✓ Policy web-verified 2026-06-20
Air Busan (BX) is South Korea’s Busan-based low-cost carrier, and like most LCCs your bag situation depends entirely on where you’re flying and which fare you booked. The good news that most guides bury: on US and Guam routes the cheapest fare still includes two checked bags at 23 kg each — Air Busan treats those long-haul trans-Pacific routes on the piece concept, so even a bargain Busan-Guam ticket comes with 2×23 kg. That is genuinely generous for an LCC.
Everywhere else, watch out. On regional international routes (Japan, China, Vietnam, the rest of Asia) a standard fare includes one 15 kg checked bag, but the cheapest promotional fares — the “Thunder Deal” and super-special deal fares — include NO checked baggage at all. Domestic Korean fares give you 15 kg. So the headline rule is route-dependent: a checked bag is baked into the cheapest US/Guam fare, optional on standard Asia fares, and stripped from the cheapest Asia deal fares. Everyone gets a 10 kg carry-on regardless.
Quick facts
| Free carry-on | 10 kg, max 115 cm total (≈ 55 x 40 x 20 cm) |
| Personal item | 1 small item (handbag/laptop bag), under the seat |
| Cheapest fare — US / Guam | 2 x 23 kg checked included |
| Cheapest fare — Asia promo/Thunder Deal | No checked bag |
| Standard international (Asia) | 1 x 15 kg checked |
| Domestic (Korea) | 1 x 15 kg checked |
| Checked size limit | 203 cm combined; max 32 kg per bag |
| Excess fee | From ~KRW 16,000-18,000 per kg (varies by route) |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal item | 1 small item — handbag, laptop bag, coat, umbrella, reading material. Stored under the seat in front. Included on every fare. |
| Carry-on bag | 1 piece up to 10 kg, max 115 cm total (length + width + depth, ≈ 55 x 40 x 20 cm). Included on every fare including the cheapest deal fare. |
Checked baggage & fees
| Domestic (Korea) | 1 x 15 kg included on standard fares |
| International — Asia (standard fare) | 1 x 15 kg included |
| International — Asia (promo / Thunder Deal) | No free checked bag — buy it |
| US / Guam routes (all fares) | 2 x 23 kg included |
| Size limit | Max 203 cm combined dimensions per bag |
| Weight cap | Up to 32 kg per piece; bags over ~45 kg (99 lb) not accepted |
| Excess / extra weight | From ~KRW 16,000-18,000 per kg on Asia routes; cheaper if pre-purchased online than at the airport |
| Extra piece (3rd+ bag) | Roughly USD 85-95 per bag, varies by region |
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 |
|---|---|
| US / Guam routes | 2 x 23 kg checked included |
| International Asia — standard fare | 1 x 15 kg checked included |
| International Asia — promo / Thunder Deal fare | No checked bag |
| Domestic Korea — standard fare | 1 x 15 kg checked included |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
What you actually get on a cheap Air Busan deal fare depends on the map. Book a deal fare to Guam or the US and you’re already carrying 2×23 kg checked plus a 10 kg cabin bag — nothing to add, and that’s a lot of allowance for a deal price. Book the cheapest Asia fare (the Thunder Deal / super-special promo) and you get only the 10 kg carry-on; the checked bag is gone. A standard (non-promo) Asia fare restores one 15 kg checked bag.
So before you celebrate a cheap Air Busan Asia fare, check whether it’s a promo fare with zero checked allowance. If it is, budget to add a bag — pre-purchasing online is significantly cheaper than the airport counter, and on a short Asia hop the per-kg excess charge (~KRW 16,000-18,000/kg) adds up fast if you wing it on the day. The 15 kg standard limit is also tight by LCC standards, so a single checked bag over 15 kg can tip you into per-kg excess even on a standard fare.
Oversize, sports & special items
Oversize, sports and special equipment (golf clubs, skis, bicycles, surfboards) are accepted as checked baggage subject to the 203 cm / weight limits and usually carry an additional handling charge or count against your piece allowance — declare and pre-book them rather than turning up at the gate. Musical instruments can travel as checked baggage within size limits, or you can buy an extra seat for a fragile instrument you want in the cabin. Bags over roughly 45 kg (99 lb) are refused outright. Pets in an approved under-seat carrier are accepted on most routes for a fee (around USD 125 one-way, higher on some international sectors).
Note the corporate backdrop: Air Busan is part of the Jeju Air / Aero K consolidation reshaping Korea’s LCC sector, and fare-bundle names and promo terms shift with that — always confirm the checked allowance shown at the moment of booking, because the “deal” fare you’re looking at may be the no-bag tier.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cheapest Air Busan fare include a checked bag?
It depends on the route. On US and Guam routes, yes — even the cheapest fare includes two 23 kg checked bags. On regional Asia routes, the cheapest promotional fares (Thunder Deal / super-special) include no checked bag; only standard fares include one 15 kg bag.
How much carry-on can I bring on Air Busan?
One carry-on up to 10 kg with combined dimensions under 115 cm (roughly 55 x 40 x 20 cm), plus one small personal item such as a handbag or laptop bag that fits under the seat. This is included on every fare.
Why do US and Guam routes get more baggage?
Air Busan applies the piece concept to its trans-Pacific US and Guam routes, granting two 23 kg checked bags on all fares — far more generous than its weight-based Asia routes, where the standard allowance is a single 15 kg bag.
What is the checked baggage weight limit on Asia routes?
Standard international and domestic fares include one 15 kg checked bag (max 203 cm combined dimensions). Individual bags can weigh up to 32 kg with excess charges; bags over about 45 kg (99 lb) are not accepted.
How much does it cost to add a checked bag?
On Asia routes, excess and extra weight runs roughly KRW 16,000-18,000 per kg, and an extra third bag is around USD 85-95. Pre-purchasing online is noticeably cheaper than paying at the airport, and exact fees vary by route and date.
What is a Thunder Deal fare and does it include a bag?
Thunder Deal (and other super-special promotional fares) are Air Busan’s deepest-discount Asia fares. They include only the 10 kg carry-on — no free checked baggage. You must buy any checked bag separately.
Can I bring sports equipment or a musical instrument?
Yes, as checked baggage within the 203 cm size limit, usually for an extra handling fee or against your piece allowance. Pre-book oversize and sports items. Fragile instruments can travel in the cabin if you buy an extra seat.
Is the carry-on allowance the same on every Air Busan fare?
Yes. Every fare, including the cheapest no-bag Asia deal fares, includes the 10 kg / 115 cm carry-on plus a small under-seat personal item. Only the checked allowance changes by fare and route.
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