Allegiant Airlines Baggage Policy 2026: Fees, Sizes & Rules 

Allegiant Air allows one free personal item (max 7 x 15 x 16 in.) per passenger. Carry-on bags and checked bags are not included in base fares and must be purchased separately. Carry-on fees start at $15 at booking and rise to $75 at the airport. Checked bag fees start at $20 at booking and rise to $75 at the airport.

Allegiant Air is built around one simple promise: rock-bottom base fares. What catches many travelers off guard is that baggage fees are priced separately and they scale up dramatically the longer you wait to add them. A carry-on bag purchased at the gate can cost five times more than the same bag added at booking.

What Bags Does Allegiant Allow for Free?

Allegiant allows every passenger one free personal item, provided it fits entirely under the seat in front of you and does not exceed 7 x 15 x 16 inches (17.8 x 38.1 x 40.6 cm). No carry-on bag or checked bag is included in Allegiant’s base fare. Both require an additional purchase.

The following items are also always free of charge and do not count toward your baggage allowance:

• Mobility aids (wheelchairs, walkers, canes)
• Medical devices such as CPAP machines
• One stroller and one car seat per fare-paying passenger (gate-checked)
• One diaper bag per passenger traveling with a child
• A coat or jacket
• An umbrella

What Are Allegiant’s Baggage Prices in 2026?

The table below shows the full Allegiant baggage fee structure based on when you purchase. Fees are per bag, per segment (one takeoff, one landing).

The range at booking reflects route-dependent pricing. Fees on high-demand routes trend toward the upper end. For exact route-specific fees, Allegiant publishes a full breakdown in its Optional Services and Fees table on allegiantair.com.

What Is the Allegiant Baggage Fee Calculator?

Allegiant’s baggage fee calculator is a tool that lets you estimate your total luggage costs before booking. You can access it via the Allegiant website or app by entering your bag type, number of bags, and departure/arrival airports.

How to use it:

1. Visit allegiantair.com and begin a booking
2. Enter your route and travel dates
3. When prompted to add bags, the system will display current fees for that specific route
4. Alternatively, use Manage Travel post-booking to add bags and view live pricing

Using the calculator before you book is the single most effective way to avoid paying airport rates. Fees at the gate are almost always the highest available.

What Is the Allegiant Carry-On Size?

Allegiant’s carry-on bag must not exceed 9 x 14 x 22 inches (22.9 x 35.6 x 55.9 cm). This measurement is total and includes wheels, handles, exterior pockets, and any protruding parts. If the bag cannot fit within those dimensions when fully packed, it will not be accepted.

There is no disclosed weight limit for carry-on bags, but you must be able to lift the bag into the overhead bin without assistance. If you cannot do so, staff may gate-check the bag at the airport rate.

Pro tip: Soft-sided duffel bags are far safer than hard-shell cases. They compress slightly and can be squeezed into sizing frames that a rigid suitcase might fail.

What Is the Allegiant Carry-On Price?

Allegiant charges for access to the overhead bin. Here is the full cost breakdown by purchase timing:

The cheapest carry-on price is always at the time of booking. Adding it even a day before departure via the app costs significantly more.

What Are the Allegiant Carry-On Weight Rules?

Allegiant does not publish a specific carry-on weight limit. The practical rule is: if you can lift it safely into the overhead bin by yourself, the weight will generally not be an issue. However, gate agents reserve the right to reject a bag they consider unsafe to stow.

This contrasts with airlines like Spirit (which enforces a 40 lb carry-on limit) and Frontier (35 lb carry-on limit). For travelers packing heavy camera equipment or dense gear, this flexibility is a genuine advantage with Allegiant.

What Are the Allegiant Carry-On Rules?

Allegiant’s carry-on policy follows TSA and FAA guidelines. The key rules are:

• Each passenger is limited to two cabin items total: one personal item and one carry-on
• The carry-on must be purchased as an add-on; it is not included in any base fare
• The bag must not exceed 9 x 14 x 22 inches (including all external dimensions)
• You must be able to lift the bag into the overhead bin unassisted
• If overhead bin space runs out, carry-on bags may be gate-checked at the airport bag fee rate
• Traveling with a pet? The pet carrier counts as one of your two cabin items

What Liquids Can You Bring on an Allegiant Carry-On?

Allegiant follows the standard TSA 3-1-1 liquids rule, which applies to all domestic US flights regardless of airline. Liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes in your carry-on must meet the following criteria:

What Is the Allegiant Carry-On Liquids Size?

Each individual liquid container must be 3.4 oz (100 ml) or less. The total quart-sized bag measures approximately 7 x 8 inches. Any container exceeding 3.4 oz even if only partially filled will be confiscated at the TSA checkpoint.

Medically necessary liquids, such as prescription medications, contact lens solution, and baby formula, are exempt from the 3.4 oz limit but may require additional screening. Declare them separately at the checkpoint.

What Are Allegiant Personal Item Examples?

Allegiant defines a personal item as any bag that fits completely under the seat in front of you, within the maximum dimensions of 7 x 15 x 16 inches.

Accepted examples include:

• Purse or handbag
• Small backpack (unstuffed)
• Laptop bag or briefcase
• Small camera bag
• Small tote bag

Items that commonly fail the size check:

• Full-size school backpacks (typically too large when packed)
• Oversized handbags or tote bags
• Underseat rolling bags that exceed the depth limit

If a gate agent determines your personal item is oversized, you will be charged an oversized personal item fee of $50 to $75. To avoid this entirely, measure your bag at home with a tape measure before packing.

What Are Allegiant’s Checked Bag Rules, Weight Limits, and Fees?

Each checked bag must weigh no more than 50 lbs (22.6 kg) and must not exceed 80 linear inches (L + W + H) in combined dimensions. Passengers may check up to four bags.

A note on misinformation: Several competitor websites incorrectly state the weight limit as 40 lbs. According to Allegiant’s official baggage policy page (allegiantair.com), the standard limit is 50 lbs.

Overweight and Oversized Checked Bag Fees

These fees are charged in addition to the base bag fee:

Real-world cost example: If you check a 65 lb bag at the airport, you pay $75 (airport bag fee) + $50 (overweight fee) = $125 for one bag, one way. The same bag, pre-purchased at booking with a weight of 45 lbs, costs $20–$50 depending on route.

What Are Allegiant’s Policies for Sports Equipment and Special Items?

Sports equipment including golf clubs, skis, snowboards, hockey gear, and fishing rods is treated as a standard checked bag and incurs the regular checked bag fee. Allegiant waives the oversized fee for many properly-cased sports items (such as golf bags), but overweight fees still apply if the item exceeds 50 lbs.

Musical instruments are also accepted as checked baggage at the standard checked bag rate. Instruments that are small enough to fit within personal item or carry-on dimensions may be brought into the cabin within those size limits.

Key exceptions competitors often miss:

• Allegiant does not transport animals in cargo only cabin travel is permitted
• Oversize fee waivers for sports equipment are conditional on proper protective cases
• Pooling baggage weight between passengers is not allowed; each bag is assessed individually

What Is Allegiant’s Pet Travel Policy?

Allegiant permits small domestic dogs and cats in the cabin only. No pets are transported in cargo. The pet-in-cabin fee is $50 per segment (non-refundable).

• Soft-sided carrier: max 18″L x 12″W x 11″H
• Hard-sided carrier: max 17″L x 11″W x 10.5″H
• Maximum of 2 pets per carrier; one carrier per passenger
• The carrier counts as one of your two permitted cabin items
• Pets must be at least 8 weeks old
• No health certificate required
• Passengers with pets may not sit in exit rows or bulkhead seats

Edge case: If you travel with a pet and want a carry-on bag, you may bring the pet carrier plus one personal item only not a personal item and a separate carry-on bag. If you attempt to bring all three, the extra item will be checked at the airport bag rate.

How Can You Avoid Paying Allegiant Baggage Fees?

There are five proven strategies to minimize or eliminate baggage fees on Allegiant:

1. Always add bags at the time of booking. This is the most important rule. Carry-on prices can jump from $15 at booking to $75 at the gate five times more.

2. Pack everything into your personal item. The free personal item allows up to 7 x 15 x 16 inches. A well-organized packing cube system can fit 3–4 days of travel into that space.

3. Wear your heaviest items on the plane. A heavy jacket and boots worn on board reduce bag weight significantly and don’t count against your allowance.

4. Consider a bundle. Allegiant offers bundles (including Allegiant Bonus and Allegiant Total) that combine seat selection, priority boarding, and baggage into a single price. Depending on your route, a bundle can cost less than purchasing each add-on separately.

5. If traveling with a partner, share one large checked bag. Two passengers sharing one 50 lb checked bag (booked at time of purchase) is often cheaper than two separate carry-on bags.

Military personnel exemption: Active duty, reserve, and veteran members of the U.S. military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and others) with valid ID receive one free carry-on bag and two free checked bags (under 100 lbs/115 linear inches each). Dependents on the same itinerary qualify for the same benefit.

How Does Allegiant’s Baggage Policy Compare to Other Budget Airlines?

Allegiant’s checked bag weight limit of 50 lbs is an advantage over Spirit (40 lbs). Its at-gate fees are also slightly lower. However, route-specific pricing means Allegiant’s booking price can vary significantly from these ranges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Allegiant charge for carry-on bags?
Yes. Allegiant charges for access to the overhead bin. Carry-on fees range from $15–$41 at booking to $75 at the airport. Only one personal item is free, provided it fits under the seat and does not exceed 7 x 15 x 16 inches.

What is the personal item size limit on Allegiant?
Allegiant’s personal item size limit is 7 x 15 x 16 inches (17.8 x 38.1 x 40.6 cm). The bag must fit completely under the seat in front of you. Oversized personal items incur a fee of $50 to $75.

Is the Allegiant checked bag weight limit 40 lbs or 50 lbs?
The official Allegiant policy states the checked bag weight limit is 50 lbs (22.6 kg). Some third-party websites incorrectly list the limit as 40 lbs. Always refer to allegiantair.com for confirmed limits.

Can I bring a stroller or car seat on Allegiant for free?
Yes. Each fare-paying passenger may gate-check one stroller and one car seat free of charge. These items do not count against your baggage allowance.

Does Allegiant allow pets in checked baggage?
No. Allegiant does not transport animals in cargo. Only in-cabin travel for small domestic dogs and cats is permitted, at a fee of $50 per segment per carrier.

What happens if my carry-on is too large at the Allegiant gate?
If a gate agent determines your carry-on exceeds 9 x 14 x 22 inches, the bag will be gate-checked at the airport bag fee rate of up to $75. If your personal item is oversized, you will be charged $50 to $75.

Can two passengers share one checked bag to save money on Allegiant?
Yes, two passengers can share one checked bag. Baggage weight allowances are per bag, not per person, so you cannot pool weight across multiple bags owned by different people but sharing one bag between two travelers is a common and effective cost-saving strategy.

Are CPAP machines and medical devices free to bring on Allegiant?
Yes. CPAP machines and other medically necessary devices do not count as your personal item and are carried free of charge. You do not need to pay any baggage fee for medical equipment.

Does Allegiant waive baggage fees for military personnel?
Yes. Active duty, reserve, and veteran U.S. military personnel with valid identification receive one free carry-on bag and two free checked bags per segment. Bags must weigh under 100 lbs and not exceed 115 linear inches. Qualifying dependents on the same itinerary receive the same benefit.

Is it cheaper to buy an Allegiant bundle or add bags separately?
It depends on your route and what you need. Allegiant’s bundles (Basic, Bonus, Total) combine seat selection, priority boarding, and baggage. If you were already planning to pay for a seat and a bag, a bundle sometimes costs less than the sum of those add-ons purchased individually. Compare both options during the booking flow before committing.