Neos airlines baggage policy: Baggage Allowance, Fees & Rules 

Neos Airlines allows one carry-on bag (max 8 kg, 55×40×20 cm) plus one personal item for all Economy passengers. Checked baggage depends on your fare: the PROMO fare includes none, while RELAX and FREEDOM fares include one checked bag. Additional bags can be purchased from €50 online or up to €150 at the airport.

Booking a Neos Air flight without checking the baggage policy first is a risk that costs travelers real money. Neos is an Italian leisure airline operated under the Alpitour Group, and it runs flights to popular holiday destinations across Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and the United States. As with most leisure carriers, its baggage rules are stricter and more nuanced than many travelers expect.

What Is the Neos Airlines Carry-On Policy?

Neos Airlines allows one carry-on bag per passenger in the Economy cabin, with a maximum weight of 8 kg and dimensions not exceeding 55×40×20 cm including wheels, handles, and external pockets. Premium class passengers receive a 10 kg carry-on allowance with the same dimensional limits. One additional personal item (max 40×30×20 cm) is also permitted, provided it fits under the seat in front of you.

This matters because 8 kg is lower than the industry norm. Many budget airlines offer 10 kg as standard. Neos conducts spot checks at both the check-in desk and the boarding gate, and overweight carry-ons are moved to the hold with extra charges applied on the spot.

Neos Carry-On Size and Weight at a Glance

Personal items accepted in the cabin include:

• Handbags and small shoulder bags
• Laptop bags or briefcases
• Small soft-sided backpacks or camera bags
• Coats, umbrellas, or walking aids (crutches)
• Duty-free purchases made airside
• Medicines, insulin kits, or small medical devices (with a prescription)

Practical tip: Always weigh your bag at home. A bag that weighs 8.2 kg at the gate will likely cost you a supplement or result in mandatory hold check-in. Packing cubes help redistribute weight and compress clothing, making it easier to stay within limits.

What Is the Neos Airlines Baggage Allowance for International Flights?

For international flights, Neos Airlines’ checked baggage allowance depends entirely on the fare type purchased and the flight duration. Short-haul flights (under 7 scheduled hours from Italy) use Boeing 737-800W aircraft, while long-haul flights (over 7 hours) use the Boeing 787-9. The weight limit differs between the two.

• Short-haul (e.g., Egypt, Greece, Canary Islands, Cape Verde): 1 piece, max 15 kg (Economy)
• Long-haul (e.g., Cuba, USA, Thailand, Kenya, Maldives): 1 piece, max 23 kg (Economy); 1 piece, max 30 kg (Premium)
• China flights: Standard fare allowance + 10 kg for infants

The maximum dimensions for any checked bag are 158 cm (length + width + height combined), and no single piece may exceed 32 kg, per IATA regulations.

Checked Baggage by Fare Type

Key gap most travelers miss: The PROMO fare includes zero checked baggage. If you book a cheap Neos ticket and assume a bag is included, you’ll pay significantly more at check-in than if you had added it in advance.

How Many Bags Are Allowed on Neos Airlines?

Neos Airlines allows up to 3 checked bags per passenger, though fees escalate sharply with each additional piece purchased at the airport. On long-haul routes, Premium Relax passengers may check 2 bags as standard. The maximum number of pieces varies based on aircraft type, fare, and destination.

Group baggage pooling (often overlooked by competitors): Groups traveling on the same booking can pool their baggage allowances. For example, if 10 passengers each have a 20 kg allowance and one passenger has two bags while another has none, the group total is still within the combined limit. This flexibility can save families or tour groups from paying excess fees unnecessarily.

What Are the Neos Airlines Extra Baggage Charges for International Flights?

Neos Airlines charges different rates for additional checked baggage depending on whether you purchase online during web check-in or at the airport counter. Buying in advance is always cheaper sometimes dramatically so.

Standard International Flights (Europe, North Africa, Middle East, and most routes)

What Is the Extra Weight Fee for Neos?

At the airport check-in desk, if a single checked bag exceeds its allowance by up to 10 kg, Neos applies a flat €50 penalty. From the 11th kg of overweight, passengers must purchase an additional bag at the airport rate. There is no per-kilogram fee it jumps straight from a flat surcharge to requiring a full additional piece.

Example scenario: You have a RELAX fare with a 23 kg bag included. Your bag weighs 29 kg at the counter. You’re 6 kg over. Neos charges the €50 penalty because the overweight is within the 10 kg threshold. Had your bag been 35 kg (12 kg over), you would be required to purchase a second bag at €150, not just a €50 surcharge.

Exception Routes: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Senegal, USA, Kazakhstan

These routes follow different airport penalty rules:

• Excess weight up to 5 kg over the allowance: €75 flat fee
• 6 kg or more over: Must purchase an additional bag at the applicable airport rate

Note: United States routes follow these exception rules from July 2, 2026.

US Flights: Fees in USD

If you’re over the weight limit by up to 10 kg on a US route at the airport, Neos applies a $50 excess fee.

What Are Neos Airlines’ Fees for Sports Equipment and Special Items?

Neos Airlines accommodates a range of sports equipment and special cargo, all charged as separate items with fixed fees. These apply one way only and are based on the maximum weight included in the fare.

*Dive equipment requires a valid diving license at check-in. Ski fees include snowboards, poles, and boots as a single item.

Musical instruments: These count as part of the passenger’s standard baggage allowance. If small enough to meet the carry-on dimensions (55×40×20 cm), they may be carried in the cabin. Larger instruments may need to be checked or, in some cases, require a separate seat purchase depending on the fare.

Fragile items and valuables: Neos explicitly prohibits placing money, passports, jewelry, cameras, phones, or other fragile electronics in checked baggage. These must be carried in hand luggage. If they are found in a checked bag that is subsequently lost or damaged, liability is limited.

What Is Neos Airlines’ Pet Policy and Associated Fees?

Neos Air accepts small dogs, cats, and ferrets in the cabin, provided the combined weight of the pet and its carrier does not exceed 10 kg (22 lbs). A valid health card is required at check-in. Other animals, larger pets, or restricted breeds must travel as checked cargo in the hold.

A maximum of 2 pets are allowed per flight in either cabin or hold.

Restricted breeds not permitted on Neos flights: American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull, Argentinean Mastiff, Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Braziliano), Japanese Tosa, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and others listed in Neos’ official policy. Brachycephalic (flat-nosed) breeds such as Bulldogs and Pugs are only permitted in the cabin never the hold as long as they remain within the weight limit.

How Does Neos Baggage Policy Compare to Competitors?

Neos is a leisure airline, so its baggage policy is best compared to other European holiday carriers rather than full-service airlines like Alitalia or Lufthansa.

Neos’ 8 kg carry-on limit is lower than most competitors at the same price point. However, its group baggage pooling option is relatively generous and rarely offered by budget carriers. For travellers packing light, Neos PROMO fares are competitive. For those with heavy luggage, factoring in the additional bag fee often makes RELAX or FREEDOM fares a better value overall.

Tips for Maximizing Your Neos Baggage Allowance

Buy extra bags online, never at the airport. The price difference between online and airport rates is €50–€100 per bag on most routes. If you suspect you’ll need an extra bag, add it at the time of booking or during web check-in.

Use the group pooling rule to your advantage. If you’re traveling with family, heavy packers can offset their excess against lighter travelers’ unused allowances on the same booking.

Weigh everything at home. A luggage scale costs around €10 and pays for itself on the first trip. Don’t guess.

Pack your carry-on last. Once your checked bag is set, fill the carry-on up to 8 kg with the heaviest remaining items books, shoes, toiletries before considering what goes in the personal item.

For ski trips, Neos is actually competitive. At $25–$45 per way for ski equipment, this is one of the more affordable sports equipment fees in the market, particularly on long-haul routes where competitors often charge significantly more.

Don’t Forget These Rules Before You Fly

• Power banks and lithium batteries: Must travel in hand luggage only. If your carry-on is gate-checked at the last minute, remove your power bank first.
• Liquids: Follow the standard 100 ml rule (up to 1 liter total per passenger in a 20×20 cm transparent bag). Some airports like Milan Malpensa now have advanced C3 scanners, but Neos advises passengers to stick to the 100 ml rule regardless, as destination airports may not have upgraded yet.
• Strollers: One stroller per infant travels free. Ultra-compact models within 55×40×20 cm may be taken into the cabin; otherwise they are tagged at check-in and returned at the aircraft steps or baggage belt.
• Baggage tags: Neos requires that all hold baggage is tagged with your name, address, and phone number. Remove old travel tags before checking in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Neos Airlines’ PROMO fare include a checked bag?
No. The PROMO fare includes only hand luggage one carry-on up to 8 kg and one personal item. Checked baggage must be purchased separately. The RELAX and FREEDOM fares both include one checked bag.

What are Neos Airlines’ dimensions for checked luggage?
The total sum of your checked bag’s length, width, and height must not exceed 158 cm. No individual bag may weigh more than 32 kg, per IATA regulations, regardless of fare type.

Can I pool my baggage allowance with family members on Neos?
Yes. Passengers traveling on the same booking can pool their total baggage allowance. The combined weight cannot exceed the group’s cumulative limit, and each individual piece still cannot exceed 32 kg.

How much does Neos charge for an extra bag on US flights?
Online, an extra piece costs $50–$70 for 15 kg or $80–$100 for 23 kg. At the airport, fees rise to $95–$105 (15 kg) or $140–$160 (23 kg). These US-specific fees apply starting July 2, 2026.

What happens if my carry-on is too heavy at the Neos gate?
Neos staff will require you to check the bag into the hold. You will be charged an on-the-spot surcharge, typically €50–€75, depending on the route and whether the issue is weight or size.

Can I bring a pet on a long-haul Neos flight?
Yes, on most routes. Small pets (dogs, cats, ferrets) under 10 kg combined with carrier are accepted in the cabin for $110–$130 each way. Larger pets travel in the pressurized hold for $230–$250. A maximum of 2 pets are allowed per flight.

Are flat-nosed dog breeds allowed on Neos flights?
Brachycephalic breeds (e.g., Pugs, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs) are allowed in the cabin only, as long as the pet and carrier together don’t exceed 10 kg. They are never permitted in the hold due to health risks.

Does Neos charge extra for ski equipment?
Yes, but rates are relatively low: $25–$45 per way. The ski fee covers the complete kit skis or snowboard, poles, and boots as a single item, up to 15 kg.

Can I carry a musical instrument in the Neos cabin?
If the instrument fits within the 55×40×20 cm carry-on dimensions and doesn’t exceed 8 kg, it may be brought on board as your primary cabin bag. Larger instruments count toward your checked baggage allowance and may require advance arrangement depending on your fare.

Is there an overweight baggage fee per kilogram on Neos?
No. Neos does not charge a per-kilogram overweight fee. Instead, if a checked bag is between 1–10 kg over the allowance, a flat €50 (or €75 on exception routes) is charged. Excess of 11 kg or more requires purchasing a full additional bag.