Know Brussels Airlines latest updates to avoid surprises at the counter. Photo by Aliaksei on Adobe Stock.

When choosing to fly with Brussels Airlines, your questions may be what kind of in-flight chocolate you can get or what their baggage allowance is. Either way, we can help you with the answers.

Brussels Airlines is Belgium’s biggest airline. In 2025, they are looking to expand more to accommodate even more flights to and from Belgium during the high season.

Along with these, in 2025, you should also take a look at how to easily check-in with Brussels Airlines and which routes are halted and which resume to plan your trip with Brussels Airlines even better.

Overview of  Brussels Airlines

Founded in 2002, Brussels Airlines is the biggest airline in Belgium, and they’re also a flag carrier airline of the country. It’s based at Brussels Airport.

Though not the oldest in terms of operating years, it certainly is the most well-known full service carrier in the region. 

Brussels Airlines fly to over 90 destinations across 41 countries. In 2025, their fleet grows up to 50 aircrafts compared to 44 back in 2024. For our UK-based travellers, Brussels Airlines will cancel their Birmingham-Brussels route. Other routes to and from London and Manchester are still in operation.

Brussels Airlines is a full-service carrier, meaning that your tickets will not just be solely for a seat. You’re getting baggage and other frills as well, and the quantity of each depends on the fare types.

However, there are flexible options for a budget traveller, such as the Economy Light fare.

Let’s scroll and see Brussels Airlines baggage allowance, check-in process, fare types, and other important questions that you’ve got to know before your flight!

Brussels Airlines Carry-On Baggage Allowance

So, what’s Brussels Airlines baggage allowance for cabin bags? The best way to look at it is by the number of pieces and their weight and size limit. They differ between Economy and Business, short-haul flight and long-haul flight. 

Cabin bags or carry-on baggage on a Brussels Airlines flight include a small personal item and a bigger bag/suitcase.

All passengers in Economy and Premium Economy are allowed at the very least 1 piece of carry-on baggage and 1 personal item.  For business class, the number of carry-on baggage is 2 pieces.

Cabin bags should not exceed 8 kilograms/piece.

The maximum dimensions of a carry-on luggage, including wheels and handles, are 55 x 40 x 23 cm (21.6 x 15.7 x 9 in). Hand baggage must be stowed in overhead bins or beneath the seat in front of the traveller.

Here’s a table recap for Brussels Airlines' carry-on allowance.

Economy Light passengers are allowed 1 free piece of carry-on. In other words, you can carry a carry-on bag or a personal item only, and not both. 

Brussels Airlines Carry-on Liquid Rules

Brussels Airlines liquid rule follows the standard liquid rules of other European airlines.

Liquid, aerosol, or gel must be stored in a container of 100 ml (3.4 ounces) or less. All containers must fit in a 1-litre clear bag.

Exceptions are medical, baby, and duty-free (bought after checking in) items.

Can a backpack be a carry-on with Brussels Airlines?

Yes. Brussels Airlines allows backpacks as cabin bags as long as they stick to the carry-on baggage allowance.

You can carry a backpack with a handbag. The backpack can be the main carry-on piece, weighing no more than 8 kg and measuring less than 55 x 40 x 23 cm. The purse is a personal item.

Cabin-sized backpacks can save you half the time figuring which bags fit the limit and which doesn’t. For example, CabinZero’s 28L Underseat bags come carry-on ready. 

It measures 39 x 29.5 x 20 cm and weighs 600 grams. You can switch it out for a main carry-on piece or a personal item.

They fit just right under the seat in front of yours and in the overhead compartment.

Brussels Airlines’s Checked Baggage Allowance Policy

Brussels Airlines baggage allowance for checked bags depends on cabin types and fares.

Economy passengers, except for Economy Light, are allowed 1 free piece of checked baggage.

Premium Economy and Business passengers can bring 2 pieces of checked baggage. 

Weight limit differs between Economy class and Business. For Economy class (both regular and Premium Economy), the maximum weight is 23 kilograms, whereas in Business it’s 32 kilograms.

The maximum dimension of your checked baggage is the same for all cabin types. Your bag or suitcase (handles and wheels included) should measure no larger than 158 centimetres (62.2 inches).

Brussels Airlines checked baggage allowance is pretty straightforward. If you exceed the quantity, weight, and size limit, you will have to pay an extra baggage fee. Or, you can pre-purchase your checked bags for up to 5 pieces.

This means that you can carry up to 6 pieces in Economy and 7 pieces in Business, with 1 and 2 pieces free, respectively.

Brussels Airlines’ Excess Baggage Policy

As a general rule, each piece of checked luggage cannot weigh more than 32 kg (70 lbs). Brussels Airlines will not accept checked luggage weighing more than 32 kg (70 lbs) and will have to send it as freight.

If you are carrying overweight/oversized or overweight baggage, you will have to, of course, pay an extra baggage cost. Each ticket class has a distinct excess baggage cost.

You should refer to the airline's baggage calculator for more information and purchase luggage ahead of time through the airline ticket agent.

Brussels Airlines’ Infant and Child Baggage Policy

Brussels Airlines child baggage allowance is categorized as 1.  Children with no own seat (infants under 2 years of age) and 2. Children with their own seats (2 years and above). Baggage types include both checked and cabin bags.

For children under 2 who do not have their own seat/sit on an adult’s lap, they are allowed 1 carry-on bag (no more than 6 kilograms) and 1 checked bag (no more than 23 kilograms and only if the adult ticket includes checked bags). This is applied to all fares, except Economy Light.

The baggage allowance for infants will be counted on top of the accompanying adult’s baggage. It means that you do not have to deduce your own baggage to fit your child’s.

For children older than 2 who have their own seat, they are allowed the same numbers of baggage as an adult. This is because they purchase their own separate ticket.

Here’s a summary with some notes on child equipment such as strollers and car seats.

Sports equipment And CPAP

Check if you can bring these items on the flight. Photo by Jo Panuwat D - stock.adobe.com

Can you bring golf clubs, ski sets, surfboards, or bicycles on Brussels Airlines? Yes, you can. Other than that, you can also bring scuba diving, fishing, and hockey equipment. 

Sports equipment is considered a part of checked baggage.

To make sure there’s not last-minute surprises, always notify the airline first before checking them in. Being asked to pay the extra baggage fee upfront is not even the worst case scenario.

Worst case scenario - you will have to leave it behind due to the aircraft having no more space and wait for it to be transported (with fees!) through their cargo service or on the next possible flight.

When is sports equipment free on Brussels Airlines?

Sports equipment is checked in for free on Brussels Airlines when it does not exceed the checked baggage allowance of your ticket.

This means that your sports equipment should not weigh over 23 kilograms (32 kilograms in Business) and exceed 158 centimetres in measurement.

Are CPAP machines free on airlines?

For the majority of airlines, including Brussels Airlines, CPAP is allowed to bring on board free of charge. 

CPAP is not counted as part of your carry-on allowance. Even if you purchase the most basic fare of them all (no cabin or checked baggage allowance except for a small personal item), you are still able to bring your CPAP machine for free.

Brussels Airlines CPAP regulations, including battery allowance, are similar to most airlines. However, on a Brussels Airlines flight, you are not allowed to charge your CPAP machine using the aircraft’s outlets.

Brussels Airlines Check-in and Booking Process

A screenshot of Brussels Airlines booking page.

Your bookings should contain information of fare types, cabin types and how much baggage you’re allowed and other included services. 

Cabin types include Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First.

When booking tickets with Brussels Airlines, fare types are divided into two basic categories: short-haul flights (domestic or within Europe) and long-haul flights (intercontinental). 

For short-haul flights, fare types range from Light, Classic, Green, and Flex. Light is the lowest-cost option. Sometimes it’s called the Check & Go option. Green is similar to Classic in terms of baggage allowance, but it comes with eco-saving benefits.

For long-haul flights, Brussels Airlines offer Basic, Basic Plus, and Flex.

Upon booking, you are usually prompted to choose the cabin type first, then you can select fares available for the chosen cabin.  

Knowing the difference between fare types and cabin types can help you streamline not only your budget plan but also your packing plan.

You can check-in online (website or mobile) for up to 24 hours before boarding. You can also do it the traditional way - at the airport, but make sure you’re in queue 2-3 hours before your flight.

If you have checked in online successfully, you will receive your digital boarding pass. You can opt out of printing one if the airport you depart from supports scanning digital boarding passes.

FAQs

Just a last few little details you might want to look at before flying with Brussels Airlines.

How strict is Brussels Airlines about carry-on baggage?

Bags that exceed 55 x 40 x 23 cm in measurement and 8 kg in weight will be asked to put in hold.

Brussels Airlines have sizers at the boarding gate, especially in domestic airports. While it does not mean every bag will get checked again before boarding, your bag can be if they appear oversized.

They might be a bit more lenient towards soft-sided bags compared to hard-sided ones.

Does sports equipment count as baggage?

Yes, they count as checked baggage or carry-on baggage. You are allowed to carry them on board or check them in as long as they adhere to the weight and size limit on your ticket.

For example,  if you fly Economy and carry-on a sports equipment of 8 kg, then it will be counted as 1 piece of carry-on baggage.

However, it’s not typically a one-size-fits-all answer. Different sports equipment will have different allowance and packing requirements. Sports equipment that is flagged as extra baggage are also subject to a special transportation fee.

Fly Brussels Airlines With CabinZero

Brussels Airlines baggage allowance for carry-on is 1 cabin bag and 1 personal item for all fares as a base, with Economy Light as an exception. If you upgrade your ticket into Business, then you are allowed more pieces.

Checked baggage allowance is 1 free piece for all fares as a base, except for Economy Light.

Brussels Airlines baggage allowance becomes even more easy to navigate if you pair it with a smart cabin-sized bag like the CabinZero 28L Underseat.

It can double as both a cabin bag and a personal item. It fits well within major airlines’ baggage restrictions, even stingy ones

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Nguyen Tran Gia Khanh