✓ Policy web-verified 2026-06-19
Air Seychelles is a refreshing throwback: even its cheapest international economy ticket includes a genuinely generous 30 kg of checked baggage — no add-on, no fare bundle, no fine print to decode. In an era where most carriers have stripped the hold bag out of the headline fare, the national airline of the Seychelles still does it the old-fashioned way, by cabin class rather than by drip-priced upsell. That makes it one of the more honest bags-included deals flying into the Indian Ocean.
There are still three things that catch people out, and none of them are obvious: the 32 kg ceiling on any single bag, the surprisingly steep walk-up excess-baggage fees, and the completely separate (and much tighter) rules on the little domestic Mahé–Praslin hop, where residents and non-residents get different allowances. Here’s everything that matters, with the numbers that actually appear on your ticket.
Quick facts
- Economy checked bag: 30 kg included on international flights — even on the cheapest fare.
- Business checked bag: 40 kg included.
- Cabin baggage: 7 kg economy / 12 kg business, one piece up to 55 × 40 × 20 cm.
- Hard limit: no single bag may weigh more than 32 kg, whatever your total allowance.
- Excess: an extra 5 kg costs USD 20 online, USD 25 at a sales office, USD 30 at the airport.
Cabin bag & personal item
Air Seychelles keeps cabin baggage simple — one piece, by weight, with a generous business allowance. The dimension limit is the same in both cabins; only the weight changes.
| Cabin | Hand baggage | Max dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 1 piece, up to 7 kg | 55 × 40 × 20 cm |
| Business | 1 piece, up to 12 kg | 55 × 40 × 20 cm |
Crew do weigh cabin bags at the gate on busy long-haul departures, so the 7 kg economy figure is worth respecting — it’s the one allowance Air Seychelles is genuinely strict about, precisely because the checked allowance is so roomy.
Checked baggage & fees
The headline allowance is by cabin, not by fare type — which is the whole point of flying a full-service carrier here. The fees only come into play once you go over.
| Fare / situation | Checked allowance | Key limit or fee |
|---|---|---|
| Economy (international) | 30 kg | No bag over 32 kg |
| Business (international) | 40 kg | No bag over 32 kg |
| Excess baggage | +5 kg blocks | USD 20 online / USD 25 office / USD 30 airport |
The 30 kg is a total weight you can split across pieces — but remember the per-bag rule: a single 35 kg suitcase is not allowed even if you’re under your overall allowance, because no individual bag may exceed 32 kg. Pack two medium cases rather than one monster, and you’ll never see a handling problem.
What each fare includes
Unlike a low-cost carrier, Air Seychelles doesn’t sell you the bag back fare-tier by fare-tier. The allowance follows your cabin — with one important exception for the inter-island domestic flights, which run on their own, much tighter rulebook.
| Cabin / route | Hand | Checked | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy (international) | 7 kg | 30 kg | Included on every economy fare, even the lowest |
| Business (international) | 12 kg | 40 kg | Plus priority handling |
| Domestic Mahé–Praslin (resident) | 5 kg | 15 kg | 20 kg total, point-to-point |
| Domestic Mahé–Praslin (non-resident) | 5 kg | 23 kg | 28 kg total, point-to-point |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
This is the rare guide where the news is good. Book the cheapest Air Seychelles international economy seat you can find and you still walk on with the full 30 kg checked + 7 kg cabin — there is no “light” or “basic” fare that quietly removes the hold bag the way Europe’s full-service carriers now do on long-haul. For a beach-and-bags destination like the Seychelles, that’s genuinely valuable: most travellers fly home heavier than they arrived.
The one move that saves real money: if you know you’ll be over, buy the extra weight online before you fly. At USD 20 per 5 kg online versus USD 30 at the airport counter, the walk-up rate is 50% more for the exact same allowance — and that gap only widens on a family booking. Never settle up at the gate if you can help it.
Oversize, sports & special items
A checked bag may measure up to 90 × 75 × 43 cm; anything larger is treated as oversize and may need to travel as cargo or attract a handling charge. Sports equipment — golf clubs, dive gear, the kind of kit people actually bring to the Seychelles — counts toward your 30 kg allowance rather than flying free, so factor it into the weight rather than assuming a separate concession. Diving cylinders must be empty and valve-open to be accepted. Infants in economy are typically allowed a modest checked allowance plus a collapsible pushchair carried free; confirm the exact figure when you book, as it varies with the fare. For anything heavy, fragile or unusually shaped, contact Air Seychelles ahead of travel rather than gambling at the check-in desk.
Frequently asked questions
Is a checked bag included in Air Seychelles’ cheapest fare?
Yes. Unlike a low-cost carrier, Air Seychelles includes a full 30 kg checked allowance on every international economy fare, including the lowest — there is no stripped-back “light” fare that removes the hold bag.
How much checked baggage does Air Seychelles economy allow?
30 kg on international flights, carried by weight (you can split it across more than one bag). Business class gets 40 kg. No single bag may weigh more than 32 kg.
What is Air Seychelles’ cabin baggage allowance?
One piece up to 7 kg in economy and up to 12 kg in business, with maximum dimensions of 55 × 40 × 20 cm. Cabin bags are weighed at the gate on busy long-haul flights.
What is the maximum weight for a single Air Seychelles bag?
32 kg per individual piece. Even if you’re within your total allowance, a single bag heavier than 32 kg won’t be accepted as normal checked baggage — split the weight across two cases instead.
How much does excess baggage cost on Air Seychelles?
An additional 5 kg costs USD 20 if bought online, USD 25 at a sales office, or USD 30 at the airport. Always pre-purchase online — the airport rate is 50% more for the same allowance.
What’s the baggage allowance on the domestic Mahé–Praslin flight?
It’s separate and much tighter. Residents get 20 kg total (15 kg checked + 5 kg hand); non-residents get 28 kg total (23 kg checked + 5 kg hand), per person, point-to-point. Plan to leave heavy bags at your Mahé hotel if you’re island-hopping.
What are the maximum checked bag dimensions on Air Seychelles?
A checked bag may measure up to 90 × 75 × 43 cm. Larger items are treated as oversize and may need to travel as cargo or attract an extra handling charge.
Does sports equipment fly free on Air Seychelles?
No — golf, dive and similar equipment counts toward your 30 kg economy allowance rather than travelling as a free extra, so weigh it in. Diving cylinders must be empty with the valve open. Contact the airline ahead for oversized or unusual items.