FlySafair Baggage Fees (2026)
Quick summary
FlySafair is South Africa's leading low-cost carrier. Hand luggage plus a personal item is free, but checked baggage is a paid add-on on the cheapest fare. Fares are branded (Lite = carry-on only; Standard includes one 20 kg checked bag). Fees are charged in South African rand (ZAR) and are much cheaper when added online than at the airport.
The bottom line on FlySafair baggage
FlySafair keeps hand luggage and a personal item free on every fare, so the only travelers who pay are those checking bags — and the headline Lite fare is carry-on only. The classic trap is adding that first checked bag late: about ZAR 155 during online booking balloons to roughly ZAR 350 at the airport or call centre.
The dependable way to save is to add any checked bag while booking online and to keep each piece at or under 20 kg, since heavier bags draw a ~ZAR 250 charge and anything over 32 kg is refused as luggage. If you know you will check a bag, compare the Standard fare, which bundles a 20 kg bag, against a Lite fare plus a paid add-on.
FlyRulebook Score
Our own 1–5 rating of FlySafair's baggage policy, scored from the verified data on this page. See airline rankings → · How we score →
Hidden pitfalls most travelers miss
- The headline Lite fare is carry-on only — hand luggage and a personal item are free, but any checked bag is a paid add-on.
- Adding the first checked bag late is costly: about ZAR 155 during online booking balloons to roughly ZAR 350 at the airport or call centre.
- A single bag over 32 kg is refused as normal luggage and must go as cargo at your expense (possibly on a later flight); the 7 kg cabin limit is enforced at the gate.
FlySafairbaggage allowance & fees at a glance
| 🎒 Personal item | One small personal item free in addition to hand luggage (e.g. handbag or small bag). Max dimensions about 40 x 15 x 20 cm (15.7 x 5.9 x 7.9 in), must fit under the seat in front of you. |
| 🧳 Carry-on allowance | One piece of hand luggage up to 7 kg (15 lb) is included on all fares. Max dimensions about 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in), stored in the overhead bin. |
| 🧳 First checked bag | No checked bag included — 7 kg hand luggage only; add a checked bag for ~ZAR 155 online |
| 🧳 Second checked bag | Includes 1 checked bag up to 20 kg plus 7 kg hand luggage |
FlySafair checked bag fees
| Lite fare (lowest) | No checked bag included — 7 kg hand luggage only; add a checked bag for ~ZAR 155 online |
| Standard fare | Includes 1 checked bag up to 20 kg plus 7 kg hand luggage |
| Added checked bag (20 kg, per piece) | ~ZAR 155 when added during online booking; ~ZAR 250 if added via call centre or at the airport |
| Per-piece limits | Standard checked piece up to 20 kg, max dimensions about 90 x 75 x 43 cm; heavier or extra bags incur additional fees at check-in |
Excess baggage cost calculator
Estimate what FlySafair will actually charge for your bags — one way, typical domestic/regional route.
- Checked bag #1$9
FlySafair is $3 cheaper than easyJet for these bags.
Estimates only. Fees vary by route, fare type, and date — always confirm before booking.
FlySafair vs easyJet vs Air Arabia: baggage compared
Head-to-head on the fees that actually decide the cheaper airline for bags.
| FlySafair | easyJet | Air Arabia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on included | ✅ Free | $8 | ✅ Free |
| 1st checked bag | $9 | $12 | $4 |
| 2nd checked bag | $14 | — | — |
| Overweight surcharge | $14 | — | — |
| Weight limit | 20 kg | 23 kg | 20 kg |
Flying FlySafair abroad?
FlySafair is a low-cost carrier based in Africa — if this is an international trip, a travel eSIM means you land with data already working, with no roaming bill.
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🔁 Change & cancellation
Change and cancellation rules depend on the fare — the Lite fare is the most restrictive, while Standard and Business fares allow more flexibility. Date changes and name changes carry fees that vary by how far ahead of departure you act; review the fare rules at booking.
FlySafair flight delayed or cancelled?
Compensation rules follow the route, not the airline — a Africa-departing FlySafair flight delayed 3+ hours can be worth up to €600. Checking costs nothing.
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Other common fees
| First checked bag added at airport / call centre | ~ZAR 350 per 20 kg piece vs ~ZAR 155 online |
| Second checked bag (20 kg) | ~ZAR 250 online or via call centre |
| Overweight / heavy luggage (20–32 kg) | Heavy-bag charge of ~ZAR 250 per piece over 20 kg, paid at the airport |
| Bags over 32 kg | Not accepted as normal luggage — must go as cargo at the passenger's expense, may fly separately |
| Sports / oversize equipment | ~ZAR 285 per item (e.g. golf clubs, bicycles, surfboards), limited to 32 kg per item |
| Seat selection | Paid; price varies by seat |
What stops you paying these fees on FlySafair
- An overweight bag costs +$14 here over 20 kg, each way. A scale costs about $10 — the maths on that →
How to avoid extra fees
- Add checked baggage during online booking — at about ZAR 155 it is far cheaper than the ~ZAR 350 you pay to add a first bag at the airport or call centre.
- The Lite fare is fine if you travel with only 7 kg hand luggage (max about 56 x 36 x 23 cm) plus a small personal item.
- Keep each checked bag at or under 20 kg to avoid the ~ZAR 250 heavy-luggage charge applied per piece at the airport.
- Weigh your hand luggage at home — the 7 kg cabin limit is enforced at the gate, and an over-limit bag may be forced into the hold as a paid checked bag.
- Never let a single bag exceed 32 kg: over that weight FlySafair will not accept it as luggage and it must travel as cargo at extra cost, possibly on a later flight.
- Add golf clubs, bicycles or surfboards as sports equipment (~ZAR 285 per item, up to 32 kg) rather than overloading a normal checked bag.
- If you know you'll check a bag, compare the Standard fare against a Lite fare plus a paid bag — the Standard fare often works out cheaper.
FlySafair baggage — FAQ
＋ − Is hand luggage free on FlySafair?
Yes. Every FlySafair fare includes one piece of hand luggage up to 7 kg (max about 56 x 36 x 23 cm) plus a small personal item under the seat. Only checked baggage is a paid add-on on the Lite fare.
＋ − How much does a checked bag cost on FlySafair?
A 20 kg checked bag costs about ZAR 155 when added during online booking, rising to roughly ZAR 250 if you add it through the call centre or at the airport.
＋ − Which FlySafair fare includes a checked bag?
The Standard fare includes one 20 kg checked bag plus 7 kg hand luggage. The cheaper Lite fare includes only hand luggage, so checked baggage must be purchased separately.
＋ − What is FlySafair's carry-on size and weight limit?
FlySafair allows one piece of hand luggage up to 7 kg (15 lb), with maximum dimensions of about 56 x 36 x 23 cm (22 x 14 x 9 in), plus one small personal item up to roughly 40 x 15 x 20 cm that fits under the seat.
＋ − Can I bring a personal item for free on FlySafair?
Yes. In addition to your 7 kg hand luggage, every fare lets you carry one small personal item free of charge — such as a handbag or small laptop bag — as long as it fits under the seat in front of you.
＋ − How much is FlySafair's overweight or excess baggage fee?
A checked bag over 20 kg attracts a heavy-luggage charge of about ZAR 250 per piece, paid at the airport. Bags over 32 kg are not accepted as normal luggage and must be sent as cargo. Sports equipment such as golf clubs or bicycles is about ZAR 285 per item (up to 32 kg).
＋ − How do I avoid extra baggage fees on FlySafair?
Add any checked bag online during booking (~ZAR 155) instead of at the airport (~ZAR 350 for the first bag), keep each bag at or under 20 kg to dodge the ~ZAR 250 heavy-bag charge, and weigh your 7 kg hand luggage at home so it is not forced into the hold at the gate.
Sources & official policy links
Independent guide — not affiliated with FlySafair. Figures here reflect FlySafair's published Africa fares as of 2026-07-07.