✓ Policy web-verified 2026-05-31
SunExpress (IATA code XQ) is a Turkish-German leisure carrier — a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa — flying mainly between European cities and Turkish holiday airports such as Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Izmir, plus some domestic Turkish routes. Its baggage allowance depends almost entirely on which SunFare you book and, for checked bags, on the route. This guide covers the current 2026 rules, verified against SunExpress’s official pages.
The headline point for deal-hunters: the cheapest SunExpress fares are sold as SunLight (a hand-baggage-only ticket) and SunEco (the cheapest fare that does include checked bag on most international routes). On the very cheapest deal fares you should assume cabin baggage only
Quick facts
| Personal/cabin (SunLight) | 40 × 30 × 20 cm, 4 kg — small bag under the seat |
| Cabin bag (SunEco / SunClassic / SunPremium) | 55 × 40 × 23 cm, 8 kg |
| Checked — SunLight | None included (buy separately) |
| Checked — SunEco | 30 kg intl / 20 kg Turkey resorts / 15 kg domestic |
| Checked — SunClassic | 35 kg intl / 25 kg Turkey resorts / 20 kg domestic |
| Checked — SunPremium | 40 kg intl / 30 kg Turkey resorts / 25 kg domestic |
| Max per bag / size | 32 kg per piece; 158 cm total (L+W+H) |
| Excess weight at airport | from €19.99 per kg |
| Oversize (over 158 cm) | €45 flat per item |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal / under-seat item | On SunLight, one small bag up to 40 × 30 × 20 cm and 4 kg (fits under the seat in front). SunLight is hand-baggage-only and includes only this small bag; there is no separate larger overhead cabin bag on this fare |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | 55 × 40 × 23 cm · 8 kg Included on SunEco, SunClassic and SunPremium; not available on SunLight (which gives only the 40 × 30 × 20 cm / 4 kg small bag) |
Checked baggage & fees
| Checked allowance | Varies by fare and route: SunEco 30/20/15 kg, SunClassic 35/25/20 kg, SunPremium 40/30/25 kg (international / Turkish resort airports / domestic). SunLight includes none. |
| Weight limit | Each individual piece must not exceed 32 kg; total dimensions must not exceed 158 cm (L+W+H) |
| Typical fee | Pre-booked extra/checked bags from ~€15 (10 kg) or ~€20 (15 kg) on SunLight; cheaper online than at the airport. Excess weight at the airport from €19.99 per kg. |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| SunLight | Included (the small bag is the only free piece) | 1 small bag 40 × 30 × 20 cm, max 4 kg | Not included — add a 10 kg bag from ~€15 or 15 kg from ~€20 when booking |
| SunEco | Included within the cabin bag allowance | 1 cabin bag 55 × 40 × 23 cm, max 8 kg | 30 kg intl; 20 kg to/from Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Alanya; 15 kg domestic Turkey |
| SunClassic | Included within the cabin bag allowance | 1 cabin bag 55 × 40 × 23 cm, max 8 kg | 35 kg intl; 25 kg Turkey resorts; 20 kg domestic |
| SunPremium | Included within the cabin bag allowance | 1 cabin bag 55 × 40 × 23 cm, max 8 kg | 40 kg intl; 30 kg Turkey resorts; 25 kg domestic |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
What you actually get on a SunExpress deal fare: the cheapest tickets we see are SunLight, which is hand-baggage-only. That means one small 8 kg-tier cabin allowance is not guaranteed — SunLight gives only a 40 × 30 × 20 cm / 4 kg under-seat bag, and no checked bag at all. The full 55 × 40 × 23 cm / 8 kg cabin bag only appears from SunEco upward.
So for a typical cheap SunExpress fare, budget for cabin baggage only and add a checked bag if you need one — from roughly €15 for 10 kg when booked online, versus a punishing ~€19.99 per kg if you turn up at the airport over your allowance. On flights to the Turkish resort airports (Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Alanya) note that even paid/included checked allowances are smaller (20 kg on SunEco rather than 30 kg).
Oversize, sports & special items
Route matters as much as fare. SunExpress deliberately gives lower checked allowances on its core leisure routes to and from the big Turkish resort airports — Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Alanya — than on its other international flights. Always check the kg figure shown for your specific route, not just the fare name.
- Oversize: any single bag over 158 cm total dimensions is charged a flat €45 per item.
- Per-piece weight: no single checked bag may exceed 32 kg for handling-safety reasons, even if your total allowance is higher.
- Special baggage (bikes, skis, golf, instruments) up to 30 kg travels at flat special rates — book ahead; overweight special items are €10 per kg at check-in.
- Pets: in-cabin up to 8 kg around €60; in the hold (over 8 kg) around €85, with crate sizing rules.
- Always pre-book bags online — airport excess at ~€19.99/kg is the most expensive way to add weight.
Frequently asked questions
Does the cheapest SunExpress fare include a checked bag?
Not always. The cheapest ticket, SunLight, is hand-baggage-only — it includes just a small 40 × 30 × 20 cm / 4 kg bag and no checked baggage. The next fare up, SunEco, is the cheapest one that bundles a full 8 kg cabin bag plus a checked bag (30 kg on most international routes). At deal prices, assume cabin-only unless a checked-bag icon is shown.
What is the SunExpress cabin baggage size and weight?
On SunEco, SunClassic and SunPremium you get one cabin bag up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm and 8 kg. On the cheapest SunLight fare you instead get only one small under-seat bag up to 40 × 30 × 20 cm and 4 kg.
How much checked baggage do I get with SunEco?
SunEco includes 30 kg on most international flights, but only 20 kg on flights to or from the Turkish resort airports (Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Alanya) and 15 kg on domestic Turkish flights. SunClassic and SunPremium add roughly 5 kg and 10 kg respectively over those figures.
What does SunExpress charge for excess baggage?
If you exceed your allowance and pay at the airport, excess weight starts from about €19.99 per kg on international routes — far more than buying allowance in advance. Pre-booking extra bags online (from around €15) is always cheaper than paying at check-in.
What are the SunExpress weight and size limits per bag?
Each individual checked piece must weigh no more than 32 kg, and a single bag's total dimensions (length + width + height) must not exceed 158 cm. Bags over 158 cm are treated as oversize and carry a flat €45 fee per item.
Can I carry sports equipment or a musical instrument?
Yes. Sports equipment and musical instruments up to 30 kg per item can be carried in the hold at special flat rates, which should be booked in advance. If a special-baggage item exceeds the allowed weight, an excess fee of about €10 per kg and route applies at the check-in counter.
How much baggage does an infant get on SunExpress?
Children under 2 years (infants) are given a 20 kg checked baggage allowance regardless of the fare booked. Strollers, car seats and travel cots are generally carried free of charge as checked items.
Is SunExpress checked allowance cheaper to buy online or at the airport?
Online, by a wide margin. Pre-booking an extra bag during or after booking starts at around €15, while excess weight paid at the airport check-in counter starts from about €19.99 per kg. Always add the bag you need before you travel.
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