Qatar Airways Baggage Allowance: Everything You Need to Know

Packing for a trip? The last thing you want is to arrive at an airport and realize you’ve packed too much - or worse, your suitcase’s weight is over the limit allowed. Economy or first class flying doesn’t matter as long as you’re familiar with the Qatar Airways baggage allowance policies before you book a flight - to save time, stress, and of course, money.

Qatar Airways is one of the best business class airlines, popular among travelers for being very generous with their baggage allowance. That said, it depends on the type of ticket you purchased, your destination, and even your travel class. In this write-up, we’re going to break down Qatar baggage allowance - hand baggage, checked baggage, excess baggage fees, and special items. Let’s get started!

Understanding Qatar Airways Baggage Allowance

Even before you start packing, you must be aware of how the airline calculates its baggage limit. Mainly, the airline has two policies:

Weight Concept

This concept is used at most destinations in the world. In this concept, the total weight of your checked baggage is the main factor that decides how much you can bring. You can pack as many items as you need as long as it doesn’t go above the limit set by Qatar Airways for your special travel class.

Piece Concept

Coming to this one, it applies specifically to flights to and from Africa and the Americas. You’re allowed a particular number of pieces in your baggage, and each piece’s weight limit is counted.

Note - Check which concept applies to your flight, as it can have a great impact on how many bags you can check in and how much you can carry.

What are the Cabin Baggage Allowance Rules?

Cabin/hand/carry-on luggage are all the same thing and are basically the bags you carry on the flight with you. Strict guidelines are set on how much baggage is allowed in Qatar Airways - depending on the size of it, weight of it, and number of bags you carry.

Note - If the tickets are issued in Brazil, then Economy Class passengers traveling to or from Brazil are permitted one piece of baggage with a maximum weight of 10 kg (22 lbs).

Personal Items

No matter what you’re travel class is, you are permitted to bring one personal item such as:

• A laptop bag
• Handbag or small backpack
• Duty-free shopping bags

Liquids and Electronics Restrictions

As for these items, check out their allowance by the airline:

• For liquids, gels, or pastes, they should be under 100ml - carried in a clear, resealable plastic bag.
• Laptops and big electronic items should not be in your bag when going through security screening.

How much is the Qatar Airways Baggage Limit?

Now coming to the main baggage - check baggage which refers to the luggage you hand over at the check-in counter. As far as the Qatar Airways baggage details are concerned, they depend on your travel route. Here’s everything in detail:

Weight-based baggage rules for most destinations

The baggage allowance on flights which are running outside of Africa and the Americas will depend on the weight rather than the number of pieces you’re bringing.

Economy Class Checked Baggage Limit

In an economy class of Qatar Airways, here’s the baggage limit allowed based on the type of fare:

First and Business Class Checked Baggage Limit

First and Qatar Airways best business class baggage allowance is also based on the type of fare:

Note - A single bag cannot go over the weight limit of 32 kg (70lb), even if your total allowance is higher

Piece-based baggage allowance for flights to/from Africa & the Americas

Flying to or from Africa or the Americas? Here’s the piece concept you’ll follow instead of the weight one:

Qatar Airways Baggage Policy for Special Items

There are a few items that require special handling, and for them, there’s a special place in Qatar Airways' baggage policy.

Sports gear like bikes and golf clubs - what’s allowed?

If you’re carrying any of the sporting gear with you, you’re in luck as Qatar Airways offers to include them in your normal baggage allowance. But remember that for oversized and heavy items, you may be charged extra.

Large sports equipment

Flying to/from Africa or the Americas? Your checked baggage dimensions may not go beyond 158 cm (length + width + height). And for these specific routes, you can buy an extra sporting equipment allowance to travel with items as large as 300cm (length + width + height).

Save more, buy online

In case your sporting items weigh more than your checked baggage limit, buy them online as the rates there are lower than if you were to buy extra sporting equipment allowance at the airport.

Carrying musical instruments - cabin vs. checked baggage

You can carry your musical instruments as they are included in your Qatar Airways baggage allowance - if they’re within the weight limit. But if they exceed, you must get an extra baggage allowance.

Here are some points to remember:

• If there are any fragile instruments in the cabin, you can carry them in the cabin as long as you buy a ticket for the seat they occupy.
• Maximum 75 kg weight is allowed per seat, and the maximum length is 120 cm per seat. So, any items that go over this limit will need to get another seat.
• Also, maximum 3 seats can be booked additionally per passenger, in addition to their own seat, depending on the aircraft seat arrangement.

Traveling with infants - strollers, car seats, and baby essentials

Baby or babies with you? Here’s what the airline permits:

• One collapsible stroller or a car seat
• An extra small bag with baby essentials

Traveling with Pets & Other Animals - checked baggage vs. cargo

Travelers who’re traveling with their furry buddies must keep these rates and weight limitations in mind:

Fees for animals travelling as checked baggage:

Note - Check out the terms and conditions on the official website of Qatar Airways.

Pets Travelling as cargo

• Animals must be taken as cargo in the flight if they’re non-domestic, traveling alone, exceeding the 300 cm dimension limit and 75 kg weight limit, or connecting with other airlines.
• Animals must travel as cargo if they’re flying to and from Australia or New Zealand.

Need more information on the same? Connect with your nearest Qatar Airways Cargo office.

Falcons and service dogs

Have a falcon or service dog with you? They can fly with you in the cabin on Qatar Airways as the airline wants you to keep your companions close and comfortable. But here are things you should comply with:

Falcons

If you wish to take several falcons with you, they can travel as checked baggage. The fees for taking them are the same as any other animal traveling as checked baggage.

Service dogs

Service dogs too, can travel with you in the passenger cabin but on specific regulated routes to keep you company as a passenger with disability.

NOTE - Check the eligibility requirements and ensure that the necessary documentation is ready before your pet travels.

Extra Baggage Fees & Ways to Get More Allowance

In case you go beyond your Qatar Airways baggage limit, you’ll have to pay for the extra weight or pieces. The cost will depend on your travel route.

Pre-purchase additional baggage online

You can save up to 20 percent if you buy additional baggage allowance up to 6 hours before departure. But the purchase has to be done directly through Qatar Airways' city/airport offices, and contact centers.

All supplementary baggage chosen rates are per extra kg (2.2lb).

Excess Fees for Piece Concept Routes (Per Piece)

When your baggage is charged per piece, the rate calculated is per item. Maximum 5 extra pieces can be pre-purchased. Flights between Buenos Aires and Brazil, the extra baggage fees are $80 for online and $100 for offline purchase per piece.

*These rates also apply to journeys to and from the UAE, Türkiye, and India

Overweight 50 to 70 Pounds (23 to 32 kg):

This only applies to the economy class of Qatar Airways at the airport.

Tip: Always check Qatar Airways’ website for the latest baggage fee policies to avoid unexpected costs!

Restricted Baggage Items on Qatar Airways

Some items you are not allowed to carry with you when flying with Qatar Airways. What are they? Take a look:

Dangerous articles - these include explosives, flammable liquid items, and chemicals.

Sharp things - You cannot carry knives, scissors, and other sharp instruments in your carry-on bags. Pack them in checked baggage instead.

Lithium batteries - Specific electronic objects have lithium batteries in them, including power banks, e-cigarettes, and large battery-operated devices - they all have special restrictions on Qatar Airways flights. They must be in your cabin with you and not in your checked baggage under certain conditions.

Alcoholic drinks - While liquor is allowed in your luggage, it’s prohibited if taken in excessive quantities or bottles over 70% content. Check the limit for your destination.

Other Unsafe things - Goods which are decomposable, food items with liquids, and substances like pesticides aren’t authorized by the airline.

For further details on these restricted items, please refer to the official Qatar Airways baggage policy.

What Happens When Baggage is delayed or damaged?

Unfortunate situations can arise at any time which including your baggage being delayed or worse, damaged, something no one expects when making a flight booking. What to do in this situation, you must be wondering, right? Well, first of all, delayed baggage is located under 24 hours of time for delivery to your hotel or home. But in case this doesn’t happen, do this:

• Simply inform the mismanaged baggage at the baggage services counter, and they’ll provide you with a file reference number.
• Use this number on the airline’s automated baggage tracking system to check the status.
• In case you have already left the airport, there’s still time to report about your baggage.

Note - Report must be submitted within 7 days from the date of receipt of the baggage.

Smart Packing Tips to Avoid Extra Charges

No one wants extra baggage charges, right? So, make sure you plan a little more to stay within the given limits. Here are some packing hacks for that:

Weigh your suitcases at home

Invest in a good, portable luggage scale to check your weight before arrival. This will definitely help you avoid packing or paying overweight fees for last minute flights.

Roll your clothing items instead of folding

Another important thing is to roll instead of fold - it saves you space and reduces wrinkles.

Packing cubes are a lifesaver

They’re excellent for keeping your luggage organized while also squeezing the clothes to improve space.

Wear your heaviest clothes instead of packing

It’s best to wear the heaviest clothing - if you can - instead of packing them as they take up more space and make the luggage heavy.

Know duty-free shopping rules

You can do duty-free shopping as they count towards your hand luggage allowance, so you need to prepare accordingly to avoid going over your limit.

Conclusion 

Don’t want those last-minute surprises? Knowing everything there is to know about the Qatar Airways baggage allowance is of the utmost importance. As for your carry-on, you're allowed only one piece for Economy class or 2 pieces for Business or First Class. When it comes to checked baggage, it depends on the weight for most destinations or the number of pieces for flights to/from the Americas and Africa. Carrying special items? You may be required to pay for their handling.

Have additional baggage? Purchase it online for cheaper instead of at the airport. Before your plane takes off, go to the official website of Qatar Airways to get the latest policies regarding baggage allowance for a smoother journey.