✓ Policy web-verified 2026-05-31
China Airlines (CI), Taiwan’s flag carrier, uses a piece concept for checked baggage on most international routes — your allowance is counted in bags, not total kilos. The good news for deal hunters: even the standard Economy fare includes one free checked bag of 23 kg, so a typical CI long-haul ticket rarely forces you into a surprise bag fee. This guide covers the current 2026 cabin, personal-item, and checked rules, plus what excess and oversize bags actually cost.
Figures below are verified against China Airlines’ published policy. Allowances and fees vary by route and fare class, so always confirm your exact ticket at booking — the airline calculates excess charges in the local currency of your departure on the day you fly.
Quick facts
| Carry-on | 1 bag, 7 kg, 56 × 36 × 23 cm (Economy) |
| Personal item | 1 item, 40 × 30 × 15 cm, fits under seat |
| Checked (Economy standard) | 1 × 23 kg included; max 158 cm linear |
| Premium Economy | 2 × 28 kg |
| Business | 2 × 32 kg |
| Excess piece (to Europe/N. America) | ~USD 252 prepaid / USD 280 at airport |
| Overweight 23–32 kg | Charged at 0.5-piece rate |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal / under-seat item | 40 × 30 × 15 cm (16 × 12 × 6 in). One personal item (laptop bag, handbag, small backpack) in addition to the cabin bag; must fit under the seat in front. Business Class passengers may bring 2 cabin bags plus a personal item. |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | 56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in), incl. handles and wheels · 7 kg Economy / Premium Economy; 10 kg Business and First Free — 1 piece per passenger |
Checked baggage & fees
| Checked allowance | Economy standard 1 × 23 kg; Economy Flex / Premium Economy 2 pieces; Business 2; First 3. Long-haul economy fares often allow 2 pieces — check fare. |
| Weight limit | 23 kg per piece in Economy/Flex; 28 kg in Premium Economy; 32 kg in Business and First. Max 32 kg/70 lb per single piece accepted. |
| Typical fee | First included piece free in standard Economy. Extra/excess pieces charged by zone (see FAQs). |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Discount/Promo | 1 item | 7 kg | 1 × 23 kg |
| Economy Standard | 1 item | 7 kg | 1 × 23 kg (often 2 on long-haul) |
| Economy Flex | 1 item | 7 kg | 2 × 23 kg |
| Premium Economy | 1 item | 7 kg | 2 × 28 kg |
| Business | 1 item | 2 bags, 10 kg total | 2 × 32 kg |
| First | 1 item | 10 kg | 3 × 32 kg |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
What you get on the cheapest China Airlines fare: Unlike many European carriers’ hand-baggage-only “Light” tickets, China Airlines’ standard Economy fare bundles a checked bag. At deal prices you can expect 1 × 23 kg checked included plus a 7 kg cabin bag — so the headline price is closer to your real cost, with no separate bag add-on to budget for. On many long-haul routes the economy allowance rises to 2 × 23 kg. The catch is the cabin limit: 7 kg is strictly enforced, so heavier hand luggage may be gate-checked.
Oversize, sports & special items
Piece concept vs. weight: China Airlines applies the piece concept on virtually all international itineraries, so a bag counts as one unit up to 23 kg (Economy) or 32 kg (Business). Routes touching North America follow strict US/Canada piece-concept rules — a Taipei–Singapore segment connecting onward to the US may qualify for the 2 × 23 kg US allowance.
Oversize and overweight: a piece between 23–32 kg is billed at the 0.5-piece excess rate; 32–45 kg at the 3-piece rate; over 45 kg must go as cargo. Bags 158–203 cm linear are charged 0.5 piece; over 203 cm, 1 full piece.
Prepay to save: buying excess baggage online before travel earns roughly a 10% discount over airport rates.
Frequently asked questions
How many bags does China Airlines include in Economy?
Standard Economy includes one free checked bag of 23 kg plus a 7 kg carry-on and a personal item. Many long-haul economy fares raise the checked allowance to two pieces of 23 kg each, while Economy Flex always includes two. Deep-discount/promo fares may be limited to a single checked piece, so confirm at booking.
What are the carry-on size and weight limits?
One cabin bag up to 56 × 36 × 23 cm (22 × 14 × 9 in) including handles and wheels, weighing 7 kg in Economy and Premium Economy or 10 kg in Business and First. You may also bring one personal item up to 40 × 30 × 15 cm that fits under the seat.
How much is a checked bag allowed to weigh?
Each checked piece may weigh up to 23 kg in Economy and Economy Flex, 28 kg in Premium Economy, and 32 kg in Business and First. No single piece over 32 kg (70 lb) is accepted at check-in regardless of class; heavier items must travel as cargo.
What are the maximum checked baggage dimensions?
Each checked bag must not exceed 158 cm (62 in) total linear dimensions (length + width + height). Bags between 158 and 203 cm incur an oversize charge at the 0.5-piece rate, and anything over 203 cm is charged a full piece rate.
How much does an extra or excess bag cost on China Airlines?
Excess fees are zone-based and calculated in the local departure currency. For Europe, Africa and parts of North America an extra piece is roughly USD 252 prepaid or USD 280 at the airport (about USD 10 per kg). Intra-Asia extra pieces are cheaper, often around TWD 700–1,500 / TWD 1,000 from Taiwan. Prepaying online saves about 10%.
Can I bring sports equipment or a musical instrument?
Sports gear like golf clubs, bikes and surfboards counts toward your free allowance and is often exempt from the 158 cm size cap (notify CI at least 48 hours ahead). A small musical instrument under 100 × 36 × 23 cm and 7 kg can be carried in the cabin; larger instruments go as checked baggage with the size limit extended to about 292 cm.
Do North America routes have different baggage rules?
Yes. Flights to and from the US and Canada follow the strict piece concept set by those countries' transport authorities, generally 2 × 23 kg in Economy. A connecting itinerary that starts in Asia but flies onward to North America may qualify for the more generous US piece allowance — confirm at booking.
Is the cheapest China Airlines fare bag-free like budget carriers?
No. Even the standard Economy fare includes a checked bag (1 × 23 kg), unlike European 'Light' fares that strip it out. That makes the advertised price closer to your true cost, though the 7 kg cabin limit is enforced, so pack a heavier bag in the hold rather than as hand luggage.
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