Why can’t I add baggage to my itinerary?
If you’re not able to add checked baggage to your itinerary, here are a few reasons that might explain why, and help with what to do.
Jump to section
Your trip has a travel hack with baggage limitations
When you search for flights, you may see travel hacks marked as No-checked-bag itineraries. These special itineraries don’t allow checked baggage to make it possible for you to make your connections. To avoid issues on your trip, we strongly recommend you don’t add baggage through the carrier on your own.
Note that if you have the Kiwi.com Guarantee, it won’t apply if you add checked baggage to a no-checked-bag itinerary.
You can’t add baggage to the following travel hack itineraries:
1. Self-transfer itineraries with short layovers
We don’t offer checked baggage on itineraries that have a self-transfer with a short layover (usually anything less than 2 hours). Itineraries with self-transfers have layovers which aren’t connected by the carriers, and it’s likely you won’t have enough time to transfer with baggage. This is because you’d need to collect your baggage, check it in again, and go through security — and sometimes even passport control — in transit.
2. “Hidden city” itineraries
If you book a hidden city itinerary, you can only bring a personal item with you. The airline could require you to gate-check any larger pieces of baggage — including cabin baggage and musical, sports, or baby equipment — and your baggage would get sent to the official final destination on your itinerary instead of the layover stop, aka the “hidden city”, where you get off.
It’s less than 36 hours before your trip
You can add baggage to your itinerary up to 36 hours before your trip. After that, you can’t add baggage through Kiwi.com, but it might be possible to add bags at the airport. For more details, check the conditions for your specific carrier.
There may be technical limitations
In some rare cases, carriers might not allow any checked baggage, or we might not be able to offer it to you for technical reasons.
What to do if you need checked baggage
If you booked a trip and have enough layover time and no “hidden city” stop, please review the checked baggage conditions of the carriers. It may be possible to add baggage through carriers directly, or at the airport.
If you haven’t booked your trip, but need baggage or plan to travel with a wheelchair or stroller, please choose an itinerary with a longer layover time. Carriers usually put these items into the cargo hold, and you may need more time to wait for them.
Did this article help you?