How to combine luggage

Imagine: you're going on vacation with your family, you've already managed to buy tickets to Sochi on Kupi.com, and then the most interesting part begins – packing suitcases. Your suitcase treacherously shows overweight, while your companion's is, on the contrary, half-empty. The thought immediately comes to mind: “How can I combine luggage to avoid paying a fine?” This service, sometimes called “pooling,” indeed exists with many airlines, but its rules are full of nuances.

Not knowing these rules at the check-in counter can lead to unpleasant surprises and unnecessary expenses. To prevent this, we have prepared a detailed guide on what it means to combine luggage, how to do it, and what the conditions are for the most popular Russian and foreign airlines.

What does “combining luggage” mean?

Let's get to the most important point. Combining luggage is not the ability to put all your belongings into one giant suitcase. It is the right to sum up the free baggage allowance of several passengers traveling together and distribute the total weight among their suitcases.

A simple example: you are flying together, and each ticket specifies an allowance of 1 piece of luggage weighing up to 23 kg. This means that for two people, you have a total “limit” of 46 kg. By combining luggage, you can check in two suitcases: one weighing 28 kg and the second 18 kg. The total weight (46 kg) is not exceeded, and you won't have to pay extra for the overweight first suitcase (which weighs more than 23 kg).

Two golden rules for combining luggage:

1. The weight of a single suitcase cannot exceed 32 kg under any circumstances. This is not an airline whim, but an international occupational safety requirement – heavier suitcases are prohibited for manual lifting by loaders.
2. The dimensions of a single suitcase must not exceed the established norm. This is usually 203 cm, less often 158 cm in the sum of three dimensions (length + width + height). Dimensions cannot be summed.

How to combine luggage at the airport?

The procedure for combining luggage is quite simple but requires adherence to several key steps. Here's how to combine luggage at the airport:

1. Familiarize yourself with your airline's rules in advance. This is the most important step.
2. Approach the check-in counter all together. This is a mandatory condition.
3. Present all documents. Prepare passports and boarding passes (or tickets) for all travelers in your group.
4. Clearly state your request. Inform the airline employee at the counter that you wish to combine your baggage allowance.

After this, the employee will weigh all your suitcases, check the total weight and dimensions, and if everything is in order, will check in the luggage without additional charges.

Rules of Russian Airlines

Baggage combining conditions can vary significantly. Let's look at how to combine luggage with the most popular carriers.

How to combine luggage with Aeroflot

• Can it be combined? Yes.
• Who can? Passengers of Aeroflot, flying together to the same destination on the same flight. If friends or colleagues are flying together but their tickets are under different bookings, it's not an issue.
• Conditions: weight and number of pieces allowances are summed. That is, if three people traveling together have purchased three baggage pieces, then three suitcases can be checked in. And if each has purchased two such pieces, then six suitcases will go into the baggage hold. However, it is worth remembering that exceeding the weight of one piece beyond the tariff norm may require an additional payment.
• Maximum weight: 32 kg per piece.
• Dimensions (sum of three measurements): not more than 203 cm.

How to combine luggage with Pobeda

• Can it be combined? Yes.
• Who can? Passengers of Pobeda, flying together on the same flight.
• Conditions: passengers can sum up the weight allowances they have pre-paid. For example, if one passenger paid for 10 kg and the second for 20 kg, their total allowance will be 30 kg. They can check in two suitcases with a total weight of up to 30 kg. Luggage will be combined during joint check-in at the airport counter.
• Maximum weight: 30 kg per piece.
• Dimensions (sum of three measurements): not more than 203 cm.

How to combine luggage with Azur Air

• Can it be combined? Yes.
• Who can? Azur Air passengers flying together. This is especially relevant for package tours, for example, if you bought tickets flying to Antalya with your whole family.
• Conditions: it is allowed to sum up the baggage weight. For example, if two passengers fly with an allowance of 10 kg each, they can carry one suitcase weighing up to 20 kg for free. Free and extra baggage pieces cannot be summed. When combining luggage, only one suitcase will be accepted for two passengers, even if each ticket has its own baggage allowance.
• Maximum weight: 30 kg.

How to combine luggage with S7 Airlines

• Can it be combined? Yes.
• Who can? Passengers flying in one group (under one booking).
• Conditions: baggage allowances are summed. If you are flying together on a fare that includes 23 kg for each, your total limit is 46 kg. You can distribute this weight between your suitcases as you wish, but one suitcase cannot weigh more than 32 kg. This rule cannot be used if you have already paid for baggage as extra and want to combine it with baggage included in the fare, or if you took extra baggage for free as a loyalty program member.
• Maximum weight of one suitcase: 32 kg.

How to combine luggage with Utair

• Can it be combined? Yes.
• Who can? Passengers of Utair, traveling together to the same destination airport on the same flight, and all of them are present at the check-in counter when arranging the baggage combining service. Their tickets are purchased under one order, meaning all tickets have one booking number and fares with baggage up to 20 kg. If it includes up to 10 kg, combining will be denied.
• Conditions: the airline allows summing up the baggage weight allowance. The weight of combined luggage must not exceed 30 kg.
• Maximum weight: 30 kg. If the weight of one piece of combined luggage exceeds this norm, an additional payment will be required for it.
• Dimensions (sum of three measurements): not more than 203 cm.

How to combine luggage with Red Wings

• Can it be combined? Yes.
• Who can? Passengers of Red Wings, traveling together on the same flight to the same destination airport.
• Conditions: passengers must approach check-in together. Baggage can be combined taking into account the sum of free baggage allowances by weight for each passenger. For two passengers who have combined luggage, only one suitcase can be taken.
• Maximum weight: 30 kg.

How to combine luggage with Nordwind Airlines

• Can it be combined? Yes.
• Who can? Passengers of Nordwind Airlines, traveling together (as a family or tourist group). To arrange the service, you will be asked to provide documents – marriage, birth, or adoption certificates, travel vouchers, tourist vouchers, a joint hotel booking, or other papers that confirm you are traveling together.
• Maximum weight: 30 kg. If the norm is exceeded, the luggage is considered heavy and is transported as cargo for a fee.

What about foreign airlines?

Rules for foreign carriers can differ significantly, so always check the official website before departure.

• Turkish Airlines: this airline is quite lenient. Combining luggage is allowed for members of the same family or passengers under one booking. For example, if you are flying as a family, having bought tickets to Istanbul, you can count on summing up baggage allowances. The rules are standard: weight is summed, but one piece cannot be heavier than 32 kg.
• Emirates: the total weight of combined luggage must not exceed the allowance set for your class of service, and each individual piece of luggage must not weigh more than 32 kg (with the exception of flights to America and Africa).
• Flydubai: like most low-cost carriers, Flydubai does not allow combining luggage. Each passenger has an individual, non-combinable allowance.

Ultimately, the ability to combine luggage is a great way to save money and avoid stress at the airport. The main thing is to remember three simple rules: check the airline's website in advance, arrive at check-in with your companions, and never pack a single suitcase heavier than 32 kg.