✓ Policy web-verified 2026-06-20
Spring Airlines (9C) is China’s original ultra-low-cost carrier, and it prices like one. On the cheapest fares — the website/app-exclusive promo tickets and the lowest domestic classes (P/R/X/U/E) — you get one 7 kg carry-on (40 x 30 x 20 cm) and zero free checked baggage. That carry-on limit is genuinely strict: 7 kg domestic, 5 kg on most international sectors, and they weigh it. Anything in the hold is an extra purchase.
The one bright spot is international routes. On Spring’s own international flights the cheapest non-SpringPlus fare comes with a 15 kg combined carry-on + checked allowance — not a separate free hold bag, but a shared 15 kg pool you can split between cabin and hold. Buy up to SpringPlus and you get 20 kg of dedicated checked baggage plus a 10 kg carry-on. So the answer to “does the cheap fare include a bag?” depends entirely on where you’re flying: domestic and promo = nothing, international basic = a 15 kg shared pool.
Quick facts
| Free carry-on (domestic) | 1 piece, 7 kg, 40 x 30 x 20 cm |
| Free carry-on (international) | 1 piece, ~5 kg, 40 x 30 x 20 cm |
| Checked bag on cheapest domestic/promo fare | None included |
| Checked allowance on international basic fare | 15 kg combined (cabin + checked) |
| SpringPlus checked allowance | 20 kg checked + 10 kg carry-on |
| Add a bag online (prepaid) | from ~CNY 150 per 5 kg block |
| Add a bag at the gate | CNY 300 (domestic) / CNY 500 (intl) per piece ≤10 kg |
| Currency | Fees charged in CNY/RMB |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Carry-on (standard fare) | 1 piece, 40 x 30 x 20 cm, max 7 kg domestic / ~5 kg international — included on every fare |
| Carry-on (SpringPlus / upgraded) | 1 piece, 55 x 40 x 20 cm, max 10 kg — included with SpringPlus or buyable for RMB 160 domestic / RMB 220 international |
Checked baggage & fees
| Cheapest domestic / website-exclusive fare | No free checked bag |
| International basic (non-SpringPlus) | 15 kg combined carry-on + checked |
| SpringPlus fare | 20 kg checked baggage included |
| Prepaid extra baggage (online) | from ~CNY 150 per 5 kg, cheaper than airport |
| Excess at check-in counter | ~CNY 300 per piece ≤ 10 kg (domestic) |
| Excess at boarding gate | CNY 300 domestic / CNY 500 international per piece ≤ 10 kg |
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 |
|---|---|
| Domestic China (P/R/X/U/E classes) | No checked bag |
| Domestic China (Y class) | 15 kg combined carry-on + checked |
| International (basic, non-SpringPlus) | 15 kg combined carry-on + checked |
| Any route, SpringPlus fare | 20 kg checked + 10 kg carry-on |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Promo / website-exclusive | 7 kg (5 kg intl) | Included | None |
| Standard / Y class | 7 kg (5 kg intl) | Included | 15 kg combined (intl) / none (dom) |
| SpringPlus | 10 kg | Included | 20 kg |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
On a cheap Spring Airlines deal fare, treat the headline price as the seat and the cabin bag only — nothing more on domestic and promo tickets. The 7 kg carry-on is the hard ceiling, and at 40 x 30 x 20 cm it’s smaller than the 55 cm cabin bags most LCCs allow; pack like it’s hand-luggage-only, because it is. International basic fares are friendlier: the 15 kg combined pool means a small soft bag in the hold is feasible without paying extra, as long as your cabin bag eats into that 15 kg.
If you actually need real luggage, budget the bag in before you fly. Prepaying online (from roughly CNY 150 per 5 kg block) is dramatically cheaper than the gate, where a single piece runs CNY 300 domestic or CNY 500 international. The cleanest move on most trips is to buy SpringPlus outright — it bundles a 20 kg hold bag plus the bigger 10 kg carry-on, and on a deal fare that’s usually still cheaper than a full-service ticket. Never roll up to the gate with an unpaid bag.
Oversize, sports & special items
Oversized, sports and special baggage (golf clubs, bicycles, instruments, surfboards) must be arranged in advance and travels as paid checked baggage subject to size/weight limits and excess fees — there is no free sports allowance on the low-cost fares. Items beyond standard dimensions are charged by weight bracket on top of any allowance, so confirm the piece is accepted on your route before booking.
2025/2026 note: Spring continues to push its website/app-exclusive promo fares that strip the hold bag entirely, while the carry-on can be upgraded to 55 x 40 x 20 cm / 10 kg for RMB 160 (domestic) or RMB 220 (international). Don’t confuse Spring Airlines (9C, mainland China) with its affiliate Spring Japan (IJ), which sells separate Basic / SpringPlus fare bundles (e.g. 20 kg vs 30 kg checked) with different numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cheapest Spring Airlines fare include a checked bag?
It depends on the route. Domestic China promo and low-class fares (P/R/X/U/E) include no free checked baggage — just the 7 kg carry-on. International basic fares include a 15 kg combined carry-on + checked allowance, which you can split between cabin and hold.
How big and heavy can my Spring Airlines carry-on be?
The standard free carry-on is one piece up to 40 x 30 x 20 cm, max 7 kg on domestic flights and around 5 kg on international flights. SpringPlus or a paid upgrade raises it to 55 x 40 x 20 cm and 10 kg.
What is SpringPlus and is it worth buying?
SpringPlus is Spring’s upgraded fare bundle: 20 kg of dedicated checked baggage plus a 10 kg carry-on. If you need real luggage it’s usually the cheapest path to a hold bag, and far cheaper than paying at the gate.
How much does it cost to add a checked bag to Spring Airlines?
Prepaying online starts from roughly CNY 150 per 5 kg block and is the cheapest option. At the boarding gate a single piece up to 10 kg costs CNY 300 on domestic flights and CNY 500 on international flights — always prepay.
What does the 15 kg combined allowance mean on international flights?
On international basic (non-SpringPlus) fares your carry-on and checked baggage share a single 15 kg pool rather than getting separate allowances. A heavier cabin bag leaves less for the hold and vice versa.
Can I upgrade just my carry-on size on Spring Airlines?
Yes. You can upgrade the carry-on to 55 x 40 x 20 cm and 10 kg for RMB 160 on domestic flights or RMB 220 on international flights, without buying the full SpringPlus bundle.
Are sports equipment and instruments included on cheap fares?
No. Golf clubs, bikes, surfboards and instruments must be pre-arranged as paid checked/special baggage and are charged on top of any allowance. There’s no free sports allowance on the low-cost fares.
Is Spring Airlines the same as Spring Japan for baggage?
No. Spring Airlines (9C, mainland China) and Spring Japan (IJ) are related but separate carriers with different fare bundles and allowances. g. 20 kg vs 30 kg) differ from 9C’s.