✓ Policy web-verified 2026-06-20
Shanghai Airlines (FM) is a wholly-owned China Eastern subsidiary, and its baggage rules follow the standard Chinese-carrier split: weight concept on domestic flights, piece concept internationally. The good news on a cheap deal fare is that the bag situation is more generous than a European low-cost ticket — but the trap is the cabin allowance, not the hold. On the cheapest economy fares you get one cabin bag at 55 x 40 x 20 cm, capped at just 5 kg (China’s domestic standard), plus one small personal item. That 5 kg ceiling is brutally low and is the line that catches most travelers.
On the hold, the cheapest domestic economy fare includes 20 kg of free checked baggage outright — no add-on needed. On international routes the standard economy fare is piece concept and typically includes 2 checked bags up to 23 kg each, but the rock-bottom Basic Economy bucket on some long-haul routes can drop you to 1 bag or zero. Always read the fare bullet on the booking page before you assume the bag is in there.
Quick facts
| Free personal item | Small under-seat article (laptop bag / handbag) |
| Cabin bag | 55 x 40 x 20 cm, max 5 kg (economy) |
| Domestic checked (economy) | 20 kg free, weight concept |
| International checked (economy) | Usually 2 x 23 kg, piece concept |
| Piece size limit | Sum of 3 sides ≤ 158 cm |
| Business/First cabin | 2 bags, up to 10 kg each |
| Basic Economy | May include 0-1 checked bag on some long-haul routes |
| Parent carrier | China Eastern (shared baggage framework) |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal item | One small under-seat article (handbag, laptop bag, small backpack) — no separate published weight, must fit under the seat |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | 1 bag, 55 x 40 x 20 cm, up to 5 kg in economy (10 kg each, 2 bags in Business/First). Included on all fares but the 5 kg cap is strict |
Checked baggage & fees
| Domestic economy | 20 kg free (weight concept); Business 30 kg; First 40 kg |
| International economy (standard) | Typically 2 pieces, each ≤ 23 kg, sum of 3 sides ≤ 158 cm |
| International Basic Economy | Reduced — 0 to 1 piece on some routes; check the fare rules |
| International Business/First | 2-3 pieces, each ≤ 32 kg |
| Excess / extra bag fee | Varies by route, weight and channel — buy online before the airport, where it is cheaper than the gate |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic Economy | 1 small item | 1 x 5 kg | 20 kg included |
| Intl Economy (standard) | 1 small item | 1 x 5 kg | 2 x 23 kg (usually) |
| Intl Basic Economy | 1 small item | 1 x 5 kg | 0-1 bag, route-dependent |
| Business / First | 1 small item | 2 x 10 kg | 2-3 x 32 kg |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
What you actually get on a cheap Shanghai Airlines deal fare: if it’s a domestic Chinese sector, you’re fine — 20 kg in the hold and a cabin bag are baked in, no add-on. If it’s an international deal fare, the answer hinges entirely on whether you’ve bought a standard economy ticket (usually 2 x 23 kg included — genuinely generous for the price) or a stripped Basic Economy bucket, which can hand you zero hold bags on certain long-haul routes.
The real budget item isn’t the hold — it’s the 5 kg cabin limit. That’s lower than almost any Western carrier, and Shanghai Airlines does weigh cabin bags at check-in for international departures. If you’re a carry-on-only traveler, plan around it: a 23 kg checked bag is often already included, so use it rather than fighting the 5 kg cabin cap. If your fare genuinely excludes the hold bag, add it online before you reach the airport — a pre-paid bag is materially cheaper than buying one at the gate.
Oversize, sports & special items
Oversize, sports and musical-instrument items follow China Eastern’s framework: anything over 158 cm (sum of three sides) or 32 kg per piece is treated as oversize/overweight and carries surcharges, booked in advance. Bicycles, golf bags, skis and surfboards are accepted as checked sports equipment subject to size/weight fees; a fragile instrument too large to fit the 5 kg cabin allowance can be carried in the cabin on a purchased extra seat (cabin-seat baggage) or checked with protective packaging.
2025/2026 note: as a China Eastern subsidiary, Shanghai Airlines mirrors the group’s tiered international fare structure, including Basic Economy buckets that reduce or remove the free checked allowance on some routes — a change to watch on cheap long-haul tickets. The 55 x 40 x 20 cm cabin dimension aligns with the new EU cabin-bag baseline, but the 5 kg weight cap remains the binding constraint, not the size.
Australia ↔ China — you get 2 bags, not 1. Shanghai Airlines’s official baggage page lists only 1 checked piece to/from Australia and New Zealand — but the real allowance on a Standard Economy ticket to mainland China is 2 × 23 kg. This is the long-standing Oceania–China rule that the major Chinese carriers run for the student, family and daigou market, and it is what your ticket actually carries. The one exception is the cheaper “Economy Light” / “Saver” fare, which gives 1 × 23 kg; a standard economy fare gives you two.
Frequently asked questions
How much carry-on baggage can I bring on Shanghai Airlines?
Economy passengers get one cabin bag of 55 x 40 x 20 cm up to 5 kg, plus one small personal item that fits under the seat. Business and First passengers get two bags of up to 10 kg each. The 5 kg economy cap is strict and is weighed at international check-in.
Is a checked bag included on a cheap Shanghai Airlines fare?
On domestic flights, yes — economy includes 20 kg free. On international standard economy fares it’s usually 2 pieces of 23 kg each. But the cheapest Basic Economy international buckets can include only 0-1 checked bag on some routes, so always read the fare rules before booking.
What is the international checked baggage allowance in economy?
Standard international economy is piece concept: typically 2 bags, each up to 23 kg, with the sum of the three dimensions not exceeding 158 cm per piece. Reduced fares may include fewer pieces.
Does Shanghai Airlines use weight or piece concept?
Both, depending on the route. Domestic Chinese flights use weight concept (20 kg economy). International flights use piece concept (counted bags up to 23 kg each).
How much does an extra or overweight bag cost?
Excess and extra-bag fees vary by route, weight and where you buy them. Pre-paying online before you get to the airport is cheaper than buying the allowance at the check-in counter or gate.
What's the maximum size and weight per checked bag?
Per checked piece the limit is a sum of three sides not exceeding 158 cm. Each economy piece should not exceed 23 kg; Business/First pieces can go up to 32 kg. Anything heavier or larger is charged as oversize/overweight.
Can I carry a musical instrument or sports equipment?
Yes. Large instruments that exceed the 5 kg cabin allowance can be carried on a purchased extra cabin seat or checked with protective packing. Bicycles, golf bags, skis and surfboards are accepted as checked sports equipment subject to size and weight fees, booked in advance.
Is Shanghai Airlines the same as China Eastern for baggage?
Shanghai Airlines (FM) is a wholly-owned China Eastern subsidiary and follows the same baggage framework — weight concept domestically, piece concept internationally — though it publishes its own conditions of carriage, so confirm the exact allowance on your specific fare.