Checked Luggage

>Acceptance Policy	>Claiming your Checked Luggage
>Free Luggage Allowance	>Excess, Overweight & Oversized Luggage and Applicable Fees

Acceptance Policy

• Northwest will accept your luggage only upon presentation of a valid ticket for travel on a Northwest flight.
• Your name, address, and telephone number must appear on the outside of the luggage. We also recommend that you place the same information on the inside of your luggage.
• You should carry certain items on board with you. Northwest has a generous carry-on policy designed to allow passengers to carry on those items for which Northwest accepts no liability. These items include, but are not limited to, medicine, keys, important papers, travel documents (passport), jewelry, cash, computers, computer equipment, cameras, and other items of high personal value.
• Your luggage will only be checked to your final destination.
• Northwest also accepts pets as checked luggage for a nominal fee. View details on traveling with your pet

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Claiming Your Checked Luggage
You will be able to retrieve your checked luggage from the Baggage Claim area of the airport. In larger airports, Northwest posts the flight number, the flight's origination city and the baggage carousel number on a terminal screen located in the Baggage Claim area. Luggage is generally available at the carousel approximately 15 minutes after the flight's arrival time. Since many styles of luggage are quite similar, we recommend that you inspect your luggage closely to make sure you claim your own items.

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Free Luggage Allowance
The free luggage allowance is the maximum number, size and weight of bags that each customer is allowed with no additional charge. We have based this allowance on many variables that influence the maximum capacity of luggage on an aircraft. These variables include size of aircraft cargo compartments, dimensions of the doors, fuel requirements, typical number of passengers on board, and government regulations. Luggage will be weighed and measured to ensure that it meets the dimensional requirements under the free luggage allowance.

As a result, Northwest has established a standard free luggage allowance that applies to all flights.

Checked Luggage Weight and Measurement
Luggage is measured by adding length, width and height to determine the total number of linear inches/centimeters.

• Northwest will accept luggage up to a maximum of 50 pounds (23 kg) and a total linear dimension of 62 inches (158 cm) per piece at no charge.
• Additional charges may apply for luggage weighing more than 50 pounds (23 kg) or with a total linear dimension of more than 62 inches (158 cm) per piece.
• For domestic and trans-Atlantic travel, the maximum weight accepted for any piece of checked luggage, including special luggage items, is 70 pounds. For trans-Pacific travel, the maximum weight accepted for any piece of checked luggage is 100 pounds.

Note: If you are flying on a codeshare partner, please check with the operating carrier for maximum acceptance rules as they may vary.

* Bags checked to or through Europe or with a connection to Continental Airlines cannot exceed 70 pounds (32 kg).

Free Checked Luggage Allowance

• Domestic Travel (within the U.S./Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean)
  • Coach Class: Effective May 5, 2008, each ticketed passenger is allowed one (1) piece of checked luggage.
    1. Each piece: 50 pounds (23 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (158 cm).
    2. Northwest Airlines' Silver, Gold and Platinum WorldPerks® Elite customers, SkyTeam Elite customers and passengers booked in full fare classes (Y or B) may still check two bags free of charge. Customers booked in First Class can continue to check up to three bags free of charge
    3. Get answers to frequently asked questions about Northwest Airlines' Free Luggage Allowance.
  • First Class: Each ticketed passenger is allowed three (3) checked pieces.
    1. First two (2) pieces: 70 pounds (32 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (158 cm) per piece.
    2. Third piece: 40 pounds (18 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 45 inches (115 cm).

Note: The same free checked luggage allowance applies to children and infants paying at least 50% of the adult fare. Infants traveling free of charge do not qualify for free checked luggage allowance but are permitted to carry on a diaper bag, free of charge.

• International Travel - between North America and Africa / Asia / Europe / India / Middle East)
  • Coach Class: Each ticketed passenger is allowed two (2) pieces of checked luggage. 
    • Exception for Coach Class International travel with a connection time of eight (8) hours or more that requires luggage to be re-checked for a flight within the US, Canada, Mexico and Caribbean: Each ticketed passenger is allowed one (1) piece of checked luggage (see below for details)*
    • Each piece: 50 pounds (23 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (158 cm).
      • Exceptions for trans-Pacific travel wholly between U.S./Canada and the Philippines, China and Hong Kong, checked pieces may weigh up to 70 pounds (32 kg) each.
    • Checked luggage within the free 2 bag allowance that weigh more than 50 pounds and up to 70 pounds will be assessed a $50.00 heavy bag fee.
    • Checked luggage within the free 2 bag allowance whose linear dimensions exceed 62 inches will be assessed 2 excess baggage charges. See rate table.
    • (Applicable to Trans-Pacific travel between North America and Asia) Checked luggage within the free 2 bag allowance whose weight exceeds 70 pounds will be assessed 3 excess baggage charges.
      See rate table.
  • *Coach Class International travel with connection times of eight (8) hours or more in the US, Canada, Mexico and Caribbean:  Each ticketed passenger is allowed one (1) piece of checked luggage.
    1. Each piece: 50 pounds (23 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (158 cm). Or, for trans-Pacific travel exception noted above, each piece may weigh 70 pounds (32 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (158 cm).
    2. Northwest Airlines' Silver, Gold and Platinum WorldPerks® Elite customers, SkyTeam Elite customers and passengers booked in full fare classes (Y or B) may still check two bags free of charge. Customers booked in First Class can continue to check up to three bags free of charge
    3. Get answers to frequently asked questions about Northwest Airlines' Free Luggage Allowance 
  • World Business Class: Each ticketed passenger is allowed three (3) pieces of checked luggage. One (1) piece of carry-on luggage is allowed per passenger.  
    1. First two (2) pieces: 70 pounds (32 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (158 cm).
       • Checked luggage within the first 2 bag allowance whose linear dimensions exceed 62 inches will be assessed 2 excess baggage charges. See rate table.
       • (Applicable to transpacific travel between North America and Asia ) Checked luggage within the 2 free bag allowance whose weight exceeds 70 pounds will be assessed 3 excess baggage charges.
         See rate table.
    2. Third piece: 40 pounds (18 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 45 inches (115 cm). If third piece exceeds either weight or linear dimensions above, it will be subject to excess bag charges based on actual weight and size.

  • Items that weigh more than 70 pounds (32 kg) for domestic or trans-Atlantic travel or more than 100* pounds (45 kg) for trans-Pacific travel, must be shipped as cargo using a known shipper/freight forwarder, or repacked to comply with luggage requirements.
  • The same free checked luggage allowance applies to children and infants paying at least 50% of the adult fare. Infants paying 10% of the adult fare are permitted one piece of checked luggage free of charge. Maximum size for the one bag is 45 inches/115 cm linear measurement i.e. length plus height plus width. Maximum weight 22 lbs/10 kgs. Plus one (1) collapsible stroller/push cart.

• International Travel - with origin and destination outside United States / Canada
  For travel with an origin and destination outside the U.S./Canada (i.e. within Asia or within Europe), the weight concept applies. The weight concept allows a maximum weight for luggage, per person, that can be checked free of charge. The free weight applies to the total weight of all bags checked by an individual.

For travel wholly within or between Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the maximum checked luggage weight limitation is:

• Coach Class: 44 pounds (20 kg)
• World Business Class: 66 pounds (30 kg
• Infants not occupying a passenger seat: 22 pounds (10 kg)

Items that weigh more than 70 pounds (32 kg) must be shipped as cargo using a known shipper/freight forwarder, or repacked to comply with luggage requirements.

Additional Free Checked Allowance Items
The following items will be accepted in addition to the free checked luggage allowance:

• Child car seat
• One container of fruit (maximum weight 10 lbs.) for travel from Hawaii or Florida
• Assistive devices

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Excess, Overweight & Oversized Luggage and Applicable Fees
Northwest realizes that at times it may be necessary to travel with an item that exceeds the size or weight limitations or to travel with additional pieces of luggage. Additional charges apply in these situations.

• All charges are calculated on a one-way basis and are collected at the airport ticket counter.
• Code-share passengers will be charged as though they were traveling on one airline (fees will be that of the boarding carrier).
• Military Luggage is subject to different charges when overweight (see Military Luggage for details).
• Certain items of sports equipment may be subject to different charges when oversized (see Sports Equipment for details).

Excess Luggage Fees

International: The following charges apply to luggage in excess of the free luggage allowance:

NOTE: International Charges are not cumulative. If more than one charge applies, only the highest charge will be collected. For example, if you are checking an excess bag that is over 62 linear inches, only the charge for "Over 62 Linear Inches" will apply.

Domestic: The following charges apply to luggage in excess of the domestic free luggage allowance. Domestic travel includes the 50 United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

DOMESTIC TRAVEL  for travel on/after May 5, 2008
Number of Excess Pieces	Fee (USD) per Piece each-way
1st	$25.00*
2nd and subsequent	$100.00^

*Effective for tickets purchased on/after March 29, 2008 for travel on/after May 5, 2008.

^Effective for all travel on/after May 5, 2008, regardless of date of ticket purchase.

Example: If you check six (6) items within the size and weight allowances, the total cost for the excess pieces will be $425.00 USD.

DOMESTIC TRAVEL for travel on/after May 5, 2008
Number of Pieces	Fee (USD) per Piece each-way
Item 1	Free
Item 2	$25.00
Item 3	$100.00
Item 4	$100.00
Item 5	$100.00
Item 6	$100.00
Total Cost	$425.00

Excess luggage fees apply, in addition to any applicable overweight or oversized fees.

Exception: For travel between the United States mainland and Hawaii, and to and from Florida, one container of fruit will be allowed to the normal free luggage allowance for a fee of $10.00. The maximum weight permitted is 10 pounds.

Overweight Luggage Fees
International: The following charges apply to luggage exceeding the international free luggage allowance weight:

The following applies to luggage exceeding the international free luggage allowance weight.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
Weight of Luggage	Fee (USD) per Piece each-way
50 lbs. or less	Free
51 - 70 lbs.	$50.00
Over 70* lbs.	Not accepted*

*Up to 100 pounds is accepted for Trans-Pacific travel (see rate table).

Domestic: The following charges apply to luggage exceeding the domestic free luggage allowance weight:

The following applies to luggage exceeding the domestic free luggage allowance weight.

DOMESTIC TRAVEL
Weight of Luggage	Fee (USD) per Piece each-way
50 lbs. or less	Free
51 - 70 lbs.	$50.00
Over 70 lbs.	Not accepted

Overweight luggage charges apply in addition to any applicable excess or oversized charges.

Oversized Luggage Fees
International: See rate table.

Domestic: The following charges apply to luggage exceeding the domestic free luggage allowance size limitation:

The following charges apply to luggage exceeding the domestic free luggage allowance size limitation:

DOMESTIC TRAVEL
Size of Luggage	Fee (USD) per Piece each-way
62 inches or less	Free
63 - 160 inches	$100.00
Over 160 inches	Not accepted

Oversized luggage charges apply in addition to any applicable excess or overweight charges.

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