✓ Policy web-verified 2026-07-06
Good news up front: on Air Austral’s long-haul routes — the Boeing 777 workhorse flights between Réunion and Paris, plus the Bangkok service — the standard economy fare, called Loisirs, includes 1 checked bag of 23 kg. This is a proper French long-haul carrier, not a low-cost outfit, so a hold bag is the default rather than an upsell. Cabin baggage in economy runs to roughly 12 kg across your main bag plus a personal accessory.
The catch is the newer Light fare. Air Austral has followed the industry and now sells a stripped economy ticket that includes no checked bag at all — cabin only. It shows up cheapest in search results, so if you are flying with a suitcase, read the fare name before you pay. Loisirs bundles the bag; Light does not.
Regional Indian Ocean hops — Réunion to Mayotte, Mauritius, the Comoros, Madagascar and the Seychelles — work differently again: they use a weight concept rather than a piece count, so your Loisirs allowance there is a total of about 25 kg you can split across bags however you like.
Quick facts
| Long-haul Loisirs (economy) checked | 1 × 23 kg |
| Light fare checked | None — cabin only |
| Confort (premium economy) checked | 2 × 23 kg |
| Club Austral (business) checked | 2 × 32 kg |
| Regional Loisirs allowance | 25 kg total (weight concept) |
| Cabin bag (economy) | ~12 kg incl. accessory |
| Max weight per checked piece | 32 kg (158 cm total) |
| Extra bag (long-haul) | €80 online / €100 at airport |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Economy (Loisirs / Light) | One cabin bag plus one personal accessory (handbag or laptop bag), combined weight around 12 kg |
| Confort / Club Austral | Two cabin pieces plus one accessory, combined weight up to roughly 18 kg |
Checked baggage & fees
| Long-haul Light fare | No checked bag included — cabin only; add a bag from €80 online |
| Long-haul Loisirs (economy) | 1 × 23 kg included |
| Long-haul Confort (premium economy) | 2 × 23 kg included |
| Long-haul Club Austral (business) | 2 × 32 kg included |
| Regional Loisirs | 25 kg total, weight concept — split across bags as you like |
| Regional Confort / Club Austral | 30 kg / 40 kg total, weight concept |
| Overweight / oversize | Excess fees apply; nothing over 32 kg per piece or 158 cm is accepted |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
The money decision is the Light-versus-Loisirs gap. Air Austral charges €80 per extra bag online (up to 24 hours before departure) and €100 at the airport on long-haul, so a no-bag Light fare that saves you €50 up front can cost you €100 at check-in — a net loss. On a route as long as Réunion–Paris you almost certainly want a suitcase, so treat Loisirs as the real economy fare and Light as hand-luggage-only.
One quirk that catches people: the regional network uses a weight concept, not pieces. On a Réunion–Mayotte or Réunion–Mauritius flight your 25 kg is a single pooled figure — two 12 kg bags are fine, but a single 26 kg bag is over. Weigh before the airport. And note Air Austral is mid-turnaround in 2026 with a shifting fleet, so always confirm your specific fare’s allowance at booking rather than assuming last year’s rules.
Frequently asked questions
Does Air Austral include a checked bag in economy?
On long-haul routes the standard economy fare, Loisirs, includes 1 checked bag of 23 kg. However, the cheaper Light fare includes no checked bag at all — cabin baggage only. Check whether your ticket is Loisirs or Light before you assume a bag is included.
What is the Air Austral Light fare?
Light is Air Austral’s cheapest long-haul economy fare and it strips out the checked bag, giving you cabin baggage only. It is aimed at travellers going hand-luggage-only; if you need a suitcase, either buy the Loisirs fare or add a checked bag, which costs from €80 online.
How much checked baggage do I get on Reunion-Paris flights?
In economy Loisirs you get 1 piece up to 23 kg. Premium economy (Confort) gets 2 × 23 kg and business (Club Austral) gets 2 × 32 kg. No single piece may exceed 32 kg or 158 cm total dimensions.
How does baggage work on Air Austral regional Indian Ocean flights?
Regional flights — Réunion to Mayotte, Mauritius, the Comoros, Madagascar or the Seychelles — use a weight concept rather than a piece count. Economy Loisirs gives a total of about 25 kg, Confort 30 kg and Club Austral 40 kg, which you can distribute across bags as you wish.
How much does an extra checked bag cost on Air Austral?
On long-haul flights an additional bag costs €80 when bought online up to 24 hours before departure, or €100 if you pay at the airport. Buying in advance is clearly cheaper, and choosing the Loisirs fare instead of Light is often cheaper still if you know you need a bag.
What is the Air Austral cabin baggage allowance?
In economy you may carry one cabin bag plus one personal accessory such as a handbag or laptop bag, with a combined weight of around 12 kg. Confort and Club Austral passengers get more — two cabin pieces plus an accessory, up to roughly 18 kg combined.
What is the maximum weight for a single checked bag?
No individual checked piece may weigh more than 32 kg or exceed 158 cm in total dimensions. Bags over 32 kg are refused at check-in and must be shipped as cargo. Overweight or oversize pieces within those limits are carried for an excess fee.