✓ Policy web-verified 2026-06-20
Here is the rare low-cost carrier where the cheapest fare already includes a checked bag. Fastjet’s entry-level Value fare comes with one free 23 kg checked piece, plus 7 kg of cabin baggage and a personal item — so on a Fastjet deal fare you are not getting stripped down to a backpack the way you would on Ryanair or FlyArystan. For an African regional LCC flying short hops around Zimbabwe, South Africa and the wider Southern/East Africa network, that is a genuinely generous floor.
This applies across every Fastjet route — the network is all short-haul regional flying, so there is no long-haul-versus-domestic split to watch for. Step up to Value Flex for the same bags plus free changes, or Value Plus for two checked pieces (32 kg combined), unlimited changes and refundability. The thing to actually budget for is a second bag or anything over 23 kg, which is charged per route and is cheaper bought online before you reach the airport.
Quick facts
| Cheapest fare checked bag | 1 × 23 kg INCLUDED (Value fare) |
| Cabin bag | 55 x 35 x 20 cm, max 7 kg |
| Personal item / handbag | 40 x 30 x 15 cm, under seat |
| Value (cheapest) checked | 1 × 23 kg free |
| Value Plus checked | 2 pieces, 32 kg combined |
| Extra / 2nd bag | Pre-pay online, fee varies by route |
| Per-kg excess | Charged over 23 kg per piece |
| Network | Southern & East Africa regional short-haul |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal item / handbag | 40 x 30 x 15 cm (laptop bag or handbag), under the seat — all fares |
| Cabin bag | 55 x 35 x 20 cm, max 7 kg — included on Value, Value Flex and Value Plus |
Checked baggage & fees
| Value (cheapest fare) | 1 piece up to 23 kg — INCLUDED |
| Value Flex | 1 piece up to 23 kg — INCLUDED (plus free changes) |
| Value Plus | 2 pieces, 32 kg combined — INCLUDED |
| Extra checked bag | Up to 1 additional 23 kg piece, pre-purchase; fee varies by route |
| Excess weight | Anything over 23 kg per piece charged per kg at prescribed rates |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Yes (40 x 30 x 15 cm) | Yes (7 kg) | 1 x 23 kg |
| Value Flex | Yes (40 x 30 x 15 cm) | Yes (7 kg) | 1 x 23 kg |
| Value Plus | Yes (40 x 30 x 15 cm) | Yes (7 kg) | 2 pcs / 32 kg combined |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
What you actually get on a cheap Fastjet deal fare: more than almost any other LCC. The bottom-rung Value fare already bundles a 23 kg checked bag, a 7 kg cabin bag and a personal item — there is no “hand baggage only” trap to fall into. For a single traveller on a short regional hop, the cheapest fare is genuinely all most people need.
What the cheap fare strips is flexibility and the second bag. Value gives you no free changes (Value Flex adds two, Value Plus makes them unlimited and refundable), and only one checked piece. If you need a second bag or you are over 23 kg, buy it online before you get to the airport — extra-bag and excess fees vary by route and are reliably more expensive at the counter. Budget for the add-on bag, not for the first one.
Oversize, sports & special items
Extra checked pieces and oversize/overweight items should be arranged with Fastjet in advance rather than turning up with them — passengers may buy up to one additional 23 kg checked piece, with any weight beyond 23 kg per bag billed per kilo at prescribed rates. Sports equipment, instruments and other bulky items are handled as additional/special baggage and should be declared and paid for ahead of travel; allowances and fees are route-dependent.
The current structure dates to Fastjet’s fare-family overhaul (Value / Value Flex / Value Plus), which kept the checked bag on the cheapest fare while moving flexibility and refundability up into the higher tiers. As an all-regional short-haul carrier, Fastjet has no long-haul fare class — so unlike North American or full-service carriers, there is no route where the cheapest fare suddenly drops or adds a bag: the Value allowance is the same everywhere it flies.
Frequently asked questions
Does Fastjet's cheapest fare include a checked bag?
Yes. The entry-level Value fare includes one free checked bag up to 23 kg, plus a 7 kg cabin bag and a personal item. This is unusually generous for a low-cost carrier and applies on every Fastjet route.
How much cabin baggage can I bring on Fastjet?
One cabin bag up to 55 x 35 x 20 cm and a maximum of 7 kg, plus one small handbag or laptop bag up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm to go under the seat. This is included on all fares.
What is the difference between Value, Value Flex and Value Plus?
Value is the cheapest, with 1 x 23 kg checked. Value Flex adds free changes but the same single bag. Value Plus carries two checked pieces (32 kg combined), unlimited free changes and refundability.
Does the checked-bag allowance change depending on the route?
No. Fastjet flies only short-haul regional routes across Southern and East Africa, so there is no long-haul versus domestic split — the Value fare’s 1 x 23 kg bag is included on every route.
How much does an extra checked bag cost on Fastjet?
You can buy up to one additional 23 kg piece. The fee varies by route and date, and it is cheaper purchased online in advance than at the airport. Pre-book it during or after booking rather than at the counter.
What happens if my checked bag is over 23 kg?
Weight over 23 kg per piece is charged per kilogram at Fastjet’s prescribed excess rates. To avoid this, redistribute weight or buy a second bag in advance instead of paying excess at check-in.
Can I bring two checked bags on Fastjet?
On Value and Value Flex you get one free 23 kg bag and can buy a second. The Value Plus fare includes two checked pieces with a combined 32 kg allowance as standard.
How do I take sports equipment or a musical instrument on Fastjet?
Declare and pay for oversize or special items in advance as additional baggage rather than bringing them unannounced. Allowances and fees depend on the route, so arrange it with Fastjet before you travel.