Traveling in economy is kind to your wallet, but let’s be honest – it’s not the most comfortable way to travel. There are many limitations we have to endure in exchange for a reasonable fare. Among the most hated limitations is baggage weight restrictions (both carry-on and checked). Since we’re in summer vacation season, let’s compare how much baggage Middle Eastern airlines allow you to bring.
In this post:
- The Minimum Allowance Summary
- Carry-On Baggage Comparison
- Checked Bag Comparison
- Extra Bag Comparison
- Sign up to my newsletter
QUICK SUMMARY: Middle Eastern Airlines Economy Baggage 2026
| Airline | Cabin Bag Allowance | Minimum Checked Bag Allowance | Best to Worst Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates | 7kg | 20kg | Good |
| Qatar Airways | 7kg | 20kg | Good |
| Etihad | 7kg | 0kg | No Bag For Basic Fare |
| Gulf Air | 6kg | 30kg | Best |
| Turkish Airlines | 8kg | 20kg | Good |
| Saudia | 7kg | 20kg | Good |
IMPORTANT TIP: Always buy extra baggage online (50-60% discount) never at the airport!
How Many Kg of Carry-On Baggage Do Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Allow in 2026?
Let’s start by answering the simplest question. How many kg of carry-on baggage can you bring on Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad and other Middle Eastern airlines? Let’s immediately look at the situation with Middle Eastern airlines:
| Airline | Baggage Allowance |
|---|---|
| Gulf Air (Bahrain) | 6kg |
| Oman Air | 7kg |
| Saudia | 7kg |
| Turkish Airlines | 8kg |
| Etihad | 7kg |
| Qatar Airways | 7kg |
| Emirates | 7kg |
Everything is quite straightforward with carry-on baggage, while it becomes much more complicated with checked baggage, which depends on the fare chosen for the trip.
Middle Eastern Airlines Comparison for Checked Baggage in Economy Class
Here the comparison between airlines becomes more tangled when it comes to how much checked baggage can weigh. This is because all airlines have started to differentiate the permitted kilograms based on the chosen fare.
Be careful, I’m not referring to the travel class which is always Economy, but to the fare that allows for more or less flexibility and restrictions, including baggage. Each airline has different names for these fares, with most having 4 types, only Oman Air and Gulf Air have 3.
Economy Class Checked Baggage Allowance: Updated 2026 Comparative Table
| Emirates Fare | Emirates Allowance | Etihad Fare | Etihad Allowance | Saudia Fare | Saudia Allowance | Qatar Airways Fare | Qatar Airways Allowance | Oman Air Fare | Oman Air Allowance | Turkish Airlines Fare | Turkish Airlines Allowance | Gulf Air Fare | Gulf Air Allowance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special | 20kg | Basic | 0kg | Basic | 0kg | Lite | 20 | – | – | EcoFly | 0kg | – | – |
| Saver | 25kg | Comfort | 25kg | Saver | 2x23kg | Classic | 25 | Super Saver | 0kg | ExtraFly | 23kg | Light | 30kg |
| Flex | 30kg | Value | 30kg | Semi-Flex | 2x23kg | Convenient | 30 | Comfort | 20kg | FlexFly | 23kg | Smart | 35kg |
| Flex Plus | 35kg | Deluxe | 40kg | Flex | 2x23kg | Comfort | 35 | Flex | 30kg | PrimeFly | 30kg | Flex | 40kg |
There’s a small exception in this table regarding Emirates. The Dubai airline has an exception for the Saver fare, which concerns flights between Europe and Australia. For these flights, the checked baggage allowed by Emirates is not 25kg but 30kg.
Middle Eastern Airlines Extra Baggage Cost Comparison 2025
However, it may happen that airline allowances are simply not sufficient for travel needs. There’s a solution for this situation: purchasing extra baggage to add to your purchased offer.
What you should never do is show up at the airport without having sorted out the situation beforehand. In other words, what you should do is buy extra baggage before departure. Prices are extremely lower when you purchase extra checked baggage online or in advance. Showing up at the airport unprepared will result in astronomical costs.
The reason for this mechanism? By purchasing extra baggage in advance, we give the airline the opportunity to plan for the extra weight. Showing up at the airport instead doesn’t provide this advance notice, and that’s what we pay for.
Each airline has a different price for extra baggage purchased, and in many cases prices are per weight and not per bag, even when purchased in advance. Some examples:
Emirates Extra Baggage Prices
For extra baggage purchased at the airport, prices range from $15 to $50 per kilo. If purchased in advance, the price is discounted by 50% or 60% depending on the weight you choose to purchase. The prices in the table are full price for those purchasing at the airport.
| From / To | Middle East / South Asia | Africa | Far East | Europe* | Australia and New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle East / South Asia | USD 15 | USD 25 | USD 25 | USD 25 | USD 40 |
| Far East | USD 25 | USD 30 | USD 15 | USD 30 | USD 30 |
| Europe* | USD 25 | USD 30 | USD 30 | USD 40 | USD 50 |
| Australia and New Zealand | USD 40 | USD 50 | USD 30 | USD 50 | USD 15 |
Etihad Extra Baggage Prices
Etihad has a pricing policy that goes in multiples of 5kg. Purchasing at the airport for flights from Italy:
- To Africa, Asia or Middle East: full price is $125 for 5kg while discounted online at $44
- Australia: full price of $200 for 5kg discounted online to $70
How to Purchase Additional Baggage When Traveling with Middle Eastern Airlines?
The management of this service is completely self-service. You can purchase additional baggage up to, generally, 4 or 5 hours before departure online, receiving the discounted rate.
Or if you’re a bit more “old school,” you can also call the customer service center of the airline you’ll be traveling with and arrange everything.