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Checked Baggage

Continental Airlines will accept up to two pieces of checked baggage with a maximum weight of 50 pounds (23 kg) and a maximum outside dimension of 62 inches (157 cm) in exchange for the applicable service fees set forth below. Outside dimension of a bag is equal to the width + height + depth of the bag added together. The fees are discounted for bags that are checked and pre-paid at continental.com. You may continue to check your bags at the airport or curbside for a higher fee.

Certain customers are exempt from paying the fees and will be allowed to check bags free of charge (bags must meet weight and size restrictions). These customers include:

The following customers will not be charged service fees to check a first or second bag:

• Silver Elite members*
• Platinum and Gold Elite customers*
• First Class customers**
• BusinessFirst customers**
• Continental Airlines Chase primary cardmembers will have their first checked-bag fees automatically waived
• Continental Airlines Presidential Plus primary cardmembers will have their first and second checked-bag fees automatically waived
• Any customer traveling on full fare economy class (Y) tickets
• Active U.S. military personnel+
• U.S. military dependents traveling with U.S. military personnel on personal travel++
• U.S. military dependents traveling on official business (with documentation)

Customers traveling with OnePass Elite members or dependents traveling with active U.S. military personnel are also exempt as long as they are traveling in the same reservation. This exemption will not apply to group reservations including 10 or more customers.

Learn more about the policy.

*May check two bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height). For tickets purchased on or after October 19, 2009 for travel commencing October 27, 2009, Gold and Platinum Onepass Elite members will be allowed to check 3 bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum of 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) as measured above. Silver Onepass Elite members may check 2 bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum of 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157) as measured above.

** May check three bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height). For tickets purchased on or after October 19, 2009 for travel commencing October 27, 2009, First class customers may check 2 bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum of 50 lbs (23 kg) and 62 linear inches (157cm ) as measured above. Ticket must reflect confirmed seat for segment in which customer is checking in.

+ May check three military style duffel bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 115 linear inches (292 cm) (total length + width + height). May check three non-military style bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height).

++May check three bags at no charge as long as each bag is a maximum 70 lbs (32 kg) and 62 linear inches (157 cm) (total length + width + height)

Checked Baggage Allowance Guidelines

If your baggage does not meet the requirements listed below, please review the Excess Baggage policy.

Fees apply for certain economy fares between the destinations for tickets purchased on or after Oct. 2, 2009 for travel on or after Nov. 1, 2009.

* Customers who purchased tickets on or after July 21, 2009 for travel on or after Aug. 19, 2009 will be charged $15 for their first checked bag and $25 for their second checked bag when prepaying at continental.com.

** Customers who purchased tickets prior to Oct. 2, 2009 will be charged $25 to check bags at continental.com or at the airport or curbside.

+ Fees apply to certain economy fares purchased on or after Nov. 1, 2009 for travel on or after Dec. 8, 2009.

++Fees apply to certain economy fares purchased on or after Nov. 1, 2009 for travel on or after April 1, 2010

Tips for checking Your Baggage in for a Flight

• Continental recommends that you carry valuable items such as electronic equipment, cameras, film, cash, jewelry, medication, prescriptions and keys with you on board the aircraft.

• Boxes are not accepted on Expressjet Airlines, Inc. dba Continental Express ExpressJet destinations to the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico.

• Place your name and address on the outside of your baggage. Nametags are available at all airport baggage check-in locations. We also recommend that you place your name and address on the inside of the bag.

• Be sure to inform us of your final destination if you are connecting, so that your baggage will be checked to your final destination.

• For domestic and international flights (excluding certain flights departing for Guam), baggage will not be accepted for check-in more than 4 hours prior to scheduled flight departure.

• Claim your baggage immediately upon arrival at your destination.

• Baggage will be checked to a customer's final destination or to a permissible stopover for the fare paid, except at some international destinations. Please see check-in baggage for more information.

• Be aware of what items are restricted to be in checked baggage. If you are not sure, review the list of items permitted and prohibited shown on the Transportation Security Administration Web site.

• Allow enough time for your checked baggage to be accepted. See the guidelines below:

  Flights within the 50 U.S. except the following destinations: Atlanta, GA, Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA and Tampa, FL.	Customers must complete baggage check-in at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled departure
  Flights at the following U.S. destinations: Atlanta, GA, Denver, CO; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA and Tampa, FL.	Customers must complete baggage check-in at least 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure
  International Flights to and from the U.S.	Customers must complete baggage check-in at least 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure

How Your Baggage is Checked

When you check your baggage, the airport agent or skycap will put a bag tag on each bag that indicates your name, the flight number(s), and all cities in your ticketed itinerary.

Tip: If you are deviating from your ticketed itinerary, please advise the airport agent or skycap before checking your luggage.

You will be given a numbered claim check for each bag that is checked. These serve as proof of checked baggage. It is important that you keep the claim check(s) until your trip is completed and you have received all of your checked baggage.

Tip: Please check to ensure that the number of claim checks you were given corresponds to the number of bags you checked.

How Your Baggage Travels

From the ticket counter or skycap podium, your baggage is placed on a series of conveyor belts. The conveyor belts transport baggage to a location where bags are loaded into carts according to flight number and destination. In our large airports, automated scanners read the code on the bag tag and direct the bag to the correct loading area. Your bag will go through a series of conveyor belts, chutes, and other mechanisms before reaching the point where it is loaded into a cart and taken out to the aircraft.

Tip: Please remove any straps, hangers, and protruding objects from your bag before checking it. These may get caught in the baggage system and cause damage to your bag. Bags that are bulging or are not sufficiently constructed to support the weight inside may split during the trip through the bag belt system.

All checked baggage is screened by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Refrain from locking your checked baggage or use a TSA Accepted & Recognized Lock. TSA is mandated by Federal law to screen 100% of checked baggage. If your baggage alarms and TSA cannot gain access to your checked bag, unrecognized locks may be broken. TSA will not reimburse passengers for unrecognized locks broken as a result of the security screening process. For more information about the TSA, visit www.tsa.gov.

The baggage is loaded in the cargo compartment of the aircraft, usually using another conveyor belt. Due to the amount of space in the compartment, bags may have to be placed flat and stacked on top of each other. Although the baggage compartments are secured with nets or straps, bags can shift during flight due to the plane's angle during take-off.

Tip: As this is the standard or normal way all bags are transported, breakage or damage to fragile items may be unavoidable. Do not pack fragile items inside your checked baggage.

Note: Baggage allowances for codeshare partners partners, ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. dba Continental Express or another airline may be different. If your flight originates with one of our codeshare partners or another airline you will need to check the operating carrier for baggage policies.