✓ Policy web-verified 2026-05-31
Vueling sells flights as bundles, and baggage is the single biggest variable between them. Every passenger, on every fare, gets one small underseat bag free. Everything beyond that — the larger overhead cabin bag and any checked luggage — depends on the fare you book (Basic, Optima, Family or TimeFlex) or on what you add as a paid extra. The cheapest Basic fare includes only the underseat item; the cabin bag is a paid add-on.
The figures below were verified against Vueling’s official help pages in 2026. Two things change constantly and you should always re-check at booking: checked-bag prices, which vary by route and weight, and the punitive gate fees Vueling charges if your bag is the wrong size or wasn’t paid for in advance. Adding baggage online is consistently far cheaper than at the airport.
Quick facts
| Free personal item (all fares) | 40 x 30 x 20 cm, fits under the seat |
| Cabin bag (overhead) | 55 x 40 x 20 cm, max 10 kg |
| Cabin bag included on | Optima, Family, TimeFlex (paid extra on Basic) |
| Checked bag weights | 15, 20, 25 or 30 kg (max 32 kg/bag) |
| Checked bag max dimensions | 158 cm linear (L+W+H) |
| Free checked bag included on | Optima & Family (1 x 25 kg) |
| Checked bag fee (online) | from ~EUR 10-25; rises with weight and route |
| Excess weight | EUR 12 per extra kg at the gate |
| Oversized underseat bag (gate) | EUR 60-75 per item/flight |
| Oversized cabin bag (gate) | EUR 110-140 per item/flight |
| Sports/special equipment | from ~EUR 45 per item, each way |
Cabin bag & personal item
| Item | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Personal / under-seat item | 40 x 30 x 20 cm. Free on every fare, including Basic. Must fit entirely under the seat in front of you. No published weight limit, but you must be able to stow it unaided. This is the only baggage Basic includes. |
| Cabin / carry-on bag | 55 x 40 x 20 cm · 10 kg Included on Optima, Family and TimeFlex. On Basic it is a paid add-on (cheaper online than at the airport). At the gate, an oversized cabin bag is checked for EUR 110-140 per item/flight. |
Checked baggage & fees
| Checked allowance | 0-1 bags depending on fare; up to several can be purchased |
| Weight limit | 15, 20, 25 or 30 kg per bag (32 kg hard max) |
| Typical fee | From roughly EUR 10-25 online for the lighter allowances, rising with weight and route; airport prices are much higher (often EUR 50+ for 25 kg). Optima and Family include one 25 kg bag free. Prices are charged in EUR; the GBP equivalent depends on the exchange rate at payment. |
What each fare includes
| Fare | Personal | Cabin | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Yes – 40 x 30 x 20 cm underseat | Paid add-on (55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg) | Not included – paid add-on |
| Optima | Yes | Yes – 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg | 1 x 25 kg included |
| Family | Yes | Yes | 1 x 25 kg included |
| TimeFlex | Yes | Yes – 55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg | Not included by default |
What you actually get on a cheap fare
What you actually get at a Vueling deal price. The cheap headline fares we surface are almost always Basic. That buys you exactly one thing for baggage: a 40 x 30 x 20 cm underseat bag. There is no checked bag, and the larger 55 x 40 x 20 cm overhead cabin bag is a paid extra — it is not included, despite being the size most people think of as “carry-on”.
So budget realistically. If you only need a small backpack or holdall that slides under the seat, a Basic fare is a genuine bargain and you pay nothing more. The moment you want a proper wheeled cabin case or hold luggage, add it online at booking — never at the gate, where an oversized cabin bag costs EUR 110-140 and an oversized underseat bag EUR 60-75. For two or more bags it is often cheaper to compare a Basic fare plus paid extras against the all-in Optima fare before you book.
Oversize, sports & special items
Sports and special equipment. Skis, snowboards, golf clubs, bicycles, surfboards and similar items are carried as special baggage from roughly EUR 45 per item, each way, and must be declared and paid in advance. Bicycles must be boxed or bagged with the pedals removed and tyres deflated. Special items still count against — or in excess of — your weight allowance.
Musical instruments. Small instruments that fit the cabin-bag dimensions (55 x 40 x 20 cm, 10 kg) can travel as your cabin bag. Larger instruments must either be checked as special baggage or, for fragile items like guitars or cellos, carried on an extra seat purchased for the instrument. Confirm the arrangement with Vueling before travel.
Oversize and overweight. Checked bags over your purchased weight are charged EUR 12 per extra kg at the gate, up to a 32 kg per-bag maximum. Bags exceeding 158 cm linear dimensions incur oversize charges. The harshest fees are at the boarding gate: an underseat bag that is too big is checked for EUR 60-75, and a cabin bag over 55 x 40 x 20 cm for EUR 110-140 — always pay for the right bag online first.
Notable 2026 change. In January 2026 the European Parliament voted to require airlines to include one personal item plus one small cabin bag free in the base fare. This is still working through the EU legislative process and is not yet a binding rule at Vueling — at present Vueling’s cheapest Basic fare still charges extra for the overhead cabin bag. Re-check before you fly, as low-cost carriers may update their policies as the rule advances.
Frequently asked questions
What is Vueling's free baggage allowance?
Every Vueling fare, including the cheapest Basic fare, includes one free personal item up to 40 x 30 x 20 cm that must fit under the seat in front of you. Nothing else is free on Basic.
Is a cabin bag included on Vueling?
The larger 55 x 40 x 20 cm (max 10 kg) overhead cabin bag is included on Optima, Family and TimeFlex fares. On the Basic fare it is a paid add-on, cheaper to buy online than at the airport.
How much does a checked bag cost on Vueling?
Checked-bag prices vary by route and weight. Online, a bag can start from roughly EUR 10-25 for lighter allowances and rises with weight and route; at the airport it is far more, often EUR 50 or more for 25 kg. Optima and Family fares include one 25 kg bag free.
What are Vueling's checked bag weight and size limits?
You can buy 15, 20, 25 or 30 kg allowances. No single bag may exceed 32 kg, and total dimensions must not exceed 158 cm (length + width + height combined). Overweight bags are charged EUR 12 per extra kg.
What happens if my bag is too big at the gate?
Gate fees are steep. An underseat bag larger than 40 x 30 x 20 cm is checked for EUR 60-75 per item per flight; a cabin bag larger than 55 x 40 x 20 cm is checked for EUR 110-140. Always pay for the correct bag online in advance.
Which Vueling fare is best if I need luggage?
If you need a checked bag, Optima or Family is usually the best value because each includes a personal item, a cabin bag and one 25 kg checked bag. Compare that all-in price against a Basic fare with bags added as extras before booking.
Can I take sports equipment or a musical instrument on Vueling?
Sports equipment such as skis, golf clubs, bikes and surfboards is carried as special baggage from around EUR 45 per item each way and must be declared in advance. Small instruments can travel as your cabin bag; larger ones must be checked or carried on a purchased extra seat.
Has Vueling changed its baggage rules for 2026?
Vueling's core allowances are stable in 2026. The EU is advancing a rule (Parliament voted January 2026) to make one personal item plus a small cabin bag free in the base fare, but it is not yet binding, and Vueling still charges extra for the overhead cabin bag on its Basic fare. Re-check at booking.
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