Thai Airways baggage allowance, by fare
Updated September 2026
In March 2026, Thai Airways switched its checked baggage system from weight-based to piece-based. Under the old system, your fare came with a total kilogram budget you could split across bags however you liked. Now the number of bags is what counts -- packing everything into one heavier bag no longer works the way it used to.
Cabin bag and personal item
Economy gets one cabin bag (56 x 45 x 25 cm, up to 7 kg) plus a small personal item (37.5 x 25 x 12.5 cm, up to 1.5 kg). Business and First get two carry-on bags with a combined weight limit of 15 kg. Check your bag against Thai Airways and 52 other airlines with our carry-on checker.
Checked baggage by fare, under the new system
| Fare / cabin | Checked baggage |
|---|---|
| Economy Saver / Standard | 1 bag, 23 kg |
| Economy Flexi / Full Flex | 2 bags, 23 kg each |
| Business Class | 2 bags, 32 kg each |
| First Class | 3 bags, 32 kg each |
Every checked bag must stay under 158 cm total linear dimensions, including wheels and handles -- a rule travelers frequently miss since it wasn't the binding constraint under the old weight-based system. Excess baggage fees are zone-based by route distance, roughly $12-70 per kilogram; booking extra baggage online ahead of time saves 20-35% versus paying at the airport counter.
Elite status
Royal Orchid Plus Gold and Platinum members get one additional checked bag on top of their fare's standard allowance, regardless of which system applied when they earned status.
Bottom line
If you flew Thai Airways before 2026 and are packing from memory, check your fare's piece count rather than assuming a shared weight budget -- the system genuinely changed. See our checked luggage guide for bags sized to a 23 kg, 158 cm allowance.
Sources
LuggageSearch is reader-supported. This page may contain affiliate links — see our disclosure. Airline policies change: always confirm on the airline's own site before flying.
