✓ Policy web-verified 2026-05-31
Xiamen Airlines (MF) is mainland China’s largest privately-owned carrier and a SkyTeam member, flying a dense domestic network plus long-haul routes to North America, Europe and across Asia. Its baggage rules split along a familiar line: a generous weight-concept system on Chinese domestic flights, and a more fare-dependent setup on international and US/regional routes where the allowance shifts with the brand of ticket you buy.
The single most important thing to know: a cheap Economy Light international ticket carries no free checked bag at all, while a Standard fare on the same flight includes one 23 kg piece. Always confirm the allowance shown on your specific booking before you pack — it is printed on your e-ticket and varies by route and fare brand. Figures below were verified against Xiamen Airlines’ official baggage pages in 2026.
Quick facts
| Personal item | No separate personal-item allowance published; small items count toward the 1-piece, 5 kg cabin limit |
| Cabin (carry-on) | 1 piece, max 5 kg, total dimensions ≤ 115 cm (Economy & Business); First Class 2 pieces × 5 kg |
| Checked — domestic | Weight concept: Economy 20 kg, Business 30 kg, First 40 kg (free) |
| Checked — international Economy | By fare: Light = none; Standard = 1 × 23 kg; Comfort = 1 × 25 kg; Flex = 2 × 23 kg |
| Checked weight cap per piece | 32 kg international (non-US), 45 kg US routes, 50 kg domestic |
| Excess/extra bag fee | Region-based, e.g. ~¥800 / US$115 per extra piece; overweight or oversize ~¥1,000 / US$140 |
| Sports & instruments | Sports gear +10 kg domestic; instruments as cabin, checked, or paid seat |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal / under-seat item | No fixed dimensions — counts within the cabin allowance. Xiamen Airlines does not publish a separate free personal-item allowance the way US carriers do. Economy passengers get one cabin piece up to 5 kg / 115 cm total; a handbag, laptop bag or small backpack is expected to fit within that piece and weight limit rather than as an extra free item. |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | Total dimensions ≤ 115 cm (length + width + height) · 5 kg Free — 1 piece in Economy & Business; 2 pieces in First Class |
Checked baggage & fees
| Checked allowance | Domestic (weight concept): Economy 20 kg free. International Economy (piece/fare concept): Light = no free bag, Standard = 1 × 23 kg, Comfort = 1 × 25 kg, Flex = 2 × 23 kg. Business 2 × 32 kg, First 3 × 32 kg on international. |
| Weight limit | Max per piece: 32 kg international (non-US), 45 kg on US routes, 50 kg domestic; total dimensions ≤ 158 cm per free piece (up to 203 cm allowed as oversize for a fee) |
| Typical fee | Extra/excess charged by region. Typical international example: ~¥800 / US$115 per additional piece; overweight (23–32 kg) or oversize (159–203 cm) ~¥1,000 / US$140 per piece. Domestic excess ≈ 1.5% of the one-way Economy fare per kg. |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Light | Within cabin allowance | 1 × 5 kg | No free checked bag — pay per piece |
| Economy Standard | Within cabin allowance | 1 × 5 kg | 1 × 23 kg |
| Economy Comfort | Within cabin allowance | 1 × 5 kg | 1 × 25 kg |
| Economy Flex | Within cabin allowance | 1 × 5 kg | 2 × 23 kg |
| Domestic Economy | Within cabin allowance | 1 × 5 kg | 20 kg (weight concept) |
| Business Class | Within cabin allowance | 1 × 5 kg | 2 × 32 kg international / 30 kg domestic |
| First Class | Within cabin allowance | 2 × 5 kg | 3 × 32 kg international / 40 kg domestic |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
What you actually get on a cheap Xiamen Airlines deal: on the long-haul international fares aifly typically surfaces (China–Europe, China–North America), the cheapest sold fare at deal prices usually lands on the Standard brand, which includes 1 × 23 kg checked bag plus an 8 kg cabin allowance in practice — better value than the bag-stripped Light fares you’ll see on many European carriers at similar prices.
The trap is the rock-bottom Economy Light ticket: it carries zero free checked baggage, so a headline fare can quietly cost ~US$115+ each way once you add a bag. Before booking a Xiamen deal, check whether the fare brand on the booking page says Light or Standard — the difference is one free 23 kg bag. On US routes the weight cap per piece is higher (45 kg), which helps if you consolidate into one heavy bag rather than buying a second piece.
Oversize, sports & special items
Sports equipment: Golf, ski and fishing gear get an extra 10 kg over the standard free allowance on domestic flights; international allowances vary by sport and route, so declare equipment at booking or check-in. Oversize items beyond the standard piece may be charged as oversize baggage.
Musical instruments: Three options — carry on a small instrument (within ~20 × 40 × 55 cm), check it as ordinary baggage, or buy an extra seat (“Seated Baggage”) for larger instruments (up to ~40 × 45 × 100 cm on the seat, or ~25 × 45 × 140 cm on the floor).
Oversize vs overweight: a piece up to 203 cm total can usually still travel for an oversize fee; very large or very heavy items may need to be shipped as cargo. Pre-paying excess baggage online before your flight is generally cheaper than paying at the airport.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a carry-on on Xiamen Airlines?
Economy and Business passengers may bring 1 carry-on piece up to 5 kg with total dimensions no more than 115 cm. First Class allows 2 pieces of 5 kg each. The cabin bag is free; there is no separate published free personal-item allowance, so a handbag or laptop bag is expected to fit within that 5 kg piece.
Does Xiamen Airlines include a free checked bag?
It depends on the route and fare. Chinese domestic Economy includes 20 kg free by weight. On international Economy it depends on the brand: Light has no free checked bag, Standard includes 1 × 23 kg, Comfort 1 × 25 kg, and Flex 2 × 23 kg. Business and First always include free checked pieces.
What is the checked bag weight limit per piece?
The maximum weight for a single checked piece is 32 kg on most international routes, 45 kg on flights to/from the United States, and 50 kg on Chinese domestic flights. The free-allowance pieces themselves are 23–25 kg in Economy; anything between 23 and 32 kg is charged as overweight.
How much does an extra or overweight bag cost on Xiamen Airlines?
Fees are set by route region. A typical international extra piece runs about ¥800 / US$115, while an overweight (23–32 kg) or oversize (159–203 cm) piece is roughly ¥1,000 / US$140. Domestic excess is calculated at about 1.5% of the one-way Economy fare per kilogram. Pre-paying online is usually cheaper than paying at the airport.
What are the checked bag size limits?
Each free checked piece must total no more than 158 cm (length + width + height). Pieces between 159 cm and 203 cm can still travel but are charged as oversize. Anything larger than 203 cm generally must be shipped as cargo rather than checked.
Can I bring sports equipment or a musical instrument?
Yes. Sports gear such as golf, ski and fishing equipment receives an extra 10 kg over the standard allowance on domestic flights, with international allowances varying by sport. Musical instruments can travel as cabin baggage (if small), as checked baggage, or in a purchased extra seat for larger instruments.
What is Economy Light on Xiamen Airlines and should I avoid it?
Economy Light is the cheapest international fare brand and includes NO free checked baggage — only the 5 kg cabin allowance. If you need to check a bag, you must pay for it separately, which can erase the savings. For most travelers with luggage, the Standard fare (1 × 23 kg included) is better value.
Is the cabin baggage limit really only 5 kg?
Yes, Xiamen Airlines' official carry-on weight limit is 5 kg per piece, lower than many Western carriers' 8–10 kg. In practice cheap deal fares effectively allow up to about 8 kg, but plan around the published 5 kg limit and 115 cm total size to avoid gate-checking.