Can I Add Extra Baggage to My TUI Flight? | Fees And Limits

Yes, extra checked baggage can usually be added before departure, but online changes stop once you’ve checked in.

If you’re staring at a half-packed suitcase and wondering whether your TUI booking can stretch a bit more, the answer is usually yes. TUI lets many passengers add extra checked baggage during booking, after booking, or while checking in online. The catch is timing. Once online check-in is done, you can’t keep adjusting your luggage online, and waiting until the airport can cost a lot more.

That timing piece is what trips people up. A lot of travelers assume baggage is fixed the moment they book. It often isn’t. On many TUI Airways bookings, you can add more hold luggage later, either through your booking tools or through TUI’s flight extras system. That gives you room to sort things out after you’ve bought your holiday, which is handy if you start packing and realize those shoes, gifts, or beach extras are not going to fit in the allowance you started with.

This article walks through what usually applies, when you can still add luggage, when the cheaper window closes, and where people often get stung. It also clears up the difference between package holidays, flight-only bookings, and partner-airline flights, because that’s where the fine print starts to matter.

When Extra Baggage Can Be Added

For TUI Airways flights, extra checked baggage can often be added at three points: when you book, after you book, and while you check in online. That’s the broad rule. The right route depends on what type of trip you bought.

If you booked a package holiday with TUI Airways flights, you can usually change your luggage through your booking area before departure. If you booked a flight only fare on TUI Airways, you can often add checked baggage during the booking flow or later through TUI’s extras system. In both cases, TUI says online changes stop once you’ve checked in, so that is the point where your easy options narrow fast.

There’s also a practical point here: extra baggage is not only about buying another suitcase slot. In some cases, it’s about buying more kilos within your allowance. That means you should check whether your booking gives you a weight allowance that can be spread across more than one bag, or whether you’re paying for a set bag allowance on a flight-only fare.

What TUI Means By “Extra Baggage”

People use the phrase in two different ways. One meaning is adding checked baggage when your fare does not already include it. The other is adding more weight to a booking that already comes with hold luggage. TUI deals with both, but the price structure can differ.

That distinction matters at the airport. If your booking already includes checked baggage, excess charges are usually based on extra kilos. If your flight-only booking had no checked luggage added in advance, the airport charge can start with a set fee for a 15kg bag and then rise again for extra kilos beyond that.

Can I Add Extra Baggage to My TUI Flight Before Check-In?

Yes, in many cases that is the easiest time to do it. It’s also the point where you usually get the smoothest process and the better price. TUI states that once you’ve checked in, you can’t change your luggage allowance online. At that stage, you may need to call TUI if a change is still possible, and if you leave it until the airport, excess rates apply.

So if you already know your suitcase is going to run heavy, don’t leave it until the night before. Check your booking area early, see what is already included, and add what you need before online check-in locks things down.

How To Check What You Already Have

Start with your booking confirmation or your TUI booking area. Some trips already include checked luggage. Package holidays with TUI Airways flights often come with at least 20kg per person, and some holiday types come with 25kg. Premium on long-haul TUI Airways flights also bumps the checked baggage allowance to 25kg.

Flight-only bookings work a bit differently. Hand luggage is usually included, but checked luggage may need to be added for a fee. TUI’s luggage allowance page is the clearest starting point if you want to match your booking type to the standard allowance.

What Allowance You May Already Have

Before buying more baggage, check whether you need it at all. TUI includes hold luggage on many package bookings, and some travelers buy extra kilos when they already had enough weight to work with. That’s money gone for no gain.

For many TUI Airways package holidays, at least 20kg of checked baggage per person is included when the flights are with TUI both ways. Certain holiday brands and Premium long-haul bookings can come with 25kg. Under-2s can also get a checked allowance on some package bookings. On the other hand, a flight-only booking may include only cabin baggage unless you pay for checked luggage.

There’s another detail that helps when you are packing as a pair or family: TUI says you can take up to three bags per passenger if checked baggage is included, as long as the total weight stays within your allowance and no single bag goes over the per-bag cap. That can be more useful than buying extra weight if your issue is bag layout rather than total kilos.

Where The Hard Limits Kick In

TUI says no single checked bag can weigh more than 25kg. That matters even if your total allowance is higher. You can’t turn one suitcase into a brick and expect the allowance to cover it. The bag itself still has to stay under the per-bag ceiling.

TUI also says that if checked baggage is included, you can split your allowance across up to three bags per passenger. That gives you some breathing room, but it does not wipe out the 25kg cap on any one bag. If one case is too heavy, you still need to rebalance it.

Booking Type	Typical Included Allowance	What To Check Before Buying More
TUI Airways package holiday	Usually at least 20kg checked baggage per person	See whether your trip already includes hold luggage both ways
TUI BLUE package	Usually 25kg checked baggage per person	Confirm that both flights are on TUI Airways
Sensatori by TUI BLUE	Usually 25kg checked baggage per person	Check your booking confirmation for route details
Holiday Village package	Usually 25kg checked baggage per person	Make sure your allowance applies to your full booking
TUI River Cruises package	Usually 25kg checked baggage per person	Verify that the flights are with TUI Airways both ways
Premium long-haul on TUI Airways	Usually 25kg checked baggage plus cabin allowance	Check whether Premium was added to your booking
Marella Cruise or Cruise & Stay	Usually 20kg checked baggage per person	See whether luggage can be shared across your booking
Flight-only booking	Cabin baggage included; checked baggage may cost extra	See whether you already added hold luggage earlier

How Much Extra Baggage Costs On TUI

This is the part most travelers care about, and the answer depends on when you act. TUI makes it plain that booking baggage online is cheaper than paying at the airport. That alone is enough reason to sort it out before you leave home.

On TUI’s extra luggage page, airport rates for bookings that already include checked baggage, or for flight-only bookings that already added a checked allowance, are listed by extra kilo. For short and mid-haul flights under seven hours, the charge is £14 per extra kilo. For long-haul flights over seven hours, it is £18 per extra kilo.

If you have a flight-only booking and did not add checked baggage in advance, the airport charge starts higher. TUI lists £55 for a 15kg bag on short and mid-haul flights, plus £14 for each extra kilo, and £75 for a 15kg bag on long-haul flights, plus £18 for each extra kilo. TUI also says only one such bag can be added per customer in that airport scenario.

You can check TUI’s current wording on its extra luggage FAQ before travel. Rates can shift by season, so use the booking tools for the live figure on your exact flight.

Why Airport Add-Ons Hurt

Airport baggage charges punish last-minute packing mistakes. A couple of extra kilos may not sound too bad at home. At the check-in desk, those kilos can suddenly turn into a chunky extra cost. That’s why it pays to weigh your bag before you leave for the airport, even if you think you’re close.

The airport also gives you less room to fix things. If the suitcase is too heavy, your choices shrink to repacking at the terminal, paying the excess fee, or trying to squeeze items into your hand luggage while other travelers queue behind you. None of those options feels good.

When You Might Not Need To Buy Extra Weight

Sometimes the smart move is not adding baggage at all. It’s repacking better. If you already have checked luggage included, you may be able to spread the allowance across more than one bag within TUI’s bag-count and per-bag limits. Couples and families often miss this and pay for more kilos when all they needed was better balance between cases.

You should also check what can go in your cabin bag. TUI’s standard hand luggage allowance on many bookings is up to 10kg, plus one small personal item. That can absorb chargers, shoes, a jacket, toiletries in the right format, or other dense items that make a suitcase tip over the scale.

Still, don’t push all the weight into your cabin bag without checking dimensions. A bag that fits the weight limit but fails the size check can become its own airport problem.

Common Packing Moves That Save A Fee

Wear the heaviest shoes and outer layer on the plane. Move books, cables, and power banks into your personal item where allowed. Split toiletries across bags instead of loading one case. If you are traveling with someone else on the same booking, rebalance both suitcases before you add more kilos to just one name.

These small changes can save a baggage purchase or stop a heavy-bag charge at the airport desk. For short trips, they are often enough.

Situation	Likely Best Move	Why It Works
Your package holiday already includes 20kg or 25kg	Check whether the weight can be spread across bags	You may not need to buy more kilos at all
You have not checked in yet	Add baggage online	It is usually cheaper and easier than airport payment
You already checked in online	Try TUI by phone before heading to the airport	Online changes stop after check-in
Your single suitcase is over 25kg	Repack into another bag	TUI says no one checked bag can exceed 25kg
Flight-only booking with no hold bag added	Buy checked baggage before travel	Airport pricing is far steeper
You are only 1 to 2kg over	Shift dense items into cabin or personal item	A small repack can avoid a large fee

Trips Where You Need To Read The Booking Details Closely

The words “TUI flight” can hide more than one setup. Some bookings use TUI Airways throughout. Others involve another airline for one leg or both. Once another carrier is involved, the baggage rules may no longer match the standard TUI Airways setup you saw on the main luggage page.

If your confirmation shows a partner airline, check that carrier’s own baggage rules before you assume anything. TUI itself says that for other airlines, you should use your e-ticket or confirmation email for allowance details. That matters for both your included baggage and any extra baggage you want to add later.

Flight Number Clues

TUI says its Airways flights carry numbers that start with TOM, BY, or OR. That’s a handy clue when you’re skimming your documents. If you see a different code, slow down and check which airline is actually operating the flight before buying extras on the wrong system.

That one detail can spare you a messy airport moment, especially on mixed bookings where travelers assume every leg follows the same baggage rules.

Best Time To Sort Your TUI Baggage

The sweet spot is after booking but before online check-in. By then, you know what kind of trip you have, what your allowance is, and what you still need. You also still have access to the cheaper path. Leave it too late and you lose both price and flexibility.

If you are packing for a longer holiday, weigh your suitcase two or three days before departure. That gives you time to buy more baggage online if you need it. It also stops the classic late-night panic where you start cramming bags and hoping the scale was wrong.

For most travelers, the best rule is simple: check your allowance early, weigh your cases before check-in, and only buy more baggage if repacking won’t solve it. That keeps the process clean and the cost down.