Arkia Raises Baggage Fees From November 15: What You Will Pay and How to Save

On bookings made after November 15, 2026, a first checked bag on Arkia costs $60 each way when booked ahead, up from $50 today, and $100 at the airport. In return the weight limit rises from 20 kg to 23 kg. A cabin trolley up to 8 kg is not included in the ticket and costs $25 in advance. Most of the saving comes from one step: buying your baggage before you reach the airport.

Arkia's new price list, one way

These are the prices on Arkia's baggage page, for bookings made after November 15, to every destination except the US and the Far East. Airport prices are for airports in Israel and outside Europe.

At EU airports the desk price is in euros: 90 for a first bag, 100 for a second, 110 for a third and 25 for a trolley. During online check-in on the way back from Europe, at airports that offer it, a first bag costs 55 euros, a second 75, a third 90 and a trolley 25.

Three more things to know: excess weight costs $10 per kilo (10 euros in the EU), a trolley over the limits that goes to the hold costs $30, and a small bag up to 40×30×20 cm under the seat stays free.

What does it come to for a family?

The big gap is not between the old price and the new one. It is between booking ahead and paying at the airport. Three round-trip examples at the list's dollar prices, with each passenger buying their own baggage:

For the family of four the gap is $320, just from when they pay. The rise from $50 to $60 adds only $80 for the same family. That is why the column that matters is the airport one.

A trolley-only trip is worth working out too. A passenger with just a trolley pays $50 round trip booked ahead, while a first bag alone costs $120. For a few days away, that $70 is worth a thought.

What will you do with the extra 3 kilos?

The extra weight is real, but it is easy to spend it on the suitcase itself. Our 28 inch models weigh between 3 and 5.5 kg empty, so a heavy case can use up almost the whole gain before you pack a single shirt. If you are buying a new suitcase anyway, check the empty weight first. Our guide to empty suitcase weights helps you compare.

Excess weight or a second bag?

On this list, going up to 7 kg over costs up to $70, less than the $80 for a second bag booked ahead. But if you already know you will pass 23 kg, especially on the way home with shopping, do the sums before the flight and not at the desk. Either way, a single bag cannot go over 32 kg. Here is how to avoid excess weight.

What about flights to the US, the Far East and Thailand?

The new list does not apply to long-haul routes, and Arkia's baggage page treats them separately:

• US, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines: a first bag up to 23 kg and a trolley up to 8 kg are included in the ticket. A second bag costs $110 in advance and $140 at the airport.
• Thailand: a trolley up to 8 kg is included, but since October 11, 2026 a checked bag is not. A first bag up to 23 kg costs $80 in advance and $110 at the airport.

If you are flying to Thailand for a week or two, check whether the included trolley is enough for you. For a family with one bag each, this is the biggest baggage cost.

4 things to do before you fly

1. Buy baggage in advance. On a trolley the gap is $5, on a first bag $40 each way.
2. Planning to book? Do it before November 15. The new list applies to bookings made after that date. Until then a first bag costs $50 in advance, but only up to 20 kg. If 20 kg is enough, that saves you $20 round trip.
3. Measure your trolley with the wheels. 56×45×25 cm goes in the cabin, and going over costs an extra $30. Our 20 inch carry-on suitcases are a good place to start.
4. Weigh at home. Each extra kilo costs $10, and 8 kg in a trolley goes fast. Arkia says you can move excess weight from a trolley into the small bag under your seat at no charge, but not into a plastic bag or another bag. Here is how to weigh a suitcase at home, even without a luggage scale.

Travelling light? Our guide to flying with just a trolley and a backpack shows how it works in practice.

Which suitcase makes the most sense now?

A trolley is limited to 8 kg, so every gram of suitcase is a gram less of your things. The Swiss System 20 inch weighs 2.2 kg and measures 55×36×21 cm, which leaves you 5.8 kg to pack. For a checked bag, the Swiss System 28 inch weighs 3 kg and holds 91 liters. If you prefer 24 inch, the Swiss System 24 weighs 2.6 kg.

The sum is simple: between a 3 kg and a 5.5 kg suitcase in the 28 inch size there are 2.5 kg of packing. If you always land right on the limit, that is worth $25 each way on the new list. Remember too that the 23 kg limit is per bag, so a huge suitcase does not give you more, just more room to fill with heavy things.

Sources: Arkia's baggage policy page, checked November 1, 2026, and the report by Mani Hertz on ice. On Thailand the report says the opposite (bag included, trolley $80); here we follow Arkia's page.