KLM Baggage Allowance: Cabin Bags and Checked Luggage
A KLM journey can mean a quick visit to Amsterdam or the first leg of a longer trip. Before choosing your suitcase, check the fare on your booking: the Economy Basic allowance is different from Light, Standard and Flex.
Getting that detail right helps you decide whether a small bag will do, whether you can take a cabin case, or whether checked luggage is the more comfortable option for your plans.
Your KLM Baggage Allowance
On KLM Economy Basic, you can take one small bag under the seat, up to 40 x 30 x 15cm. With a Light, Standard or Flex ticket, you can also take a cabin bag up to 55 x 35 x 25cm.
Your small bag and cabin bag have a combined 12kg limit. Check My Trip before packing because allowances can vary by ticket, route and operating airline.
Check KLM’s latest cabin-bag allowanceKLM Economy Basic, Light, Standard and Flex
Basic is designed for travel with a small underseat bag only. Light, Standard and Flex tickets include the small bag plus a cabin bag within KLM’s 12kg combined limit.
If you need overhead baggage on a Basic ticket, check the available option in My Trip before departure. Any cabin bag must stay within 55 x 35 x 25cm, including wheels and handles.
Check KLM cabin baggage allowanceKLM checked luggage: when a 23kg case is included
In Economy, Basic and Light tickets do not include a checked bag. Standard and Flex include one checked bag up to 23kg. A checked case must be no larger than 158cm when length, width and height are added together.
Tripp recommendation: A medium suitcase is often a practical choice for a 23kg checked allowance and a shorter stay. For longer trips or bulkier packing, browse our large suitcases. Extra bags can be added during or after booking, but always check the allowance in My Trip.
KLM Premium Comfort and Business Class
Premium Comfort includes a small bag plus two cabin bags, with a 12kg combined cabin limit. Standard and Flex Premium Comfort fares include two checked bags up to 23kg each.
Business Class has a larger 18kg cabin allowance and checked-bag allowances up to 32kg per bag, depending on fare. Check your ticket conditions instead of assuming the same allowance applies to every route.
For a connecting journey, keep documents, medication and anything you need between flights in your small bag. When a partner airline operates part of the trip, compare its baggage rules too, so your luggage works for the whole journey rather than just the first flight.
Choose a checked case around what you need to take. A medium suitcase can suit a shorter stay; a large case gives you more space for extended trips. Weigh it once packed, because the capacity of the case does not change the allowance on your ticket.
Choose Your KLM Travel Companion
Economy Basic includes a small bag only, up to 40 x 30 x 15cm. This is a tight allowance, so compare the outside measurement of any bag, including pockets and handles, before you travel.
Light, Standard and Flex tickets include a cabin bag up to 55 x 35 x 25cm. The 35cm width is more restrictive than a standard cabin-case allowance, so check the outside dimensions of your case, including wheels and handles; do not rely on “cabin size” alone.
If you are unsure, check the exact allowance in My Trip before you pack. It is the safest way to make sure your bags work for every flight on the booking.
Check KLM cabin baggage rules
Images by @trainwithkayla and @fliss.heath via Instagram.
KLM Baggage FAQs
Can I take a handbag as well as cabin luggage?
Your small bag counts towards your allowance. It must be within 40 x 30 x 15cm and fit under the seat.
Is a cabin bag included with KLM Basic?
No. Basic includes the small bag only, though you may be able to add a cabin bag through My Trip.
Why can a standard cabin case be too wide for KLM?
KLM’s larger cabin-bag width is 35cm, compared with 40cm on many other airlines. Check the full outside dimensions, including wheels and handles, rather than relying on a general cabin-case label.
Comparing bags for different flights? Our cabin luggage guide helps you choose the right size before you travel.
Baggage information checked on 1 October 2026. Always confirm your allowance with KLM before travelling, as fares and policies can change.
- 22nd March 2024