Carry-On Allowance: 1 Bag + 1 Personal Item
Each passenger is allowed to carry on one bag and one personal item. All carry-on luggage must fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you and adhere to the following requirements:
- Maximum Dimensions of Carry-on Luggage: 45 linear in/115 cm (length + width + height)*
- Maximum Weight of Carry-on Luggage: 40 lb/18 kg
- one small personal article such as a briefcase, purse, day planner, small laptop computer, camera case, compact disk player or similar sized personal entertainment item.
- personal aid devices such as wheelchairs, braces, canes, crutches, prosthetic devices and walking sticks, provided passenger is dependent on them.
- one infant article such as a small collapsible stroller, a diaper bag or a government approved child seat (larger strollers can be checked in the jetway prior to boarding the aircraft).
- full-size video game consoles (for example Playstation®, X-box®, or Nintendo®), full-size DVD players, and video cameras that use video cassettes (must be removed from carrying cases and submitted separately for x-ray screening).
- CPAP breathing machines (must be removed from carrying case and submitted separately for x-ray screening).
*Passengers traveling to/from India and certain UK airports have further carry-on restrictions. See continental.com for official and up-to-date baggage restrictions.
REMINDER: Bulkhead seats do not have underseat storage during takeoff and landing. Read Bulkheads Explained
Checked Baggage Information:
Economy Passengers traveling within the U.S., or to/from Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Canada:
- First checked bag: $25 if paid at airport / $23 if pre-paid online
- Second checked bag: $35 if paid at airport / $32 if pre-paid online
Economy Passengers traveling between United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Canada and Mexico, Central America, and Caribbean:
- First checked bag: free
- Second checked bag: $30 if paid at airport / $27 if pre-paid online
Economy Passengers traveling between United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Canada and Europe:
- First checked bag: free
- Second checked bag: $50 if paid at airport / $45 if pre-paid online
Size restrictions:
- Maximum Dimensions: 62 linear inches/157 cm (length + width + height)
- Maximum Weight: 50 lb/23 kg
Who is exempt from first and second checked bag fees?
- OnePass Silver Elite members and Star Alliance Silver members*
- OnePass Platinum and Gold Elite members and Star Alliance Gold members*
- First Class, International Business, and Latin Business Class customers
- BusinessFirst customers**
- Continental Airlines Chase primary cardmembers will have their first checked-bag fees automatically waived
- Continental Airlines Presidential Plus primary cardmembers will have their first and second checked-bag fees automatically waived
- Any customer traveling on full fare economy class (Y) tickets
- Active U.S. military personnel+
- U.S. military dependents traveling with U.S. military personnel on personal travel++
- U.S. military dependents traveling on official business (with documentation)
Customers traveling with OnePass Elite members or dependents traveling with active U.S. military personnel are also exempt as long as they are traveling in the same reservation. This exemption will not apply to group reservations including 10 or more customers.
Car seats, strollers, and wheelchairs may be checked at no additional cost.
The following destinations will not be charged service fees to check a first or second bag:
- Transatlantic service between the United States and Israel
- Transpacific service between the United States (excluding Hawaii) and Japan and China
- Brazil
*May check two bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height). For tickets purchased on or after October 19, 2009 for travel commencing October 27, 2009, Gold and Platinum Onepass Elite members will be allowed to check 3 bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum of 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) as measured above. Silver Onepass Elite members may check 2 bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum of 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157) as measured above.
** May check three bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height). For tickets purchased on or after October 19, 2009 for travel commencing October 27, 2009, First class customers may check 2 bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum of 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157cm ) as measured above. Ticket must reflect confirmed seat for segment in which customer is checking in.
+ May check three military style duffel bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 115 linear inches (292 cm) (total length + width + height). May check three non-military style bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height).
++May check three bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height)
OnePass Elite Members traveling in economy class
- Free Checked Baggage Allowance: 2 Pieces
- Maximum Dimensions for each bag: 62 linear inches/157 cm (length + width + height)
- Maximum Weight for each bag: 70 lb/32 kg
First Class, BusinessFirst, and International Business Class
- Free Checked Baggage Allowance: 3 Pieces
- Maximum Dimensions for each bag: 62 linear inches/157 cm (length + width + height)
- Maximum Weight for each bag: 70 lb/32 kg
Overweight Baggage Fees for economy passengers*
Fee for any bag weighing 51-70 lb/23-32 kg: $50
Bags weighing more than 70 lb/32 kg will not be accepted.
*Overweight baggage fees are in addition to the checked luggage fees.
Oversize Baggage Fees
Travel to/from Canada, Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Central and South America and the U.S:
- Fee for any bag 62-115 in/157-292 cm (total length + width + height): $100
- Baggage measuring more than 115 linear in/292 cm will not be accepted as checked baggage.
Travel To/From Transatlantic Destinations From USA/Canada:
- Fee for any bag 62-80 in/157-203 cm (total length + width + height): $150
- Fee for any bag 81-112 in/204-292 cm (total length + width + height): $300
- Baggage measuring more than 115 linear in/292 cm will not be accepted as checked baggage.
*Oversize baggage fees are in addition to the checked luggage fees.
Excess Baggage Fees
- Travel to/from Canada, Caribbean, Bahamas, Mexico, Central and South America and the U.S.: $100 per excess piece
- Travel To/From Transatlantic Destinations From USA/Canada: $150 per excess piece
- If your bag exceeds the weight and/or size requirement, then you must also pay an additional fee for overweight or oversized baggage.
Sports Equipment
Some checked items, such as surfboards and bicycles will be charged a fixed handling fee because of size, fragility, or other handling requirements while others may be checked in lieu of one of your checked bags. If you plan to travel with sporting equipment, contact Continental Airlines directly to confirm packing regulations and fees.
Disclaimer
The information on this page is true and correct at the time of publication. Because airlines reserve the right to change policies at any time, see continental.com for official and up-to-date baggage restrictions.
