My airline does not guarantee carry-on in the cabin. Can I opt in to have it travel in the cargo hold?
I'm traveling with WizzAir from Poznań to London, and WizzAir has recently changed its policy to allow larger carry-on bags for free, but with no guarantee that the bag will be allowed on board - if it doesn't fit, it will be taken to the check-in desk and put in the cargo hold free of charge.
My flight is about two hours long, and I only need a few items on board, which would easily fit in my pockets. I also will not be traveling with any expensive items. On the other hand, I'd prefer not to worry about carry-on restrictions and have to pull things out of my bag at the security checkpoint.
Can I ask the airline to check my bag in even if it's not required?
Best Answer
If your reservation does not include checked baggage, you can either amend your reservation prior to the flight, or instead show up to the airport and check in baggage at the check-in counter. Both services will cost money, how much depends on the route and the date flown.
Using the WizzAir baggage fee calculator, with Poznan-to-London entered as the destination (plus a random date in April for travel), I see fees of €?29 for adding checked-in luggage to your reservation after initial booking, and €?60 for checking the bag in at the airport. There is a slightly higher fee for a larger/heavier bag. (The fees are also listed in Euro; I don't know if they'll accept PLN or pounds or require you to pay by card if you go to pay the fee at the airport on check-in.)
This is why the free checked bag policy for carry-on is such a big deal. If you pack a small enough bag and follow the restrictions set by security, etc, for carry-on luggage, they will waive the fee if it turns out they need to check it.
So, to be clear, the policy is that hand luggage is free. If they run out of room for hand luggage, they will check your bag(s), but it will remain free. If you want to explicitly check your bag, then it is no longer hand luggage (even if it meets the size constraints) and you'll need to pay the requisite fees for checked luggage.
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Can I add a luggage at the airport?
Before you check into your flight, you can buy an additional bag to put in the hold. This is a costly option that gets more expensive the closer to your date of departure and even costlier if added on at the airport. There are still weight limitations and not every airline will allow you to book an extra suitcase.Can an airline force you to check your carry-on?
You can also be sure to carry a shopping bag, purse or messenger bag that is small enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Airlines won't ask you to check a bag that small, and you can keep essentials (wallets, passports, laptops and medications) in it.Can you check a bag and not get on the plane?
Can Checked Luggage Fly Without a Passenger? In theory, if a passenger checks their luggage and then, for some reason, doesn't show up at the gate, the airline crew looks for the luggage and then offloads it.Why cabin baggage is not allowed?
Prohibited in Checked and Cabin baggage: Corrosives such as acids, alkalis, mercury and wet cell batteries and apparatus containing mercury. Explosives, munitions, fireworks and flares, ammunition including blank cartridges, handguns, fire works, pistol caps.Cabin bag items which you can and can't carry on plane with you|| Carry on Bag|| SmartFaresFlights
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