Thai Airways’ strict new luggage rules start next week

Thai Airways is making sweeping changes to the luggage allowance for every passenger, from first class – which remains on a handful of Thai 777s – to business class and all the way through to the lowest-price economy ticket.

The Star Alliance member’s current luggage allowance is based on the weight of each passenger’s bags.

But from 2 March 2026, Thai will move to counting the number of checked bags per passenger – although there are still maximum weight limits, of course.

Frequent flyers will enjoy a more generous allowance, with complimentary baggage above the standard allocation.

Thai says the decision has been made “to enhance the travel experience and elevate service standards in line with leading global airlines,” given that most international airlines also use the ‘per-piece’ system.

Thai’s new baggage rules explained

At launch, the new baggage rules apply to all domestic routes within Thailand, along with flights to and from Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, with “additional routes” to follow.

On flights within Thailand, every passenger will be entitled to one checked bag, at up to 32kg in Royal Silk business class and 23kg in economy.

Here are the additional status-based luggage allowances for frequent flyers in Thai’s Royal Orchard Plus program and their Star Alliance equivalents on domestic Thai Airways flights.

Also read: New Thai A321neo business class

The new baggage allowance rules for international Thai Airways flights are more heavily built around the class of travel:

• Royal first class – three pieces of luggage at 32kg per piece (points-based redemptions will see this trimmed back to two bags at 32kg each)
• Royal Silk business class (including points redemptions) – two pieces of luggage at 32kg per piece
• Premium Economy Plus – two pieces of luggage at 32kg per piece
• Premium Economy – two pieces of luggage at 23kg per piece
• Economy - two bags at 23kg each on Full and Flex tickets, or one bag at 23kg for Standard, Saver or points-based tickets

Also read: Thai’s Premium Economy Plus seats are lie-flat beds!

Here are the additional status-based luggage allowances for frequent flyers in Thai’s Royal Orchard Plus program and their Star Alliance equivalents on international Thai Airways flights.

In all cases, the airline says that checked bags “must not exceed a total linear dimension of 158 cm (62 inches).”

For those unfamiliar with the linear dimension measurement, it’s simply the sum of the bag’s length, width and height (or depth).

Also read: Thailand’s new compensation law for delayed, cancelled flights