Spring Airlines Baggage Fees (2026)
Quick summary
Spring Airlines (9C) is China's largest budget carrier, and its allowances are strict: the cheapest fares booked on its website or app include no free checked baggage at all, and free checked weight only comes with higher fare bundles such as SpringPlus. Buy baggage in advance — check-in and gate rates are steep.
The bottom line on Spring Airlines baggage
Spring Airlines runs a hard no-frills model where the cheapest fare is a bare seat: it includes zero free checked baggage and only a 7kg cabin bag, with meals, seats, and services all charged. The trap people fall into is assuming a bag is included and then facing gate excess of roughly CNY 500 / JPY 11,000 per piece on international routes — often more than double what the same allowance costs online.
The reliable way to come out ahead is to decide your bag needs before you book: always prepay checked baggage online rather than at the airport, and if you are carrying more than a cabin bag, a prepaid 30kg checked bag is usually the cheapest route. If free checked weight matters, compare a SpringPlus bundle, which includes 20kg, against the base fare plus paid bags.
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Hidden pitfalls most travelers miss
- The cheapest fares booked on the website or app include zero free checked baggage — only a 7kg cabin bag — so a bag you assumed was included must be bought separately.
- Gate excess on international routes runs about CNY 500 / JPY 11,000 / USD 75 per piece, often more than double the online price — always prepay checked bags online.
- A small personal item is counted inside the single 7kg cabin allowance rather than allowed separately, and meals, seats and services are all paid extras.
Spring Airlinesbaggage allowance & fees at a glance
| 🎒 Personal item | A small personal item is generally counted within the single carry-on allowance rather than allowed separately, so keep the combined cabin weight at or under 7kg. |
| 🧳 Carry-on allowance | One carry-on bag up to 7kg and within 40 x 30 x 20cm, free for all passengers. SpringPlus fares allow a larger carry-on up to 10kg within 55 x 40 x 20cm. Overweight or oversize cabin bags must be checked and paid for. |
| 🧳 First checked bag | 0kg free checked baggage — checked bags must be purchased |
| 🧳 Second checked bag | 20kg free checked baggage included |
Spring Airlines checked bag fees
| Cheapest fare (website/app/WeChat) | 0kg free checked baggage — checked bags must be purchased |
| SpringPlus fare | 20kg free checked baggage included |
| Prepaid checked bag | Buy allowance up to 30kg per piece; total dimensions within 203cm |
| Excess baggage at the gate | International about CNY 500 / JPY 11,000 / USD 75 per piece (≤10kg); domestic about CNY 300 per piece — buying online in advance is far cheaper |
Excess baggage cost calculator
Estimate what Spring Airlines will actually charge for your bags — one way, typical domestic/regional route.
- Checked bag #1see airline
Some fees aren't published for this route/fare — confirm on the airline's site.
Estimates only. Fees vary by route, fare type, and date — always confirm before booking.
Spring Airlines vs Scoot vs HK Express: baggage compared
Head-to-head on the fees that actually decide the cheaper airline for bags.
| Spring Airlines | Scoot | HK Express | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on included | ✅ Free | ✅ Free | — |
| 1st checked bag | — | — | — |
| 2nd checked bag | — | — | — |
| Overweight surcharge | — | — | — |
| Weight limit | 30 kg | 20 kg | 20 kg |
🔁 Change & cancellation
As a low-cost carrier, Spring's cheapest fares are largely non-refundable and changes carry fees plus any fare difference. Higher fare bundles allow changes with lower penalties. Terms vary by fare and route — check your booking before travel.
Other common fees
| Prepaid vs airport baggage | Buying baggage online in advance is far cheaper than adding it at check-in or the gate |
| Carry-on upgrade (SpringPlus level) | About RMB 160 domestic / RMB 220 international to raise the cabin allowance to 10kg |
| Seat selection | Charged; forward and extra-legroom seats cost more |
| Onboard/service extras | Meals, drinks, and most services are paid — Spring runs a no-frills model |
How to avoid extra fees
- Check your fare tier carefully — the cheapest bundles booked on the website or app include zero free checked baggage.
- Free checked weight (20kg) only comes with SpringPlus and higher bundles, so factor that into the fare comparison.
- Always prepay checked bags online; gate rates (about CNY 500 / JPY 11,000 per piece internationally) can be more than double the online price.
- Keep the standard carry-on at 7kg and within 40 x 30 x 20cm — Spring enforces cabin limits strictly.
- If you have more than a cabin bag of stuff, pricing a 30kg prepaid checked bag in advance is usually the cheapest option.
Spring Airlines baggage — FAQ
+ − What is Spring Airlines' baggage allowance?
The cheapest fares booked on Spring's website or app include no free checked baggage; SpringPlus and higher bundles include 20kg. Carry-on is one bag up to 7kg (40 x 30 x 20cm), or up to 10kg on SpringPlus.
+ − How much is excess baggage on Spring Airlines?
At the gate, international excess runs about CNY 500 / JPY 11,000 / USD 75 per piece (up to 10kg each) and domestic about CNY 300 per piece. Buying baggage online in advance is by far the cheapest.
+ − What is Spring Airlines' carry-on size and weight limit?
One carry-on up to 7kg within 40 x 30 x 20cm, free for all passengers. SpringPlus fares raise this to 10kg within 55 x 40 x 20cm. Anything larger or heavier must be checked and paid for.
+ − Does Spring Airlines include free checked baggage?
Only on higher fare bundles. The cheapest tickets booked via the website or app include zero free checked baggage, so you must buy it separately, while SpringPlus includes 20kg.
Sources & official policy links
Independent guide — not affiliated with Spring Airlines. Figures here reflect Spring Airlines's published Asia fares as of 2026-07-12.