Cathay Pacific baggage allowance and rules

Last checked: 7/14/2026 IATA: CX ICAO: CPA

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Not a binding baggage approval: fare, route, aircraft or operating carrier can vary. Check the linked official sources before booking and departure.

Carry-on for the overhead bin

Depends on fare or booking option

Dimensions H×W×D
No published limit
Weight
No published limit
  • Cathay directs passengers to the baggage calculator and their ticket for the applicable cabin allowance; route, cabin and operating carrier can change it.
  • No single universal size or weight is shown before those trip details are resolved, so no general value is stated here.
Will my bag fit?Compare your bag's dimensions and weight with the airline figures

Enter the finished outside measurements of your packed bag. This compares numbers only and is not a baggage approval; fare, route, aircraft and operating-carrier conditions still apply.

Your bag dimensions
Your bag weight

Source for this section: Baggage calculator

Personal item

Depends on fare or booking option

  • The reviewed calculator does not publish a separate universal personal-item limit before itinerary details are selected.
  • Check the ticket and calculator for the exact cabin allowance, especially when another airline operates a sector.

Source for this section: Baggage calculator

Checked baggage

  • The free checked allowance is shown on the ticket, in Manage Booking or in Cathay's calculator and depends on route, travel class or fare.
  • Some tickets use a piece allowance and others a weight allowance; partner-marketed or partner-operated sectors may follow different carrier rules.

Source for this section: Baggage calculator

Overweight & excess baggage

  • Extra-baggage prices depend on the route zones and whether the ticket uses a piece or weight system.
  • For piece-based Economy and Premium Economy, an additional piece may weigh up to 23 kg/50 lb; First and Business allow up to 32 kg/70 lb.
  • Published size and acceptance limits are 158 cm/62 in before oversize treatment and 203 cm/80 in maximum, with advance contact required for oversized or overweight bags.

Source for this section: Extra baggage charges

Liquids in carry-on

Varies

  • The standard published cabin rule is containers no larger than 100 ml in one transparent resealable bag of up to 1 litre per passenger.
  • Medicines, baby food and expressed breast milk can exceed 100 ml when needed for the trip and presented for screening; route-specific airport rules and direct-flight exceptions can differ.

Source for this section: Liquids, aerosols, gels and powders

Pets

Pet transport

Varies

Ordinary pets travel through the Cathay Live Animal cargo service rather than in the passenger cabin; since September 2025, direct cargo bookings are accepted only through specified qualified animal-transport parties.

More details
  • Trained guide or assistance dogs may be accepted in the cabin, while species, breed, season, route and departure, arrival or transit law can limit carriage.

Source for this section: Travelling with animals

Special baggage

Sports equipment

Varies

Sports equipment can form part of the checked allowance under Cathay's piece system, with the standard weight limit for each item.

More details
  • The published maximum accepted length is 203 cm; bicycles, firearms and avalanche backpacks have additional packing or pre-booking requirements, and rules change with the route and allowance system.

Source for this section: Sports equipment

Musical instruments

Varies

An instrument in a protective hard case may travel as cabin baggage, checked baggage or on a purchased seat.

More details
  • A carry-on instrument is limited to 7 kg/15 lb and 93 × 39 × 24 cm/36 × 15 × 9 in including the case; a seat-mounted instrument is limited to 32 kg/70 lb and 136 × 48 × 44 cm/54 × 19 × 17 in, and its seat must be arranged at least three working days before travel.

Source for this section: Musical instruments

Medical equipment

Allowed

Manual and battery-powered wheelchairs are accepted for passengers with disabilities without a transport charge, subject to battery documentation, stowage and safety rules.

More details
  • Canes, crutches and safely stowable walking frames may travel in the cabin; non-collapsible frames must be checked, and advance contact is recommended for assistance or equipment arrangements.

Source for this section: Mobility assistance

Allowance and acceptance can change when another carrier operates a flight.

Prohibited items in the cabin

  • Stunning and electroshock devices
  • Explosives and incendiary substances
  • Flammable gases, liquids and solids
  • Oxidising, poisonous and corrosive substances
  • Radioactive, biological and chemical hazardous materials
  • This is a selected all-baggage summary, not the complete controlled-items list.
  • Sharp objects, tools and blunt instruments are checked-baggage-only rather than universally banned; Hong Kong and other destinations also impose separate import and transit prohibitions.

Source for this section: Banned items

Official source

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