✓ Policy web-verified 2026-07-06
Aurigny is Guernsey’s airline, flying small turboprops and a single Embraer jet between the Channel Islands, the UK mainland and a handful of French points. Because the aircraft are small — ATR 72s, an Embraer 195 and the 19-seat RUAG (Dornier) 228 to Alderney — baggage here is governed as much by what the hold can physically take as by which fare you bought.
The fare ladder runs LITE, SMART and FLEXI. LITE is hand-baggage-only; SMART bundles a hold bag; FLEXI adds a second bag plus flexibility. On top of that sit route-specific weight caps — the tiny Alderney services allow far less than a Guernsey–Gatwick jet. This guide sorts out which cap applies to you and what an extra bag actually costs.
Quick facts
| Hand baggage | 2 pieces, 10 kg combined (main + under-seat) |
| Main cabin bag size | 55 x 36 x 20 cm |
| Cheapest fare | LITE — hand baggage only, no hold bag |
| First fare with a bag | SMART — 1 hold bag included |
| Add hold bag to LITE | £19 (20 kg) / £25 (23 kg) online |
| Standard hold weight | 20 kg per piece; 15 kg on Alderney/Dinard routes |
| Excess baggage | £10/kg UK & Grenoble; £4/kg inter-island |
| Small-aircraft note | Alderney (Dornier 228): 1 item, 6 kg on some legs |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal / under-seat item | 1 piece up to 35 x 25 x 20 cm, fits under the seat |
| Cabin / overhead bag | 1 piece up to 55 x 36 x 20 cm; combined cabin weight max 10 kg |
Checked baggage & fees
| LITE fare | No hold bag — add from £19 |
| SMART fare | 1 hold bag included (up to 23 kg) |
| FLEXI fare | 2 hold bags + extra legroom, refundable |
| Extra bag on LITE (online) | £19 for 20 kg, £25 for 23 kg (up to 3h before departure) |
| Alderney–Southampton / Guernsey–Dinard | Hold weight capped at 15 kg per piece |
| Excess weight | £10 per kg (UK & Grenoble), £4 per kg (inter-island) |
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 | What applies |
|---|---|
| Guernsey / Jersey ↔ UK mainland | LITE = hand only; SMART = 1 bag up to 23 kg |
| Alderney – Southampton | Hold weight capped at 15 kg per piece |
| Guernsey – Dinard | Hold weight capped at 15 kg per piece |
| Alderney – Dinard / connecting via Guernsey | Cabin reduced to 1 under-seat item, 6 kg (Dornier 228) |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| LITE | Under-seat item | 10 kg total | None (add from £19) |
| SMART | Under-seat item | 10 kg total | 1 bag up to 23 kg |
| FLEXI | Under-seat item | 10 kg total | 2 bags + legroom, refundable |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
The trap on Aurigny is not a hidden fee — it is the aircraft. On the mainline Guernsey and Jersey routes you get the normal 10 kg two-piece hand allowance and a 20 kg hold bag on SMART. But step onto the Alderney turboprop and the numbers shrink hard: some Alderney legs allow just one 6 kg under-seat item in the cabin, and the hold caps at 15 kg on Alderney–Southampton. Pack to the smallest leg of your itinerary, not the largest.
On fare choice, LITE only wins if you are genuinely travelling with cabin baggage alone. The moment you need the hold, compare the SMART premium against LITE plus a paid bag — SMART is frequently the same money or cheaper once you factor the bag in, and it saves you adding it manually. Always add any bag online at least three hours out; buying it at a Channel Islands airport desk costs more.
Oversize, sports & special items
Excess weight is charged by the kilo and it is not cheap on the jet routes: £10 per kg on UK and Grenoble flights, £4 per kg on inter-island hops. Sports equipment is handled as a single sporting-goods charge for one item; additional pieces fall back to excess-baggage rates unless pre-booked. On the small RUAG 228 to Alderney, cabin space is minimal, so expect larger cabin bags to be placed in the hold at the gate. One honest caveat: Aurigny periodically runs promotions that bundle a free 20 kg checked bag on every flight — if you are booking during one of those windows, the LITE-versus-SMART maths changes, so check what your specific fare shows at booking.
Frequently asked questions
Does Aurigny's cheapest fare include a checked bag?
No. The LITE fare is hand-baggage only. You get two cabin pieces up to 10 kg combined, and a hold bag must be added — from £19 for 20 kg or £25 for 23 kg when booked online.
What is Aurigny's hand baggage allowance?
Two pieces up to 10 kg combined: a main bag up to 55 x 36 x 20 cm and a smaller under-seat item up to 35 x 25 x 20 cm. On some Alderney legs this drops to one under-seat item of 6 kg.
Which fare includes a hold bag?
SMART includes one hold bag (up to 23 kg), and FLEXI includes two plus extra legroom and refundability. Only LITE leaves the hold bag out.
Why is my baggage allowance smaller on Alderney flights?
Alderney is served by the 19-seat Dornier 228, which has very limited hold and cabin space. Hold weight is capped at 15 kg on Alderney–Southampton and Guernsey–Dinard, and some Alderney legs allow only a single 6 kg cabin item.
How much is excess baggage on Aurigny?
Excess weight costs £10 per kg on UK and Grenoble routes and £4 per kg on inter-island flights. It is far cheaper to add a bag in advance than to pay excess at the airport.
Will my cabin bag be gate-checked?
On the small RUAG (Dornier) 228 turboprops to Alderney, overhead space is minimal, so larger cabin bags are commonly taken at the gate and carried in the hold. Keep valuables and documents in your under-seat item.
Can I bring sports equipment?
Yes, but it is charged as a single sporting-goods item. Any additional pieces are billed at standard excess-baggage rates unless pre-booked, and bulky gear is subject to the aircraft’s hold limits — especially on the Alderney turboprops.