LATAM Airlines Baggage Policy 2026: Fees, Limits & Rules 

LATAM Airlines allows one free personal item (45×35×20 cm) for all passengers. Carry-on bags (55×35×25 cm, up to 12 kg in Economy) are included in Light, Standard, Full, and Premium fares but not Basic. Checked baggage (23 kg, 158 linear cm) varies by fare. Buying extra bags at least 48 hours in advance saves up to 40% versus airport pricing.

LATAM Airlines is the largest carrier in Latin America, serving over 140 destinations across 25 countries with a fleet of roughly 300 aircraft. The Santiago-based airline has won Skytrax’s “Best Airline in South America” award for multiple consecutive years and for good reason. Its network spans domestic routes across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, plus long-haul flights to the United States, Europe, Oceania, and beyond.

With that reach comes complexity. Baggage rules shift depending on your fare type, cabin class, route, and how far in advance you buy. Arriving at the airport without understanding those rules can mean unexpected fees that quickly dwarf the cost of the ticket itself.

What Is LATAM Airlines’ Baggage Policy in 2026?

LATAM Airlines’ 2026 baggage policy governs two categories of luggage: cabin baggage (items you carry onto the plane) and checked baggage (items stored in the aircraft hold). Allowances depend on your fare type and cabin class. All passengers receive one free personal item. Carry-on bags and checked bags are only included in certain fare tiers.

Here is a quick-reference overview before we go deeper.

What Are the LATAM Airlines Carry-On Baggage Rules?

Personal item (all fares)

Every passenger regardless of fare can bring one small personal item into the cabin at no charge. This item must fit under the seat in front of you and cannot exceed 45 cm × 35 cm × 20 cm (17.8 × 13.8 × 7.9 in), including wheels, handles, and pockets.

Acceptable personal items include:

• Backpacks
• Handbags and purses
• Laptop bags
• Baby bags

Small bag / carry-on (overhead compartment)

If your fare includes a carry-on, it goes in the overhead bin. LATAM enforces strict size and weight limits at the boarding gate.

Important: Basic fare passengers do not receive a free carry-on. You can add one through My Trips up to 6 hours before departure but at the gate, the surcharge is higher. If the overhead compartment is full when you board, LATAM will check your bag at no additional fee provided it meets the size and weight requirements. If it exceeds those limits, you will pay a gate fee.

What happens if my carry-on exceeds limits at the gate?

If your carry-on is overweight or oversized at the gate, it is sent to the hold and you pay a penalty. Gate fees for an additional or oversized cabin bag:

What Is the LATAM Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance?

LATAM Airlines’ checked baggage allowance is 23 kg (51 lb) per bag, with a maximum linear size of 158 cm (62.2 in) calculated by adding height + length + width. Each passenger can check up to 10 bags total, combining fare-included bags, purchased extras, and special baggage.

Every checked bag must meet both limits independently. A bag under 23 kg but over 158 linear cm still incurs an excess charge and vice versa.

What are the LATAM Airlines baggage size limits for checked bags?

Bags exceeding 300 linear cm cannot be checked at all. You would need to ship them through LATAM Cargo.

Exception for certain routes: On flights to, from, or via Argentina, Aruba, Cuba, Europe, Oceania, South Africa, or Venezuela, the overweight threshold before excess fees apply shifts to 32 kg meaning bags between 23–32 kg travel without additional cost if you have paid for overweight on those routes.

What Are the LATAM Airlines Checked Baggage Fees?

Checked baggage fees vary by route and how far in advance you purchase. Buying more than 48 hours before departure is consistently the cheapest option LATAM states you can save up to 40% compared to airport pricing.

International checked baggage fees (USD)

Real-world example: A traveler flying São Paulo to Miami on a Basic fare, buying a checked bag 50 hours before the flight, pays US$70. The same bag purchased at the airport check-in counter costs US$130 a difference of US$60 for a single bag.

Domestic checked baggage fees

Domestic fees are charged in local currency. For Ecuador and Peru domestic routes (USD-referenced):

What Are LATAM’s Excess Baggage Fees for Overweight and Oversized Bags?

Excess baggage fees apply when a checked bag exceeds 23 kg, when it exceeds 158 linear cm, or when you bring more bags than your fare includes. These charges are cumulative if your bag is both overweight and oversized, you pay both fees independently.

International excess baggage fees (USD)

Edge case worth knowing: If you show up at the boarding gate with more baggage than your allowance permits, LATAM sends the bag to the hold and charges the gate penalty. If you refuse to pay, the bag stays behind and LATAM accepts no responsibility for it.

What Are the LATAM Airlines Extra Baggage Options?

You can add extra checked bags or a carry-on through:

• My Trips (LATAM’s online portal)  available up to 6 hours before departure
• LATAM Airlines App  buy from your phone and skip the counter queue
• Sales Offices or the Contact Center
• Airport check-in counter  most expensive option

One additional option that competitors rarely mention: LATAM allows passengers to purchase one bag of up to 15 kg (33 lb) as an add-on. This smaller bag follows the same dimension limit (158 linear cm) as a standard checked bag, but cannot be purchased at the airport only online or through their Sales Offices, at least 6 hours before departure.

Key restriction: Extra baggage can only be purchased through LATAM directly when your entire route is operated by LATAM. On interline itineraries where you begin with another carrier, extra bags must be purchased at that carrier’s airport counter.

How Does LATAM Airlines’ Baggage Policy Differ for Frequent Flyers?

LATAM Pass elite members in the Platinum, Black, and Black Signature categories receive additional checked baggage at no cost. Crucially, these complimentary elite bags are not counted toward the 10-bag maximum, so they sit outside the standard limit entirely.

Similarly, LATAM co-branded credit cardholders can access additional free checked baggage on qualifying flights. Strollers, car seats, and mobility support equipment for passengers with disabilities are also excluded from the 10-bag count.

What Are the LATAM Airlines Baggage Rules for Special Items?

Sports equipment, musical instruments, TVs, monitors, and audiovisual gear are treated as special baggage not regular checked bags. LATAM charges a flat fee per item based on your route:

• Domestic flights: approximately US$30
• International flights: from US$65

Special baggage must still comply with the 300 linear cm and 45 kg per-piece maximum. Items larger or heavier than these thresholds cannot travel in the aircraft hold and must be shipped via LATAM Cargo.

What Items Are Prohibited in LATAM Airlines Cabins?

LATAM follows IATA and local regulatory standards for restricted and prohibited items.

Prohibited in carry-on baggage:

• Sharp objects (knives, scissors over 6 cm, razor blades, nail files)
• Firearms and ammunition
• Liquids over 100 ml per container (international flights) all liquids must fit in a 1-liter transparent resealable bag

Route-specific rule (often missed): On flights to the United States or the Dominican Republic, powdered items in the cabin are limited to 350 ml (12 oz). Anything over that amount must go in the hold.

Liquid exceptions in the cabin:

• Medications (with a valid prescription for the flight duration)
• Baby food (when traveling with a child under 12 years)
• Duty-free liquids purchased at the last point of departure, sealed in a tamper-evident bag with the receipt visible

What Is New in LATAM Airlines Baggage Policy for 2026?

The most notable recent change affects the Quito (UIO) to Miami (MIA) route. LATAM expanded the checked baggage limit on this route effective September 1, 2026:

Oversized and special baggage remain prohibited on both the Quito–Miami and Guayaquil–New York routes due to operational restrictions.

5 Money-Saving Tips for LATAM Airlines Baggage

1. Buy extra baggage at least 48 hours in advance. The price difference versus the airport can be US$40–$60 per bag on international routes.
2. Use the LATAM Airlines App. You can purchase baggage from your phone right up to 6 hours before departure faster and cheaper than at the counter.
3. Check your fare type before packing. Basic and Light fares do not include a checked bag. Adding one at booking is almost always cheaper than doing so later.
4. Join LATAM Pass and aim for elite status. Platinum, Black, and Black Signature members receive complimentary extra bags that don’t count toward the 10-bag limit.
5. Weigh and measure before you leave home. A luggage scale costs under $15. One overweight bag on an international LATAM flight costs US$100 or more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does LATAM Airlines charge for carry-on bags?
LATAM does not charge for carry-on bags if your fare (Light, Standard, Full, or Premium) includes one. Basic fare passengers must purchase the carry-on add-on separately up to 6 hours before departure via My Trips. The gate penalty is the most expensive option, ranging from US$45 to US$130 depending on the route.

Can I split my 23 kg checked bag allowance between two smaller bags?
No. LATAM’s 23 kg allowance is tied to one physical bag. If you split the weight between two bags, each bag counts as a separate checked piece, and the second one requires an additional paid allowance.

What is the maximum weight LATAM will accept for a single checked bag?
The absolute maximum is 45 kg per bag on most routes, provided you pay the applicable overweight fees. On flights to, from, or via Argentina, Aruba, Cuba, Europe, Oceania, South Africa, or Venezuela, the maximum drops to 32 kg per bag.

How much does LATAM charge for an overweight checked bag on a flight to the USA?
On South America to United States routes, a bag weighing between 24–32 kg costs US$100 in excess fees. A bag weighing 32–45 kg costs US$200. These charges are separate from any standard checked bag fee and accumulate on top of them.

Can I purchase extra baggage for a LATAM codeshare or interline flight online?
Only if your entire itinerary is operated by LATAM. On mixed itineraries where another carrier operates the first flight, extra baggage must be purchased at that carrier’s airport counter LATAM’s My Trips system will not process the transaction.

Does LATAM waive baggage fees for elite frequent flyers?
Yes. LATAM Pass members at the Platinum, Black, and Black Signature elite tiers receive complimentary additional checked baggage. These bags fall outside LATAM’s standard 10-bag passenger limit and are processed separately.

What are the baggage rules for flights departing from Brazil?
LATAM requires passengers to complete a Special Declaration of Value form when checking in items of high monetary value on any flight departing Brazil domestic or international. Importantly, electronics (laptops, phones, tablets), jewelry, watches, and cameras cannot be declared under this form and must travel in your cabin personal item.

Does LATAM allow powders in carry-on baggage?
On flights to the United States or the Dominican Republic, powdered substances in carry-on baggage are capped at 350 ml (12 oz). Amounts above this must be checked in the hold. On other routes, standard international liquid and gel rules apply.

How early can I buy extra checked baggage for a LATAM flight?
There is no stated upper time limit for purchasing in advance you can add bags at any point after booking. The earliest purchase window locks in the lowest price tier. The cut-off for online purchases is 6 hours before departure; after that, bags can only be added at the airport counter, at a higher rate.

What happens if I check a bag that exceeds LATAM’s 300 linear cm maximum?
LATAM will not load the bag on the aircraft. Oversized items exceeding 300 linear cm must be shipped as air cargo through LATAM Cargo. LATAM recommends contacting LATAM Cargo before your trip to arrange transport for oversized items.