Overweight Luggage Fees: What Airlines Really Charge
4 min read
75 euros. That's what Ryanair charges when your carry-on fails the gate check. And honestly, it's not even the worst offender.
A friend of mine got caught last summer at Cologne airport. Her bag was maybe 2 centimeters too tall. No warning, no discussion. 70 euros on the spot. She wasn't alone, either. According to an AirHelp survey, 42% of German travelers have been hit with unexpected baggage fees. That's nearly half of everyone flying.
1
The Gate Fee Comparison
The price gap between airlines is probably bigger than you'd think. We're talking up to 123 euros difference for the same "crime," according to airliners.de.
| Airline | Free carry-on size | Gate penalty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | 40x30x20 cm | 70-75 EUR | ~200,000 passengers caught annually |
| easyJet | 45x36x20 cm | ~60 EUR | Slightly more generous sizing |
| Wizz Air | 40x30x20 cm | ~65 EUR | Just as strict as Ryanair |
| Eurowings | 40x30x25 cm | 35 EUR + 20 EUR/kg | Can stack penalties |
| Lufthansa | 55x40x23 cm | None | Roller bag included in all fares |
| Turkish Airlines | Varies by fare | 8-32 EUR/kg | Up to 140 EUR for checked bags |
See the problem? A bag that costs you 75 euros on Ryanair flies free on Lufthansa. That gap is wild.
2
Why Checks Are Getting Stricter
Here's the part that really gets me. Ryanair now pays staff a 2.50 euro bonus for every oversized bag they spot. Up from 1.50 euros. CEO Michael O'Leary confirmed this himself.
Quick math. With roughly 200,000 passengers caught per year, that's somewhere around 14 to 15 million euros in gate fees. Annually.
And Ryanair isn't the only one doing this. Most budget carriers have tightened their bag checks over the past two years. The staff bonuses create a financial incentive to catch more people. Not fewer.
3
The Legal Pushback
Some good news, though.
The German consumer federation (vzbv) is suing easyJet, Wizz Air, and Vueling over their carry-on policies. The argument: these airlines use confusing rules to squeeze money from passengers at the gate.
Spain went even further. The government fined Ryanair, easyJet, and three other airlines a combined 179 million euros for what it called "abusive" luggage fees.
At the EU level, Parliament adopted a report in June 2025 demanding uniform free carry-on standards across all airlines. Will it become law? I'm honestly not holding my breath. But it's a step.
4
How to Avoid Getting Stung
Nobody wants to hand over 75 euros at the gate. A few things that've saved me from that:
Measure before you go. Every airline has different size limits. Ryanair's free bag is only 40x30x20 cm. That's genuinely tiny. Know the exact numbers for your airline.
Get the right bag. A carry-on suitcase designed for budget airlines pays for itself after one avoided gate fee. The Aerolite range is built specifically for these tight dimensions.
Book baggage online, not at the gate. This is probably the simplest money saver. Ryanair charges 8 to 12 euros for cabin bag add-ons booked online. At the gate? 70+.
Pack light. Sounds obvious. But genuinely travelling carry-on only is a skill that saves hundreds of euros a year if you fly budget carriers regularly.
5
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does 1 kg of excess baggage cost?
It depends heavily on the airline. Turkish Airlines charges between 8 and 32 euros per kilogram. Eurowings charges 20 euros per kilo at the gate. Ryanair doesn't do per-kilo fees. Instead, they charge a flat 70-75 euro penalty for oversized carry-on bags.
What happens if my suitcase weighs more than 23 kg?
Most airlines charge an overweight baggage fee ranging from 10 to 32 euros per kilo over the limit. Some offer online upgrades to 32 kg at lower rates. Weighing your bag before you leave for the airport saves both money and stress.
How much overweight luggage do airlines tolerate?
In my experience, very little. Ryanair is known for charging even with minimal overages. Lufthansa tends to be more lenient, particularly in economy. But counting on tolerance is risky. Weigh and measure at home.
Which airline has the cheapest baggage fees?
Lufthansa includes a full-size carry-on (55x40x23 cm) in all fares with no gate penalties. Among budget carriers, Eurowings is cheapest at 35 euros, while Ryanair is most expensive at 75 euros. For the true cost, compare flight price plus baggage fees together.
*Last updated: March 2026*
Sources
- AirHelp survey airhelp.de
- according to airliners.de airliners.de
- pays staff a 2.50 euro bonus for every oversized bag they spot irishtimes.com
- 200,000 passengers caught per year euronews.com
- German consumer federation (vzbv) is suing easyJet, Wizz Air, and Vueling verbraucherzentrale.de
- fined Ryanair, easyJet, and three other airlines a combined 179 million euros cnbc.com
- Parliament adopted a report in June 2025 euronews.com
