Boutique Air baggage policy: Fees, Sizes & Rules (2026) 

Boutique Air charges $0 in baggage fees. Each passenger is allowed one personal item (9×10×17 in, lap-held) plus one checked or gate-checked bag (9×14×22 in). Combined baggage weight must not exceed 50 lbs per passenger. Excess baggage is accepted free on a space-available basis.

Flying on a small regional carrier like Boutique Air is a different experience than boarding a wide-body jet at a major hub. The Pilatus PC-12 aircraft  a Swiss-built turboprop seating just 8 to 9 passengers  has a cargo hold that operates nothing like the overhead bins you’re used to. That physical reality shapes everything about Boutique Air’s luggage policy, and knowing the rules before you arrive at the gate can save you real stress on travel day.

What Is the Boutique Air Baggage Allowance Per Passenger?

Each Boutique Air passenger is entitled to one personal item and one additional bag  either gate-checked or checked at the ticket counter. That second bag is placed in the luggage compartment beneath the aircraft. Anything beyond this standard allowance falls under the excess baggage policy.

Boutique Air does not charge baggage fees of any kind. This is one of the few U.S. carriers  regional or otherwise  where every bag category carries a $0 price tag, including excess and oversized items.

What Are the Boutique Air Carry-On Size Rules?

Boutique Air does not have traditional carry-on storage. The Pilatus PC-12 cabin cannot accommodate overhead bins or underseat storage, which means no bag travels inside the passenger cabin except your personal item  and that item must remain on your lap for the entire flight.

Boutique Air carry-on size and personal item dimensions:

Items over 48 inches in length may not physically fit in the cargo hold. This is not a policy preference  it is a structural limitation of the PC-12 aircraft.

What qualifies as a personal item on Boutique Air?

• Small purses
• Shoulder laptop bags
• Small backpacks

Anything larger than 9×10×17 inches must be gate-checked or checked at the ticket counter, regardless of how you would classify it on another airline.

What Are the Boutique Air Baggage Fees?

Boutique Air charges $0 for all standard, excess, and oversized baggage. There are no checked baggage fees, no carry-on fees, and no overweight surcharges under the standard 50 lb threshold. This is a deliberate policy  confirmed on the official Boutique Air baggage page  and it applies across all fare types with no exceptions based on ticket class.

This distinguishes Boutique Air sharply from major carriers. For reference, most U.S. airlines charge $35–$40 for a first checked bag and $45–$50 for a second. On Boutique Air, both cost nothing.

What Is the Boutique Air Baggage Weight Limit?

The combined weight of all baggage  personal item plus checked bag  must not exceed 50 lbs per passenger. This is a combined limit, not a per-bag limit.

Weight rules at a glance:

• Combined personal item + checked bag: 50 lbs maximum
• Baggage over 50 lbs (total or individual): travels on standby/space-available basis
• Individual items over 70 lbs: not accepted under any circumstances

Real-world example: If your checked rollaboard weighs 38 lbs and your personal item (laptop bag) weighs 15 lbs, your combined weight is 53 lbs  and your bags would travel on a space-available standby basis, meaning they may not arrive on the same flight as you.

What Is the Boutique Air Checked Baggage Policy?

Boutique Air checked baggage follows the same standard rollaboard dimensions (9×14×22 in) and is loaded into the aircraft’s luggage compartment by ground crew. You may check your bag either at the ticket counter before passing through security, or at the gate immediately before boarding.

A gate-checked bag follows the same size and weight rules as a standard checked bag. The key difference: a gate-checked bag goes through TSA screening as carry-on luggage, then gets checked with the gate agent before you board. At your destination, it is returned to you at the gate  not at baggage claim.

What Is Boutique Air’s Excess Baggage Policy?

Excess baggage on Boutique Air is any bag beyond the standard one personal item plus one checked/gate-checked bag. Boutique Air accepts excess baggage at no additional cost, but on a space-available basis only.

Key excess baggage facts:

• Fee: $0
• Guarantee: None  space is limited on small aircraft
• If no space: your extra bag is placed on the next available Boutique Air flight
• Responsibility: If connecting to another carrier, you must retrieve oversize or excess bags yourself

Important caveat: If your excess bag misses your flight and you’re connecting to United or American Airlines, the bag will not automatically transfer to your connection. You would need to pick it up and re-check it  which may not be possible if you’re transferring through a sterile/TSA zone.

What Is the Boutique Air Personal Item Policy?

The Boutique Air personal item allowance is unusually restrictive compared to most airlines. The bag must be small enough to sit on your lap  not under the seat in front of you, and not in an overhead bin. Neither of those storage spaces exists on the PC-12.

Boutique Air personal item rules:

• Max dimensions: 9 × 10 × 17 inches (including handles and straps)
• Weight: counts toward the combined 50 lb passenger limit
• Must be lap-held for the entire flight duration
• Must be checked if it exceeds personal item dimensions

Examples that typically qualify: small crossbody bags, slim laptop shoulder bags, and small daypacks. A standard 40L hiking pack, a 20-inch rolling suitcase, or a full-size backpack would not qualify and would need to be gate or ticket counter checked.

What Are the Special Items and Exceptions to the Boutique Air Luggage Policy?

Several item categories have specific handling rules that differ from standard baggage:

Fragile and high-value items: Boutique Air recommends against packing these in checked baggage. The airline is not liable for loss or damage to fragile items checked as luggage.

How Does Boutique Air’s Baggage Policy Work on Connecting Flights?

This is one of the most misunderstood areas of Boutique Air’s luggage policy  and one most competitors skip entirely.

Boutique Air has interline baggage agreements with United Airlines and American Airlines only.

• United Airlines: If you booked via United.com under a single confirmation number with a Boutique Air connecting segment departing from a sterile/TSA location, your checked bags transfer automatically. If departing from a non-sterile location, you must reclaim and recheck.
• American Airlines: Baggage transfers if booked conjunctively via AA.com.
• All other airlines: You are responsible for retrieving your bags at baggage claim and re-checking them for your onward flight.

What Is Boutique Air’s Baggage Liability Coverage?

If Boutique Air loses, delays, or damages your checked baggage, maximum compensation is:

• Boutique Air only (no connection): $500 per passenger
• Interline with carrier operating aircraft >60 seats: $3,500 per passenger (federal rules)
• Interline with carrier operating aircraft ≤60 seats: $500 per passenger

Boutique Air assumes no liability for carry-on or unchecked baggage unless the item was in Boutique Air’s sole custody.

How to Pack Smart for a Boutique Air Flight

The 8-seat Pilatus PC-12 demands a different packing mindset than a commercial aircraft. Here are practical strategies to avoid issues at the gate:

• Weigh everything together before leaving home  not per bag, but combined personal item plus checked bag, targeting under 50 lbs
• Choose a soft-sided personal item that collapses flat on your lap
• Avoid rigid large backpacks as personal items  they will not qualify at 9×10×17 in
• Ship heavy gear ahead if you’re traveling with sports equipment or oversized items and need a guarantee it arrives with you
• Check the interline agreement before booking any connecting flight  Boutique Air’s baggage-transfer partnerships are limited to United and American

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Boutique Air charge for checked bags?
No. Boutique Air charges $0 for all baggage categories, including standard checked bags, excess bags, and oversized special items. This applies to all fare types with no exceptions.

What is the maximum carry-on size allowed on Boutique Air in 2026?
Boutique Air’s personal item (the only bag allowed in the cabin) must not exceed 9×10×17 inches. Larger bags  including standard rollaboards up to 9×14×22 inches  must be gate-checked or checked at the ticket counter and travel in the cargo hold.

Can I bring two checked bags on Boutique Air?
The standard allowance is one checked bag per passenger. A second bag is considered excess baggage, which Boutique Air accepts at no charge on a space-available basis, but cannot guarantee it will travel on the same flight.

What happens if my combined baggage weight exceeds 50 lbs?
Baggage exceeding 50 lbs in combined weight travels on a standby basis  meaning it may be loaded on the next available flight rather than yours. Individual items over 70 lbs are refused entirely.

Is there a size limit on Boutique Air’s checked baggage?
Yes. The standard checked bag limit is 9×14×22 inches including handles and wheels. Bags exceeding this are categorized as oversized special items and must remain within 62 linear inches maximum to be accepted.

Can I bring a pet on Boutique Air, and is there a fee?
Small, lap-sized animals are permitted at no additional charge. They must travel in a soft-sided carrier on the passenger’s lap for the entire flight. No pet surcharge applies.

Will my bags automatically transfer if I connect from Boutique Air to Delta or Southwest?
No. Boutique Air’s interline baggage agreements cover United Airlines and American Airlines only. For any other connecting carrier, you must retrieve your bags from baggage claim and re-check them yourself.

What is the baggage compensation limit if Boutique Air loses my luggage?
For travel solely on Boutique Air with no connection, the maximum liability is $500 per passenger. For interline connections with a carrier operating aircraft of more than 60 seats, the limit increases to $3,500 per passenger under federal rules.

Are hoverboards and powered wheelchairs allowed on Boutique Air?
Neither is accepted. Hoverboards are explicitly prohibited on all Boutique Air flights. Powered wheelchairs cannot be accommodated due to aircraft constraints. Manual folding wheelchairs are treated as oversized special items on a space-available basis.

Can I pack medication in my checked bag on Boutique Air?
Boutique Air recommends against it. Critical medications should be kept in your personal item in original labelled containers. Medical supplies and mobility aids are exempt from the standard two-bag limit and should be declared at check-in.