<p>Checked baggage allowances at Heathrow depend entirely on your airline and fare type rather than the airport itself. On British Airways, only Economy Basic excludes a free hold bag: every other fare includes at least one. On Virgin Atlantic, Economy Light charges from £80 for a first checked bag while Economy Classic and above include it free. Overweight fees on both airlines run to roughly £65 per bag for going over the standard weight limit.</p>
<h2 id="why-it-varies">Why baggage rules differ so much by airline and fare</h2>
<p>Heathrow itself does not set baggage allowances. Every full-service and long-haul carrier operating from Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 sets its own rules by cabin class and, increasingly, by the specific fare bundle you book. The trend across British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and most other Heathrow carriers has been to unbundle the cheapest economy fares, so a Basic or Light ticket often includes no checked bag at all, while a standard economy fare still includes one. This is the single biggest reason two people flying the same route on the same day can have completely different baggage allowances.</p>
<h2 id="british-airways">British Airways checked baggage by fare</h2>
<p>Every British Airways fare, including Economy Basic, includes one free cabin bag (56 x 45 x 25cm) and one personal item (40 x 30 x 15cm). Checked baggage is where the fares diverge.</p>
<table>
<tr><th>Fare / cabin</th><th>Checked bags included</th><th>Weight limit per bag</th></tr>
<tr><td>Economy Basic</td><td>None included, must be purchased</td><td>Up to 23kg once purchased</td></tr>
<tr><td>Economy Classic / Flex</td><td>1 bag</td><td>23kg</td></tr>
<tr><td>Premium Economy</td><td>2 bags on most routes</td><td>23kg each</td></tr>
<tr><td>Business (Club)</td><td>2 bags</td><td>32kg each</td></tr>
<tr><td>First</td><td>3 bags</td><td>32kg each</td></tr>
</table>
<p>Going over the 23kg-32kg limit costs around £65 per bag, and no bag over 32kg is accepted at any price. Buying an extra bag in advance online is typically cheaper than paying for one at the airport, so it is worth adding one to your booking as soon as you know you will need it rather than waiting until check-in.</p>
<h2 id="virgin-atlantic">Virgin Atlantic checked baggage by fare</h2>
<p>Virgin Atlantic's structure is similar in spirit but the numbers differ. Economy Light does not include a checked bag as standard, and the first extra bag costs from £80 (or 100 USD on transatlantic routes) if added at check-in, while Economy Classic, Delight, Premium and Upper Class include at least one bag free. A second bag on Economy Light or Economy Classic/Delight also costs from £80, rising to around £140 for a third bag. Overweight bags (over the standard limit but under 32kg) cost roughly £65, and oversized bags carry a much higher fee, around £200.</p>
<h2 id="comparison-table">British Airways vs Virgin Atlantic at a glance</h2>
<table>
<tr><th></th><th>British Airways</th><th>Virgin Atlantic</th></tr>
<tr><td>Cheapest fare, bags included</td><td>None (Economy Basic)</td><td>None (Economy Light)</td></tr>
<tr><td>Standard economy fare, bags included</td><td>1 bag, 23kg</td><td>1 bag, included on Classic/Delight</td></tr>
<tr><td>Extra bag cost (approx.)</td><td>£35-£140 online, more at the airport</td><td>From £80</td></tr>
<tr><td>Overweight fee</td><td>Around £65 per bag</td><td>Around £65 per bag</td></tr>
<tr><td>Business/Upper Class bags included</td><td>2 bags, 32kg each</td><td>Included, higher weight allowance</td></tr>
</table>
<h2 id="how-to-avoid-surprises">How to avoid a surprise at the check-in desk</h2>
<p>The safest approach at Heathrow is to check your specific fare's allowance in your booking confirmation rather than assume a standard figure, since even within one airline the number of free bags can change by route and by whether the flight is operated by a partner carrier such as BA CityFlyer or BA Euroflyer. If you are travelling on a connecting itinerary booked through Heathrow, ask your airline whether your bags will be checked through to your final destination or need to be collected and re-checked, particularly on itineraries that mix a low-cost carrier with a full-service one. Weighing your bag at home before you leave, and paying for any extra allowance online in advance, is consistently cheaper than paying at the Heathrow check-in desk or gate.</p>
<h2 id="faqs">FAQs</h2>
<h3 id="faq-cheapest-ba">What is the cheapest British Airways fare with a free checked bag?</h3>
<p>Economy Classic (sometimes called Standard) includes one 23kg checked bag. Economy Basic, BA's lowest fare, includes no checked bag at all.</p>
<h3 id="faq-cheapest-virgin">Does Virgin Atlantic Economy Light include a checked bag?</h3>
<p>No. Economy Light has no included checked bag; adding one costs from £80 if bought at check-in. Economy Classic, Delight, Premium and Upper Class fares include at least one bag free.</p>
<h3 id="faq-overweight">What happens if my bag is overweight?</h3>
<p>Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic charge roughly £65 for a bag that exceeds the standard weight limit but stays under 32kg. Bags over 32kg are not accepted on either airline at any price.</p>
<h3 id="faq-buy-online">Is it cheaper to buy extra baggage online or at Heathrow?</h3>
<p>Buying online in advance is cheaper on both airlines. British Airways' online extra bag prices run roughly £35-£140 compared with £75-£165 at the airport for the same bag.</p>
<h3 id="faq-connections">Do checked bags automatically transfer on a connecting flight through Heathrow?</h3>
<p>Usually yes if both flights are on the same airline or a codeshare partner and booked on one ticket. If you have separately booked tickets, especially involving a budget carrier, you may need to collect and re-check your bag yourself, so confirm this with your airline before you fly.</p>
<h3 id="faq-power-banks">Can I pack a power bank in checked luggage?</h3>
<p>No. British Airways and most other Heathrow carriers require power banks and spare batteries to travel in the cabin, not in checked baggage, for safety reasons.</p>
<p>For more on getting through Heathrow with luggage, see our guides to <a href="/articles/heathrow-hand-luggage-rules-bag-size-and-liquids-2026">Heathrow hand luggage rules</a>, <a href="/articles/heathrow-left-luggage-prices-locations-hours-2026">Heathrow left luggage</a>, and <a href="/faqs/">Heathrow airport FAQs</a>.</p>