✓ Policy web-verified 2026-07-06
Azores Airlines is the international arm of the SATA group, flying out of Ponta Delgada (PDL) across mainland Europe and over the Atlantic to Boston and Toronto. Its fare ladder is where the money hides: the entry-level Economy Simple fare gives you a cabin bag and nothing in the hold, so if you booked the cheapest transatlantic ticket assuming a checked bag came free, it does not.
The good news is that everything above Simple is honest. Economy Basic and up include a real 23 kg checked bag, the cabin allowance is a generous 8 kg across every fare, and the Comfort cabin bundles two bags at once. This guide tells you exactly what each fare carries and what an extra bag costs on each route, because Azores prices baggage by the country you depart from — Europe, inter-island, and North America are all different numbers.
Quick facts
| Free personal item | Included within the 8 kg cabin allowance |
| Cabin bag | 1 piece up to 8 kg (55 x 40 x 20 cm) |
| Cheapest fare | Economy Simple — cabin only, no checked bag |
| First fare with a bag | Economy Basic — 1 x 23 kg checked |
| Transatlantic checked bag | Included from Basic; NOT in Simple |
| Extra bag (Europe) | €70 prepaid per 23 kg piece |
| Extra bag (North America) | $120 USD / $223 CAD per 23 kg piece |
| Comfort Plus | 2 x 32 kg checked + 15 kg cabin |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal item | No separate published item — a small bag counts toward your 8 kg cabin allowance |
| Cabin / overhead bag | 1 piece up to 8 kg, 55 x 40 x 20 cm (15 kg in Comfort Plus) |
Checked baggage & fees
| Economy Simple | No checked bag included |
| Economy Basic | 1 x 23 kg |
| Economy Flex | 1 x 23 kg |
| Economy Top | 2 x 23 kg (46 kg total) |
| Comfort Light | 2 x 23 kg (46 kg total) |
| Comfort Plus | 2 x 32 kg (64 kg total) |
| Overweight 23-32 kg (Europe/Africa) | €75 per piece |
| Overweight 23-32 kg (transatlantic) | €135 / $185 USD / $245 CAD per piece |
| Overweight 23-32 kg (inter-island) | €65 per piece |
| Over 32 kg | Not accepted as baggage — must ship as cargo/freight |
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 | Cheapest fare includes |
|---|---|
| Inter-island (SATA Air Açores) | 23 kg checked on standard inter-island Economy |
| Europe (PDL ↔ LIS/OPO/LON/etc.) | Cabin only on Simple; 1 x 23 kg from Basic up |
| Transatlantic (PDL ↔ BOS/YYZ) | Cabin only on Simple; 1 x 23 kg from Basic up |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Simple | In 8 kg cabin | 8 kg | None |
| Economy Basic | In 8 kg cabin | 8 kg | 1 x 23 kg |
| Economy Flex | In 8 kg cabin | 8 kg | 1 x 23 kg |
| Economy Top | In 8 kg cabin | 8 kg | 2 x 23 kg |
| Comfort Light | In 8 kg cabin | 8 kg | 2 x 23 kg |
| Comfort Plus | In 15 kg cabin | 15 kg | 2 x 32 kg |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
The single most useful thing to know about Azores Airlines: the fare names do not vary by route, but the extra-bag price does. Azores charges by the country your trip starts in, so the same extra 23 kg bag is €70 if you leave from Europe but $120 USD (or $223 CAD) if you leave from North America. If you are flying a round trip Lisbon–Boston and know you will need a second bag both ways, buy the Boston-side bag before you fly out rather than at the U.S. airport.
If you are booking transatlantic, do not default to Economy Simple. The gap in price to Economy Basic is almost always less than the cost of adding a checked bag later, and Basic gives you the hold bag plus a fare that is far easier to change. Simple only makes sense for a genuine carry-on-only trip. On the aggressive Economy Simple fares to Boston, Toronto or a European city, the add-a-bag charge (about $120–223 in North America) can cost more than the base fare itself — so a “cheaper” Simple ticket plus a bag is often dearer than booking Basic with the bag already in it. Price both before you click.
Oversize, sports & special items
Overweight is handled per piece, per region: a bag between 23 and 32 kg costs €65 inter-island, €75 to Europe/Africa, and €135 / $185 USD / $245 CAD transatlantic. Anything over 32 kg will not fly as checked baggage at all and must go as cargo (a 45 kg ceiling applies to specific items like musical instruments and pet crates). Non-residents on an international ticket can use the Azores Air Pass to island-hop with a 23 kg allowance on each leg — useful if you are stitching a multi-island trip onto a transatlantic booking.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cheapest Azores Airlines fare include a checked bag?
No. Economy Simple, the cheapest fare, includes only an 8 kg cabin bag and no hold luggage. The first fare with a checked bag is Economy Basic, which adds 1 x 23 kg.
Is a checked bag included on transatlantic flights to Boston or Toronto?
Only from Economy Basic upward. The fare names are the same across the network, so a transatlantic Economy Simple ticket still gives you cabin bag only. Book Basic or higher for a 23 kg checked bag.
What is the cabin baggage allowance?
Every fare includes one cabin bag up to 8 kg at 55 x 40 x 20 cm. Comfort Plus raises this to 15 kg. A small personal item is expected to fit within that weight rather than being a separate free allowance.
How much is an extra checked bag?
It depends where your trip starts. Prepaid, an extra 23 kg bag is €70 from Europe, $120 USD or $223 CAD from North America, and €20 per 5 kg inter-island. Buy it before the airport.
What happens if my bag is over 23 kg?
A bag between 23 and 32 kg is allowed for an overweight fee — €75 to Europe/Africa, €135 / $185 USD / $245 CAD transatlantic, €65 inter-island. Over 32 kg cannot be checked and must ship as cargo.
What does Comfort Plus include for baggage?
Comfort Plus is the top allowance: 2 x 32 kg checked bags (64 kg total) plus a larger 15 kg cabin bag, on top of lounge access, priority and fully flexible changes.
Can I island-hop with the same baggage allowance?
Yes. Standard inter-island Economy carries 23 kg, and non-residents on an international ticket can add the Azores Air Pass to make multiple island stops each with a 23 kg allowance.