Southeast Asia Budget Airlines Baggage Allowance: AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, VietJet and Scoot (2026)

On Southeast Asia’s budget airlines, the cheapest fares include only cabin baggage: 7 kg in total on AirAsia and VietJet, and 10 kg on Scoot and, since 15 September 2026, on Cebu Pacific. Checked bags are extra on basic fares, and they are much cheaper when you add them online before you fly than at the airport. Bags are often weighed at check-in or at the gate, so pack to the limit and buy checked baggage in advance if you need it.

Budget airline baggage allowances compared

Airline	Cabin allowance (cheapest fare)	Cabin bag size	Checked bag on cheapest fare?
AirAsia (incl. Thai AirAsia, AirAsia Philippines)	7 kg total, 2 pieces	56 × 36 × 23 cm + small bag 40 × 30 × 10 cm	No; pre-book 15/20–60 kg
Cebu Pacific (5J)	10 kg total, 2 pieces (from 15 Sept 2026)	56 × 36 × 23 cm + personal item 35 × 20 × 20 cm	No on Basic; 20 kg on Go Easy and Flexi bundles
Cebgo (DG)	7 kg total	As Cebu Pacific	No on Basic
VietJet	7 kg + small personal item	56 × 36 × 23 cm	No on Eco; 20 kg Deluxe, 30 kg SkyBoss
Scoot	10 kg total, 2 pieces	54 × 38 × 23 cm + small bag 40 × 30 × 10 cm	No on Fly; 20 kg on FlyBag bundles

AirAsia baggage allowance

AirAsia allows two pieces of cabin baggage with a combined weight of 7 kg: one main bag up to 56 × 36 × 23 cm for the overhead locker and one small bag, such as a laptop bag or handbag, up to 40 × 30 × 10 cm for under the seat. You can buy extra cabin weight (Xtra Carry-On) as an add-on.

Low fares include no checked baggage. You can pre-book checked allowances from 20 kg up to 60 kg (15 kg on some domestic routes), and some higher fare types, such as Value Pack, include 20 kg. Your allowance is a total weight, so you can split it between several bags as long as no single bag weighs more than 32 kg. Passengers on the same booking who check in together can share their allowance. Buying baggage online is cheaper than paying at the airport; you can add it through the AirAsia MOVE app until shortly before departure.

How many kg of baggage is allowed on AirAsia?

7 kg of cabin baggage in total (two pieces), plus whatever checked allowance you buy or your fare includes, up to 60 kg per person per flight, with a maximum of 32 kg for any single bag.

Can I bring two bags with a 20 kg AirAsia allowance?

Yes. AirAsia’s checked allowance is by total weight, not by number of pieces, so you can check two bags of 10 kg each on a 20 kg allowance. Each bag must stay within the maximum size and 32 kg weight limit.

How much does a 20 kg bag cost on AirAsia?

There is no fixed price: it depends on the route, the flight length and when you buy. A 20 kg bag on a short domestic flight costs much less than on a long international route, and the price at the airport check-in counter is significantly higher than online. Add your bag when you book, or in the app as early as possible, to get the lowest price.

Cebu Pacific baggage allowance

From 15 September 2026, Cebu Pacific flights (code 5J) allow 10 kg of hand-carry baggage in total, up from 7 kg: one bag for the overhead bin and one personal item for under the seat. Flights operated by its regional subsidiary Cebgo (code DG) keep the 7 kg limit, so check which airline operates your flight.

The Basic fare includes no checked bag. The Go Easy and Flexi bundles include a 20 kg checked bag. Added online, a 20 kg bag has been priced at about 1,000 pesos on domestic flights, rising for short- and long-haul international flights, and costs roughly two to two-and-a-half times as much if you pay at the airport. Our guides to Manila to Boracay, Manila to Coron and El Nido to Coron cover the routes where you are most likely to fly Cebu Pacific.

VietJet baggage allowance

VietJet (and Thai VietJet) includes 7 kg of carry-on baggage, in a bag up to 56 × 36 × 23 cm, plus a small personal item. The cheapest Eco fare has no checked baggage; Deluxe includes 20 kg, SkyBoss 30 kg and SkyBoss Business 40 kg. Extra baggage packages are sold from 15 kg to 40 kg, and no single piece may weigh more than 32 kg. Buy them online at least a few hours before departure; airport rates are higher. See Hanoi to Hoi An and Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc for VietJet routes.

Scoot baggage allowance

Scoot, Singapore Airlines’ low-cost airline, allows 10 kg of cabin baggage in up to two pieces: a bag of up to 54 × 38 × 23 cm and a small bag of up to 40 × 30 × 10 cm. The basic Fly fare has no checked baggage; FlyBag and FlyBagEat bundles include 20 kg.

Are bags weighed on budget airlines in Southeast Asia?

Often, yes. Staff may weigh cabin bags at check-in, at bag-drop or at the boarding gate, and travellers regularly report being charged for being a kilo or two over, especially on AirAsia. Both cabin pieces count towards the total, so a heavy laptop bag can push you over the limit. If you are close, wear your heaviest clothes and shoes, or buy a small checked allowance online, which is cheaper than paying the excess at the gate.

Tips to avoid baggage fees

• Weigh your bags at home with a luggage scale, and again before flights home after shopping.
• Compare the bundle price with the basic fare plus a bag; bundles with a checked bag are sometimes cheaper.
• Add bags at booking. Prices usually rise closer to departure and are highest at the airport.
• On separate tickets, buy baggage for each flight. Allowances do not carry over between bookings.
• Check the operating airline. Affiliates and regional subsidiaries can have different rules from the main brand.
• Pack liquids, power banks and batteries in your cabin bag according to the airline’s dangerous goods rules; spare lithium batteries are not allowed in checked baggage.

Planning your route? See the cheapest time to fly to Thailand, our Thailand itinerary, Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi and Bali to Lombok.

FAQ

Is a backpack a personal item on AirAsia?

A small backpack can be your second piece if it fits within 40 × 30 × 10 cm. A larger backpack counts as your main cabin bag, and both pieces together must weigh no more than 7 kg.

Can I buy extra baggage at the airport?

Yes, on all these airlines, but it is the most expensive option. Add baggage online or in the airline’s app before you leave for the airport.

Which budget airline in Southeast Asia has the biggest free carry-on allowance?

Scoot and Cebu Pacific (on 5J flights), which both allow 10 kg of cabin baggage on their cheapest fares, compared with 7 kg on AirAsia and VietJet.