✓ Policy web-verified
On Air Transat, where you are flying decides your baggage before the fare name does. Air Transat splits its network into two groups, and its own fare pages describe them differently. On flights to Europe, Africa, Peru and Brazil, even the cheapest Eco Budget fare includes a full-size carry-on bag, and Eco Standard adds one free 23 kg checked bag. On flights to and from the South, Florida and within Canada, Air Transat states that carry-on baggage is not permitted on the Eco Budget or Eco Promo fare at all — you travel with an under-seat personal item only, unless you pay or upgrade.
So the useful question is not “what does Eco Budget include?” but “what does Eco Budget include on my route?” Air Transat gives the same instruction on its baggage page: “Review the baggage allowance (carry-on and checked baggage) for your flight before departure.” A personal item is the only thing included everywhere, on every fare.
Quick facts
| Cheapest fare | Eco Budget (Eco Promo is the same baggage tier) |
| Free personal item | 43 x 13 x 31 cm, under the seat — all fares, all routes |
| Carry-on bag size | 55 x 40 x 23 cm including handles and wheels |
| Carry-on weight limit | None published — it must be light enough for you to lift into the overhead bin unassisted |
| Eco Budget carry-on | Included to Europe, Africa, Peru and Brazil; not permitted to/from the South, Florida or within Canada |
| Checked bag (Eco Budget) | None — paid extra, or included if you add Option Plus |
| Checked weight limit | 23 kg per bag, 158 cm linear (length + width + height) |
| Bag bought within 24 h of departure | CA $100 first bag · CA $145 second · CA $230 additional |
Baggage by region & route
This is the split that catches people out. Air Transat’s own fare pages state the carry-on and the Eco Standard checked bag as region-dependent:
| Route group | Eco Budget / Eco Promo includes | Eco Standard adds |
|---|---|---|
| Europe, Africa, Peru and Brazil (includes Morocco and Senegal) |
Personal item + carry-on bag. No checked bag. | One checked bag, 23 kg |
| The South, Florida, and domestic Canada | Personal item only — carry-on baggage is not permitted on this fare | Carry-on bag; check what your specific fare shows for a checked bag at booking |
Air Transat treats Peru as separate from “the South” in its own fee tables, and names Florida rather than the United States as a whole in the carry-on restriction — so read those two words literally rather than assuming “South America” or “the US.”
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal item | 43 x 13 x 31 cm, must fit under the seat in front of you. Free on all fares, all routes, including Eco Budget. It is tagged at the gate. |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | 55 x 40 x 23 cm including handles and wheels. One per passenger if permitted with your fare. Included from Eco Standard up; on Eco Budget and Eco Promo it is included to Europe, Africa, Peru and Brazil but not permitted to/from the South, Florida or within Canada. |
| Carry-on weight | Air Transat publishes no carry-on weight limit. Its rule is that the bag must be light enough for you to place in the overhead bin unassisted. |
| Gate-checking | Because cabin space is limited, Air Transat may require your carry-on to be checked at the boarding gate. Keep documents and medication in your personal item. |
Checked baggage & fees
Air Transat groups its six fares into two baggage tiers, and Option Plus — a paid bundle — shifts both of them. This is the airline’s own table:
| Eco Budget / Eco Promo | + Option Plus | Eco Standard / Eco Flex | + Option Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on | Included where your route permits it | Included | Included | Included |
| 1st checked bag | Paid | Included | Included | Included |
| 2nd checked bag | Paid | Paid | Paid | Included |
Note that Eco Flex does not carry two free checked bags. It sits in the same baggage tier as Eco Standard — one included bag; the second is paid unless you add Option Plus. Eco Flex buys you free changes and cancellations, not extra luggage. Club is the only fare that includes two checked bags outright, along with a carry-on and a personal item.
What a bag costs
Air Transat does not publish an advance price for checked baggage. It states that fees are shown during booking or in Manage My Booking, and that they depend on the ticketing date, the direction of travel and the country website you buy from. The figures it does publish are the late ones:
| Charge | Published price |
|---|---|
| 1st bag bought 24 h or less before departure | CA $100 |
| 2nd bag bought 24 h or less before departure | CA $145 |
| Additional bag bought 24 h or less before departure | CA $230 |
| Overweight (over 23 kg, up to a maximum of 32 kg) | CA $100 (US $100 / €80 / £65) — airport only, cannot be prepaid |
| Oversize (over 158 cm, up to a maximum of 292 cm) | CA $100 (US $100 / €80 / £65) — airport only, cannot be prepaid |
If a bag is both overweight and oversized, both fees apply. Prices are per passenger, per direction. Departing from outside Canada, the fee is fixed in the local currency: US dollars from the Caribbean, Latin and South America and Mexico; pounds sterling from the UK; euros (or local currency) from Europe and Ireland; Moroccan dirham from Morocco.
Option Plus — the add-on that changes the answer
| What it adds to baggage | One additional piece of checked baggage of 23 kg (maximum 2 checked pieces per person) |
| Other benefits | Exclusive check-in counter, priority security queue (Montreal and Ottawa), priority boarding, priority baggage delivery, free standard seat selection |
| When to buy | Up to 24 hours before departure; Air Transat advertises savings of up to 40% (it does not state against what) |
| Where it is not available | Flights within Canada. On international flights connecting through Canada, the allowance applies to both segments. |
| Can the bag be swapped for a carry-on? | No. Option Plus includes a checked bag only. |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal item | Carry-on | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eco Budget | Yes | Europe / Africa / Peru / Brazil only | None |
| Eco Promo | Yes | Europe / Africa / Peru / Brazil only | None |
| Eco Standard | Yes | Yes | 1 x 23 kg |
| Eco Flex | Yes | Yes | 1 x 23 kg (free changes, not a second bag) |
| Club / Club Flex | Yes | Yes | 2 checked bags |
Air Transat does not publish a heavier per-bag allowance for Club, so the standard 23 kg per checked bag limit is the one to pack to; 32 kg is the ceiling above which a bag is refused, not a Club entitlement.
What you actually get on a cheap fare
On a cheap Air Transat Eco Budget fare, budget for a bag — but check your region first. On a transatlantic run to Europe or Africa you keep a full carry-on for free, so a weekend trip can genuinely cost nothing extra. What Eco Budget never includes, anywhere, is a checked bag.
Two ways to add one, and they are worth comparing rather than guessing. Buying the bag on its own is the obvious route — but Option Plus includes a 23 kg checked bag plus seat selection and priority services, so on many bookings it costs little more than the bag alone and is the better value. Either way, add it during booking: the airline’s own published fee for buying inside 24 hours is CA $100 for a first bag, and Option Plus cannot be added at all in that window.
On South, Florida and domestic-Canada Eco Budget fares the squeeze is worse: you get nothing but a small under-seat personal item, and a real cabin bag is not simply an add-on — it is not permitted on that fare. Compare the all-in price against Eco Standard, which restores the carry-on; for a week-long trip with luggage it is frequently cheaper than buying extras on top of Eco Budget. Note that Option Plus is not sold on domestic Canadian flights at all.
Oversize, sports & special items
Sports gear: golf clubs, skis, snowboards, hockey bags, fishing and dive gear all travel under the standard checked-baggage fee, with two differences from a normal suitcase. First, you can prepay and preregister sports equipment only up to 72 hours before departure, not 24. Second, if the item is over 23 kg the CA $100 overweight fee applies — though golf, ski, snowboard and hockey bags are exempt from the oversize fee.
Bicycles have their own fee, not the standard one: to and from the South (excluding Peru), the USA and within Canada it is CA $50 prepaid or CA $75 at the airport (US $50/$75, €40/€60, £32/£50), with no overweight or oversize surcharge on top. The bike must be in a sturdy bag or box, handlebars turned and secured, tyres deflated and pedals removed, up to 32 kg and 292 cm. A helmet travels free. Surfboards and paddleboards are CA $100 prepaid / CA $115 at the airport.
Above 292 cm or 32 kg, Air Transat will not accept the item as baggage at all — it has to go through the cargo service.
2025 change to know: in February 2025 Air Transat removed the free carry-on from its cheapest fare on flights to and from the South, the United States and within Canada, which is when this two-tier system took its current shape. Europe and Africa routes and all-inclusive packages were exempted and kept the free Eco Budget carry-on. Air Transat’s current baggage page words the restriction as applying to the South, Florida and domestic flights within Canada.
Frequently asked questions
Does Air Transat's cheapest Eco Budget fare include a checked bag?
No. Eco Budget and Eco Promo include zero checked bags on every route. You can pay to add one, add the Option Plus bundle — which includes one 23 kg checked bag — or step up to Eco Standard, which includes one 23 kg bag on flights to Europe, Africa, Peru and Brazil.
Do I get a free carry-on with Eco Budget?
It depends entirely on your route. On flights to Europe, Africa, Peru and Brazil, Eco Budget includes a free carry-on bag. On flights to and from the South, Florida and within Canada, Air Transat states that carry-on baggage is not permitted on the Eco Budget or Eco Promo fare — you get only an under-seat personal item.
What size personal item can I bring for free?
One personal item up to 43 x 13 x 31 cm that fits under the seat in front of you. It is free on all fares and all routes, including Eco Budget, and is tagged at the gate.
What are the carry-on bag size and weight limits?
Up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm including handles and wheels. Air Transat publishes no carry-on weight limit — its stated rule is that the bag must be light enough for you to place in the overhead bin unassisted. Because cabin space is limited, your carry-on may still be checked at the boarding gate.
How much does a checked bag cost on Air Transat?
Air Transat does not publish an advance price — the fee is shown during booking or in Manage My Booking, and varies with the ticketing date, the direction of travel and the country website you buy from. The published figures are for late purchases: buying 24 hours or less before departure costs CA $100 for a first bag, CA $145 for a second and CA $230 for an additional bag. Always add the bag when you book.
Is the baggage policy different for Europe and Africa flights?
Yes, and it is the more generous side of the split. Flights to Europe, Africa, Peru and Brazil keep a free carry-on on the cheapest Eco Budget fare, and Eco Standard on those routes includes one 23 kg checked bag. Flights to and from the South, Florida and within Canada do not permit a carry-on on Eco Budget at all.
Does Air Transat include a checked bag from Canada to Africa?
Africa is on the included side of Air Transat’s regional split, so the cheapest Eco Budget fare from Canada includes a personal item and a carry-on bag but no checked bag, while Eco Standard and above include one checked bag of up to 23 kg (about 50 lb). Adding Option Plus to an Eco Budget fare also includes one 23 kg checked bag.
What is Option Plus and is it worth it for baggage?
Option Plus is a paid bundle that adds one checked bag of 23 kg — a maximum of two checked pieces per person — plus free standard seat selection, an exclusive check-in counter, priority security in Montreal and Ottawa, priority boarding and priority baggage delivery. Because it includes the bag, it often costs little more than buying the bag alone. It can be purchased up to 24 hours before departure, and it is not available on flights within Canada.
How many bags does Eco Flex include?
One. Eco Flex sits in the same baggage tier as Eco Standard — one included checked bag, with the second paid unless you add Option Plus. What Eco Flex buys is flexibility: free modifications and cancellations. Club is the fare that includes two checked bags.
How many bags does Club Class include?
Club includes a personal item, a carry-on bag and two checked bags — the most generous allowance Air Transat offers. Air Transat does not publish a heavier per-bag weight for Club, so pack to the standard 23 kg per checked bag.
What happens if my bag is overweight or oversized?
A bag over 23 kg, up to a maximum of 32 kg, costs CA $100 (US $100 / €80 / £65). A bag over 158 cm linear, up to a maximum of 292 cm, costs the same again. If a bag is both, both fees apply. Neither can be prepaid — they are charged at the airport. Above 32 kg or 292 cm the item is not accepted as baggage and must go via cargo.
Can I bring sports equipment like golf clubs or skis?
Yes. Golf, ski, snowboard, hockey, fishing and dive gear travel under the standard checked-bag fee, but you can only prepay and preregister them up to 72 hours before departure rather than 24. The CA $100 overweight fee applies above 23 kg, though golf, ski, snowboard and hockey bags are exempt from the oversize fee. Bicycles have a separate fee of CA $50 prepaid or CA $75 at the airport.
✈️ Compare airlines: WestJet vs Air Transat (2026): Which Should You Actually Book?, Air Transat vs United Airlines (2026): Which Should You Actually Book?, Air Transat vs Porter Airlines (2026): Which Should You Actually Book?
🧳 Related baggage guides: Westjet baggage, United baggage, Porter baggage
Verified against: source · source · source · source · source · source · source