Complete Guide to Air Arabia Baggage Allowance and Policies

Air Arabia has really changed how people fly in the Middle East and North Africa since it started in 2003. It was the first big low-cost airline in the region. Based in Sharjah, UAE, it also uses airports in Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, and has hubs in Morocco and Egypt. This setup lets Air Arabia fly to over 170 places. It connects cities across the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and Europe, making it a major player in flying.

What makes Air Arabia so popular is its focus on giving you good value for your money. They have a famous “pay for what you use” approach. This means you don’t get everything bundled into the ticket price. You can pick and choose what you need, like baggage or food. This is different from older airlines. It’s great for travelers who want to save money and have choices, without worrying about safety.

This guide is here to help you understand everything about flying with Air Arabia. We’ll cover baggage rules, from what you can carry on to checked luggage. We’ll also talk about how much extra baggage costs, what food and drinks are available, and even how to travel with pets. Plus, we’ll look at special help for passengers and what happens if your luggage gets lost. We’ll finish with some handy tips to make your trip go smoothly.

Air Arabia Baggage Policy

Airline baggage rules can be tricky, but Air Arabia tries to make it simple. Usually, checked baggage isn’t included in the basic ticket price. You can buy the amount of baggage you need. This stops you from paying for space you won’t use. Air Arabia uses two main ways to handle baggage, depending on where you’re flying from and to. They call these the Weight Concept and the Piece Concept.

The Weight Concept is used on most Air Arabia flights. With this, you buy a total weight for your checked bags. You might choose 20 kg, 30 kg, or 40 kg. The best part is you can bring as many bags as you want, as long as their total weight is within what you paid for. For example, if you buy 30 kg, you could bring one big suitcase or two smaller ones. However, no single bag can be heavier than 32 kg for safety reasons.

On the other hand, the Piece Concept applies to a few specific routes, like flights to or from Cairo, Egypt. Here, it’s about the number of bags, not just the total weight. You might be allowed one or two bags, each with a weight limit, say 23 kg. If a bag is heavier than 23 kg, you’ll pay a big fee, even if your total weight is okay. So, it’s really important to check your booking to know which rule applies to you.

Air Arabia Checked Baggage Allowance

Knowing the Air Arabia baggage dimensions and the right baggage system for your flight is super important. It helps you check in smoothly and avoid extra costs at the airport.

Piece Concept

This idea is mainly for flights going to or coming from Cairo. It’s all about how many bags you have, with strict weight limits for each one.

Weight Concept

This is the usual way for most Air Arabia flights. You get a total weight for all your checked bags combined.

Important Note: You can have many bags with the Weight Concept, but each one can’t be more than 32 kg. It’s a good idea to check this.

Air Arabia Prohibited Items in Checked Baggage

For everyone’s safety, some things just can’t go in your checked bags. If you try to bring them, they might be taken away, and you could even face legal trouble. Always check the rules for where you’re flying from and going to, as they can differ.

• Explosives and Things That Can Burn: This includes stuff like dynamite, gunpowder, fireworks, and bullets. Don’t bring these.
• Liquids and Solids That Catch Fire Easily: Think lighter fluid, paint, or fire starters. These are a no-go.
• Gases: Propane, butane, spray cans (unless they’re small personal care items), and air tanks are not allowed.
• Things That Damage: Acids, mercury, and certain batteries can cause serious harm.
• Chemicals That React: Things like bleach or some chemical kits fall into this category.
• Poisons and Germs: Insecticides, poisons, or infected blood are strictly forbidden.
• Radioactive Stuff: Anything that gives off radiation can’t be on the plane.
• Loose Batteries: Extra batteries for things like laptops need to go in your carry-on bag. Make sure they’re protected so they don’t short circuit. Batteries in devices are usually okay in checked bags, but it’s always best to double-check the latest rules.

Air Arabia Extra Baggage Fee

To save money with Air Arabia, it’s smart to manage your baggage allowance. The airline really wants you to book your luggage online before you fly. Buying it at the airport costs a lot more.

The price for checked baggage online changes based on where you’re going, the time of year, and how early you book. You can add baggage when you book your flight or later through the “Manage Booking” area on their website. It’s usually a good idea to do this sooner rather than later.

• Booking Online: This is the cheapest way. You can pick 20 kg, 30 kg, or 40 kg. Prices can start around $15 (USD) for 20 kg on a short trip. Longer trips and more weight will cost more. Booking online saves you up to 90% compared to airport prices. It also guarantees you have space for your bags.
• Buying at the Airport: If you get to the airport without booking baggage, you can only buy a 20 kg allowance at the counter. Anything extra will be charged at the high excess baggage rate. This can get very expensive, very quickly.
• Excess Baggage Fees: If your bags weigh more than what you booked, you’ll pay extra for every extra kilogram. So, how much does Air Arabia charge for extra baggage at the airport? It depends on the route, but it can be a lot, often between $10 and $20 (USD) per kilogram. That means just 5 kg over your limit could cost you up to $100. That’s quite a bit!

For example, flying from Sharjah to Mumbai, booking 30 kg online might cost about $40. But if you only booked 20 kg and show up with 30 kg, you’d have to pay the excess rate for the extra 10 kg. This could easily be over $120. It’s always better to guess you might need a bit more and book a higher allowance online than to be surprised by big fees at the airport. I learned that the hard way once.

Air Arabia Carry-On Baggage Policy

Air Arabia lets you bring a standard amount of carry-on luggage on board for free. This is for your important items. But, they are strict about what you can bring, especially at the gate.

Air Arabia Carry-On Baggage Additions

On top of your main carry-on bag, you can usually bring one small personal item. This is handy for keeping your essentials close.

• A handbag or a purse.
• A bag for your laptop.
• A small backpack.
• A coat or a blanket.
• An umbrella.
• Things you buy at the airport’s duty-free shops.
• If you’re flying with a baby, you can bring a small bag with baby items for the flight.

Air Arabia Carry-On Baggage Restrictions

There are strict rules about what you can pack in your carry-on, especially for safety. These rules are based on international standards.

• Liquids, Gels, and Aerosols (LAGs): Air Arabia follows the worldwide rule of 100 ml.

• All liquids, gels, pastes, or sprays must be in containers that are 100 ml or less.

• All these small containers need to fit into one clear, resealable plastic bag. This bag should not be bigger than 1 litre.

• You need to seal this bag completely and show it separately from your carry-on when you go through security.

• There are exceptions for important medicines, baby food, and special diets needed during the flight. You might need to show a prescription.

• Sealed Bags for Purchases: If you buy liquids (like alcohol or perfume) at duty-free and have to change planes, especially in the Middle East or Europe, make sure they are sealed in a special bag with your receipt inside. This is called a STEB.
• Things You Can’t Bring: Sharp items like knives or scissors longer than 6 cm, razor blades, tools, sports equipment like bats, or anything that could be used as a weapon are not allowed in the cabin. These must go in your checked baggage.

Air Arabia Food Policy

Because Air Arabia is a low-cost airline, they don’t give out free meals or drinks with your ticket. Instead, they have a buy-on-board service called Sky Café. This helps them keep ticket prices low while letting you choose what you want to eat and drink.

The Air Arabia food menu has a good variety, considering the many different people who fly with them. You can find international and local tastes. They offer hot meals, snacks, sandwiches, sweets, and a selection of drinks.

• Hot Meals: Depending on how long your flight is and where you’re going, you might find meals like Chicken Biryani, Pasta Arrabiata, or Vegetable Curry. These usually cost between $8 and $12 (USD).
• Sandwiches and Wraps: If you want something lighter, they often have options like a Chicken Tikka Sandwich, a Falafel Wrap, or a Cheese and Tomato Croissant. These typically cost from $5 to $7 (USD).
• Snacks and Sweets: The menu also includes things like potato chips, nuts, muffins, chocolate bars, and instant noodles. Prices for these start from about $2 (USD).
• Drinks: You can buy all sorts of soft drinks, juices, water, coffee, and tea.

To make sure you get what you want and to get a better price, it’s a really good idea to pre-book your meal online. You can do this when you book your flight or later using the “Manage Booking” option. Pre-booking guarantees your meal is available and is often cheaper than buying it on the plane. While they try to offer different choices, special meals (like gluten-free or diabetic) aren’t usually available. However, vegetarian options are almost always on the menu.

Air Arabia Pet Policy

Air Arabia has very strict rules about flying with animals. For everyone’s comfort and safety, pets are not allowed in the airplane cabin. This applies to all animals, including dogs, cats, and birds, no matter how small or if they are in a carrier.

✈️ IN THE CABIN Pets (cats and dogs): not accepted 🚫Not accepted for carriage in the cabin 🌐Applies to all flights without exception 🛡️Part of the company policy ⚠️Exception: falcons — see conditions below

🦅 EXCEPTION: FALCONS IN THE CABIN Only on selected routes (mostly Middle East) 📞Prior approval with the airline is required 📝A special permit and a complete set of veterinary and legal documents are required 👤No more than one bird per passenger 🔢The total number of falcons on board is limited

For all other pets, the only way to fly them is through Air Arabia Cargo. This is a separate service from passenger bookings and needs careful planning.

• How to Book: You need to contact Air Arabia Cargo well before your flight to book a spot for your pet. You can’t do this through the regular passenger booking system.
• What You Need: You’ll need a lot of paperwork. This includes a health certificate from a vet, proof of vaccinations (especially for rabies), and any permits needed to bring the animal in or out of the countries you’re flying through.
• The Crate: Your pet must travel in a crate approved by IATA. It needs to be big enough for the animal to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. The crate must be secure, have good ventilation, and have food and water cups that can be filled from the outside.
• How Much it Costs: The price to send an animal as cargo is based on the size of the crate (its volume) and the actual weight of the pet and crate together. The costs can be quite high, so get a quote directly from Air Arabia Cargo.

Other Air Arabia Services & Policies

Besides the usual travel services, Air Arabia offers ways to help with different passenger needs and unexpected situations.

Air Arabia Lost Baggage Compensation

Finding out your luggage is delayed or lost when you arrive is really stressful. If this happens, you need to act fast. Before you leave the baggage claim area, go to the Air Arabia baggage services desk and report it. You’ll get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with a reference number. This number is important for checking the status of your bag online using WorldTracer.

Air Arabia will do its best to find your lost bag and get it to you. If the bag is officially declared lost (usually after 21 days), you can get compensation. The amount the airline is responsible for is limited and follows international rules, like the Montreal Convention. Compensation is based on the weight of the baggage, not what it’s worth. So, it’s a really good idea to have travel insurance that covers your belongings fully. I always make sure mine does.

Air Arabia Bassinet Seat

If you’re traveling with a baby, Air Arabia has a few bassinets available on its flights. These are for babies who can’t sit up yet, and they usually have a weight limit of about 11 kg (24 lbs).

• Booking: Bassinet seats are at the front of the cabin, on the bulkhead. You need to ask for one when you book your flight or call the airline’s center well before your trip, as there are only a few.
• Cost: The bassinet itself is often free, but you might have to pay to select the bulkhead seat it’s attached to. These seats often have more legroom and are considered premium.
• When You Can Use Them: You can’t use the bassinets during take-off, landing, or when the seatbelt sign is on. They are helpful for making longer flights more comfortable for both the baby and the parents.

Air Arabia Wheelchair Assistance

Air Arabia wants to help passengers who have trouble moving around. Wheelchair assistance is free, but you must ask for it at least 48-72 hours before your flight. This ensures they have staff and equipment ready for you.

You can book this service online when you make your reservation or by calling the airline. They will help you from the check-in desk to your seat on the plane, and from the plane to the arrivals hall at your destination. If you bring your own wheelchair (manual or electric), you need to tell the airline beforehand. There are special rules for electric wheelchairs, especially about the battery type, which needs to be disconnected and stored safely.

Tips for Passengers

To make sure your trip with Air Arabia is smooth and stress-free, keeping a few things in mind can really help. Being prepared is key to enjoying the benefits of low-cost travel without any problems.

First and foremost, always use the airline’s official website as your main source of information. Airline rules about baggage, fees, and travel requirements can change. The most up-to-date and accurate details will always be on the official Air Arabia website. Before you fly, double-check your baggage allowance, read your ticket’s terms and conditions, and use the “Manage Booking” section to add anything you might need. Don’t rely on old information from other websites; it could lead to unexpected costs at the airport. It’s happened to me, and it wasn’t fun.

Once you land, the last thing you want is to be stuck with your luggage, especially if you have a long wait between flights or arrive before you can check into your hotel. This is where a service like Qeepl can be really useful. They have luggage storage spots all over the world, in hotels and shops. You can safely leave your bags for a few hours or even days. This lets you explore your destination right after you arrive, hands-free. You can turn waiting time into a mini-adventure without hauling your suitcases around. It’s a great way to make the most of your time.

Finally, think like you’re flying low-cost to get the most value. Pre-book everything online – your baggage, your preferred seat, and your in-flight meal. This is always the cheapest way to buy extras. Weigh your bags at home before you leave for the airport to avoid any excess baggage charges. Get to the airport early; check-in counters for low-cost airlines can be busy, and gates might be far away. By planning ahead, you can fully enjoy Air Arabia’s affordable fares and wide network. It really makes a difference.