Norwegian Air Baggage Allowance: Underseat Rules, Overhead Secrets, and Checked Bag Hacks
Estimated reading time: 11 mins
Norwegian is one of those airlines that looks incredibly cheap until you realise what’s not included. I learned this the hard way a couple of years back, turning up at Gatwick with a perfectly normal roller bag on a LowFare ticket and getting hit with a gate fee that cost more than my actual flight.
Here’s the thing. Norwegian runs a “pay for what you need” model, which is great if you understand it and brutal if you don’t. The biggest catch? LowFare passengers only get an underseat bag. No overhead locker access. No roller bag.
This guide breaks down the full Norwegian Air baggage allowance across every ticket type. What you can pack, what it’ll cost, and how to dodge those gate fees. Let’s get into it.
Norwegian Air Baggage Allowance: Quick Facts at a Glance
✅ LowFare passengers only get one underseat bag (30 x 20 x 38 cm, max 10 kg)
✅ LowFare+ and above get an overhead cabin bag too (55 x 40 x 23 cm)
✅ The 10 kg / 15 kg cabin limit is the COMBINED weight of both bags together
✅ LowFare overhead add-on starts from around £5 to 9 online (includes Priority Boarding)
✅ Checked bags included on LowFare+ (1 x 23 kg) and Flex/Premium (2 x 23 kg)
✅ Adding bags online can be roughly half the airport price
✅ Overweight checked bags cost around £12 per kg over 23 kg
✅ Hard cap of 32 kg per single bag and 74 kg total checked weight
✅ Gate penalty for oversized carry-on: $50 on direct flights, $100 on connections
✅ Everyone can bring one duty-free shopping bag on top of their allowance
✅ Who this guide is for: anyone flying Norwegian who wants to pack smart and skip the surprise charges
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: The cheapest move for light packers is LowFare with just the underseat bag. But if you need anything more, compare LowFare + add-ons vs. LowFare+ before you book. Sometimes the bundle works out cheaper.
Baggage Allowance Quick Q&As
What is Norwegian Air Shuttle’s baggage allowance? Every passenger gets one underseat bag (30 x 20 x 38 cm). What else you get depends on your ticket type, from LowFare (underseat only) to Flex/Premium (overhead bag plus 2 checked bags).
How much does it cost to add a checked bag on Norwegian? Prices vary by route, but buying online is always cheaper than at the airport. Airport prices start at around £40 / $45 / €40 for a direct flight.
Can I use the overhead locker on a LowFare ticket? Not by default. You need to buy the overhead cabin bag add-on online (from roughly £5 to 9), or upgrade to LowFare+.
How strict is Norwegian with bag weights? Pretty strict. They do weigh cabin bags, and anything over the combined limit can be gate-checked at a fee of $50 (direct) or $100 (connecting).
What’s the maximum checked bag weight on Norwegian? Each bag can weigh up to 23 kg as standard. You can go up to 32 kg per bag but you’ll pay around £12 / $15 / €12 per extra kilo.
Is there a different weight limit for Dubai flights? Yes. Flights to and from Dubai have a reduced cabin baggage weight cap of 8 kg total due to aircraft restrictions.
How early do I need to add baggage online? You can add bags up to 4 hours before departure. After that, you’re stuck paying the higher airport rate.
👉 Good to know: If overhead lockers fill up on your flight, LowFare+ passengers get their overhead bag gate-checked for free. LowFare add-on passengers don’t get this perk, so board early.
What's actually included in the Norwegian Air Shuttle baggage allowance?
Norwegian keeps things simple on paper, but the differences between ticket types are where people get caught out. Here’s the full breakdown.
|
Ticket type |
Underseat bag |
Overhead bag |
Cabin weight limit |
Checked bags |
Refundable? |
|
LowFare |
✅ |
❌ (add-on available) |
10 kg |
❌ (add-on available) |
❌ |
|
LowFare+ |
✅ |
✅ |
10 kg combined |
1 x 23 kg |
❌ |
|
Flex |
✅ |
✅ |
15 kg combined |
2 x 23 kg |
✅ |
|
Premium / PremiumFlex |
✅ |
✅ |
15 kg combined |
2 x 23 kg |
✅ |
Every passenger on every ticket gets the underseat bag. That’s the baseline. Everything above that depends on what you’ve paid for. And the combined weight thing trips up a lot of travellers. More on that shortly.
💡 Fact: Norwegian aircraft typically carry 186 passengers but only have space for around 80 overhead cabin bags. That’s why LowFare passengers don’t get automatic overhead access.
✈️ Official Norwegian Cabin Bag Sizes and faqs
🗺️ Airplane Guide: How to Make Economy Feel Like First Class When Flying
Our Google Maps Legend
Save time pinning everything! Get lifetime access to our endless hours of research and time spent on the ground finding the best places to eat, drink, relax and explore in the area. You simply open the Google Map on your device and all our pins are at the touch of your fingertips.
The underseat bag rules (and what actually fits)
Your underseat bag can measure up to 30 x 20 x 38 cm. That’s roughly a small backpack, laptop bag, or handbag. Not massive, but workable if you pack smart.
I’ve flown Norwegian a few times with just the underseat bag and honestly, for a weekend trip, it’s enough. A packable daypack in the 15 to 20 litre range fits perfectly. Roll your clothes, skip the “just in case” extras, and you’ll be surprised what fits.
What should always go in this bag: passport, phone and charger, medication, wallet, and a change of underwear (just trust me on this one). This bag stays with you under the seat for the entire flight, so treat it as the bag you’d grab if everything else got lost.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: A 20-litre packable daypack usually fits perfectly within the underseat dimensions. Roll your clothes tight and you’d be surprised how much you can squeeze in for a weekend trip.
🗺️ Flying with SAS?: SAS Scandinavian Airlines Baggage Allowance: Carry-On Secrets & Checked Limits
Overhead cabin bag secrets (and the LowFare add-on trick)
LowFare+ and above get automatic overhead access with a bag up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm. That’s standard small roller bag size.
But here’s where it gets interesting. LowFare passengers can buy overhead access as an add-on from around £5 to 9 / $6 to 14 depending on the route. International routes tend to sit between $15.90 and $29.90. The add-on also includes Priority Boarding, which means you board earlier and actually get overhead space before it fills up.
Here’s the calculation worth doing every time: compare the price of a LowFare ticket plus the overhead add-on against LowFare+. Sometimes the LowFare route is cheaper. Sometimes LowFare+ is better value because you get a checked bag too. Always check both at booking.
I didn’t do this comparison on my first few bookings and definitely overpaid a couple of times. Takes 30 seconds.
👉 Good to know: The overhead bag add-on for LowFare tickets includes Priority Boarding as standard, so you’re also more likely to grab overhead space before it fills up.
🗺️ Because we all like to know: Why Flying Is Still the Safest Way to Travel
Checked bag costs and how to save money
Norwegian’s checked bag pricing is route-dependent, so there isn’t one flat fee. But the golden rule is simple: always add baggage online.
Figures correct as of 2026.
|
Scenario |
Typical cost |
How to avoid it |
|
Checked bag (online, route-dependent) |
Varies by route |
Book online, at least 4 hrs before departure |
|
Checked bag at airport (direct) |
~£40 / $45 / €40 |
Always add bags online instead |
|
Checked bag at airport (connecting) |
~£80 / $90 / €80 |
Always add bags online instead |
|
Overweight checked bag (per kg over 23 kg) |
~£12 / $15 / €12 to 15 per kg, per leg |
Weigh at home, redistribute between bags |
|
Oversized carry-on forced into hold (direct) |
~$50 |
Measure bag before you leave home |
|
Oversized carry-on at gate (connecting) |
~$100 |
Measure bag before you leave home |
|
LowFare overhead bag add-on (online) |
~£5 to 9 / $6 to 14 |
Buy online, not at gate |
|
Small checked bag (airport only) |
~£30 / $30 |
Plan ahead and add proper checked bag online |
The airport markup is steep. Roughly double the online rate. And the cutoff for online additions is 4 hours before departure.
There’s also a little-known option at the airport: the “small checked bag.” A cabin-sized bag (55 x 40 x 23 cm, max 10 kg) checked into the hold at check-in for around £30 / $30. It’s a fallback, not a strategy.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: If you’ve already checked in and realise you need to add a bag, you can still do it through “My Travels” on Norwegian’s site up to 4 hours before departure. After that, you’re paying airport rates.
🚕 Just incase you want some Airport Transfer: Welcome Pickups
🗺️ Recommended Read: How to Get a Whole Airplane Row to Yourself ✈️
Recommended Tours from GetYourGuide
Weight limits that catch people out
This is the section that could genuinely save you money.
The cabin weight limit (10 kg on LowFare/LowFare+, 15 kg on Flex/Premium) is the combined weight of your underseat bag and overhead bag together. Not per bag. Together. I’ve seen people pack a 7 kg backpack and a 5 kg laptop bag thinking they’re fine because neither individually exceeds 10 kg. They get pulled up at the gate.
For checked bags, each one has a 23 kg standard limit. You can go up to 32 kg per bag, but you’ll pay around £12 / $15 / €12 to 15 per extra kilo, per flight leg. The total checked weight cap across all bags is 74 kg per passenger.
And then there’s the Dubai exception. Flights to and from Dubai cap cabin weight at just 8 kg total. Aircraft restriction, not a Norwegian choice, but it catches people out.
💡 Fact: The 10 kg cabin weight limit on LowFare and LowFare+ is the combined weight of everything you carry on board, not per bag. A common mistake is packing a 7 kg backpack and a 5 kg laptop bag, then getting flagged at the gate.
🔥 Recommended Travel Insurance: Visitors Coverage
Norwegian's gate fees and how to avoid them
If your carry-on is too big or too heavy at the gate, it gets checked into the hold and you’ll pay $50 on a direct flight or $100 on a connecting flight. Norwegian is known for being strict on this.
How to avoid it: get a cheap luggage scale (under £10) and weigh your bags at home every time. Use packing cubes. And if you’re borderline on weight, wear your heaviest jacket and shoes through the airport.
It’s also worth having solid travel insurance that covers trip disruption and baggage issues, especially on a non-refundable LowFare ticket. One delayed bag or missed connection can turn a cheap flight into an expensive headache.
✋🏼 Must-do: Weigh your cabin bags at home before every Norwegian flight. A cheap luggage scale (under £10) will pay for itself after one avoided gate fee.
🗺️ Airplanes revealed: Sky High Secrets: Intriguing Airplane Facts That Will Amaze You
The Travel Tinker Shop
Ready to spark your next adventure with unique travel gadgets and essentials? Head over to The Travel Tinker Shop now and discover your perfect companion!
Travelling with kids, strollers, and baby gear
Infants (under 2, on a parent’s lap) don’t get a separate hand luggage allowance, but you can bring baby food, milk, and formula for the flight without it counting against your cabin weight.
Infants get a 5 kg checked allowance, either in its own bag or packed inside the adult’s checked bag. Norwegian also lets you check one car seat and one stroller per infant free of charge.
Children with their own seat and ticket get the full baggage allowance for that ticket type. My advice: pack baby essentials in your underseat bag. If the checked bag gets delayed, you’ll still have what you need.
Sports equipment and odd-sized baggage
Skis, golf clubs, surfboards, and bikes are handled as special baggage on Norwegian. They can’t be added as regular checked bags. You need to book them separately through the special baggage section on the website.
Key rules: golf bags max 20 kg, bikes and driving equipment max 25 kg, overall size limit 250 x 79 x 112 cm with a max circumference of 300 cm. Pricing varies by route, charged per item per direction. Book early because availability can be limited.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Sports equipment can’t be added as regular checked baggage. Add it separately through Norwegian’s website under “special baggage.” Do it early because availability can be limited.
🗺️ We Have Baggage info on all major airlines: Tinker’s Transport Hub
Common mistakes and how to dodge them
I’ve made a few of these myself. Here are the most expensive mistakes people make with Norwegian baggage.
Assuming LowFare includes overhead access. It doesn’t. If you show up with a roller bag, you’re paying at the gate.
Not weighing combined cabin bags. Your underseat bag and overhead bag weigh in together. Two bags that seem fine individually can push you over.
Buying baggage at the airport. Airport prices are roughly double. Always add online at least 4 hours before departure.
Packing over 23 kg in a checked bag. The overweight fee is per kilo, per leg. On a return trip, 3 kg over can cost you £72 / $90 in extra fees.
Not knowing about the Dubai weight exception. Flights to and from Dubai cap cabin baggage at 8 kg, not the usual 10 or 15.
Not comparing fare bundles at booking. Sometimes LowFare + individual add-ons costs more than just booking LowFare+.
✋🏼 Must-do: Before you book, always compare the total cost of LowFare + add-ons against LowFare+. Sometimes the £10 to 15 upgrade saves you more than buying each extra separately.
🗺️ Think again!: Charge Alert: What You Need to Know About Power Banks on Planes
What to do if your flight gets disrupted
If Norwegian cancels or significantly delays your flight, your baggage add-ons should carry over to the rebooked flight. Double-check in your “My Travels” account after the rebooking goes through.
For EU departures or flights operated by an EU carrier, delays over 3 hours and cancellations may entitle you to compensation under EC 261/2004, up to €600 depending on route distance. A flight compensation service can handle the paperwork for you.
Flex ticket holders have an advantage here. Flex fares are fully refundable (with some exclusions), and you can rebook to the same class or higher.
👉 Good to know: If your Norwegian flight is delayed by 3+ hours or cancelled, you might be owed up to €600 in compensation under EU rules. A flight compensation claim service can chase it up for you.
The night-before checklist
I’ve got a little routine I run through the night before any Norwegian flight. Takes about 10 minutes and has saved me from gate fees more than once.
|
Item / step |
Why it matters |
Easy way to do it |
|
Weigh all cabin bags together |
Combined weight limit catches people out |
Cheap luggage scale at home |
|
Check your ticket type |
Determines your exact allowance |
Log into “My Travels” on Norwegian’s site |
|
Add any extra baggage online |
Airport prices are roughly double |
Do it at least 4 hrs before departure |
|
Pack valuables in underseat bag |
That bag stays with you under the seat |
Passport, meds, electronics, wallet |
|
Download boarding pass |
Speeds up airport process |
Norwegian app or email confirmation |
|
Charge your devices |
You’ll need phone for boarding pass and arrival |
Portable charger in your underseat bag |
One more thing. Grab an eSIM before you fly so you’re connected the moment you land. Handy for checking your baggage carousel number or pulling up transport options without hunting for dodgy airport WiFi.
FAQs
Can I bring a duty-free bag on top of my cabin allowance?
Yes. Norwegian allows one airport shopping bag in addition to your cabin baggage allowance. It doesn’t count towards your weight limit either. Don’t go overboard though. Rocking up with three Toblerone bags and a litre of gin might get a raised eyebrow.
What happens if the overhead lockers are full?
If you’re on a LowFare+ ticket or above, your overhead cabin bag gets gate-checked into the hold at no extra charge. This is stated Norwegian policy, not just goodwill from a kind gate agent. For LowFare passengers who bought the overhead add-on, the same courtesy may not apply, so board early.
Does Norwegian weigh cabin bags at the gate?
They can and they often do. Norwegian has a reputation for being stricter than some other European budget carriers. If your combined cabin bags exceed the weight limit for your fare, you’ll be asked to check the excess and pay a fee. Weigh at home. Seriously.
Can I use Norwegian Reward points to pay for extra baggage?
Yes. Reward members can redeem CashPoints towards extra baggage purchases. And here’s a nice loyalty perk: once you’ve completed 18 single flights with Norwegian, you unlock free checked baggage on all future flights. Worth knowing if you fly them regularly.
Is it cheaper to upgrade to LowFare+ or add bags separately to LowFare?
It depends on the route and timing. Sometimes adding an overhead bag and checked bag separately to a LowFare ticket costs more than just booking LowFare+ from the start. The only way to know is to price both options side by side during booking. Takes 30 seconds and can save you a decent chunk.
Pack Smart, Fly Cheaper
Norwegian’s baggage system is pretty straightforward once you understand it. The whole thing comes down to a handful of moves:
- Know your ticket type before you pack. Your fare determines everything.
- Weigh your cabin bags at home. Combined weight is the trap.
- Add any extra baggage online at least 4 hours before departure. Airport prices are roughly double.
- Compare LowFare + add-ons vs. LowFare+ at booking. That quick comparison can save real money.
- Keep valuables and essentials in your underseat bag. It stays with you no matter what.
What route are you flying with Norwegian? Got a baggage horror story or a packing trick that works every time? Drop it in the comments below. And if you’re prepping for your trip, check out more baggage guides and travel tips over on TheTravelTinker.com.👇💬
Adventure on,
The Travel Tinker Crew 🌍✨
Tinker's Travel Hubs
Solo Travel
Couples Travel
Travel Problems
Family & Senior Travel
Still Deciding Where To Go?
What Gear Do I Need?
FREE Planning Tools
Travel Tips
Recommended Websites and Resources:
What to know How to Plan or Save for a Trip? Here are our best:
- Try Our Travel Itinerary Generator
- Our Travel Tips
- How to Save for a Trip
- Travel Entry Requirement Checker
- How to Plan a Trip
We Are Here to Help:
Travel Planning Resources
Ready to book your next trip? These trusted resources have been personally vetted to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Book Your Flights: Kick off your travel planning by finding the best flight deals on Trip.com. Our years of experience with them confirm they offer the most competitive prices.
Book Your Hotel: For the best hotel rates, use Booking.com . For the best and safest hostels, HostelWorld.com is your go-to resource. Best for overall Hotel ratings and bargains, use TripAdvisor.com!
Find Apartment Rentals: For affordable apartment rentals, check out VRBO. They consistently offer the best prices.
Car Rentals: For affordable car rentals, check out RentalCars.com. They offer the best cars, mostly brand new.
Travel Insurance: Never travel without insurance. Here are our top recommendations:
- EKTA for Travel Insurance for all areas!
- Use AirHelp for compensation claims against flight delays etc.
Book Your Activities: Discover walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more on Get Your Guide. They have a vast selection of activities to enhance your trip. There is also Tiqets.com for instant mobile tickets.
Book The Best Trains: Use Trainline to find the most affordable trains or Rail Europe for rail passes!
Travel E-SIMS: Airalo Worldwide! Use your mobile phone anywhere!
Need More Help Planning Your Trip? Visit our Resources Page to see all the companies we trust and use for our travels.
You May Also Like
Share this post
Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Author
Dara Walsh
I’m Dara Walsh, a worldwide traveller and travel writer with a habit of booking “just a quick trip” and somehow ending up on the other side of the planet. I’m drawn to places that feel real, a bit rough around the edges in the best way, and full of stories you don’t get from a highlights reel.
I grew up in Ireland with the outdoors basically baked into my personality, so even when I’m city-hopping, I’m always looking for the nearest coastline, viewpoint, or walking trail. My trips usually sit somewhere between exploring iconic spots and disappearing down side streets for a proper local meal, a decent coffee, and a chat with whoever’s behind the counter.
At The Travel Tinker, I share practical, no-fluff guides for travelling worldwide, from big bucket-list routes to underrated destinations that deserve more love. Expect honest budgets, smart planning tips, and the kind of advice that saves you time, money, and that classic “why didn’t I think of this sooner?” moment.
When I’m not writing, you’ll find me plotting my next trip, chasing a sunrise (and regretting the alarm for about ten minutes), or testing the local speciality because that’s basically research… right? 🌍✈️🍻
