✓ Policy web-verified 2026-06-20
FlySafair’s cheapest fare is the Lite, and it gives you exactly two carry-on items and nothing in the hold. You get a 7 kg cabin bag (up to roughly 56 x 36 x 23 cm) plus a small under-seat item, and that’s it — the Lite fare includes zero checked baggage. South Africa’s biggest low-cost carrier is genuinely cheap because it strips the bag out and sells it back to you, so the headline price you see on a deal is almost always a hand-luggage-only ticket.
This is uniform across FlySafair’s network — domestic trunk routes (JNB, CPT, DUR, PLZ, GRJ) and its regional hops to Mauritius and Zanzibar all run the same Lite/Standard/Business structure. There is no long-haul carve-out where a bag suddenly comes free, because FlySafair doesn’t fly long-haul. If you want a checked bag, you either add it as a paid extra or buy up to the Standard fare. Add it at the time of booking — every other channel (call centre, airport, post-booking) costs noticeably more.
Quick facts
| Cheapest fare | Lite — hand luggage only, no checked bag |
| Cabin bag (free) | 7 kg, ~56 x 36 x 23 cm |
| Under-seat item (free) | Small bag, ~40 x 15 x 20 cm |
| Checked bag (Lite add-on) | 20 kg from ~R155 if added at booking |
| Standard fare | 1 x 20 kg checked + 7 kg cabin |
| Business fare | 2 x 23 kg checked + 7 kg cabin |
| Max bag weight | 32 kg per piece (overweight penalty applies) |
| Network | Domestic SA + regional (Mauritius, Zanzibar) |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Under-seat personal item | Small bag ~40 x 15 x 20 cm, must fit under the seat — included on every fare |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | Up to 7 kg, ~56 x 36 x 23 cm, fits the overhead bin — included on every fare incl. Lite; oversize/overweight bags charged ~R350 or gate-checked |
Checked baggage & fees
| Lite fare | No checked bag included |
| Checked bag added at booking | 20 kg from ~R155 per piece (online, second booking step) |
| Checked bag added later / at airport | ~R250 per piece (call centre, manage-booking or check-in) |
| Extra / additional bag | ~R250 per 20 kg piece |
| Max weight per piece | 32 kg (single bag limit) |
| Overweight penalty | ~R250 per bag at the airport |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lite | Yes (under-seat) | 7 kg | None — add from ~R155 |
| Standard | Yes (under-seat) | 7 kg | 1 x 20 kg included |
| Business | Yes (under-seat) | 7 kg | 2 x 23 kg included |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
On a cheap FlySafair deal fare you get a seat, a 7 kg cabin bag and an under-seat item — full stop. That’s plenty for a weekend in Cape Town with a backpack, but if you’re packing a real suitcase you’re buying a Lite ticket plus a bag, not the price on the banner. Budget around R155 per 20 kg bag if you add it during booking — that’s the cheap channel. Leave it until the airport and you’re looking at roughly R250, and an oversize 8-10 kg cabin bag at the gate gets hit for about R350 or pushed into the hold.
The honest comparison: a Lite fare plus one prepaid 20 kg bag is frequently cheaper than the Standard fare, but Standard buys you date-change flexibility too. If you need a bag AND might shift your dates, price both — sometimes the bundle wins. If your dates are locked, Lite-plus-bag is the value play.
Oversize, sports & special items
Sports equipment (golf bags, surfboards, bikes, ski gear) is charged at roughly R285 per item, per person, per flight, capped at 32 kg and maximum dimensions of about 190 x 75 x 65 cm. Anything heavier than 32 kg won’t be accepted as baggage and has to travel as cargo at your own cost — potentially on a different flight. Add sports items to your booking in advance via Manage Booking rather than gambling on space at the airport.
FlySafair runs an all-Boeing 737 fleet (737-400/-800 and now -8 MAX aircraft) on a domestic-and-regional network, so there is no premium long-haul cabin or generous intercontinental free-bag allowance to chase — the Lite/Standard/Business ladder is the whole story. Allowances and ZAR fees shift periodically.
Frequently asked questions
Does FlySafair's cheapest fare include a checked bag?
No. The Lite fare is hand-luggage only: a 7 kg cabin bag plus a small under-seat item, with no checked baggage. You must add a checked bag as a paid extra or buy up to the Standard fare.
How much is a checked bag on FlySafair?
A 20 kg checked bag costs from about R155 if you add it during the online booking (the second step). Adding it afterwards through the call centre, Manage Booking or at the airport check-in costs around R250 per piece.
What carry-on can I take for free on a Lite fare?
You get two free items: a cabin bag up to 7 kg (around 56 x 36 x 23 cm) for the overhead bin, and a small under-seat personal item (around 40 x 15 x 20 cm). Bags that exceed the size or weight are charged about R350 or sent to the hold.
What does the Standard fare include?
The Standard fare includes one 20 kg checked bag and a 7 kg cabin bag, plus date-change flexibility. It typically costs around R200 more than Lite, so it can work out similar to Lite-plus-a-prepaid-bag.
What's the maximum weight for a single FlySafair bag?
32 kg per individual piece. Bags over the included or purchased allowance that are also overweight attract a penalty of around R250 per bag at the airport. Anything over 32 kg won’t be accepted as standard baggage.
Does the free checked bag differ by route or destination?
No. FlySafair only flies domestic South African routes plus a few regional hops (Mauritius, Zanzibar), and the Lite/Standard/Business baggage structure is the same on all of them. There is no long-haul fare that includes a free bag — FlySafair doesn’t operate long-haul.
How do I fly golf clubs or a surfboard on FlySafair?
Sports equipment is charged at about R285 per item, per person, per flight, with a 32 kg weight cap and max dimensions of roughly 190 x 75 x 65 cm. Book it in advance through Manage Booking; over-32 kg items must go as cargo.
Is it cheaper to add a bag at booking or buy the Standard fare?
Lite plus a prepaid bag (from ~R155) is often the cheapest if your dates are fixed. The Standard fare bundles the bag with flexibility, so if you might change your dates, compare the two — sometimes Standard wins on total value.
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