✓ Policy web-verified 2026-05-31
Philippine Airlines (PAL) sets baggage by two things: your fare family (Economy Supersaver, Saver, Value, Flex, plus Premium Economy and Business) and your route region. Routes to/from North America and Guam use the piece concept (a number of bags, each capped by weight), while flights within the Philippines and across Asia/Pacific use the weight concept (a single total weight you can split across bags). This split matters: the same Economy ticket can mean “2 × 23 kg bags” on a US route but “30 kg total, any number of bags” on an Asian route.
Carry-on is consistent across the network: 1 cabin bag plus 1 personal item, 7 kg combined. Below is the current 2026 breakdown, with the catch that the cheapest Economy Supersaver fare often carries little or no free checked allowance on its own.
Quick facts
| Carry-on (hand) | 1 bag, 56 x 36 x 23 cm, 7 kg (combined with personal item) |
| Personal item | 1 item, max 45 x 35 x 20 cm, fits under seat |
| Checked – Asia/Pacific Economy | 30 kg total (weight concept), max 32 kg per piece |
| Checked – US/Canada/Guam Economy | 2 pieces x 23 kg (piece concept) |
| Checked – Premium Economy | 35 kg (Asia/Pacific) or 2 x 25 kg (Americas) |
| Checked – Business | 40 kg (Asia/Pacific) or 2 x 32 kg (Americas) |
| Max single bag dimension | 158 cm (62 in) total linear |
| Excess fee | From ~USD 8/kg (weight routes) or ~USD 120/bag (piece routes); varies by route |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal / under-seat item | 45 x 35 x 20 cm (18 x 14 x 8 in). One personal item such as a handbag, small backpack or laptop bag. Counts toward the combined 7 kg cabin limit with your carry-on. |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in) · 7 kg (combined with personal item) Included on all fares |
Checked baggage & fees
| Checked allowance | Varies: 0-30 kg by fare on Asia/Pacific (weight concept); 2 x 23 kg in Economy on US/Canada/Guam (piece concept). Domestic 0-20 kg by fare. |
| Weight limit | Max 32 kg (70 lb) per individual piece |
| Typical fee | Pre-paid extra/excess baggage cheaper online than at the airport; excess from ~USD 8/kg (weight routes) or ~USD 120/bag (piece routes), varies by route |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Supersaver | Included | 7 kg carry-on + personal item | Often none free (international Asia/Pacific & domestic); buy or upgrade fare |
| Economy Saver | Included | 7 kg carry-on + personal item | ~30 kg Asia/Pacific; 2 x 23 kg Americas; ~10 kg domestic |
| Economy Value / Flex | Included | 7 kg carry-on + personal item | Up to 30 kg intl; up to 20 kg domestic |
| Premium Economy | Included | 7 kg carry-on + personal item | 35 kg Asia/Pacific; 2 x 25 kg Americas |
| Business | Included | Larger cabin allowance + personal item | 40 kg Asia/Pacific; 2 x 32 kg Americas |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
At deal prices, what does PAL’s cheapest fare actually include? On the routes we surface, Philippine Airlines’ base international Economy fare generally bundles 7 kg cabin baggage plus 1 x 23 kg checked bag – better than most low-cost long-haul carriers that charge for every checked bag.
The catch: the very cheapest Economy Supersaver promo fares can drop the free checked bag entirely, especially on intra-Asia/Pacific and domestic sectors. Before you book a PAL deal, check whether the fare is Supersaver (often hand-baggage-only) or Saver and above (checked bag included). On US/Canada/Guam routes the piece concept works in your favour – even base Economy typically gives you 2 x 23 kg pieces, generous for a transpacific fare.
Oversize, sports & special items
Weight vs piece concept – the key distinction:
- Weight concept (Philippines domestic, most of Asia, Middle East, Australia, Europe): your allowance is a single total weight (e.g. 30 kg). Split it across any number of bags, but no single piece may exceed 32 kg.
- Piece concept (US, Canada, Guam): your allowance is a fixed number of bags (typically 2 in Economy), each capped at 23 kg, plus a 158 cm linear-dimension limit per bag.
Oversize, sports & instruments: A bag over 158 cm total linear dimensions is treated as oversize and charged extra. Sports equipment (golf clubs, dive gear, surfboards, bicycles) and musical instruments are accepted as checked baggage within your allowance, or carried as excess/special items if over – some bulky items require advance notice. A small instrument that fits 56 x 36 x 23 cm can go in the cabin; a larger one needs a purchased extra seat.
Mabuhay Miles & save money: Elite-tier members get bonus allowance on top of the fare. Always pre-purchase extra baggage online or via the app – airport excess rates are notably higher than pre-paid.
2026 notes: PAL continues strict enforcement of per-kg domestic excess (around PHP 400/kg) and the piece concept on North American routes. Promo Supersaver fares increasingly ship hand-baggage-only, so the free checked bag is no longer guaranteed at the lowest fare tier.
Frequently asked questions
Does Philippine Airlines' cheapest fare include a checked bag?
Not always. Economy Saver and above generally include a free checked allowance (around 30 kg on Asia/Pacific routes, 2 x 23 kg on US/Canada/Guam). The cheapest Economy Supersaver promo fares often include no free checked bag, especially on intra-Asia and domestic flights – check the fare rules before booking.
What is Philippine Airlines' carry-on allowance?
One cabin bag up to 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in) plus one personal item up to 45 x 35 x 20 cm, with a combined weight limit of 7 kg across both items. This applies on all fares and routes.
How much checked baggage do I get on a US or Canada flight?
These routes use the piece concept. Economy typically gets 2 pieces at 23 kg (50 lb) each, Premium Economy 2 x 25 kg, and Business 2 x 32 kg. Each bag must stay within 158 cm total linear dimensions.
What is the difference between weight concept and piece concept?
Weight concept (most of Asia/Pacific, domestic) gives you a total weight allowance – e.g. 30 kg – that you split across any number of bags, with no single bag over 32 kg. Piece concept (US, Canada, Guam) gives you a set number of bags, each capped at a fixed weight.
How much does excess baggage cost on Philippine Airlines?
It varies by route. On weight-concept routes excess starts from roughly USD 8 per kg; on piece-concept (North America) routes extra bags start from around USD 120 per bag. Domestic excess runs about PHP 400/kg. Buying extra allowance online before your flight is cheaper than paying at the airport.
What is the maximum weight for a single checked bag?
No individual checked piece may exceed 32 kg (70 lb), regardless of your total allowance. Bags between 32 kg and the limit may need to be repacked, and any bag over 158 cm total linear dimensions is treated as oversize with an additional charge.
Can I bring sports equipment or a musical instrument?
Yes. Sports gear (golf, dive, surf, bicycles) and instruments count within your checked allowance, or as excess/special baggage if over – some bulky items need advance arrangement. A small instrument fitting 56 x 36 x 23 cm can go in the cabin; larger ones need a purchased extra seat.
Do Mabuhay Miles members get extra baggage?
Yes. Elite-tier Mabuhay Miles members receive additional checked baggage allowance on top of their fare's allowance, which stacks with the standard fare entitlement.