What are the fees that Continental charges?There are several different categories of fees that Continental assesses for checked luggage. Most notably, Continental has recently instituted charges for checking one or two bags on most flights that they operate. In addition there are fees for additional bags beyond the first two and for oversize or overweight bags.
First Bag Fee - $25
This fee applies to travel ticketed in the economy cabin for trips within the 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
Second Bag Fee - $35
This fee applies for customers checking a second bag when traveling on Economy fare tickets for travel within the 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada. It also applies when traveling on Economy fare tickets purchased for travel between Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America (excluding Brazil) and the 50 U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.
As of some point in 2009 a $50 fee for checked bags went into effect for most TATL travel.
Note that a discount of $3-5 can be realized by paying the charge for the bag during the OLCI process in many cases.
Excess Baggage Fees - $100-$150
For each bag after the first two the fees are rather more significant. For most destinations in the Americas the fee is $100 for each of the next three bags checked (so a max of 5 bags). For Transatlantic travel the fee is $150 per extra bag.
Oversize/Overweight Baggage Fees - $50-$300- Checked baggage over 50 lbs (23 kg) and not exceeding 70 lbs (32 kg) will be charged at the rate of $50 per piece. This applies to every bag checked, including the first two.
- For travel within the Americas, checked baggage exceeding 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) will be charged at the rate of $100 per piece.
- For Transatlantic travel checked baggage between 62 and 80 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) will be charged at the rate of $150 per piece.
- For Transatlantic travel checked baggage exceeding 80 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height) will be charged at the rate of $300 per piece.
- In all cases, baggage larger than 115 linear inches (292 cm) or heavier than 70 pounds (32 kg) will be refused for carriage.
Note: While the co.com site does not explicitly state it this way, it appears that the overage fees or travel to Micronesia, the Middle East and Asia is the same as Transatlantic travel as described above.
Destination- Flights to most foreign destinations (except Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) are exempt from the first bag charge.
- Flights to some foreign destinations (except Mexico, Caribbean, Central and South America excluding Brazil, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and Europe) are exempt from the second bag charge. Specifically, passengers between the United States (excluding Hawaii) and destinations in Israel, India, China and Japan may check two bags up to 50 pounds (23 kg) each for no additional charge.
- Flights to Brazil allow baggage weights up to 70 pounds (32 kg) without any overweight fees for the first two bags checked.
Status- OnePass Silver Elite members (and other *S members) are exempt from paying base fees for the first two bags that they check. Each of the first two bags can be up to 50 pounds (23 kg). This exemption does not cover oversize baggage fees (max is still 62 linear inches).
- OnePass Gold and Platinum Elite members (and other *G members) are exempt from paying base fees for the first three bags that they check. Each of the first three bags can be up to 70 pounds (32 kg). This exemption does not cover oversize baggage fees (max is still 62 linear inches).
Class of Service- Passengers who are ticketed with the first segment for the flights that they are checking in for in the First or BusinessFirst cabin are exempt from paying base fees for the first two bags that they check. Each of the first two bags can be up to 50 pounds (23 kg). This exemption does not cover oversize baggage fees (max is still 62 linear inches).
- Passengers who are ticketed with any segment for the flights that they are checking in for in the First or BusinessFirst cabin are exempt from paying base fees for the first two bags that they check. Each of the first two bags can be up to 50 pounds (23 kg). This exemption does not cover oversize baggage fees (max is still 62 linear inches).
- Customers traveling on full-fare economy (Y) class tickets are also exempt from paying these base fees for their first two checked bags.
Note: If you are confirmed in economy class at the time you check your bag and are subsequently upgraded to F/BF the fee paid is not refundable.
Other- Active military personnel traveling on official orders are exempt from paying fees for their first three bags, each of which may be up to 70 pounds and 115 linear inches.
- Continental Airlines Presidential Plus credit card holders are exempt from paying the base fees for their first two bags that they check. Each of these bags can be up to 50 pounds and 65 linear inches. Customers traveling with the primary cardmember will also get their applicable baggage fees waived if they are listed in the same reservation and check in at the same time. This exemption will not apply to group reservations including 10 or more customers.
- Continental Airlines Chase primary credit and debit cardmembers are exempt from paying the base fees for their first bag that they check. This bag can be up to 50 pounds and 65 linear inches. Customers traveling with the primary cardmember will also get their applicable baggage fees waived if they are listed in the same reservation and check in at the same time. This exemption will not apply to group reservations including 10 or more customers.
- Passengers traveling on the same reservation as an Elite passenger are exempt from base fees for their first two checked bags. If a reservation is split to allow for thet upgrade of the elite passenger the companions on the split ticket are still eligible for the free baggage allowance. If the CSR challenges this the details can be reviewed in the DRS by reading the section GG BAG 2ND.
- Wheelchairs can be checked at no charge.
- When traveling with a child, a car seat or stroller may be checked as the first or second bag free of charge.
Sporting GearWhere can I find more information about the fees?There are a number of resources available, including the
co.com site and a couple threads (
#1,
#2) on FlyerTalk about these fees.
Baggage Embargo Dates/Destinations
Continental has a number of destinations where excess or oversize baggage is not permitted, even if you're willing to pay extra. Most of these destinations are in the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America and Micronesia. Pay very close attention to the dates and defined limits on this list if you are planning on checking luggage to one of these destinations, as these embargo rules are rarely waived.
Continental.com Baggage Embargo Details
CoEx Itineraries
In addition to the Baggage Embargo, itineraries including travel on Continental Express may have different limits. Contact Continental if there are concerns about such an itinerary.
Baggage check-in times
Baggage can be checked no earlier than 4 hours prior to initial departure. In most cases baggage must be checked no later than 30 minutes from departure for domestic flights and no later than 60 minutes from departure for international flights. A limited number of cities (LAS, TPA, MCO, PHL, DEN, ATL, LAX and PSE) require bags to be checked no later than 45 minutes prior to departure.
Short-checking or checking bags mid-itinerary
Like most other airlines Continental will not allow you to tag a bag to a connection point short of your destination. The exception to this is itineraries that are trips where the connection is greater than 12 hours. In these cases it may be possible or required for the bags to be checked to the intermediate destination.
Assuming you have not exceeded your checked baggage limits it is generally possible to check additional bags during a layover. For an AUS-IAH-GRU itinerary this could allow one bag to be checked at AUS and another to be added in IAH if that was desired.
Any easy way to see all this data in a grid or something?
You betcha! Just click
here and you'll see most the fees as defined by Continental.