Malaysia Airlines Baggage Allowance - Allowances, top-ups and fees when flying with MH

Heading off on a well earned break? Before you go, check out our full guide to the Malaysia Airlines baggage allowance, including baggage sizes, weights, and excess costs.

Malaysia Airlines baggage allowance

When you book your Malaysia Airlines flight, you’ll be shown the Malaysia Airlines baggage allowance which applies to your route and cabin class¹. Do double check this, as there can be some variance to the Malaysia Airlines international baggage allowance for different routes.

Difference between Malaysia Airlines check in baggage and Malaysia Airlines hand carry

When you explore your Malaysia Airlines baggage allowance you’ll find there are 2 different elements:

• Malaysia Airlines check in baggage - this is your larger case or cases, which will be handed over at the airport when you depart, and reclaimed when you land
• Malaysia Airlines cabin baggage - this is the item or items you can take into the plane’s cabin with you, and should include any valuables and your flight essentials

There are rules about the number of baggage items, their weight and size - as well as what exactly can be taken on board the plane with you. This guide runs through all the basics, but if you’re ever unsure you can also reach out to Malaysia Airlines with specific questions.

Malaysia Airlines carry-on baggage allowance

Your Malaysia Airlines carry on baggage must have linear dimensions (length + height + width) of less than 115cm. This is to allow it to fit into the overhead lockers on the plane. There are also some varying restrictions, based on the category of ticket you hold:

• Economy ticket holders can carry 1 piece of cabin baggage, to a maximum of 7kg
• Business ticket holders can carry 2 pieces of cabin baggage to a maximum of 14kg

In addition to your main carry on item, you can also choose to take one of the following:

• A briefcase,
• A handbag
• A notebook or a laptop computer bag
• A small camera bag

If you choose to bring on this second small item the total weight must still sit within the allowance you have based on your ticket class - so 7kg in total for Economy ticket holders².

Malaysia Airlines extra baggage price (cabin baggage)

If you arrive at the airport with more cabin baggage than you are allowed to enter the plane with - either in terms of number of items, or their combined weight - you’ll need to check your excess baggage in. There may be a fee for this, which we’ll explore later.

What is the Malaysia Airlines hand carry liquid allowance?

When you’re flying there are limits to the size and total amount of liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) you can take with you in the plane’s cabin. Bottles must be 100ml or less, and must be placed into a clear, resealable bag which has a capacity of no more than 2 litre. If you have larger bottle sizes, or need to carry more than this, you can put the excess into your hold luggage.

Malaysia Airlines carry on baggage rules

Bear in mind that there are some items which can not be carried into the plane’s cabin. Generally it’s pretty easy to see why items may be restricted - so you can’t bring weapons or dangerous chemicals into the plane, for example.

When you’re checking into your flight you’ll usually have to read and acknowledge a notice which specifies which items can and can not be taken in your carry on baggage - these can vary a little based on the route you’re flying, so it’s well worth double checking the details before you grab your boarding pass.

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Malaysia Airlines check in baggage allowance

Each piece of your check in baggage must have linear dimensions (length + height + width) of less than 158cm. There are also weight restrictions, based on the category of ticket you hold:

• Economy ticket holders can carry a maximum of 23kg
• Business ticket holders can carry a maximum of 32kg

You can carry more than one case, as long as the total weight of your cases does not exceed the total limit for your cabin class³.

Malaysia Airlines extra baggage price (check in)

The Malaysia Airlines excess baggage cost per kilo varies depending on the distance you’re flying. Costs per kilo range from 8 USD for travel within Malaysia, to 30 USD per kilo for trips to 5 destinations - such as flying from KLIA to the UK⁴.

You’ll be able to see the costs for your specific route when you add your bags - either before you fly, or at the airport.

What items are prohibited in the Malaysia Airlines check in baggage?

As you’d expect, some items aren’t allowed to be taken onto a plane, even as check in baggage. This may be because they’re dangerous, or because there are restrictions on their import or export. It’s worth reading over all the rules for your specific destination, to make sure you haven’t accidentally packed anything that’s not allowed.

One useful point to note is that there are rules about taking batteries onto a plane which are worth checking. Some battery types must be taken as carry on - while others are simply not allowed. If you’ll be carrying a large number of electronics, or have loose batteries or battery packs with you, familiarise yourself with the regulations before you fly.

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