares exclude hold luggage, while standard fares allow a hold bag between 20 kg and 23 kg depending on seasonal aircraft arrangements.

Checked Baggage Allowance by Fare and Route

Always check your electronic ticket confirmation. Look for the baggage code: 0PC indicates zero checked bags, while 1PC confirms one checked bag up to 23 kg.

Excess, Overweight, and Additional Bags

Baggage that exceeds the standard weight allowance or requires extra pieces will incur excess baggage fees.

Overweight Surcharges (24 kg to 32 kg)

If your single checked bag weighs more than 23 kg, an overweight fee applies at the check-in desk:

• Bags weighing between 24 kg and 32 kg are charged a flat overweight fee per flight sector.
• Absolute Limit: Under international aviation handling regulations, no single piece of passenger luggage may exceed 32 kg (70.5 lbs). Any bag weighing more than 32 kg cannot travel as checked luggage and must be sent via air cargo.

Adding Extra Pieces

If you need to travel with a second or third suitcase, you can purchase extra bags in advance. Adding bags online through the Israir website before arriving at the airport is considerably cheaper than paying at the check-in desk.

Excess Baggage Fee Estimates

Exact fees depend on the route, departure airport currency (Israeli Shekels [₪] at TLV, Euros [€] in Europe, or US Dollars [$] elsewhere), and travel season. Verify current prices inside your booking reservation before your departure date.

Special Baggage, Sports Gear, and Family Travel

Certain items require dedicated packing and advance notification before they can be accepted on Israir flights.

Traveling with Infants and Small Children

• Strollers and Pushchairs: Parents traveling with an infant under two years of age may check one fully collapsible stroller, buggy, or car seat free of charge. You can generally wheel the stroller through airport security and hand it over to ground crew at the aircraft boarding door. It will then be returned either at the aircraft steps or in the baggage arrivals hall.
• Infant Hold Baggage: Infants traveling on an adult's lap do not receive an individual 23 kg checked baggage allowance on basic flight-only fares. Any baby food, diapers, or clothing must be packed within the accompanying adult's luggage allowance.

Sports Equipment

Sports equipment cannot be substituted for standard checked luggage on basic tickets. Items that require dedicated handling include:

• Golf bags and clubs
• Bicycles (must be packaged in a rigid bike box or dedicated travel case, pedals removed, handlebars turned sideways, and tires deflated)
• Scuba diving equipment (dive tanks emptied and valves left open; dive torches disconnected)
• Surfboards, wakeboards, and ski sets

Sports gear must be reserved and paid for in advance through Israir's customer service center or online portal. Space for oversized equipment is limited, especially on regional aircraft.

Musical Instruments

• Small Instruments: Instruments such as violins, violas, or flutes can be carried into the cabin in place of your standard carry-on bag, provided they fit into the overhead bin and do not exceed 8 kg.
• Large Instruments: Bulky instruments like cellos or double basses cannot be carried as standard cabin baggage. You must either book an extra passenger seat for the instrument or pack it in a heavy-duty flight case to be checked into the aircraft hold.

Airport Operations and Security Procedures

Navigating airport procedures smoothly requires understanding how Israir operates at its primary base.

Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) Protocols

1. Departure Terminal Selection: Israir operates from both Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport. Most domestic flights to Eilat and specific European low-cost charter routes depart from Terminal 1, while core international flights depart from Terminal 3. Confirm your departure terminal on your flight receipt before leaving for the airport.
2. Pre-Check-in Security Screening: At Ben Gurion Airport, all departing passengers complete a security assessment before reaching the check-in desks and bag-drop area. Arrive at least 3 hours before an international flight and 1.5 to 2 hours before a domestic flight to allow enough time.
3. Duty-Free Purchases: Israeli aviation security limits liquids in hand luggage to containers of 100 ml or less. Duty-free liquids purchased after the security checkpoint at TLV are permitted on direct flights if sealed inside official tamper-evident shopping bags with the receipt visible.

Before you fly

Israir Baggage Preparation Checklist

Use this pre-departure checklist before packing and heading to the airport.

• Review your e-ticket baggage code. Check whether your receipt states 0PC (hand luggage only) or 1PC (checked bag included) to prevent unexpected desk charges.
• Weigh your cabin trolley at home. Ensure your rolling bag stays under the 8 kg (17.6 lbs) limit, as gate staff at Tel Aviv routinely weigh carry-on luggage.
• Measure total outer dimensions. Confirm your checked suitcase does not exceed 158 cm (Length + Width + Height) to avoid oversized baggage fees.
• Pre-book extra bags online. Adding checked luggage through the Israir website at least 24 hours prior to departure is significantly cheaper than paying at the airport counter.
• Keep lithium-ion batteries in your personal item. Power banks, spare camera batteries, and e-cigarettes are strictly forbidden in checked luggage and must travel in the cabin.
• Confirm your departure terminal. Check whether your flight leaves from Terminal 1 or Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion Airport so you arrive at the correct check-in desk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Israir include a free carry-on bag on all fares?

Not all fare tiers include an overhead carry-on bag. Basic flight-only tickets may limit travelers to a single under-seat personal item, requiring a fee to bring an 8 kg overhead cabin bag. Bundled package fares and higher ticket classes typically include both an under-seat item and an 8 kg cabin bag. Always review the specific baggage allowance printed on your booking confirmation.

What is the maximum checked baggage weight on Israir?

The standard checked luggage allowance on Israir is 23 kg (50.7 lbs) per piece. If your bag weighs more than 23 kg, an overweight fee will be charged at check-in. Under international health and safety rules, no single bag may exceed 32 kg (70.5 lbs).

Can travel companions share or pool their baggage weight on Israir?

Passengers traveling on the same booking reservation can usually share total piece allowances across their group, but individual bag weight limits still apply. Even when pooling baggage, no single suitcase may exceed the 32 kg safety ceiling, and excess piece fees apply if you check more individual bags than your reservation permits.

Can I bring a baby stroller on Israir for free?

Yes. Parents traveling with an infant under two years of age can check one fully collapsible stroller, pram, or car seat free of charge. You can use the stroller through the airport terminal and hand it over at the boarding gate before stepping onto the aircraft.

What happens if my carry-on bag is overweight at the boarding gate?

If gate agents find that your cabin bag weighs more than 8 kg or exceeds 55 × 40 × 20 cm, the bag will be removed from the cabin, tagged for the aircraft cargo hold, and charged an airport gate-check fee. Gate-check fees are higher than fees for baggage purchased in advance online.

How do I purchase additional baggage for an Israir flight?

You can add extra checked bags or purchase weight allowances online through the "Manage Booking" section on the Israir website using your booking reference (PNR) and passenger surname. Purchasing baggage online before arriving at the airport provides the lowest available rate.

What is the baggage allowance for Israir flights to Eilat?

On domestic shuttle flights between Tel Aviv (TLV) and Eilat Ramon Airport (ETM), luggage rules depend on the ticket class purchased. Unbundled flight-only fares require an additional fee for hold baggage, while standard fares include one hold bag weighing between 20 kg and 23 kg. Overhead storage may be limited on domestic aircraft, so ground crew may tag larger carry-on bags at the boarding steps for collection on arrival.

What should I do if my luggage is lost or damaged by Israir?

If your checked suitcase does not arrive or is damaged during transit, you must report the issue to the ground handling desk in the baggage claim hall before exiting customs. Fill out a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). Retain your baggage claim tags, boarding pass, and PIR file number to submit a compensation claim under the Montreal Convention and Israeli Aviation Services Law.

Baggage rules can vary by route, operating aircraft, travel provider, and booking channel. The operating transport company's official conditions of carriage and ticket terms prevail.