Icelandair Baggage Allowance: Cabin Bags, Checked Baggage & Fees
Flying with Icelandair? Check cabin baggage, checked-baggage allowances and fare differences before you travel.
Icelandair operates a straightforward fare-based baggage system, but the allowance you receive depends on the Economy fare or travel class you have booked.
Understanding the difference is particularly important for checked baggage, as the lowest Economy fare does not include a checked bag as standard.
Economy passengers can take one cabin bag measuring up to 55 × 40 × 20cm and weighing up to 10kg, together with one small personal item up to 40 × 30 × 15cm. The smaller item must fit beneath the seat in front of you, while the main cabin bag is intended for the overhead locker.
These allowances make Icelandair relatively generous on cabin-bag weight compared with a number of European airlines, although both the size and weight limits still need to be observed.
The main difference between Icelandair's Economy fares is the checked-baggage allowance. Economy Light does not include checked baggage, making it best suited to passengers travelling with cabin baggage only.
Economy Standard and Economy Flex include one checked bag weighing up to 23kg. More generous baggage allowances apply in Saga Premium, so passengers travelling in the premium cabin should check the entitlement attached to their particular ticket.
Checked baggage also needs to remain within Icelandair's published size limits, and additional charges can apply if you need extra baggage or if a bag exceeds the permitted weight or dimensions.
It is therefore worth checking your fare before travelling rather than assuming that a checked bag is included simply because you are flying on a full-service international airline.
Icelandair's network also means many passengers use Reykjavik as a connecting point between the UK, Iceland and North America. If your itinerary contains flights operated by another airline, baggage allowances and restrictions can sometimes differ, so check the rules applying to the complete journey as well as the Icelandair-operated sectors.
Cabin baggage remains subject to airport-security restrictions. Liquids, gels, pastes and aerosols may need to comply with the familiar 100ml container rules, depending on the security arrangements at your departure and connecting airports.
Items such as power banks and spare lithium batteries should be carried in cabin baggage rather than checked luggage, while larger toiletries and other liquids can normally be packed in your checked bag.
This guide explains Icelandair's personal-item and cabin-bag dimensions, 10kg cabin weight allowance, checked-baggage entitlement by fare, additional and excess baggage, liquid restrictions and other important baggage rules, helping you work out exactly what you can take before arriving at the airport.
Free Cabin Bag Size
Economy:
1 cabin bag 55 × 40 × 20cm - 10kg
Small item 40 × 30 × 15cm.
Saga Premium Flex:
2 cabin bags.
Checked Baggage Allowance
Economy Light: none
Standard/Flex: 1 × 23kg
Saga Premium: 1 × 32kg
Saga Premium Flex: 2 × 32kg.
Additional Baggage Fees
Additional baggage can be purchased
Excess, overweight and oversized baggage costs extra.
Key Icelandair Baggage Tips
Check your fare before packing a checked bag. Economy Light does not include checked baggage, while Standard, Flex and Saga fares have different included allowances.
Weigh your cabin bag before leaving home. Icelandair has a relatively generous cabin allowance, but the weight limit is still enforced and an overweight bag may need to be checked.
Keep your small personal item genuinely small. It needs to fit beneath the seat in front of you rather than taking up overhead-locker space.
Measure checked baggage including wheels and handles. Icelandair applies an overall dimensional limit, so protruding parts of the suitcase count towards its size.
Add extra baggage before you travel where possible. If your fare doesn't provide enough checked baggage, arranging additional baggage in advance is generally better than dealing with it at check-in.
Don't assume a half-empty large toiletries bottle is cabin compliant. Where the 100ml security rule applies, it is the container's maximum capacity that matters, not how much product remains inside.
Put larger toiletries in your checked bag. Shampoo, shower gel, sun cream and similar products that exceed cabin liquid limits can normally travel in hold baggage, subject to the usual restrictions.
Keep power banks and spare lithium batteries in the cabin. These should not be packed in checked baggage and should be protected against accidental activation or short circuits.
Keep valuables and essentials with you. Passports, medication, electronics and anything you cannot easily replace are best carried in your cabin baggage rather than the hold.
Allow for different rules on connecting flights. Icelandair is frequently used for journeys between the UK, Iceland and North America; if another airline operates part of the itinerary, its baggage rules may differ.
Check the final allowance on your booking. Fare conditions and baggage entitlements can change, so the allowance attached to your particular ticket should be your final check before departure.
Cabin baggage sizes explained
Check the bag dimensions, weight limits and fare-specific inclusions before you travel, particularly where different fare families offer different baggage allowances.
Icelandair baggage allowance by fare
Baggage allowances can vary by fare, route and travel class. Always check the allowance shown on your booking before you travel.
Economy Light
Economy Standard / Flex
Cabin baggage
1 × 10kg 55 × 40 × 20cm
Small item included
Checked baggage
Not included
Best for
Short Iceland trips with cabin baggage only.
Cabin baggage
1 × 10kg + small item
Checked baggage
1 × 23kg
Best for
Most leisure travellers needing one checked suitcase.
Saga Premium / Flex
Cabin baggage
1–2 × 10kg depending on fare
Checked baggage
1–2 × 32kg depending on fare
Best for
Premium travellers needing a heavier baggage allowance.
Checked baggage with Icelandair: what you need to know
Icelandair's checked baggage allowance depends on the fare you have booked, with a significant difference between Economy Light and the other Economy fares.
Economy Light does not include checked baggage as standard. If you need to place a suitcase in the hold, checked baggage can be added separately to your booking.
Economy Standard and Economy Flex include one checked bag weighing up to 23kg. Passengers travelling in Saga Premium receive one checked bag up to 32kg, while Saga Premium Flex includes two checked bags weighing up to 32kg each.
A standard checked bag must not exceed 158cm in total dimensions, calculated by adding its length, width and height together. Wheels, handles and other protruding parts should be included when measuring the bag.
If your included allowance is not sufficient, additional checked baggage can be purchased. It is worth arranging any extra baggage before travelling rather than waiting until you reach the airport, particularly if you already know that your fare does not include enough hold luggage for your trip.
Bags exceeding the permitted weight or dimensions may be subject to additional charges and particularly heavy or oversized items can be subject to separate handling requirements. Don't assume that buying a 23kg allowance, for example, means you can use a larger-than-permitted suitcase.
If your itinerary includes flights operated by another airline, baggage rules can differ between sectors.
This is particularly relevant on Icelandair journeys connecting through Iceland to North America, so check the allowance applying to the complete itinerary as well as your Icelandair-operated flights.
Before travelling, check the baggage allowance displayed on your booking confirmation. Your ticket is the best final reference for the number and weight of checked bags included with your particular fare.
Icelandair cabin baggage rules: liquids, extras and restrictions
Icelandair's cabin baggage allowance depends on your travel class and fare, but passengers can generally take a main cabin bag together with a smaller personal item. Both need to remain within Icelandair's published size and weight restrictions.
Economy passengers can take one cabin bag up to 55 × 40 × 20cm and 10kg, together with one small personal item up to 40 × 30 × 15cm. The smaller item must fit underneath the seat in front of you, while the main cabin bag is stored in the overhead locker.
Saga Premium passengers can take one 10kg cabin bag, while Saga Premium Flex provides a more generous allowance of two cabin bags weighing up to 10kg each. Cabin-bag measurements include wheels and handles, so these should be taken into account when measuring your luggage.
Liquids, gels, pastes and aerosols carried in your cabin baggage must comply with the security rules at your departure and connecting airports. Where standard liquid restrictions apply, containers must normally hold 100ml or less and be presented in the permitted transparent, resealable liquids bag.
A larger container can still be rejected even if it contains less than 100ml of product.
Typical items affected include toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, sun cream, skincare, cosmetics and other liquid or gel products. Larger toiletries can normally be packed in checked baggage instead, subject to dangerous-goods restrictions.
Essential medicines and certain medical items may be exempt from the normal liquid limits where required for the journey, although passengers may be asked to provide supporting information.
Baby food and milk required during the journey can also be subject to separate security provisions.
Power banks and spare lithium batteries must be carried in cabin baggage rather than checked baggage and should be protected against short circuits. Other dangerous or restricted items—including certain sharp objects, flammable substances and hazardous materials—may be prohibited entirely or restricted to either cabin or checked baggage.
Icelandair staff may check cabin baggage before boarding. A bag that exceeds the permitted dimensions, weight or number of pieces may need to be placed in the hold and additional charges can apply.
Common Icelandair cabin baggage mistakes to avoid
Packing a cabin bag weighing more than your permitted allowance
Forgetting to include wheels and handles when measuring your bag
Using a personal item that is too large to fit beneath the seat
Packing liquids in containers larger than 100ml where standard airport restrictions apply
Assuming a partially empty container larger than 100ml is security compliant
Packing power banks or spare lithium batteries in checked baggage
Assuming the same baggage rules apply to a connecting flight operated by another airline
Arriving at the airport without checking the final baggage allowance shown on your booking
Icelandair cabin baggage rules: liquids, extras and restrictions
Icelandair's cabin baggage allowance depends on your travel class and fare, but passengers can generally take a main cabin bag together with a smaller personal item. Both need to remain within Icelandair's published size and weight restrictions.
Economy passengers can take one cabin bag up to 55 × 40 × 20cm and 10kg, together with one small personal item up to 40 × 30 × 15cm. The smaller item must fit underneath the seat in front of you, while the main cabin bag is stored in the overhead locker.
Saga Premium passengers can take one 10kg cabin bag, while Saga Premium Flex provides a more generous allowance of two cabin bags weighing up to 10kg each. Cabin-bag measurements include wheels and handles, so these should be taken into account when measuring your luggage.
Liquids, gels, pastes and aerosols carried in your cabin baggage must comply with the security rules at your departure and connecting airports. Where standard liquid restrictions apply, containers must normally hold 100ml or less and be presented in the permitted transparent, resealable liquids bag.
A larger container can still be rejected even if it contains less than 100ml of product.
Typical items affected include toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, sun cream, skincare, cosmetics and other liquid or gel products. Larger toiletries can normally be packed in checked baggage instead, subject to dangerous-goods restrictions.
Essential medicines and certain medical items may be exempt from the normal liquid limits where required for the journey, although passengers may be asked to provide supporting information.
Baby food and milk required during the journey can also be subject to separate security provisions.
Power banks and spare lithium batteries must be carried in cabin baggage rather than checked baggage and should be protected against short circuits. Other dangerous or restricted items—including certain sharp objects, flammable substances and hazardous materials—may be prohibited entirely or restricted to either cabin or checked baggage.
Icelandair staff may check cabin baggage before boarding. A bag that exceeds the permitted dimensions, weight or number of pieces may need to be placed in the hold and additional charges can apply.
Common Icelandair cabin baggage mistakes to avoid
Packing a cabin bag weighing more than your permitted allowance
Forgetting to include wheels and handles when measuring your bag
Using a personal item that is too large to fit beneath the seat
Packing liquids in containers larger than 100ml where standard airport restrictions apply
Assuming a partially empty container larger than 100ml is security compliant
Packing power banks or spare lithium batteries in checked baggage
Assuming the same baggage rules apply to a connecting flight operated by another airline
Arriving at the airport without checking the final baggage allowance shown on your booking