SAS Scandinavian Airlines Baggage Allowance: Carry-On Secrets & Checked Limits
Estimated reading time: 11 mins
I’ll be honest. The first time I flew SAS, I assumed my Economy Light ticket included a checked bag. It didn’t. Forty-five euros later at Copenhagen check-in, I had a bag in the hold and a lesson I wouldn’t forget.
SAS have four main ticket tiers, each with completely different baggage rules. And after the airline’s move from Star Alliance to SkyTeam in late 2024, loyalty perks changed too. This guide breaks down the full SAS Scandinavian Airlines baggage allowance so you know what you can bring, what it costs if you get it wrong, and how to avoid fees before you leave for the airport.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines Baggage Allowance: Quick Facts at a Glance
✅ Carry-on size: 55 x 40 x 23 cm, max 8 kg (all ticket types except Economy Light within Europe)
✅ Personal item: 40 x 30 x 15 cm underseat bag included free for every passenger
✅ Economy Light (Europe): Only an underseat personal item. No carry-on, no checked bag
✅ Economy Light (US/Canada/Asia): One carry-on is included free
✅ Economy Standard/Flex: 1 carry-on + 1 checked bag (23 kg)
✅ Premium: 1 carry-on + 2 checked bags (23 kg each). Two carry-ons on long-haul routes
✅ Business: 2 carry-ons + 2 checked bags (32 kg each)
✅ Biggest money saver: Prepay bags online at least 8 days out. Airport prices can be triple the online rate
✅ Biggest trap: Assuming Economy Light includes a checked bag. It does not
✅ EuroBonus perks: Silver members now get +1 free checked bag even on Light fares (updated April 2025)
✅ Alliance: SAS joined SkyTeam in late 2024. Star Alliance rules no longer apply
✅ Sports gear: Skis, golf bags, and bikes count as one piece of checked baggage
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Always log into “My Trips” on the SAS app or website before you pack. Your exact allowance depends on ticket type, route, and EuroBonus status, and the app shows it all in one place.
Baggage Allowance Quick Q&As
What is the SAS carry-on size limit? 55 x 40 x 23 cm including wheels and handles, max weight 8 kg. Pretty standard across European airlines.
How much does an extra checked bag cost on SAS? Between €20 and €105 per bag each way, depending on route and when you buy. Prepaying online more than 8 days out gets you the cheapest rate.
Does SAS Economy Light include a checked bag? No. Economy Light within Europe includes only an underseat personal item. You’ll pay extra for a carry-on and a checked bag.
How early should I prepay baggage online to get the best rate? At least 8 days before for domestic/Scandinavian routes, or 14 days for European and long-haul. The closer you leave it, the more it costs.
Can I bring ski equipment on SAS? Yes. One ski bag plus one boot bag counts as a single checked piece. If it’s within your allowance, it flies free.
Do EuroBonus members get extra baggage? Yes. Since April 2025, Silver and SkyTeam Elite members get +1 free checked bag even on Light fares. Gold and Diamond members get +2 free checked bags on Light fares.
👉 Good to know: SAS staff do check carry-on sizes at the gate, especially on busy flights. If your bag doesn’t fit, it goes in the hold and you pay a gate fee of up to €55. Don’t risk it.
What the SAS Scandinavian Airlines Baggage Allowance Actually Looks Like
The whole system revolves around your ticket type. SAS sells four main fare families: Economy Light, Economy Standard (sometimes called Go Smart), Premium (SAS Plus), and Business. The differences are significant.
Economy Light is the bare-bones option. Within Europe, you get an underseat bag and nothing else. On long-haul routes to the US, Canada, or Asia, Light fares do include a carry-on but checked bags still cost extra. Standard and Flex fares include a carry-on plus one checked bag at 23 kg. Premium bumps that to two checked bags, and Business gives you two at a generous 32 kg each.
| Ticket Type | Personal Item | Carry-On (Overhead) | Checked Bags Included | Max Weight Per Bag |
| Economy Light (Europe) | ✅ Included | ❌ Pay extra | ❌ Pay extra | N/A |
| Economy Light (US/Asia) | ✅ Included | ✅ 1 included | ❌ Pay extra | N/A |
| Economy Standard/Flex | ✅ Included | ✅ 1 included | ✅ 1 bag | 23 kg |
| Premium / SAS Plus | ✅ Included | ✅ 1 (2 on long-haul) | ✅ 2 bags | 23 kg |
| Business | ✅ Included | ✅ 2 included | ✅ 2 bags | 32 kg |
💡 Fact: SAS moved from Star Alliance to SkyTeam in September 2024. If you’ve got old booking habits from the Star Alliance era, double-check that your partner ticket baggage rules haven’t changed.
✈️ Official SAS Cabin Bag Sizes and faqs
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Carry-On Rules: Sizes, Weights and What SAS Actually Enforces
Your carry-on can be a maximum of 55 x 40 x 23 cm and must weigh no more than 8 kg. That includes handles, wheels, and pockets. SAS measures everything, and they’ve got sizing frames at check-in and at the gate.
Every passenger also gets one free underseat bag (40 x 30 x 15 cm) for a handbag, small backpack, or laptop bag. This applies even on Economy Light. But on Light fares within Europe, that underseat bag is all you get.
I’ve seen SAS weigh carry-ons at the gate in Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo. It’s not random. If your bag looks bulky, they’ll pull you aside. Scandinavian airports tend to be stricter than London Heathrow, so don’t assume you’ll get the same leniency on the return leg.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: If you’re on an Economy Light fare and need a carry-on, buy it online as early as possible. Prices start at around €12 if you do it more than 8 days out, but jump to €45-€55 at the airport gate. That’s a painful difference.
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Checked Baggage by Ticket Type: Economy Light vs Standard vs Premium vs Business
This is where the biggest confusion happens. Economy Light passengers get zero checked bags. It’s the number one complaint from travellers who assumed it was included. Standard and Flex fares give you one bag at 23 kg. Premium gets two bags at 23 kg each, and Business gets two at 32 kg each.
Maximum size for any checked bag is 158 cm total dimensions (length + width + height). Anything bigger is classed as special baggage and costs extra. And the 23 kg limit on economy is strict. Even 1 kg over triggers an overweight fee.
If the price gap between Light and Standard is small (which it often is on short European routes), just book Standard. The maths almost always works out cheaper than buying Light and adding a bag separately.
👉 Good to know: On intercontinental flights to the US, Canada, and Asia, even Economy Light passengers typically get a carry-on included. But you still won’t get a free checked bag on Light. Always check “My Trips” for your specific route.
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How to Add Bags and What It Costs (Online vs Airport)
Timing is everything. The earlier you buy, the less you pay. Here’s roughly how pricing works for a checked bag:
Prices/Figures correct as of March 2026.
Same principle for carry-on bags on Light fares. Book early: around €12 (£10/$14). Wait until the gate: €45-€55 (£38-£47/$50-$60).
| When You Buy | Domestic / Scandinavia | Europe (incl. Southern Europe) |
| 8+ days before departure | ~€16 / ~£14 / ~$18 | ~€16-€20 / ~£14-£17 / ~$18-$22 |
| 7 days to 22 hours before | ~€20 / ~£17 / ~$22 | ~€20-€35 / ~£17-£30 / ~$22-$44 |
| Less than 22 hours before | ~€35-€75 / ~£30-£64 / ~$40-$85 | ~€35-€100 / ~£30-£85 / ~$40-$105 |
| At the airport | ~€45-€75 / ~£38-£64 / ~$50-$85 | ~€50-€105 / ~£43-£90 / ~$55-$115 |
✋🏼 Must-do: Set a calendar reminder for 14 days before your flight. That’s the sweet spot for the lowest baggage prices on most European SAS routes.
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Excess, Overweight and Oversize Fees You Need to Know
These are the charges that catch people out. If your bag weighs between 23.1 and 28 kg, expect a flat fee of around €55-€75 (£47-£64/$65-$90) depending on your route. Go above 28 kg up to the 32 kg max, and it jumps to roughly €85-€135 (£72-£115/$100-$160). These are paid at the airport only. No way to prepay overweight charges online.
I once watched a guy at Oslo Gardermoen pay nearly €200 in combined overweight and oversize fees. Don’t be that guy. Buy a decent luggage scale for about £10 and weigh before you leave home.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: If you’re flying economy and know you’ll be heavy, sometimes upgrading to a higher fare tier (with its 32 kg allowance) is cheaper than paying the overweight fees.
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EuroBonus and Loyalty Perks: Extra Bags for Status Holders
SAS revamped their EuroBonus programme after joining SkyTeam, and the April 2025 update was significant. Loyalty members now get free checked bags even on Economy Light fares. That’s a proper shift from the old rules.
Silver members and SkyTeam Elite members get one extra checked bag (23 kg) on Light fares. Gold and Diamond members get two extra checked bags. All elite members also get priority check-in, boarding, and extra bonus point earning rates.
EuroBonus is free to join and you start earning from your first flight. It takes 30 seconds to sign up. There’s genuinely no reason not to.
💡 Fact: Make sure your EuroBonus or SkyTeam membership number is added to your booking before check-in. If you forget, your extra baggage perks won’t apply.
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Flying SAS on a Partner Ticket: Which Baggage Rules Apply?
This trips people up constantly. Your baggage rules depend on which airline’s code is on your ticket, not which plane you’re sitting on. The marketing airline of your longest flight segment determines baggage policy for the whole journey.
So if you book through Delta and your ticket says “DL” but you’re on an SAS aircraft, Delta’s rules apply. If it shows “SK” (SAS code), SAS rules apply. For US trips, the first marketing carrier’s rules usually govern everything. Always check the airline code next to the flight number on your booking confirmation.
You can only prepay for extra bags when the flight is marketed by SAS (SK code) or operated by Widerøe or Aegean under specific SAS numbers. Don’t assume you can prepay on every codeshare.
Sports Equipment, Musical Instruments and Odd-Shaped Items
SAS is fairly accommodating with sports gear. One ski bag plus one boot bag counts as a single piece of checked baggage. If that fits within your ticket’s allowance, it flies free. Same deal with golf: one golf bag with clubs plus shoes counts as one piece.
Bikes need a protective case or bag and count as one checked piece. Electric bikes can’t be checked normally due to battery restrictions and typically need to go as cargo.
Small instruments (violin, viola) can go as your carry-on if they fit in a hard case within the 55 x 40 x 23 cm limit. Larger instruments like cellos require an extra seat booking. Add all sports equipment to your booking at least 24 hours before departure.
✋🏼 Must-do: Add skis or bikes to your booking at least 24 hours before you fly. Last-minute additions at the airport cost significantly more.
🗺️ We Have Baggage info on all major airlines: Tinker’s Transport Hub
Travelling with Kids: Infant and Child Baggage on SAS
Infants (0-2 years) get one checked bag up to 23 kg free (except on Light fares). Plus you can check in a collapsible stroller and an approved car seat at no extra charge, and these don’t count against your checked allowance. That’s a decent deal.
Infants don’t get a carry-on allowance though, so baby supplies count towards the adult’s bags. For children aged 2-11, the allowance matches their ticket type. They also get one free stroller and one free car seat checked in.
Strollers can usually be used right up to the gate. But at Copenhagen and Stockholm, SAS sometimes asks you to check them at the normal desk rather than gate-checking. Worth asking at check-in. If you need family-friendly accommodation near the airport, have a look on Booking.com for options with easy access.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: On Light fares, infants still get a free stroller and car seat checked in, but not the free 23 kg bag. If you need that bag, upgrade to Economy Standard.
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Common Mistakes That Cost You Money at the Gate
After flying SAS a fair few times, here are the real pitfalls I see most often:
- Assuming Economy Light includes a carry-on on European flights. It doesn’t. Underseat bag only
- Not weighing bags at home. Even 1 kg over 23 kg triggers an overweight fee
- Buying bags at the airport instead of online. The price difference can be 3-4x
- Forgetting to link your EuroBonus number. Free bag perks won’t apply without it
- Packing valuables in checked luggage. SAS isn’t liable for laptops, cameras, or cash in the hold
Having travel insurance that covers baggage issues can save you a fortune if something goes wrong.
What to Do If Your Bag Is Lost, Delayed or Damaged
Report it immediately at the SAS baggage service desk in arrivals. They’ll create a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and give you a reference number. If the desk is closed, file online within 7 days.
If your bag hasn’t turned up after 24 hours and you’re away from home, SAS will reimburse reasonable expenses for essentials. Keep every receipt and file a claim within 21 days of getting your bag back. If it’s not found after 21 days, it’s officially lost and you can claim under the Montreal Convention, up to around €1,920 (£1,640/$2,100). For damaged bags, report within 7 days and take photos before leaving the airport.
If you need to claim flight compensation for any connected disruption, there are services that handle the paperwork for you.
Your Night-Before SAS Packing Checklist
This is the bit you save to your phone. Run through it the night before and you’ll avoid 90% of baggage headaches.
| Item / Step | Why It Matters | Easy Way to Do It |
| Weigh your bags | Even 1 kg over triggers overweight fees | £10 luggage scale at home |
| Check “My Trips” for your exact allowance | Rules vary by ticket, route, and loyalty status | SAS app or flysas.com |
| Confirm bags are prepaid online | Airport prices are 2-4x higher | Buy at least 8-14 days before departure |
| Pack valuables in carry-on | SAS won’t cover electronics or cash in checked bags | Keep documents and devices on your person |
| Link your EuroBonus number | Free bag perks won’t apply without it | Add it in “My Trips” before check-in |
| Protect stroller/car seat | Must be in a plastic bag or hard case | Ask SAS at check-in for a protective bag |
FAQs
Can I bring a duty-free bag on top of my SAS carry-on allowance?
Yes. Duty-free purchases don’t count towards your carry-on allowance on SAS. You can bring them into the cabin alongside your allocated bags. Just keep them reasonable in size.
What happens if my carry-on is overweight at the SAS gate?
If your carry-on exceeds 8 kg or doesn’t fit within 55 x 40 x 23 cm, it goes in the hold and you’ll pay a gate fee of up to €55 (£47/$60). The gate agents in Scandinavia check consistently.
Does SAS charge for checked bags on intercontinental flights?
Economy Standard, Premium, and Business fares all include at least one free checked bag on intercontinental routes. Economy Light to the US, Canada, or Asia includes a carry-on but still charges for checked bags.
Can I pool baggage allowance with another passenger on SAS?
No. Each traveller’s allowance is tied to their own ticket. You can’t transfer a spare bag allowance to someone else in your group. You’d need to buy an extra bag for the person who needs it.
How do I claim compensation if SAS loses my luggage?
Report it immediately at the SAS baggage desk and get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) number. If it’s not found within 21 days, file a compensation claim under the Montreal Convention (up to approximately €1,920) through the SAS website. Include receipts for essential purchases made while waiting.
Time to Pack Smarter
It comes down to five things: know your ticket type, prepay for extra bags online, weigh your luggage before you leave, link your EuroBonus number, and check “My Trips” for your exact SAS Scandinavian Airlines baggage allowance. Do those five and you’ll dodge virtually every fee that catches other travellers off guard.
Got a question about a specific SAS route? Drop it in the comments. And if you’re planning a Scandinavian trip, have a look around TheTravelTinker.com for more guides on making the most of your time up north.👇💬
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Author
Claire Taylor
I am a storyteller, podcaster, and global explorer deeply intrigued by the nuances of unconventional living. I transitioned from conforming to conventional norms to embracing a life that defies the ordinary
All articles on The Travel Tinker are written by humans. Read our editorial policy.
