If you’re planning to fly with GOL Airlines, also known as Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, the largest low-cost carrier in Latin America, you might be wondering how much baggage you can take with you and what are the fees and restrictions.
In this post, we’ll tell you everything that you need to know about GOL’s baggage policy including:
- Your carry-on baggage allowance.
- How much baggage you can check in, based on the type of fare.
- How much you should expect to pay for extra bags or overweight baggage.
- Extra baggage allowances you receive by having Smiles status.
- And more!
Carry On Baggage Allowance
GOL Airlines allows you to bring one carry-on bag and one personal item on board for free.
Carry On Bag
Size Limit
Your carry-on bag can be up to 21.6 x 13.8 x 9.8 inches (55 x 35 x 25 centimeters) in size, including wheels, handles, and external pockets.
The bag must be able to fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.
Examples of typical carry-on bags include:
- Small suitcase
- Backpack
- Duffel bag
- Garment bag
Weight Limit
Your carry-on bag can weigh up to 22 pounds (10 kilograms).
Personal Item
Size Limit
GOL Airlines doesn’t specify a size limit for personal items, only that it must be able to fit under the seat in front of you. Many other airlines use a size limit of 18 x 14 x 8 inches (45 x 35 x 20 centimeters) for personal items, so you can use this as a guide.
Examples of typical carry-on items include:
- Handbag
- Laptop bag
- Small backpack
- Briefcase
A GOL Airlines agent will tag your personal item, either at the check-in counter or at the boarding gate, indicating that the item is to be stored under the seat.
Weight Limit
GOL Airlines doesn’t state a weight limit for your personal item, only that it should be “lightweight”.
Infant Carry On Baggage Allowance
If you’re traveling with an infant aged up to 2 years old, you may receive an additional carry-on baggage allowance, depending on the type of travel:
Domestic Travel
If you’re taking a domestic flight within Brazil, you aren’t eligible for an extra carry-on allowance.
However, you’re still allowed to check in 1 assistive device for your child as checked baggage.
International Travel
If you’re traveling with an infant on an international flight, you receive an additional 22-pound (10 kilogram) carry-on baggage allowance.
If your carry-on bag or personal item exceeds GOL’s size or weight limits, you may be charged an additional baggage fee and have to check the item into the plane’s hold.
Also, if there is insufficient space to store your carry-on bag in the overhead bins, you may have to check it.
Hot Tip: Try to pack all your valuables, fragile items, medications, and important documents in your personal item. If you have to check your carry-on, you won’t have to do any last-minute panicked repacking before handing it over.
Checked Baggage
Checked Bag Size Limit
Each checked bag can be up to 62 linear inches (158 centimeters) in size. To calculate the size of your checked bag, measure the outside length, width, and height, then total these measurements together. Be sure to include all protruding wheels, handles, and pockets with your measurements.
Checked Bag Weight Limit
Each checked bag can weigh up to 50 pounds (23 kilograms).
If your checked bag is heavier than 50 pounds, you will have to pay an overweight baggage fee when you check in at the airport.
Maximum Weight Limit
The maximum weight of each checked bag that GOL Airlines will accept depends on your itinerary:
Domestic Travel
For domestic travel within Brazil, GOL Airlines won’t accept checked baggage that weighs more than 99 pounds (45 kilograms).
International Travel
For international travel, the airline doesn’t allow checked baggage weighing more than 70 pounds (32 kilograms).
Checked Baggage Allowance
The number of bags that you can check in for free depends on the type of fare purchased:
| Type of Fare | Free Checked Bags |
|---|---|
| Promo | 0 |
| Light | 0 |
| Plus | 1 x 50 lb |
| Max | 2 x 50 lb |
| Premium Economy | 2 x 50 lb |
Infant Checked Baggage Allowance
If you’re traveling with an infant aged up to 2 years old, you can check in one of the following items free of charge:
- 1 car seat, or
- 1 stroller, or
- 1 infant carrier
Infants don’t receive any extra checked baggage allowance.
Baggage Fees
If you need to check more bags than your allowance, or if your bags exceed the weight or size limits, you will have to pay an excess baggage fee. The fee varies depending on your destination and the amount of excess.
Extra Baggage
Each passenger can check up to 5 bags.
However, GOL Airlines will accept extra checked bags only if there is enough space in the plane’s hold. If your checked baggage can’t fit on your flight, the airline can transport them on the next available flight, but you’ll be responsible for collecting your bags at the destination airport.
There are a number of ways that you can add extra bags to your reservation:
- Log into My Trips on GOL Airlines’ website
- Use the GOL Airlines phone app
- Call GOL Airlines customer service department
- Visit a GOL store or kiosk
- At the check-in counter.
If you pay for your extra baggage at least 48 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure, you’ll pay a discounted fee.
Extra baggage fees are refundable. If you no longer require the extra baggage for your flight, you can request a refund by accessing your booking on GOL Airlines’ website or contacting their customer service department.
The fee that you’ll be charged for extra bags depends on your itinerary:
- Domestic flights within Brazil
- South America
- All other international flights
The following tables show the baggage fees payable for extra bags. All fees are in U.S. dollars.
Domestic Flights within Brazil
| Bags | 48 Hours Prior | Within 48 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bag 1 | $23 | $31 |
| Bag 2 | $29 | $38 |
| Bags 3 to 5 | $40 each | $54 each |
Flights within South America
| Bags | 48 Hours Prior | Within 48 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bag 1 | $42 | $55 |
| Bag 2 | $52 | $63 |
| Bags 3 to 5 | $73 each | $136 each |
All International Flights (except within South America)
| Bags | 48 Hours Prior | Within 48 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bag 1 | $53 | $88 |
| Bag 2 | $95 | $136 |
| Bags 3 to 5 | $136 each | $157 each |
Oversized Baggage Fees
GOL Airlines doesn’t publish any information regarding oversized baggage. I suspect that prior approval is required – I recommend contacting the airline’s customer service department.
Overweight Baggage Fees
If your checked bag weighs more than 50 pounds (23 kilograms), it is considered overweight and subject to an additional fee.
The overweight baggage fee is charged per kilogram (2.2 pounds), with the rate determined by your itinerary.
Your itinerary also determines the maximum allowed weight for each checked bag:
- For domestic flights within Brazil: 99 pounds (45 kilograms)
- For international flights: 70 pounds (32 kilograms).
You’re allowed to buy up to 441 pounds (200 kilograms) of excess baggage in total.
Overweight baggage fees can be paid for only at the airport.
The following table shows how much you’ll have to pay for overweight checked baggage:
| Type of Flight | Overweight Baggage Fee |
|---|---|
| Domestic | $10 per kg |
| International | $15 per kg |
Free Checked Bags for Frequent Flyers
GOL Airlines frequent-flyer program is called Smiles and is free to join.
If you have elite status in the program, one of the benefits you receive is free checked baggage.
The following table shows how many free bags you receive, based on your status:
| Smiles Status | Free Checked Bags |
|---|---|
| Smiles | 0 |
| Smiles Silver | 1 x 50 lb |
| Smiles Gold | 2 x 50 lb |
| Smiles Diamond | 3 x 50 lb |
The free baggage allowance doesn’t extend to your travel companions, even if they’re on the same reservation as you.
Special Baggage
GOL Airlines accepts non-standard baggage such as sports equipment and musical instruments as checked baggage. However, you will need to contact the airline’s customer service department for preapproval.
Special items follow the same rules, allowances, and fees as standard checked baggage.
There are a couple of conditions that you’ll need to agree to when checking in your special item:
- It must be packed in a suitable protective case or cover, hard-sided if appropriate.
- GOL Airlines accepts the item on the condition that it’s not responsible for any damage that may occur while in its custody.
Sports Equipment
GOL Airlines accepts the following types of sports equipment as checked baggage:
- Archery equipment
- Bicycles (non-motorized)
- Bowling equipment
- Kite surfing equipment
- Paddleboards
- Scooters (non-motorized)
- Scuba gear (oxygen tanks must be empty with valves open)
- Skateboards (not allowed as carry-on)
- Ski equipment
- Snowboard equipment
- Surfboards
- Wakeboards
GOL Airlines doesn’t accept the following types of sports equipment as checked baggage:
- Hang-gliding equipment
- Kayaks
- Windsurfing equipment
Musical Instruments
Musical Instruments as Carry On Baggage
If your musical instrument is within carry-on size limits (21.6 x 13.8 x 9.8 in / 55 x 35 x 25 cm), you can bring it on board as your carry-on bag.
If you are traveling with a larger musical instrument and don’t want to take your chances checking it in, you can purchase a cabin seat to transport your item.
Remember that GOL Airlines requires preapproval for the transport of special baggage, including musical instruments. So, before you purchase that extra seat, make sure that you contact the airline beforehand.
Musical Instruments as Checked Baggage
You’re allowed to check a musical instrument as checked baggage. It’s subject to the same rules, allowances, and fees as standard baggage.
Be aware though that the airline isn’t responsible for any damage that may occur to the item while being transported. So, make sure that it’s packed well!
Televisions
GOL Airlines accepts LCD, LED, and plasma televisions as checked baggage. The old-fashioned tube TVs aren’t allowed.
TVs are subject to the same rules, allowances, and fees as standard checked baggage. They can be up to 62 linear inches (158 centimeters) in size. Typically, this equates to a TV with a 32-inch screen size.
Televisions that weigh more than 50 pounds (23 kilograms) will be subject to overweight baggage fees. The maximum weight allowed is 99 pounds (45 kilograms).
Don’t forget that you’ll need to contact the airline for preapproval to check the item. Also, GOL Airlines won’t be liable for any damage that may occur to the TV while it’s in transit.
Checking In at the Airport
Check In Cut Off Times
You can check in up to 3 hours prior to your flight’s scheduled departure.
GOL airport counters cease accepting check-ins less than one hour prior to your flight. It’s always recommended to arrive at the airport early, especially if you’re checking in baggage.
Check In Kiosks
Gol Airlines has express baggage kiosks available at select airports in Brazil where you can check-in as well as weigh and tag your bags, saving you valuable time at the airport. You can also pay for baggage fees if you’re traveling with excess baggage.
After you’ve finished, you then proceed to the Express Baggage counter to drop off your bags.
The service is available in certain airports for domestic travel only within Brazil.
Delayed or Damaged Baggage
If your baggage is delayed or damaged when you arrive at your destination, report the issue at the GOL Baggage Service Office. The office will be located close to the baggage claim area.
An airline agent will help you to fill out a Passenger Irregularity Report (PIR) and provide you with a copy. You will also receive a File ID that you can use to track the progress of your claim.
For delayed baggage, GOL will consider it to be lost after a certain period of time:
- Domestic flights: 7 days
- International flights: 21 days
Once the above deadline has passed, the airline will contact you to proceed with a lost baggage claim.
For damaged baggage, if you discover the damage after leaving the airport, GOL requires that you return to the closest airport to file a report with the Baggage Service Office. You must file a report within 7 days of collecting your bag.
Final Thoughts
We hope you’ve enjoyed our exploration of GOL Airlines’ baggage policy.
It’s great to see that a low-cost carrier allows you to bring a carry-on bag in addition to your personal item.
The airline doesn’t have any premium cabins, but it has many fare options to suit most checked baggage requirements.
For those of you that have greater baggage requirements, you can purchase additional bags, at a fee of course. However, if you pay for your extra bags at least 48 hours prior to your flight, you receive a significant discount on the bag fee.
Remember to always check GOL Airlines’ website or contact their customer service for the latest information on baggage allowances and fees.
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