LATAM Airlines Baggage: Allowance, Size, Weight & Fee Guidelines

Your baggage allowance on LATAM Airlines is not universal. It depends directly on your route, purchased fare family, cabin class, frequent-flyer status, and ticket conditions. While certain cabin baggage items travel with you free of charge across most standard fares, checked luggage inclusions vary significantly between light promotional fares and premium tickets. Passengers can confirm their exact luggage allowance and pre-purchase additional bags by logging into My Trips on LATAM's official website or mobile app using their reservation code and last name.

LATAM Baggage Allowance at a Glance

The table below summarizes standard allowances and parameters across LATAM flights. Exact limits reflect your specific fare and route:

What Determines Your LATAM Baggage Allowance?

Two passengers seated side by side on the same LATAM flight may have different baggage entitlements. LATAM calculates luggage rules based on several intersecting factors:

• Fare Family: LATAM structures Economy tickets into branded fare tiers (such as Basic, Light, Plus, and Top). Unbundled fares (Basic/Light) often exclude free checked baggage, while Plus and Top fares include checked bags. Review LATAM Airlines Cancellation Policy for details on flexibility and fare families.
• Cabin Class: Premium Economy and Premium Business tickets offer higher carry-on weight allowances (up to 16 kg) and additional included checked bags (often two bags up to 23 kg each on long-haul routes).
• Route and Geography: Domestic flights within Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, or Ecuador often enforce different fare rules than regional South American corridors or long-haul international flights to North America, Europe, or Oceania.
• Frequent Flyer Status: LATAM Pass Elite members (Gold, Platinum, Black, Black Signature) and eligible airline partner tiers receive additional complimentary baggage allowances on qualified itineraries.
• Operating Airline: On codeshare journeys, baggage rules are governed by the marketing or operating carrier according to international ticketing conventions (IATA Resolution 302).

LATAM Personal Item

Every passenger on LATAM is permitted to bring one personal item into the cabin free of charge, regardless of fare family:

• Maximum Dimensions: 45 × 35 × 20 cm ($17.7 \times 13.7 \times 7.8 \text{ in}$), including pockets, handles, and wheels.
• Placement: The personal item must fit completely under the seat directly in front of you, except when seated in emergency exit rows or bulkhead seats, where all items must go into the overhead lockers during taxi, takeoff, and landing.
• Eligible Items: Common examples include a small backpack, a laptop briefcase, a purse, or a diaper bag. LATAM does not publish a standalone weight ceiling for personal items, provided you can handle the bag yourself and it fits within the dimensional limits.

LATAM Carry-On Baggage

Cabin baggage travels in the aircraft's overhead bins and must comply with strict size and weight parameters.

Carry-On Size and Weight

• Maximum Dimensions: 55 × 35 × 25 cm ($21.6 \times 13.7 \times 9.8 \text{ in}$), including wheels, handles, and side pockets.
• Standard Economy Weight: Up to 10 kg (22 lbs) on routes and fares where carry-on baggage is included.
• Premium Cabin Weight: Passengers traveling in Premium Economy or Premium Business receive an increased carry-on allowance of up to 16 kg (35.2 lbs), retaining the same standard 55 × 35 × 25 cm exterior dimensions.
• Fare Inclusions: While standard Economy fares include a 10 kg carry-on piece, certain restrictive promotional or Basic tickets on select domestic or regional routes permit only a personal item. Always verify the cabin bag icon on your ticket receipt.

What Happens If Your Carry-On Is Too Large or Heavy?

If your carry-on luggage exceeds the dimensional sizer at the departure gate or weighs more than the allowed limit, gate staff will transfer the piece to the aircraft hold. Gate-checked bags incur airport excess baggage fees that are significantly higher than online rates. If you have already reached your checked luggage entitlement, you will also be charged for an additional checked piece.

LATAM Checked Baggage

Checked baggage travels in the aircraft hold and is handed over at the airport check-in or bag-drop counter.

Standard Checked Bag Parameters

• Weight Limit: 23 kg (50.7 lbs) per standard bag.
• Size Limit: Up to 158 linear centimeters ($62.2 \text{ in}$), calculated using the formula:

$$\text{Linear Dimensions} = \text{Length} + \text{Width} + \text{Height}$$

Measurements must include wheels, locks, and handles.

Checked Baggage Allowance by Fare and Cabin

The following breakdown illustrates how checked baggage typically applies across fare categories. Check your booking summary for the exact terms tied to your ticket:

Note: Allowances on specific international corridors may vary due to local governmental air transport resolutions.

Is Checked Baggage Free on LATAM?

Checked baggage is not automatically free on all LATAM flights. Entry-level economy tickets (such as Basic or Light) are unbundled to offer lower base airfares, meaning checked bags must be purchased as an add-on. Conversely, Plus, Top, and Premium cabin fares generally bundle one or two checked bags into the ticket price. If your ticket confirmation displays "0 Pieces" or "No baggage included," you must pay an ancillary baggage fee to check a piece into the hold.

LATAM Extra and Excess Baggage

Passengers needing more capacity than their ticket includes can purchase additional bags or pay excess charges for non-standard pieces.

How to Buy Extra Baggage Online

Adding extra bags before reaching the airport saves money compared to counter rates. You can add luggage directly through official self-service tools:

1. Navigate to the official LATAM Airlines portal or open the mobile app.
2. Open the My Trips section.
3. Enter your 6-character reservation code or order number and the passenger's last name.
4. Under your itinerary details, select the option to add or buy baggage.
5. Review your current allowance and select the number of additional pieces required.
6. Confirm payment using a credit card or accepted regional payment method.
7. Download your updated electronic receipt reflecting your expanded baggage tier.

To manage your itinerary or adjust passenger details, review our complete guide to LATAM Airlines Manage Booking.

Overweight Baggage

A bag is classified as overweight when it exceeds standard thresholds:

• Economy & Premium: Bags weighing between 23.1 kg and 32 kg (51–70.5 lbs) incur an overweight fee.
• Maximum Weight Ceiling: In accordance with airport occupational safety laws, LATAM does not accept individual luggage pieces weighing more than 32 kg (70.5 lbs) on most passenger flights (up to 45 kg is accepted on select routes connecting to Europe or Oceania, subject to heavy freight fees). Items above 32 kg generally must be shipped through LATAM Cargo.

Oversized Baggage

A bag is classified as oversized when its combined dimensions ($L + W + H$) measure between 159 cm and 300 cm (62.5–118 in). Oversized luggage incurs separate handling fees. Bags exceeding 300 linear cm cannot be checked as passenger baggage and must travel via cargo.

[!IMPORTANT] Overweight, oversized, and additional-piece charges are cumulative. If a third bag is both overweight and oversized, you will be assessed three distinct fees. Acceptance of excess luggage remains subject to aircraft hold capacity and operational weight restrictions.

What Can You Bring on a LATAM Flight?

Security and safety regulations mandate strict separation between cabin items and hold luggage.

Liquids in Carry-On

• Liquids, gels, pastes, and aerosols in your carry-on luggage are limited to individual containers of no more than 100 ml (3.4 oz) each.
• All containers must fit inside a single, transparent, resealable plastic bag with a maximum volume of 1 liter.
• Duty-free liquids purchased past airport security must remain sealed inside official tamper-evident bags with receipts intact.
• Security screening rules are enforced by local airport security authorities, which may apply stricter inspection protocols depending on your departure country.

Electronics and Lithium Batteries

Aviation safety regulations prohibit certain lithium battery configurations from the cargo hold:

• Power Banks & Spare Batteries: Must travel exclusively in your carry-on baggage. Spare lithium-ion batteries cannot be checked into the aircraft hold under any circumstances.
• Watt-Hour (Wh) Ratings: Batteries up to 100 Wh are permitted in carry-on items. Batteries rated between 100 Wh and 160 Wh (such as specialized camera or drone batteries) require prior airline authorization. Batteries over 160 Wh are strictly forbidden on passenger aircraft.
• E-Cigarettes & Vapes: Must remain in cabin baggage and may not be used or recharged on board the aircraft.
• Smart Luggage: Luggage with built-in power banks is accepted in the cabin only if the battery is removable. If checking the bag, the battery must be removed and carried into the cabin.

Prohibited and Restricted Items

• Strictly Forbidden: Explosives, fireworks, flammable liquids (lighter fluid, paint), compressed gas cylinders, corrosive chemicals, and motorized hoverboards/electric scooters are completely prohibited anywhere on the aircraft.
• Hold Only: Pocket knives, scissors with blades over 6 cm, trekking poles, and sporting bats must be packed securely in checked baggage.
• Firearms & Ammunition: Permitted only as checked baggage, subject to strict advance declaration, official security permits, unloaded status, and locked hard-sided containers.

Sports Equipment and Musical Instruments

LATAM permits passengers to travel with specialized leisure equipment under dedicated transport rules:

• Musical Instruments: Small instruments (such as violins or small flutes) can be taken as carry-on baggage if they fit within standard cabin dimensions (55 × 35 × 25 cm) and replace your standard carry-on piece. Larger instruments (such as cellos or guitars) may travel in the cabin only if you purchase an extra passenger seat in advance. Alternatively, they must be packed inside rigid flight cases and checked into the hold.
• Sports Equipment: Bicycles, surfboards, golf bags, and ski equipment are subject to special baggage handling. While some international ticket tiers accept sports gear in place of an included standard checked bag (provided it meets weight limits), oversized and special equipment fees typically apply. Items must be securely disassembled, packed in protective travel cases, and declared ahead of departure.

Traveling With Pets

Pet transport is governed by animal welfare laws and is handled entirely outside standard baggage allowances:

• Pets in Cabin (PETC): Small dogs and cats can travel in the passenger cabin inside an approved, ventilated soft-sided carrier that fits under the seat in front of you. Combined weight (pet + carrier) generally cannot exceed 7 kg to 10 kg, depending on route regulations.
• Pets in Hold (AVIH): Larger dogs and cats must travel in the climate-controlled cargo hold inside rigid, IATA-compliant crates.
• Advance Reservation: Animal transport capacity is strictly limited per aircraft. Passengers must book pet space at least 48 hours before departure and provide all required rabies certificates, health declarations, and import permits.

Baggage on Connecting and Codeshare Flights

Connecting itineraries require careful baggage planning:

• Single Ticket Itineraries: If your multi-leg journey is booked under a single reservation code (PNR), your luggage is typically checked through to your final destination. However, on itineraries that transition from an international flight to a domestic connection (for example, arriving in São Paulo from Miami and connecting domestically to Rio de Janeiro), customs laws require you to collect your luggage, pass through border customs, and drop the bags at the domestic transfer desk.
• Separate Tickets: If you purchase two separate bookings on different airlines, luggage is never transferred automatically. You must collect your bags, exit to the public arrival hall, and check in again with the onward carrier.
• Codeshare Flights: If part of your trip is marketed by LATAM but operated by a partner airline (such as Delta Air Lines), the baggage allowance and fee structure for the first marketing carrier or most significant carrier (MSC) apply under IATA Resolution 302. However, airport bag-drop procedures follow the operating carrier. Always monitor live connections with LATAM Airlines Flight Status.

LATAM Baggage Drop and Check-in

Checking in online saves time, but checked luggage still requires processing at the airport terminal:

• Online Check-in: Opens 48 hours before departure via latamairlines.com or the mobile app. Complete this process to secure your seat and obtain your digital boarding pass.
• Self-Service Tagging: At primary hubs (such as Santiago, Lima, Bogotá, and São Paulo-Guarulhos), passengers can print bag tags at self-service kiosks and take them to automated drop belts.
• Bag Drop Counters: Dedicated Entrega de Equipaje (Baggage Drop) desks process tagged bags. Counters close strictly 40–60 minutes before domestic departures and 60–75 minutes before international flights.

For complete boarding windows and terminal arrival advice, consult our detailed LATAM Airlines Check-in Guide.

Lost, Delayed, or Damaged Baggage

If your luggage does not arrive at the carousel or appears damaged, take immediate formal steps before leaving the customs hall:

Delayed Baggage

1. Locate the LATAM Baggage Service Office in the baggage claim area.
2. Present your boarding pass and physical baggage claim receipts (the barcode stickers issued at check-in).
3. File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR). The representative will provide a copy containing a 10-character reference code (e.g., SCLCL12345).
4. Request emergency basic-necessity expense guidelines if your bag is delayed away from your home city. Keep all original receipts for reasonable essential purchases.

Damaged Baggage

If your suitcase arrives broken, torn, or with missing components:

1. Report the damage to the airport baggage office immediately upon collection.
2. An agent will inspect the bag and generate a damage report.
3. LATAM's liability excludes pre-existing damage, fragile items packed without protection, cosmetic wear and tear (scratches, minor dents, loose zip pulls), or overpacked suitcases.

Baggage Tracking

Passengers can track delayed luggage status through LATAM's online baggage recovery portal using their PIR reference code and last name. The airline's tracking system updates as ground handling teams trace bag tags and assign them to onward flights.

Common LATAM Baggage Mistakes

• Assuming checked baggage is included: Buying a Basic or Light fare without verifying luggage inclusions often results in expensive last-minute airport fees.
• Measuring without wheels: Dimensions are strictly external ($L + W + H$). Overlooking protruding spinner wheels or handles can cause a bag to fail gate sizer checks.
• Packing spare batteries in checked luggage: Power banks and loose lithium batteries discovered in checked suitcases during automated security scans will be confiscated, delaying your bag.
• Discarding baggage claim stickers: Always keep your baggage claim barcode stickers safe until you have collected and inspected every suitcase at your destination.
• Ignoring customs on domestic connections: Failing to collect bags after clearing international immigration at transfer hubs leads to luggage remaining behind in customs holds.

Baggage Rules Comparison

Official External Resources

• LATAM Airlines Official Baggage Portal: Route-specific baggage calculators and cabin dimensions.
• LATAM Help Center – Checked Baggage: Fare family allowances, weight brackets, and extra piece pricing rules.
• IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (Lithium Batteries): International aviation safety guidelines for watt-hour thresholds on spare power banks and batteries.