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China · Full-service

China Southern Airlines Baggage Allowance 2026

China Southern Airlines includes 1 or 2 checked bags of 23 kg in international Economy, depending on route, and 20 kg on domestic flights. Business gets 2 pieces of 32 kg and First 3 pieces of 32 kg. Every cabin allows 1 carry-on up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm and 8 kg (2 in First), plus a free laptop bag or handbag.

CARRY-ON
55 × 40 × 20 cm
8 kg
PERSONAL ITEM
Under seat (No published dimensions)
CHECKED BAG (1ST)
1 to 2 × 23 kg (Economy, international)
20 kg domestic
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01

What is China Southern Airlines' baggage allowance in economy, premium and business?

Economy includes 1 or 2 pieces of 23 kg (50 lb) on international routes, set by the route, and 20 kg in total on domestic flights. Premium Economy gets 1 or 2 pieces, Business 2 pieces of 32 kg (70 lb) and First 3 pieces of 32 kg. International pieces are each capped at 158 cm (62 in) in total size; domestic flights use a weight concept instead of pieces.

China Southern still prints the allowance from its Baggage Rules Version 2-2023; the ticket display has the final word.

CABIN INTERNATIONAL / REGIONAL DOMESTIC (CHINA)
First Class 3 x 32 kg 40 kg
Business Class 2 x 32 kg 30 kg
Premium Economy 2 x 23 kg or 1 x 32 kg by route 20 kg
Economy 2 x 23 kg, 1 x 23 kg or 1 x 32 kg by route 20 kg
Economy Saver 1 piece fewer than Economy n/a
Economy Light No free checked bag n/a
02

How many free bags does China Southern Economy get on each international route?

Two 23 kg pieces apply on long-haul routes such as China to the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the Middle East, plus Japan to Asian points and South Korea to the mainland. Europe to China, China to Southeast Asia and mainland to Hong Kong routes drop to 1 piece of 23 kg. Turkey and Central or West Asia to China get 1 piece of 32 kg.

CHINA TO THE AMERICAS, SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA 2 x 23 kg
JAPAN TO CHINA, HONG KONG, SOUTHEAST ASIA 2 x 23 kg
SOUTH KOREA TO CHINESE MAINLAND 2 x 23 kg
EUROPE (EXCEPT TURKEY) TO CHINA, HONG KONG 1 x 23 kg
CHINA TO SOUTHEAST ASIA OR SOUTH ASIA 1 x 23 kg
CHINESE MAINLAND TO HONG KONG, MACAO, TAIWAN 1 x 23 kg
TURKEY, CENTRAL AND WEST ASIA TO CHINA 1 x 32 kg
03

What do Economy Light, Saver and Standard include for checked bags?

Economy Light includes no free checked bag, and Economy Saver gives 1 piece fewer than Economy Standard on the same route, at the same weight and size. Standard, Flex and Full Flex share the full allowance. International students and labor passengers in Economy or Premium Economy can add 1 piece on qualifying routes, though not on Saver or Light.

ECONOMY LIGHT None
ECONOMY SAVER Standard minus 1 piece
ECONOMY STANDARD, FLEX, FULL FLEX Full route allowance
STUDENT OR LABOR FARE Plus 1 piece
04

What is China Southern Airlines' carry-on size?

Each carry-on can measure up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm (22 x 16 x 8 in) and weigh up to 8 kg (18 lb). The same limits apply in every cabin, on domestic and on international or regional flights. Bags over any of those limits have to be checked in and pay excess fees beyond the free allowance.

China Southern prints its carry-on rule in centimeters with the inch figure in brackets, and applies one size to every route.

SIZE 55 x 40 x 20 cm (22 x 16 x 8 in)
WEIGHT 8 kg per piece
PIECES, ECONOMY AND PREMIUM ECONOMY 1
PIECES, BUSINESS CLASS 1
PIECES, FIRST CLASS 2
05

How many carry-on bags can you take in First, Business and Economy?

First Class passengers can bring 2 carry-on pieces. Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy each get 1 piece. Every piece, in any cabin, is held to 8 kg and 55 x 40 x 20 cm, and the count covers each passenger except an infant without a seat.

Business Class gets one carry-on, the same count as Economy; only First Class gets a second piece.

CABIN CARRY-ON PIECES WEIGHT PER PIECE SIZE PER PIECE
First Class 2 8 kg 55 x 40 x 20 cm
Business Class 1 8 kg 55 x 40 x 20 cm
Premium Economy 1 8 kg 55 x 40 x 20 cm
Economy Class 1 8 kg 55 x 40 x 20 cm
06

What extra item can you bring on China Southern for free?

NOT PUBLISHED

No dimensions are published for the extra item. On top of the carry-on allowance, you can bring a small computer bag, camera bag, briefcase or handbag at no charge, as long as it goes under the seat in front of you during the flight.

EXAMPLES Computer bag, camera bag, briefcase, handbag
SIZE Not published
WHERE Under the seat in front
FEE Free
07

Does China Southern weigh carry-on bags?

Yes, 8 kg (18 lb) per piece is the published limit, and China Southern may inspect baggage at check-in, at security, at the boarding gate and inside the cabin. A First Class passenger with two pieces gets 8 kg for each piece. The limit rose from 5 kg in the 2022 rules.

08

What are China Southern's checked bag size and weight limits?

Free international pieces must stay within 158 cm (62 in) in total size and 23 or 32 kg by cabin. The most China Southern accepts per piece is 32 kg (70 lb) on international routes, 45 kg (99 lb) on routes involving the United States and 50 kg (110 lb) on domestic flights. International size tops out at 203 cm (80 in); domestic pieces at 40 x 60 x 100 cm.

ROUTE MAX WEIGHT PER PIECE MAX SIZE PER PIECE
Domestic 50 kg 40 x 60 x 100 cm
International, no US point 32 kg 203 cm total
International, US involved 45 kg 203 cm total
Free piece size (international) 23 or 32 kg 158 cm total
09

How much does China Southern charge for excess baggage?

An extra 23 kg bag costs USD 145 to 225 for the first piece on international routes, depending on the fare area, and USD 240 to 330 from the second piece. Overweight bags of 23 to 28 kg cost USD 65 to 85, and oversize pieces of 159 to 203 cm about USD 165 to 170. Domestic excess is 1.5% of the full Economy fare per kg.

Fees are charged in CNY when the trip starts in the Chinese mainland, in euros from Europe and in US dollars elsewhere; a bag over two limits pays each charge.

CHARGE AREA 1 (AMERICAS, AFRICA) AREA 2 (EUROPE, JAPAN, PACIFIC) AREA 3 (ASIA)
First extra piece USD 225 / CNY 1,380 USD 185 / CNY 1,100 USD 145 / CNY 880
Second and later USD 330 / CNY 2,000 USD 330 / CNY 2,000 USD 240 / CNY 1,430
23 to 28 kg USD 85 USD 85 USD 65
28 to 32 kg USD 170 USD 170 USD 155
32 to 45 kg USD 495 n/a n/a
159 to 203 cm USD 165 USD 170 USD 170
10

Can you bring a stroller on China Southern?

Yes, 1 foldable lightweight pram or stroller, or a baby back basket, travels free alongside an infant, outside the normal carry-on count. On international routes an infant without a seat also gets 1 checked piece of 10 kg (22 lb) and 115 cm, but no free checked allowance on domestic flights.

11

Can you fly with a pet on China Southern?

NOT PUBLISHED

No pets ride in the cabin unless China Southern gives special approval. Dogs, cats and birds fly as checked baggage in the hold, in a cage up to 90 x 60 x 66 cm and 32 kg, and pay outside the free allowance. Short-nosed breeds and connecting flights are excluded, and you must apply 48 hours ahead for international trips.

CABIN Not allowed without special approval
HOLD Dogs, cats, birds as checked baggage
CAGE LIMIT 90 x 60 x 66 cm, 32 kg
REFUSED Short-nosed and aggressive breeds
CONNECTIONS Not accepted
NOTICE 24 h domestic, 48 h international
FEE Charged separately; amount not published
12

Can service dogs fly in the cabin on China Southern?

Yes, trained guide, hearing and assistance dogs can fly in the cabin with a passenger who has a disability, once a request is approved in advance and a medical certificate is shown. The dog, its cage and food go free and do not use the baggage allowance. Emotional support dogs are not accepted as service dogs.

13

What are China Southern's sports equipment rules?

One set of golf or ski equipment flies free on international routes within 23 kg, with golf limited to 158 cm and skis to 203 cm. Fishing gear counts as one piece of the allowance. On domestic flights sports items within 40 x 60 x 100 cm count as normal baggage, and only non-electric bicycles with deflated tyres are accepted.

14

How strict is China Southern about carry-on bags?

Bags can be inspected at 4 points: the check-in counter, security, the boarding gate and the aircraft cabin. A carry-on that breaks the 8 kg, piece-count or size limit is moved to checked baggage, and excess baggage fees apply once you pass the free allowance.

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Frequently asked

8 kg (18 lb) per piece. China Southern lists 8 kg for every cabin on both domestic and international or regional flights, together with a size cap of 55 x 40 x 20 cm.

↻

Recent changes to China Southern Airlines's baggage policy

Sep 18 Carry-on Baggage Rules Version 2-2023 raised the carry-on limit from 5 kg to 8 kg per piece and replaced the 115 cm total with 55 x 40 x 20 cm.
Full changelog →