✓ Policy web-verified 2026-07-06
Satena is Colombia’s state-owned lifeline to the remote regions, and it flies them on small ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprops. That aircraft shapes everything about the baggage rules. The cheapest fare — PROMO — is carry-on only: it gets you a seat and hand luggage, with nothing in the hold. If you need to check a bag, you have to buy up from the basement fare.
Where a checked bag is included, Satena uses a Piece Concept: one piece up to 15 kg on most routes, or up to 20 kg on the main trunk routes (Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Quibdo). That 15 kg is not a soft target — a loaded turboprop has hard weight-and-balance limits, so it’s weighed and enforced, and an overweight bag can be refused if the flight is already at its limit.
Quick facts
| Cheapest fare (PROMO) | Carry-on only – no checked bag |
| Carry-on | About 5 kg, roughly 43 x 34 x 20 cm |
| Personal item | One small item under the seat |
| Checked (when included) | 1 piece up to 15 kg |
| Trunk routes (BOG/MDE/CLI/Quibdo) | Up to 20 kg checked |
| Checked size | 158 cm total (length + width + height) |
| Excess (domestic) | About COP 9,000 per kg (roughly EUR 2) |
| Second bag (advance) | About COP 60,000-90,000 |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal item | One small item – a handbag, purse or small backpack – that fits under the seat in front. |
| Cabin / overhead bag | About 5 kg, roughly 43 x 34 x 20 cm. Some sources and fares quote up to 8 kg (55 x 35 x 25 cm), but the binding constraint is the small ATR cabin, so pack light and confirm at booking. |
Checked baggage & fees
| PROMO (cheapest) | No checked bag included – carry-on only |
| BASIC / ECONO / FLEXI / PLUS | Add checked allowance and flexibility, rising with the fare |
| Standard checked piece | 15 kg, max 158 cm total (L+W+H) |
| Trunk routes | Up to 20 kg on Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Quibdo routes |
| Excess baggage | About COP 9,000 per extra kg (roughly EUR 2) |
| Second / extra bag | About COP 60,000-90,000 bought in advance; more at the airport. Oversized bags (over 158 cm) carry a flat fee (around COP 100,000-150,000) |
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 | Standard checked allowance (paid fares) |
|---|---|
| Remote / regional routes | 1 checked piece up to 15 kg (strictly weighed) |
| Trunk routes (Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Quibdo) | Up to 20 kg checked |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
The trap on Satena is the PROMO fare: it’s hand-luggage-only, with nothing in the hold. If you’re travelling with anything more than a carry-on, you need to book BASIC or a higher fare family (ECONO, FLEXI or PLUS) that bundles a checked piece — and it’s usually cheaper to buy the fare with the bag than to add a bag onto PROMO later. Do the maths before you click the cheapest price.
Even with a checked bag, respect the 15 kg ceiling. On Satena’s turboprop routes it’s a genuine weight-and-balance limit, not a formality: overweight bags cost roughly COP 9,000 per kg and can be left behind if the aircraft is at capacity. One honest caveat — Satena’s own website is an app-style portal that’s hard to quote line-by-line, so treat these figures as the well-corroborated norm and confirm your exact fare’s allowance at the time of booking.
Oversize, sports & special items
Sports and oversized kit: bicycles, ski poles, sporting bats, hockey sticks and pool cues all have to be checked, and anything over the 158 cm total-dimension limit attracts a flat oversized fee (typically around COP 100,000-150,000 per bag). Given the turboprop hold, arrange bulky gear in advance rather than turning up with it.
Pets and onboard service: a pet in the cabin costs around COP 100,000 per segment, with the pet plus its carrier capped at 10 kg and the carrier no bigger than 43 x 34 x 20 cm. And pack your own snacks — Satena’s short regional flights offer only light refreshments, so don’t count on a meal.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cheapest Satena PROMO fare include a checked bag?
No. PROMO is carry-on only, with nothing in the hold. To check a bag you need to book BASIC or a higher fare family (ECONO, FLEXI or PLUS).
What is Satena's checked baggage allowance?
When it’s included, one piece up to 15 kg on most routes, or up to 20 kg on the main trunk routes (Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Quibdo). Maximum size is 158 cm total (length + width + height).
What is Satena's carry-on allowance?
About 5 kg, roughly 43 x 34 x 20 cm, plus one small personal item under the seat. Some fares and sources quote up to 8 kg, but the small ATR cabin is the real limit, so pack light.
Why is Satena's checked allowance so low?
Satena flies ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprops into short and remote airstrips, where weight-and-balance limits are strict. The 15 kg is a genuine operational ceiling, not a soft guideline.
How much does excess baggage cost on Satena?
Roughly COP 9,000 per extra kilogram on domestic flights. A second bag bought in advance runs about COP 60,000-90,000; oversized bags carry a flat fee of around COP 100,000-150,000.
What are Satena's fare families?
PROMO, BASIC, ECONO, FLEXI and PLUS. PROMO is the cheapest and carry-on only; baggage allowance and change flexibility increase as you move up the fares.
Can I take a pet or sports equipment on Satena?
A pet in the cabin costs about COP 100,000 per segment (pet plus carrier up to 10 kg). Bicycles, ski poles and sporting bats must be checked, and oversized items over 158 cm carry a flat fee.
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