Baggage allowance at Geneva Airport.
Cabin and hold rules for the 12 main airlines at GVA — size, weight, fees and what to do with skis, bikes and instruments.
Carry-on by airline at GVA
Sizes in cm (LxWxH) and weight in kg. Always check your specific fare — low-cost basic fares often restrict carry-on to one personal item.
| Airline | Cabin size (cm) | Weight | Personal item | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss | 55 × 40 × 23 | 8 kg | 40 × 30 × 10 cm | Light fare = personal item only |
| easyJet | 45 × 36 × 20 | 15 kg | — | Standard. Large cabin bag 56×45×25 = paid extra |
| Air France | 55 × 35 × 25 | 12 kg total (2 pieces) | 40 × 30 × 15 cm | Light fare = 1 piece 12 kg total |
| British Airways | 56 × 45 × 25 | 23 kg | 40 × 30 × 15 cm | Generous; basic fare same allowance |
| Lufthansa | 55 × 40 × 23 | 8 kg | 40 × 30 × 10 cm | Light fare = personal item only |
| KLM | 55 × 35 × 25 | 12 kg total (2 pieces) | 40 × 30 × 15 cm | Same as Air France (group) |
| Turkish Airlines | 55 × 40 × 23 | 8 kg | 40 × 30 × 23 cm | Generous economy fare |
| Emirates | 55 × 38 × 20 | 7 kg | 45 × 35 × 20 cm | Strictly enforced |
| Qatar Airways | 50 × 37 × 25 | 7 kg | 40 × 30 × 10 cm | Economy |
| Ryanair | 40 × 25 × 20 | 10 kg | — | Personal item only on basic; cabin bag = priority fare |
| Wizz Air | 40 × 30 × 20 | 10 kg | — | Same as Ryanair |
| Vueling | 55 × 40 × 20 | 10 kg | 40 × 20 × 30 cm | Basic fare = personal item only |
Checked-bag pricing & weight at GVA
Indicative one-way prices when added at booking (paying at the airport doubles the fee). Long-haul fares often include 1 piece 23 kg free.
| Airline | 1st bag (23 kg) | Extra bag | Max weight | Excess fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss (Economy Light) | CHF 35 | CHF 70 | 32 kg | CHF 70 / extra 9 kg |
| easyJet | CHF 12 (15 kg) | CHF 25 (23 kg) | 32 kg | CHF 12 / kg over |
| Air France (Light) | CHF 30 | CHF 65 | 23 kg | CHF 50 / extra 9 kg |
| British Airways (Basic) | CHF 35 | CHF 65 | 23 kg | CHF 65 / extra 9 kg |
| Lufthansa (Economy Light) | CHF 35 | CHF 80 | 32 kg | CHF 80 / extra 9 kg |
| Ryanair (Basic) | CHF 25 (10 kg) | CHF 45 (20 kg) | 20 kg | CHF 11 / kg over |
| Emirates (Economy) | Included (30 kg) | CHF 110 | 32 kg | CHF 30 / kg over |
| Qatar (Economy) | Included (30 kg) | CHF 90 | 32 kg | CHF 25 / kg over |
Skis, bikes, instruments, prams
GVA has a dedicated oversized check-in desk in Terminal 1 — drop off after the regular check-in. Free for prams; paid for skis and bikes.
Skis & snowboards
CHF 35–80 per piece depending on airline. Pack in a soft or hard ski bag, max 200 cm. Free with Swiss/SAS Gold on ski routes during winter.
Bicycles
CHF 60–120. Box or hard case required, max 23 kg. Remove pedals, deflate tyres, turn handlebars sideways. Reserve in advance.
Musical instruments
Small (violin, flute) = cabin. Guitar = often cabin if you ask early. Cello = book extra seat (CHF 250+). Drums = hold + extra fee.
Prams & child car seats
Free across all airlines. Drop at gate, collect at gate on arrival. Car seat free in hold or use on board if you bought a seat for the child.
Baggage at Geneva Airport — frequently asked questions
What is the cabin baggage size limit at Geneva Airport?
The size limit depends on your airline, not on the airport. Swiss, Lufthansa and Turkish allow 55 × 40 × 23 cm; easyJet allows a generous 45 × 36 × 20 cm cabin bag plus a paid 56 × 45 × 25 cm “large cabin bag”; British Airways permits 56 × 45 × 25 cm at 23 kg. Low-cost basic fares (Ryanair, Wizz, Vueling) restrict you to a personal item only (40 × 25 × 20 cm). Always check your fare bundle on the airline website.
How much does a checked bag cost from Geneva Airport?
Added at booking, a 23 kg checked bag costs CHF 30 (Air France Light) to CHF 35 (Swiss Light, BA Basic, Lufthansa Light) for European flights. easyJet starts at CHF 12 for a 15 kg bag. Long-haul tickets (Emirates, Qatar) typically include 30 kg free. Paying at the airport check-in counter usually doubles the fee — buy your bag online when you book.
Where is the oversized baggage check-in at Geneva Airport?
The oversized check-in desk is in Terminal 1 departures (Level 1), at the far end of the check-in hall past row 200. After completing regular check-in at your airline counter, walk down to the oversized desk and drop off skis, bikes, golf bags, surfboards or musical instruments. Allow an extra 15 minutes. The desk is open 04:30–22:00 daily.
How much does it cost to fly skis from Geneva?
CHF 35–80 per ski/snowboard bag depending on the airline. Swiss, easyJet and Lufthansa charge CHF 35–50 if booked in advance. British Airways and Air France charge CHF 65–80. Some carriers (Swiss in winter, SAS) offer free ski transport on ski destination routes for higher cabin classes. Maximum length 200 cm; one bag per traveller.
Can I take liquids in my carry-on at GVA?
Yes, with the standard rule: containers max 100 ml, all in a single transparent resealable bag of 1 litre maximum (typically 20 × 20 cm). Geneva Airport now has new-generation CT scanners at most security lanes, meaning you can leave liquids and laptops in your bag — but the 100 ml per container rule still applies for now. Duty-free liquids bought airside are sealed in a special bag, fine for transfers.
What happens if my bag is overweight at GVA?
At check-in the airline staff weighs your bag. If you’re over the limit (typically 23 kg economy, 32 kg business), you pay an excess fee of CHF 11–80 per extra 9 kg or per kg, depending on the airline. Cheaper options: redistribute weight to your cabin bag, send the excess as a second bag (often cheaper than excess fees), or use the airport baggage shipping service (Swiss Post Logistik desk in Level 1).
Baggage rules by airline
Arriving with skis or a heavy bag?
Pre-book a Mercedes V-Class — fits 7 ski bags + 7 passengers, fixed price from CHF 130.
Book a transfer →