✓ Policy web-verified 2026-06-20
Book the cheapest Cabo Verde Airlines fare — Economy Light — and you fly with hand luggage only: one piece up to 8 kg (max 55 x 35 x 25 cm), plus a small personal item, and nothing in the hold. That is the rule on every route VR flies, from the inter-island domestic hops out of Sal and Praia to the long Lisbon and Boston runs. Unlike the North American and big-European carriers that quietly include a checked bag on intercontinental Basic fares, Cabo Verde Airlines does not: Economy Light is bagless to Lisbon, to Boston, and within the archipelago alike.
The free bag lives one tier up. Economy Plus adds one 23 kg checked bag; Economy Flex gives you two. The premium Morabeza cabin (Light or Flex) bundles two 23 kg bags and a heavier 10 kg carry-on. Where weight does change by route is on the standard included allowance: domestic island flights are pegged lower (around 15 kg) and regional West-Africa flights around 20 kg, versus the full 23 kg on international long-haul. The single-bag IATA ceiling is 32 kg / 70 lb across the board.
Quick facts
| Cheapest fare | Economy Light — hand baggage only, no checked bag |
| Free personal item | Small item (handbag, laptop, camera); counts toward 8 kg |
| Cabin bag | 1 piece, 8 kg, 55 x 35 x 25 cm (10 kg on Morabeza fares) |
| Checked bag (international) | 23 kg per bag on Plus/Flex/Morabeza fares |
| Checked bag (domestic / regional) | ~15 kg domestic, ~20 kg regional on included fares |
| Max single bag | 32 kg / 70 lb |
| Pre-pay extra bag | €85 / $100 (48h+ before), €100 / $125 (last-minute) |
| Excess weight | €15 / $50 per kg over the limit |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal item | One small item (handbag, laptop bag, camera, coat); combined weight with cabin bag must stay within the 8 kg limit |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | 1 piece up to 8 kg, 55 x 35 x 25 cm — included on all fares; Morabeza Light/Flex raise the cabin allowance to 10 kg |
Checked baggage & fees
| Economy Light | No checked bag — hand luggage only |
| Economy Plus | 1 checked bag, 23 kg |
| Economy Flex | 2 checked bags, 23 kg each |
| Morabeza Light / Flex | 2 checked bags, 23 kg each |
| Domestic / regional weight | ~15 kg domestic, ~20 kg regional on included-bag fares (vs 23 kg international) |
| Max single bag weight | 32 kg / 70 lb |
| Excess weight fee | €15 / $50 per kg over the allowance |
| Pre-paid extra bag | €85 / $100 if booked 48h+ ahead; €100 / $125 within 48h |
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 |
|---|---|
| Domestic (inter-island) | No checked bag on Economy Light |
| Regional (West Africa) | No checked bag on Economy Light |
| International long-haul (Lisbon, Boston, etc.) | No checked bag on Economy Light |
| Any route, Economy Plus and up | 1-2 checked bags (23 kg) included |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Light | Yes | 8 kg | None |
| Economy Plus | Yes | 8 kg | 1 x 23 kg |
| Economy Flex | Yes | 8 kg | 2 x 23 kg |
| Morabeza Light | Yes | 10 kg | 2 x 23 kg |
| Morabeza Flex | Yes | 10 kg | 2 x 23 kg |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
What you actually get on a cheap Cabo Verde Airlines deal fare: almost always Economy Light, which means an 8 kg cabin bag and a personal item — and that is it. There is no long-haul loophole here. A bargain VR fare to Lisbon or Boston strips the hold bag exactly the way the inter-island fare does, so do not assume the intercontinental ticket behaves like a WestJet or Air France transatlantic fare that throws in a bag.
Budget to add it. If you need to check a bag, the cheapest move is to pre-pay at least 48 hours out: roughly €85 from Europe or $100 from the US, rising to €100 / $125 last-minute and far more at the airport. Often the smarter call is to compare the all-in Economy Light + paid-bag total against the next fare up — Economy Plus frequently bundles the 23 kg bag for less than buying it separately, and Morabeza gives you two bags plus a 10 kg carry-on. Always price the bag into the deal before you book Light.
Oversize, sports & special items
Sports equipment (bikes, golf, dive and surf gear) must be declared at least 24 hours ahead and is generally carried for around €100 per item, subject to the 32 kg single-piece ceiling. Musical instruments can go in the hold for up to €150 / $185 for pieces up to 45 kg; carrying a large instrument in the cabin requires buying an extra seat with about 72 hours’ notice. Any cabin piece over 8 kg (10 kg on Morabeza) or a second hand bag will be gate-checked as paid excess and returned at the destination.
The fare-and-baggage structure above reflects Cabo Verde Airlines’ current published conditions. The airline has not announced a material baggage change for 2025/2026; the weights, fare names (Economy Light/Plus/Flex and Morabeza Light/Flex) and excess pricing here are taken from its official baggage and fare-type pages, so confirm the exact allowance on your specific route and fare during booking, as the standard included weight is lower on domestic and regional sectors.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cheapest Cabo Verde Airlines fare include a checked bag?
No. Economy Light — the lowest fare — includes only an 8 kg cabin bag and a personal item, with no checked baggage. This applies on every route: domestic, regional and international long-haul alike.
Is a bag included on the long-haul fares to Lisbon or Boston?
Only if you book above Economy Light. The intercontinental Economy Light fare is bagless just like the domestic one — there is no long-haul checked-bag inclusion. Economy Plus adds one 23 kg bag, Economy Flex and Morabeza add two.
What is the cabin baggage allowance?
One piece up to 8 kg, maximum 55 x 35 x 25 cm, on all Economy fares. Morabeza Light and Flex raise the cabin allowance to 10 kg. You may also bring a small personal item within that weight.
How much does it cost to add a checked bag?
Pre-paying at least 48 hours before departure costs about €85 from Europe or $100 from the US. Within 48 hours it rises to €100 / $125, and buying at the airport is more expensive. Pre-pay online to save money.
How heavy can my checked bag be?
Each included checked bag is 23 kg on international routes (lower — roughly 15 kg domestic, 20 kg regional — on those sectors). The absolute maximum for any single bag is 32 kg / 70 lb; excess weight is €15 / $50 per kg.
What's the difference between Economy and Morabeza fares?
Economy fares (Light/Plus/Flex) range from hand-luggage-only up to two 23 kg bags. Morabeza is the premium cabin — Light and Flex both include two 23 kg checked bags and a heavier 10 kg carry-on, plus a better cabin experience.
Can I carry sports equipment or a musical instrument?
Yes, with notice. Sports gear must be declared about 24 hours ahead and typically costs around €100 per item. Instruments go in the hold for up to €150 / $185 (to 45 kg), or in the cabin if you book an extra seat with ~72 hours’ notice.
Does checked-bag inclusion vary by region on Cabo Verde Airlines?
Inclusion does not — Economy Light has no checked bag on any route. What varies is the weight of the included bag on fares that do carry one: about 15 kg domestic, 20 kg regional and 23 kg international.