Travellers may be hit with extra fees
Holidaymakers travelling with a major airline could be in for a shock as the carrier has tightened its baggage rules, imposing extra charges on luggage deemed to be the wrong shape.
IAG-owned airline Iberia has alerted travel agents about passengers arriving at check-in with soft, round or non-rigid luggage. This means travellers could now face additional fees ranging from €35 (£35) to €140 (£125), and in some instances, their bags may be rejected outright.
Iberia’s new policy applies to any luggage whose shape, material or dimensions could disrupt automated airport systems. This includes soft holdalls, plastic-wrapped packages, oval or circular bags, and other non-rigid items. In advice distributed to agencies, the airline cautions that such luggage may be turned away for operational or safety reasons. Even if accepted, it could be transported on a later flight, separate from the passenger.
Brits planning summer getaways will feel the pinch as Iberia operates flights from several UK airports, including seasonal services during the peak summer period.
The airline’s UK network comprises:
- London Heathrow (LHR): Iberia’s main UK hub, offering year-round scheduled services to Madrid with onward connections worldwide.
- London Gatwick (LGW): Seasonal summer routes to Madrid form part of the carrier’s warmer-month timetable.
- Manchester Airport (MAN): Iberia Express runs services to Madrid, though summer capacity has been scaled back with flights currently scheduled only until September 2026.
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI): Features on Iberia’s UK network, linking Scotland with Madrid and beyond, especially during the peak summer months.
These Madrid connections provide UK travellers with access to popular Spanish destinations – including Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, Barcelona and the Canary Islands – plus long-haul routes via a single stop.
How much passengers will pay
According to Iberia’s official terms, luggage that may disrupt automated airport handling systems due to its shape, material or size will incur the following additional charges per journey (origin to destination):.
Standard single-leg flights:
- Domestic (excluding Canary Islands): €35 / £35.
- Canary Islands / Europe / Africa: €60 / £55.
- America / Asia long-haul: €125 / £110.
These fees come on top of your standard checked-baggage allowance – meaning even if your fare includes hold luggage, you’ll face an extra charge if Iberia classes your bag as “irregular”. Crucially, Iberia cautions that airport personnel will ultimately determine whether to accept irregular baggage, and the carrier may reject it completely for safety or operational considerations, or place it on a subsequent flight at its own judgement.
Iberia states the measures are essential because irregularly shaped items can obstruct conveyor belts and automated baggage systems, which are engineered to process rigid, rectangular cases.
“To ensure safe transport and minimise incidents,” the airline advises passengers to use “rigid, rectangular or stable suitcases.”
Significantly, Iberia emphasises that even paying the charge does not guarantee acceptance. Airport personnel will determine whether irregular baggage can be checked in – and the carrier retains the authority to decline it completely if it considers there is a safety or operational hazard.
In “exceptional cases”, Iberia warns that such items may not travel on the same service as the passenger, instead being transported in a special hold or dispatched later. The airline already levies fees for so-called special baggage, including sports kit and musical instruments.
Golf clubs, skis and fishing gear typically cost €30–€40 (£26–£34) when booked online, rising to €60–€66 (£52–£57) at the airport. Bicycles and surfboards command higher prices, but musical instruments are the costliest of all, with charges ranging from €150 to €330 (£130 to £285) per item, depending on the route. These must be checked in at the airport.
Firearms, typically used in shooting competitions, can also be transported for a fee ranging from €75 to €105 (£65 to £90), with armed officers directly handling them at airport terminals. Iberia is part of the International Airlines Group (IAG) portfolio, which also includes British Airways, Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL.
Although the new surcharge is currently exclusive to Iberia, it mirrors a wider trend within the aviation industry – and specifically within IAG – of airlines enforcing stricter baggage regulations and capitalising on any items that exceed the prescribed size and shape constraints.
