Do Cabin Crew Have To Comply To The Same Baggage Allowance Restrictions As Passengers?

Have you ever noticed airline cabin crew walking with black-colored travel bags at airports? Airline cabin crew are always on the go for work or as passengers going off for a well-earned break. What are baggage allowances for airline cabin crew? Do they enjoy a relaxed baggage allowance compared to passengers?

This article explores some guidelines that airline cabin crew must follow regarding their baggage allowance, uniform, and other aspects of travel, as highlighted by theInternational Air Transport Association (IATA).

Uniform guidelines

Generally, the airline often provides appropriate baggage as part of the uniform and grooming guidelines. If not, they will still stipulate the baggage necessary and the correct size, color, and sometimes suitcase brand.

Photo: Emirates

This is partly for crew image purposes, as they want the crew to look the same at the airport. Delsey and Samsonite are probably some of the most used brands for their durability. Usually, the crew has one crew bag, one small ‘wheelie bag’ or trolley bag, and one larger suitcase for layovers.

Identifiable

Also, crew baggage has to be easily identifiable. On long-haul flights, crew baggage is loaded in a separate container from passenger baggage. When offloaded, crew baggage does not go on the baggage carousel at the airport but is kept nearby.

Photo: Thiago B Trevisan I Shutterstock

The airline often provides crew tags to help identify crew bags. At the airport, crew bags are checked in all together but kept separately from the passengers’ bags when checking in off-route.

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Living the dream?

Most cabin crew will generally leave their base with less baggage weight than when they return from a trip! This is because they know the best and cheapest places to shop at the destination, so they will prepare accordingly.

Photo: JetBlue

Sometimes, the odd extra item bought back from a trip will pass unnoticed, and crew baggage is not always weighed as individual pieces. Most crew will not pack more than they can comfortably walk through the airport for personal convenience.

Exceptions

New individuals joining as cabin crew may be allowed an extra allowance when moving to countries for work. This is arranged along with the airline ticket, and the airport staff will know it. When returning from a position abroad, the allowance is usually more restrictive, but sometimes, you can send items as cargo. Commuting cabin crew going to and from a duty, or ‘positioning’ crew, follow the same guidelines as the airline’s passengers.

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Personal travel

Regarding personal travel, there are no exceptions for cabin crew. The regulations are similar to that of most international airlines. The IATA has specific rules for cabin bags that all cabin crew must follow when on personal travel. According to IATA,

“Carry-on baggage allowance can vary according to the airline, the cabin class you are traveling in and even the size of the aircraft. As a general guide, carry-on baggage should have maximum length of 22 in (56 cm), width of 18 in (45 cm) and depth of 10 in (25 cm). These dimensions include wheels, handles, side pockets, etc. Some airlines also enforce weight limitations, typically starting at 5kg/11lbs.”

Photo: Singapore Airlines

Typical checked bag and other fees can be seen from the European low-cost carrier,Norse Atlantic Airways.

Cabin crew will only be allowed one crew bag/laptop bag, one small trolley bag of less than 5kg, and one suitcase of 20kg. Low-cost carriers are much more restrictive, with a limit of 10 kg for a trolley bag onboard the aircraft and a small item that can fit under the seat. If traveling on standby, cabin crew will usually have to wait until the last minute to find out if they have a seat. Therefore, they also risk their checked baggage not arriving, so they pack light.

Photo: Svitlana Hulko | Shutterstock

Other airline fees, such as the ones shown in the table below, may or may not apply to cabin crew, depending on the airline and its politics. An example of Norse Atlantic Airways’ fee structure is shown here.

What are your thoughts on cabin crew luggage allowance? Share your views in the comments section.