South African Airways Baggage Allowance

South African Airways (SAA) uniformly applies the pc concept of baggage allowance on its flights. Irrespective of the destination reached or origin city, the allowance rules are formulated as per the pc based system.

Check-In Baggage

Free check in baggage allowance depends on class of travel and the sector of travel. There are pc, weight and size limitations on check in bags. Here is the route wise listing:

	Economy Class	Business Class
Domestic flights	1 pc max 23 kg . Max size 158cm per pc	1 pc of max of 32 kg per pc and max sizes of 158cm per pc
Worldwide – USA / Canada	2 pcs of max of 23 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between Africa and Europe / UK	1 pc of max of 23 kg and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
From Malawi/Zambia/Zimbabwe and Europe/UK	2 pcs of max of 23 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
From UK to Malawi/Zambia/Zimbabwe	2 pcs of max of 23 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between Africa and Asia / Japan	2 pcs of max of 23 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between Africa and New Zealand	1 pc of max of 23 kg and max size of 158cm	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between Africa and Middle East. Also valid on SA code-share flights and where EY is the operating carrier.	2 pcs of max of 23 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between Africa and Australia	2 pcs of max of 23 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Within Africa	2 pcs of max of 23kg (50lb) per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32kg (70lb) per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between South Africa and Lagos/Abuja	3 pcs of max of 23 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	3 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between South America and Australia / New Zealand except Brazil	2 pcs of max of 23 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between South America, and Africa / Asia / Japan except : Brazil and Argentina	2 pcs of max of 23 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between Argentina - Africa	2 pcs of max of 23 kg and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between Argentina - Asia / Japan	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between Brazil - Africa / Asia / Japan / Australia effective 05 August 2014	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between Brazil - Europe & USA	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc
Between Australia and Middle East	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc	2 pcs of max of 32 kg per pc and max size of 158cm per pc

For all other routes, the allowance is 1 pcs of 23 kg for economy and 2 pcs of 32 kg each for business class. Dimension limit per bag is 158 as sum of dimensions (length+breadth+height).

No check in luggage shall weigh more than 32 kgs. If more than it, then it has to be sent as cargo. TVs and toy guns have to be sent through cargo only.

For frequent flyer members, there is provision of higher allowance. The Voyage loyalty rewards members are allowed the following additional allowances:

Blue card holders – no additional allowance
Silver Card holder – 1 extra pc of 23kg, for all travel classes
Gold Card – 1 extra pc based on the allowance of the booked cabin class
Platinum – 1 extra pc of 32kg, for all travel classes
Lifetime Platinum – 2 extra pcs of 32kg per pc, for all travel classes
Platinum, Platinum Elect & Lifetime Platinum & SAA Gold, Gold Elect Member & Star Alliance Gold Member on SAA operated or any Star Alliance – operated flights: 1 extra pc based on the allowance of the respective class (weight or pc).

For seamen, marine baggage allowance is the business class allowance. This is restricted only to travel between South Africa and destinations in Southern Africa only.

With respect to carriage of Zam Zam water, it is clearly mentioned that per passenger only 5 litres are accepted and this is a part of check in baggage only.

Excess Baggage Charges

From 2 November 2015, the following excess baggage charges would be applicable on SAA for carrying more than free allowance of luggage:

Domestic Flights: ZAR 250 per pc for economy and ZAR 350 per pc for business class travel.

For international flights, there are different charges for different origin and destination cities. Please feel free to contact us for knowing the charges.

However, it must be mentioned here that there is an upper limit of 3 bags which can be carried apart from the usual free allowance. There are exceptions to this rule as well.

Ex-SAO the allowance is of max 10 bags including free allowance.

Between Jonahnnesberg and Lagos airports, max 50 pcs including free allowance is allowed.

Between Johannesburg and Kotoka airport in Accra, Ghana, max 50 bags including free allowance bags, can be taken.

Between Accra and Dulles International airport, Washington, max 10 bags including free allowance is permitted.

Hand or Cabin Baggage

Hand or cabin baggage allowance is of 1 pcs of 8 kg for economy and 2 pcs of 8 kg each for business class. Max dimensions per pcs are 56, 36 and 23 cms. In addition to it, 1 small personal item, such as a laptop bag and a hand purse can be taken in cabin.

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments can be carried in cabin baggage on the condition that sum of dimensions is within 115 cms and weight shall not exceed 8 kgs. These are considered as a part of the cabin baggage only. If weight or dimension is more, then additional seat has to be bought and you can place a musical instrument of 75 kg max weight. Ex: bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe, trumpet and shaped violin can be carried in cabin baggage but guitar, saxophone or banjo are to be carried in hold stowage.

Sports Equipments

With respect to carriage of sports equipments, SAA allows one additional pcs of sports equipment free of charge provided it is within 23 kg weight and 158 dimensions limit. These include fishing rods less than 200 cm, archery, baseball, basketball, bowls, cricket, scuba equipment, golf equipment, parachute, rugby, sailing, volleyball, tennis and others. Fire arms and ammunition used for sporting events is also allowed with due process. If you want to carry your sports equipment on SAA, but are not sure, please leave us your query.

Ask Your Questions Temporarily Disabled

Pat spencer

Posted on 22-Nov-2019

What is the baggage allowance for economy travel from Johannesburg to St. Helena. We are on a scuba diving holiday with Dive Worldwide flying from Heathrow.. The Heathrow flight is 23K and 8K hand-luggage . tourist info for St Helena states 20k on Johannesburg to St Helena leg.

Admin Reply :

It shall be a bag of 23 kg in check-in. There is no exception for St helena.

Wardah Smith

Posted on 23-May-2016

Is a mother travelling with a 6 month old infant allowed to take baby formula already mixed in the baby bottle before she boards the aircraft? The passengers are travelling from the Bahamas to New York then into Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Admin Reply :

Generally, any liquid to be taken in cabin shall not be more than 100 ml. But baby milk is exempted from this rule along with medicines or special dietary requirements.

Malc seagrave

Posted on 09-Mar-2016

Hi I\'m on a saa flight from lhr to Maputo via Johannesburg no sa235 economy class and want to take fishing equipment can you confirm what the allowance is for luggage many thanks Malc

Admin Reply :

From London (UK) to Maputo, the allowance would be 1 check in bag of 23 kg with dimension of 158 cms in economy class travel. SAA would allow one additional pcs of check in baggage not exceeding 23 kg weight and 158 cms dimensions for fishing equipmment. Fishing rod shall not be more than 200 cm length.