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Pre-pay baggage fees during nwa.com check-in or at a self-service kiosk by selecting the number of bags you will be checking and providing a credit card. Your credit card will be charged at the airport baggage drop when your baggage tags are printed. If necessary, you can change the number of checked bags at an airport kiosk before your baggage tags are printed.
Effective for tickets purchased on or after July 16, 2009, for travel on or after August 4, 2009, customers who check in and pay bag fees at an airport kiosk or with an agent will incur a $5 surcharge for the first and second checked bags. Customers who check in and pre-pay bag fees on nwa.com or delta.com will not incur this surcharge.
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Claiming Your Checked Baggage
You will be able to retrieve your checked baggage from the Baggage Claim area of the airport. In larger airports, Northwest posts the flight number, the flight's origination city and the baggage carousel number on a terminal screen located in the Baggage Claim area. Baggage is generally available at the carousel approximately 15 minutes after the flight's arrival time. Since many styles of baggage are quite similar, we recommend that you inspect your baggage closely to make sure you claim your own items.
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Baggage Allowance
The baggage allowance is the maximum number, size and weight of bags that each customer is allowed. We have based this allowance on many variables that influence the maximum capacity of baggage on an aircraft. These variables include size of aircraft cargo compartments, dimensions of the doors, fuel requirements, typical number of passengers on board, and government regulations. Baggage will be weighed and measured to ensure that it meets the dimensional requirements under the allowance.
As a result, Northwest has established a standard baggage allowance that applies to all flights.
Checked Baggage Weight and Measurement
Baggage is measured by adding length, width and height to determine the total number of linear inches/centimeters.
Note: If you are flying on a codeshare partner, please check with the operating carrier for maximum acceptance rules as they may vary.
* Customers checking bags to a destination in Europe and beyond on KLM must request space for baggage in excess of the free allowance. Please call Reservations at 1-800-225-2525. Provide the agent with your confirmation number and the total number of pieces to be checked through to your final destination. You must provide the dimensions (length x width x height), weight and contents.
* Bags checked to or through Europe or with a connection to Continental Airlines cannot exceed 70 pounds (32 kg).
Checked Baggage Allowance
+Effective for tickets purchased on or after July 16, 2009, for travel on or after August 4, 2009, customers who check in and pay bag fees at an airport kiosk or with an agent will incur a $5 surcharge for the first and second checked bags. Customers who check in and prepay bag fees on nwa.com or delta.com will not incur this $5 surcharge.
For tickets purchased on or after September 19, 2009 for travel on or after October 13, 2009
Travel within the US or to/from Canada, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin IslandsCoach Class Travel
WorldPerks Elite and SkyMiles Medallion members All other customersFirst Class Travel
Number of checked bags and fee per bag (USD) up to 3 bags: freeCoach Class Travel
WorldPerks Elite and SkyMiles Medallion members All other customersBusinessElite and Full Coach (Y) Fare Travel
Number of checked bags and fee per bag (USD) up to 3 bags: free70 lbs/32 kg;
62 linear in/158 cm
70 lbs/32 kg;
62 linear in/158 cm
*For Coach Class travel, Checked bags within the allowance that weigh more than 50 lbs but less than 70 lbs will be assessed a $150 Heavy Bag Fee. WorldPerks Elite and SkyMiles Medallion members are exempt from this fee.
Travel between the U.S./Canada/Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands and Mexico, Caribbean, Central/South America (excluding Brazil)Coach Class Travel
WorldPerks Elite and SkyMiles Medallion members All other customersBusinessElite and Full Coach (Y) Fare Travel
Number of checked bags and fee per bag (USD) up to 3 bags: free70 lbs/32 kg;
62 linear in/158 cm
70 lbs/32 kg;
62 linear in/158 cm
*For Coach Class travel, Checked bags within the allowance that weigh more than 50 lbs but less than 70 lbs will be assessed a $150 Heavy Bag Fee. WorldPerks Elite and SkyMiles Medallion members are exempt from this fee.
+Customers who check in and pay bag fees at an airport kiosk or with an agent will incur a $5 surcharge for the second checked bag, for a total second checked bag fee of $30
Coach Class Travel
WorldPerks Elite and SkyMiles Medallion members All other customersBusinessElite and Full Coach (Y) Fare Travel
Number of checked bags and fee per bag (USD) up to 2 bags1: free170 lbs/32 kg;
62 linear in/158 cm
2 lbs/18 kg;
45 linear in/115 cm
170 lbs/32 kg;
62 linear in/158 cm
240 lbs/18 kg;
45 linear in/115 cm
International Travel - with origin and destination outside United States / Canada
For travel with an origin and destination outside the U.S./Canada (i.e. within Asia or within Europe), the weight concept applies. The weight concept allows a maximum weight for baggage, per person, that can be checked free of charge. The free weight applies to the total weight of all bags checked by an individual.
For travel wholly within or between Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the maximum checked baggage weight limitation is:
Items that weigh more than 70 pounds (32 kg) must be shipped as cargo using a known shipper/freight forwarder, or repacked to comply with baggage requirements.
The weight concept does not apply to those traveling between the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Europe when making a stop between your origin and final destination. Please refer to the baggage chart above for travel between the U.S./Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands and Europe.
Additional Checked Allowance Items
The following items will be accepted in addition to the checked baggage allowance at no charge:
For information on charges for checking baggage that exceeds the allowance, please refer to the chart below.
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Excess, Overweight & Oversized Baggage and Applicable Fees
Northwest realizes that at times it may be necessary to travel with an item that exceeds the size or weight limitations or to travel with additional pieces of baggage. Additional charges apply in these situations.
All charges are calculated on a one-way basis and are collected at the airport ticket counter. Code-share passengers will be charged as though they were traveling on one airline (fees will be that of the boarding carrier). Military Baggage is subject to different charges when overweight (see Military Baggage for details). Certain items of sports equipment may be subject to different charges when oversized (see Sports Equipment for details).
Overweight Baggage Fees
International: The following charges apply to baggage exceeding the international free baggage allowance weight:
For tickets purchased on or after June 27 for travel on or after July 1, 2009
Coach Class Travel between the U.S. and EuropeFor tickets purchased prior to June 27, 2009
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL*Up to 100 pounds is accepted for Trans-Pacific travel for a fee of $450 USD/CAD/EUR each way.
Domestic: The following charges apply to baggage exceeding the domestic allowance weight:
DOMESTIC TRAVELOverweight baggage charges apply in addition to any applicable excess or oversized charges.
Oversized Baggage Fees
International: The following charges apply to baggage exceeding the International allowance size limitation:
Domestic: The following charges apply to baggage exceeding the Domestic allowance size limitation:
DOMESTIC TRAVELOversized baggage charges apply in addition to any applicable excess or overweight charges.
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