El Al Baggage Allowance and Fees

If you have an upcoming flight with El Al or are considering making a booking with the airline, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the airline’s baggage policy. You can determine whether the airline meets your baggage requirements and how to best prepare for your flight.

In this post, we will cover El Al’s carry-on and checked baggage policies, explaining the allowances, rules, limits, and fees.

Also, if you are planning to travel with special baggage, such as sports equipment or musical instruments, we will detail everything you need to know to travel with your items safely.

Carry On Baggage Policy

All cabin classes include a carry-on baggage allowance. This includes:

• 1 personal item
• 1 to 2 carry-on bags, depending on your cabin class and destination.

Personal Item Allowance

All cabin classes allow 1 personal item.

Size Limit

Your personal item can be no larger than 15 x 12 x 7 inches (38 x 30 x 18 centimeters). If the item exceeds this limit, it may be checked as checked baggage and subject to a fee.

Typical personal items include:

• A purse
• Handbag
• Laptop bag
• Small backpack

Weight Limit

El Al doesn’t explicitly specify a weight limit for personal items.

Carry On Bags

Number of Carry On Bags

All cabin classes allow at least 1 carry-on bag. Premium cabin classes allow you to bring 2 carry-on bags on board.

Size Limit

Carry-on bags can be up to 22 x 18 x 10 inches (56 x 45 x 25 centimeters) in size. This size limit is consistent across all destinations and cabin classes. If your carry-on bag exceeds this size limit, it may be checked as checked baggage and subject to a fee.

Typical carry-on bags include:

• A small suitcase
• Large backpack
• Duffel bag

Weight Limit

Before we describe the carry-on bag weight limit by destination, let’s cover some general rules.

If your carry-on bag exceeds the weight limit, it may be checked as checked baggage and subject to a bag fee.

Also, if there is no space left in overhead bins, there is a possibility that your carry-on bag may be gate-checked.

Hot Tip: Your personal item will never be gate-checked if it’s within the size limits. You should pack all valuable, fragile, and important items in your personal item, in the event that you have to gate-check your carry-on bag.

Now, let’s examine the carry-on bag allowance for all cabin classes by region:

Carry On Bag Allowance

Flights to/from U.S. and Canada

Flights to/from Everywhere Else

Liquid Restrictions in Carry On Baggage

Flights to/from U.S.

If you are traveling to or from the U.S., you need to be mindful of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) limits on liquids in carry-on baggage. You are allowed to travel with liquid containers no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 ml). All your liquid containers must be stored in a clear, resealable, 1 quart-sized bag.

Flights to/from Everywhere Else

Most other countries follow the same 3.4-ounce liquid restriction as described above. However, some countries within Europe have scrapped liquid limits in carry-on baggage. You can refer to the websites of your departing, transiting, and destination airports for their current policy.

Find Your Carry On Baggage Allowance Post-Booking

If you have already bought your ticket with El Al, you can find out your carry-on baggage allowance in one of two ways:

• Refer to the ticket receipt emailed to you after completing your booking.
• Accessing your booking on El Al’s website

Checked Baggage Policy

In this section, we will explain the size and weight limits for checked baggage. We will also cover how much checked baggage is included with your fare, based on the type of ticket purchased.

Standard Checked Bag

Checked Bag Size Limit

A standard checked bag can be up to 62 linear inches (158 centimeters) in size. This is calculated by measuring the outside length, width, and height of your bag and totaling these measurements. You must include any protruding wheels, handles, and straps with your measurements.

If your checked bag is larger than 62 linear inches, it will be subject to an oversized bag fee.

El Al won’t accept checked bags larger than 109 linear inches (277 centimeters).

Checked Bag Weight Limit

A standard checked bag can weigh up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms). If your bag exceeds this weight, it will be subject to an overweight fee.

El Al won’t accept checked bags heavier than 70 pounds (32 kilograms).

Checked Baggage Allowance

Your checked baggage allowance depends on your destination and cabin class:

Flights to/from U.S. and Canada

Flights to/from Europe, Middle East, and Morocco

Flights to/from East Asia and South Africa

Excess Baggage Fees

Excess baggage refers to checked baggage that exceeds standard checked bag allowances.

There are three categories of excess baggage:

• Oversized bags
• Overweight bags
• Extra bags

More than one category can apply to any one bag. For example, depending on the size of your suitcase and how much you pack, your checked bag could be both oversized and overweight. If that particular bag is also an extra bag, the excess baggage fees can quickly add up.

Oversized Bags

Oversized checked baggage refers to any bag larger than 62 linear inches (158 centimeters) but no greater than 109 linear inches (277 centimeters). Your oversized bag will be subject to a fee, in addition to any other applicable bag fees.

El Al won’t accept checked bags larger than 109 linear inches.

Overweight Bags

Overweight checked baggage is any piece of baggage that is heavier than 50 pounds (23 kilograms) but no more than 70 pounds (32 kilograms). Your overweight bag will be subject to a fee, in addition to any other applicable bag charges.

If you plan to travel with overweight luggage, the airline requires that you contact them.

El Al won’t accept checked bags that weigh more than 70 pounds.

Extra Bags

Extra bags refer to any checked baggage that is not included with your ticket. You will have to pay a fee for each extra bag.

Baggage Fees

All baggage fees are in U.S. dollars.

You can prepay your excess baggage fees up to 3 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure. You have two options available to pay:

• Pay the fee using El Al’s website
• Contac El Al’s Service Center. Using the call center to pay for your excess baggage incurs a $5 handling fee on top of the excess fee.

As you would expect, excess baggage fees are more expensive when paying at the airport.

Some charges are flat fees, while others vary depending on your destination.

Flights to/from U.S. and Canada

Flights to/from Europe, Middle East, and Morocco

Flights to/from East Asia and South Africa

Special Baggage

In this section we will explain everything you’ll need to know when traveling with special baggage such as sports equipment and musical instruments.

All special baggage should be packed in a bag, case, or container that provides sufficient protection to withstand the inevitable bumps and knocks when handled as checked baggage.

Sports Equipment

With the exception of Lite fare tickets, you can substitute sports equipment measuring up to 75 inches (190 cm) for a checked bag without having to pay an extra fee.

If your sports equipment is less than 109 linear inches (277 cm) and between 50 pounds (23 kg) and 70 pounds (32 kg), it can be checked as overweight baggage. However, you will have to contact El Al for approval.

Bicycles

Bikes can be substituted as a checked bag if it’s packed in a proper container and is within your cabin class’s size and weight allowance. For your bike to be accepted at check-in, you will have to do the following:

• Remove pedals and handlebars,
• Deflate tires,
• Remove the front wheel from the bike frame.

However, you will have to contact El Al for approval.

Ski Equipment

Ski equipment can be substituted as a checked bag if it’s contained in 1 bag and is no larger than 109 linear inches (277 cm) and/or weighs no more than 32 kg. The bag won’t be subject to any excess fees.

Your ski equipment bag can include the following items:

• 1 pair of skis
• 1 pair of ski poles
• 1 pair of ski boots

If your checked bag includes any equipment unrelated to skiing, it will be assessed as a standard checked bag and may be subject to oversized and/or overweight fees.

Snowboards

Snowboard equipment can be substituted as a checked bag if it’s contained in 1 bag and is no larger than 109 linear inches (277 cm) and/or weighs no more than 70 pounds (32 kg).

Your snowboard equipment bag can include the following items:

• 1 snowboard,
• 1 pair of snowboard boots

If your checked bag includes any equipment unrelated to snowboarding, it will be assessed as a standard checked bag and may be subject to oversized and/or overweight fees.

Sports Equipment Fees

All other categories of sports equipment are subject to a special sports equipment fee. The charge can’t be paid online – it must be paid for at the airport.

Musical Instruments

If you are traveling with a musical instrument, you can either transport it in the cabin or as checked baggage, depending on the size of the instrument and how much you’re willing to pay.

Musical Instruments in Carry On Baggage

If your musical instrument is no heavier than your carry-on bag allowance (17.6 pounds for most cabin classes), you can substitute it as your carry-on bag.

If your musical instrument weighs more than your carry-on bag allowance but you still want to bring it on board with you (understandable, considering the fragile nature of most musical instruments), you can prepurchase a seat for it.

You will have to contact El Al to obtain approval.

Musical Instruments in Checked Baggage

If you decide to check your musical instrument as checked baggage, standard checked baggage rules apply.

Obviously, you’ll want to pack the fragile item securely in a protective case to prevent it from being damaged.

Final Thoughts

El Al’s baggage policy is relatively straightforward and quite generous when compared with its competition.

All cabin classes include 1 personal item and at least 1 carry-on bag.

All tickets, except for Economy Lite include at least 1 checked bag weighing up to 50 pounds. However, if your checked bag is oversized and/or overweight, or you are traveling with extra bags beyond your allowance, the fees quickly add up. However, this is common across all airlines.

Something that does stand out with El Al’s baggage policy is that you need to seek approval if you want to travel with overweight baggage, certain types of sports equipment, or buy a seat for your musical instrument.

Another feature which is unique to El Al is that you can pay your oversized and/or overweight fees prior to reaching the airport. You will also save some cash in the process.

I get the sense that the airline plans each flight very carefully, hence the need to notify them for unusual baggage requests, as well as encouraging the prepayment of oversized/overweight fees by offering a discount.

Remember to always check El Al’s website or contact their customer service for the latest information on baggage allowances and fees.

References

• El Al