|
Checked Luggage
Acceptance Policy
- Northwest will accept your luggage only upon presentation of a valid ticket for travel on a Northwest flight.
- Your name, address, and telephone number must appear on the outside of the luggage. We also recommend that you place the same information on the inside of your luggage.
- You should carry certain items on board with you. Northwest has a generous carry-on policy designed to allow passengers to carry on those items for which Northwest accepts no liability. These items include, but are not limited to, medicine, keys, important papers, travel documents (passport), jewelry, cash, computers, computer equipment, cameras, and other items of high personal value.
- Your luggage will only be checked to your final destination.
- Northwest also accepts pets as checked luggage for a nominal fee. View details on traveling with your pet
 Return to top
Claiming Your Checked Luggage
You will be able to retrieve your checked luggage from the Baggage Claim area of the airport. In larger airports, Northwest posts the flight number, the flight's origination city and the baggage carousel number on a terminal screen located in the Baggage Claim area. Luggage is generally available at the carousel approximately 15 minutes after the flight's arrival time. Since many styles of luggage are quite similar, we recommend that you inspect your luggage closely to make sure you claim your own items.
Return to top
Free Luggage Allowance
The free luggage allowance is the maximum number, size and weight of bags that each customer is allowed with no additional charge. We have based this allowance on many variables that influence the maximum capacity of luggage on an aircraft. These variables include size of aircraft cargo compartments, dimensions of the doors, fuel requirements, typical number of passengers on board, and government regulations. Luggage will be weighed and measured to ensure that it meets the dimensional requirements under the free luggage allowance.
As a result, Northwest has established a standard free luggage allowance that applies to all flights.
Luggage Measurement
Luggage is measured by adding length, width and height to determine the total number of linear inches/centimeters.
- Northwest will accept luggage up to a maximum of 50 pounds (23 kg) and a total linear dimension of 62 inches (158 cm) per piece at no charge.
- Additional charges may apply for luggage weighing more than 50 pounds (23 kg) or with a total linear dimension of more than 62 inches (158 cm) per piece.
- Northwest does not accept luggage over 100 pounds or larger than 160 linear inches per piece. Luggage that weigh more than 100 pounds (45kg) can be repacked to comply with luggage requirements.
Note: If you are flying on a codeshare partner, please check with the operating carrier for maximum acceptance rules as they may vary.
Luggage Allowance
- World Business Class: Each ticketed passenger is allowed three (3) pieces of checked luggage.
- First two (2) pieces: 70 pounds (32 kg) with linear dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (158 cm) per piece.
- Third piece: 40 pounds (18 kg) with with linear dimensions not to exceed 45 inches (115 cm).
- International Travel - outside United States / Canada
For travel with an origin and destination outside the U.S./Canada (i.e. within Asia or within Europe), the weight concept applies. The weight concept allows a maximum weight for baggage, per person, that can be checked free of charge. The free weight applies to the total weight of all bags checked by an individual.
For travel wholly within or between Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the maximum checked luggage weight limitation is:
- Coach Class: 44 pounds (20 kg)
- World Business Class: 66 pounds (30 kg)
- Infants not occupying a passenger seat: 22 pounds (10 kg)
Items that weigh more than 100 pounds (45 kg) must be shipped as cargo using a known shipper/freight forwarder, or repacked to comply with luggage requirements.
Additional Free Allowance Items
The following items will be accepted in addition to the free luggage allowance:
For information on charges for checking luggage that exceeds the free allowance, please contact Northwest Reservations
Return to top
Excess, Overweight & Oversized Luggage and Applicable Fees
Northwest realizes that at times it may be necessary to travel with an item that exceeds the size or weight limitations or to travel with additional pieces of luggage. Additional charges apply in these situations.
- All charges are calculated on a one-way basis and are collected at the airport ticket counter.
- Code-share passengers will be charged as though they were traveling on one airline (fees will be that of the boarding carrier).
- Military Luggage is subject to different charges when overweight (see Military Luggage for details).
- Certain items of sports equipment may be subject to different charges when oversized (see Sports Equipment for details).
Excess Luggage Fees
InternationalPlease contact Northwest Reservations for details since excess luggage fees for International travel varies by origin and destination cities.
DomesticThe following charges apply to luggage in excess of the domestic free luggage allowance. Domestic travel includes the 50 United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
| DOMESTIC TRAVEL |
|
Number of Excess Pieces |
Fee (USD) per Piece |
|
1st - 3rd |
$80.00 |
|
4th - 6th |
$105.00 |
|
7th and subsequent |
$180.00 |
Example: If you check six (6) items within the size and weight allowances, the total cost for the excess pieces will be $345.00 USD
| DOMESTIC TRAVEL |
|
Number of Pieces |
Fee (USD) per Piece |
|
Item 1 |
Free |
|
Item 2 |
Free |
|
Item 3 |
$80.00 |
|
Item 4 |
$80.00 |
|
Item 5 |
$80.00 |
|
Item 6 |
$105.00 |
|
Total Cost |
$345.00 |
Excess luggage fees apply, in addition to any applicable overweight or oversized fees:
Overweight Luggage Fees
The following applies to luggage exceeding the domestic free luggage allowance weight.
| DOMESTIC TRAVEL |
|
Weight of Luggage |
Fee (USD) per Piece |
|
50 lbs. or less |
Free |
|
51 - 70 lbs. |
$25.00 |
|
71 - 100 lbs. |
$50.00 |
|
Over 100 lbs. |
Not accepted |
Overweight luggage charges apply in addition to any applicable excess or oversized charges.
Oversized Luggage Fees
The following charges apply to luggage exceeding the domestic free luggage allowance size limitation:
| DOMESTIC TRAVEL |
|
Size of Luggage |
Fee (USD) per Piece |
|
62 inches or less |
Free |
|
63 - 160 inches |
$80.00 |
|
Over 160 inches |
Not accepted |
Oversized luggage charges apply in addition to any applicable excess or overweight charges.
Return to top
|
