✓ Policy web-verified 2026-06-20
Riyadh Air is Saudi Arabia’s brand-new premium carrier, flying its first paying passengers from June 2026 on a small fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners — so right now this is an all long-haul, all-international airline, not a budget short-hauler. Fares come in named bundles: Lite, Smart and Flex in Economy and Premium Economy, and Smart, Flex and Elite in Business. The cheapest economy seat is the Lite bundle, and on a launch-fare deal you should assume it is built around the cabin bag — checked baggage is the lever Riyadh Air uses to separate Lite from the dearer Smart and Flex tiers.
Because every Riyadh Air route is a full-service intercontinental sector (London, Dubai, Cairo, Madrid, Manchester and Jeddah at launch), the carry-on allowance is generous by deal-fare standards — a real cabin bag plus a personal item, not the personal-item-only treatment you get from a European low-cost carrier. Riyadh Air has not yet published a final, granular baggage table, so we treat the exact per-bundle weights and dimensions below as best-available rather than gospel — confirm on your specific booking before you pack.
Quick facts
| Fleet / network | Boeing 787-9, all long-haul international (launched June 2026) |
| Cheapest fare | Economy Lite — cabin bag focused, checked bag is a paid add-on |
| Cabin bag (Economy) | 1 bag, ~7 kg, plus a personal item |
| Checked bag (Lite) | Not included as standard — add at booking |
| Checked bag (Smart / Flex) | 1+ checked bag included (typically 23 kg pieces) |
| Economy checked (when included) | Up to 2 x 23 kg, full-service standard |
| Business checked | Up to 2 x 32 kg |
| Max single bag | 32 kg / 300 cm total dimensions |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal item | Small under-seat item (handbag/laptop bag) — included on every fare, including Lite |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | 1 bag, approx 7 kg in Economy (2 bags in Business); standard ~55 x 40 x 20 cm trolley size. Included on Lite and above |
Checked baggage & fees
| Economy Lite | No checked bag as standard — purchase at booking or check-in |
| Economy Smart / Flex | Checked bag included (typically 1-2 pieces at 23 kg each) |
| Business | Up to 2 pieces at 32 kg each |
| Per-bag weight limit | 32 kg max per piece; 300 cm total dimensions |
| Extra / prepaid bag fee | Varies by route, date and channel; cheaper prepaid online than at the airport |
Baggage by region & route
Checked-bag inclusion on the cheapest fare can depend on where you fly, not just the fare name. Here is what the lowest fare includes by route:
| Route / region | Cheapest fare includes |
|---|---|
| All Riyadh Air routes (long-haul international) | Lite: no checked bag; Smart/Flex: checked bag included |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite (Economy) | Included | 1 bag ~7 kg | Paid add-on |
| Smart (Economy) | Included | 1 bag ~7 kg | Included (~23 kg) |
| Flex (Economy) | Included | 1 bag ~7 kg | Included (often 2 x 23 kg) |
| Business (Smart/Flex/Elite) | Included | 2 bags ~7 kg | Up to 2 x 32 kg |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
What you actually get on a cheap Riyadh Air deal fare: a launch-price ticket is almost always the Economy Lite bundle. That gets you a proper cabin bag (around 7 kg) plus an under-seat personal item — comfortable for a short trip or a carry-on-only traveller, but no checked bag in the base price. Riyadh Air, like every Gulf full-service carrier, monetises the hold: the difference between Lite and Smart is essentially the checked allowance.
If you need to check a bag, you have two options — buy a bag onto the Lite fare, or book up to Smart, which bundles the checked allowance in. Run the maths both ways at booking: on a long-haul fare the prepaid bag fee is often only modestly less than the Lite-to-Smart upgrade, and Smart usually throws in seat selection and easier changes too. Budget for the bag at the time of booking — adding it at the airport is the most expensive way to do it.
Oversize, sports & special items
Sports equipment, musical instruments and oversize items follow standard full-service rules: anything over 32 kg per piece or 300 cm total dimensions must be arranged as special/cargo baggage rather than checked normally, and bulky gear (bikes, golf, skis) is usually carried within or in place of your checked allowance for a handling fee — declare it before you travel. A musical instrument too large for the overhead can be carried as cabin baggage only if you buy an extra seat for it.
2025/2026 note: Riyadh Air only entered commercial service in June 2026 on the Boeing 787-9, so its baggage rules are new and still settling. The airline has signalled the Lite/Smart/Flex/Elite bundle structure but has not published a fully detailed, route-by-route baggage table. Expect the policy to firm up — and an Airbus A321 narrowbody and A350-1000 widebody to join the fleet — through 2026, which may add shorter regional routes with their own allowances.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cheapest Riyadh Air fare include a checked bag?
No. The cheapest economy fare is the Lite bundle, which is built around the cabin bag and a personal item. A checked bag is a paid add-on on Lite. Step up to the Smart or Flex bundle to get a checked allowance included.
What is Riyadh Air's carry-on / cabin baggage allowance?
Economy passengers get one cabin bag of roughly 7 kg plus a small personal item that fits under the seat, on every fare including Lite. Business passengers typically get two cabin bags. A standard ~55 x 40 x 20 cm trolley should be fine.
How many checked bags does Riyadh Air Economy include?
It depends on the bundle. Lite includes none as standard; Smart and Flex include a checked allowance, generally one to two pieces at 23 kg each. Always confirm the exact number shown on your specific booking, as Riyadh Air’s detailed table is still new.
What is the maximum weight for a single Riyadh Air bag?
Each individual bag must not exceed 32 kg and 300 cm in total dimensions (length plus width plus height). Anything heavier or larger has to be handled as oversize or special baggage, not a normal checked piece.
Does Riyadh Air's checked-bag rule change by region or route?
Not meaningfully right now — every Riyadh Air route is a long-haul international sector, so the same bundle logic applies everywhere: Lite has no checked bag, Smart and Flex include one. There is no domestic or transatlantic ‘Basic’ tier with different rules, because the airline currently flies only intercontinental routes.
How much does it cost to add a checked bag to a Lite fare?
Riyadh Air hasn’t published a fixed fee — it varies by route, date and where you buy it. As with all carriers, prepaying online when you book is cheaper than adding the bag at the airport. Compare the add-a-bag price against simply booking the Smart bundle, which often costs about the same and includes more.
What's the difference between Lite, Smart and Flex on Riyadh Air?
Lite is the cheapest, cabin-bag-focused fare. Smart adds a checked baggage allowance plus typically seat selection. Flex adds more flexibility (changes, often a second checked bag). Business uses Smart, Flex and Elite tiers instead.
How much checked baggage does Riyadh Air Business Class allow?
Business Class passengers can expect up to two checked bags at 32 kg each, plus two cabin bags — the standard generous Gulf full-service business allowance. The exact figure is confirmed on your booking.
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