✓ Policy web-verified 2026-07-06
Nouvelair is Tunisia’s private leisure carrier, and its baggage rules are the ones that trip up sun-seekers flying into Djerba, Monastir and Tunis on a cheap package fare. The single most important thing to know: the Light fare includes zero checked baggage. Buy the cheapest Nouvelair ticket to France, Belgium, Germany, the UK or Switzerland and you get a cabin bag and nothing in the hold — the beach towels go in the overhead bin or they get paid for. That’s the trap, and it’s a real one on this airline.
Cabin allowance is on the tight side of European norms. You get one bag up to 55 x 35 x 25 cm (wheels and handles included) and 8 kg, plus one personal accessory — a handbag, coat, laptop, small camera or a duty-free purchase. The 55 x 35 x 25 cm cage is narrower than the 55 x 40 x 20 cm most carriers use, and the 8 kg weight cap is enforced: Nouvelair states plainly that a cabin bag over 8 kg gets the whole bag sent to the hold and charged, not just the excess kilos. Weigh it before you leave home.
To actually put a suitcase in the hold you move up a fare. Easy includes 25 kg and Flex includes 32 kg of checked baggage (30 kg on UK routes), both with free changes and seat selection layered on top. The exact free weight also flexes by destination: standard fares to most countries top out at 20 kg, Algeria routes carry 30 kg, and Turkey routes a generous 40 kg. Whatever your fare, no single bag may exceed 32 kg and your total checked weight can’t exceed 50 kg per passenger.
Quick facts
| Cheapest fare (Light) | Cabin bag only — NO checked baggage included |
| Cabin bag | 55 x 35 x 25 cm (wheels/handles incl.), max 8 kg, 1 piece |
| Free personal item | Yes — handbag, laptop, coat, camera or duty-free |
| Easy fare checked | 25 kg included |
| Flex fare checked | 32 kg included (30 kg to the UK) |
| By destination | Most 20 kg base · Algeria 30 kg · Turkey 40 kg |
| Max per bag / total | 32 kg per bag; 50 kg total checked per passenger |
| Excess baggage | From ~30–160 € online by route; ~7 €/kg at the airport |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal accessory | One item — handbag, laptop, coat, small camera, umbrella, baby seat or duty-free; included in every fare |
| Cabin / overhead bag | 55 x 35 x 25 cm incl. wheels & handles, max 8 kg, 1 piece — over 8 kg and the whole bag is sent to the hold and charged |
Checked baggage & fees
| Light fare | No checked baggage — cabin only |
| Easy fare | 25 kg included (1 piece) |
| Flex fare | 32 kg included (30 kg on UK routes) |
| Standard fare — most destinations | 20 kg base allowance |
| Algeria routes | 30 kg |
| Turkey routes | 40 kg |
| Infant (0–2 years) | 10 kg, regardless of fare chosen |
| Hard limits | Max 32 kg per bag; max 50 kg total checked per passenger |
| Excess baggage | Buy online (~30–160 € by route/weight) or pay ~7 € per extra kg at the airport |
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 |
|---|---|
| Europe (France, Belgium, Germany, UK, Switzerland, Italy, Austria) | Light = cabin only; Easy = 25 kg; Flex = 32 kg (30 kg UK) |
| Algeria | 30 kg on standard fares |
| Turkey | 40 kg on standard fares |
| Most other destinations | 20 kg base weight allowance |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal item | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Yes | 8 kg | None — pay per bag |
| Easy | Yes | 8 kg | 25 kg included |
| Flex | Yes | 8 kg | 32 kg (30 kg UK) |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
What you actually get on a cheap Nouvelair deal fare: a cabin bag and a personal item, and that’s it. The Light fare is a hand-luggage-only ticket, full stop — there is no free hold bag hiding in the fine print. If you’re flying to Djerba or Monastir for a week with a suitcase, you must book Easy (25 kg) or add a checked bag as a paid extra. Do the maths at booking: the Easy fare is frequently cheaper than the Light fare plus a walk-up hold bag, so the “cheapest” headline price is rarely the cheapest way to actually travel with luggage.
The other thing to respect is the 8 kg cabin cap and the tight 55 x 35 x 25 cm dimensions. This is a charter-leisure operation and the gate agents do weigh bags. Go over 8 kg and Nouvelair doesn’t nibble the excess — it takes the entire bag to the hold and bills you, which on a Light fare means paying a full checked-bag fee at the airport for something you meant to carry on. Buy any extra allowance online in advance: the airport rate of roughly 7 € per kilo adds up fast, and online excess is materially cheaper.
Oversize, sports & special items
Sports equipment, musical instruments and other oversize items travel as checked baggage against the weight limits above and should be declared to Nouvelair in advance rather than presented at the gate — the airline runs single-aisle A320-family jets on holiday routes where hold space fills up. Items over 32 kg in a single piece are not accepted and must be split. Infants under two receive a 10 kg hold allowance on every fare, but baby food and nappies for the flight must fit within the parent’s cabin allowance — there’s no separate infant hand-luggage piece.
A note on fare names: Nouvelair markets its packages as Light, Easy and Flex, though some booking channels and older guides label the mid-tier “Easy Max” and quote a 10 kg cabin figure. The airline’s own current baggage page states 8 kg and 55 x 35 x 25 cm for the cabin bag — trust the number printed on your e-ticket and the fare page at the moment you book, because leisure carriers adjust these by season and by tour-operator contract.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cheapest Nouvelair ticket include a checked bag?
No. Nouvelair’s Light fare — the cheapest ticket — includes only a cabin bag and a personal item, with zero checked baggage. To fly with a suitcase in the hold you need the Easy fare (25 kg) or Flex fare (32 kg), or you add a paid checked bag at booking.
What is Nouvelair's cabin baggage allowance?
One cabin bag up to 55 x 35 x 25 cm (wheels and handles included) and a maximum of 8 kg, plus one free personal accessory such as a handbag, laptop, coat or duty-free purchase. If your cabin bag weighs more than 8 kg, Nouvelair sends the entire bag to the hold and charges for it — they don’t just charge the excess.
How much checked baggage do the Easy and Flex fares include?
The Easy fare includes 25 kg of checked baggage; the Flex fare includes 32 kg (30 kg on UK routes) plus more flexible changes and free seat selection. Standard fares to most destinations carry a 20 kg base allowance, rising to 30 kg on Algeria routes and 40 kg on Turkey routes.
What does excess baggage cost on Nouvelair?
Bought online in advance, extra baggage runs roughly 30–160 € depending on the route and weight. At the airport counter the rate is around 7 € per additional kilogram — significantly more expensive per kilo — so always buy any extra allowance online before you fly.
Is there a maximum weight per bag on Nouvelair?
Yes. No single checked bag may exceed 32 kg, and your total checked baggage cannot exceed 50 kg per passenger across all bags and allowances. A bag over 32 kg will be refused at check-in and must be repacked or split.
What is the baggage allowance for infants on Nouvelair?
Infants aged 0 to 2 years receive a 10 kg checked baggage allowance regardless of the fare booked. There is no separate infant cabin bag — baby food and nappies for the flight must fit within the accompanying adult’s cabin allowance.
Why is the Easy fare often cheaper than Light plus a bag?
Because Nouvelair prices the paid checked-bag add-on and the airport excess rate higher than the gap between Light and Easy. On any trip where you need a suitcase, book the Easy fare directly rather than choosing Light and adding a hold bag afterward — it’s usually the lower total price and includes 25 kg.