China Eastern Airlines Carry-on & Personal Item & Checked Bag Rules 2026
China Eastern Airlines economy passengers get one carry on bag measuring up to 55 x 40 x 20 centimetres or 22 x 16 x 8 inches with a weight limit of 8 kilograms on domestic flights, plus one small personal item. Domestic routes use the weight based baggage system with 20 kilograms of free checked baggage in economy class, while most international routes use the piece based system where standard economy passengers get two free checked bags weighing up to 23 kilograms each with a maximum linear size of 158 centimetres or 62 inches per bag.
Published on July 7, 2026 · Last verified on July 10, 2026 by Luggage Validator
7/10
China Eastern Airlines Baggage Policy Strictness
Strict
Overview
Standard baggage allowance for your selected route and fare class. All dimensions include wheels and handles.
Carry-on Bag
55 × 40 × 20 cm (22 × 16 × 8 in)
Overhead bin · 8 kg (18 lbs)
Personal Item
Under seat
No official size · Must fit under seat ·Not specified
Checked Baggage
Not specified
20 kg (44 lbs) free total
Max per piece: 50 kg (110 lbs)
Free Special Items
Items you can bring for free that do not count toward your standard baggage allowance on China Eastern Airlines.
Coat or jacket
Umbrella
Collapsible infant stroller
One per infant, can be checked in for free
Mobility aids and assistive devices
For passengers with disabilities
Duty free items
Purchased at the airport on the day of travel
Standard Economy Allowance
Quick reference for your selected route type. See below for full cabin class comparison.
| Baggage Type | Free | Max Size | Weight Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on Bag Overhead bin · per piece | 1 pc | 55×40×20cm 22×16×8in | 8 kg 18 lbs |
| Personal Item Under seat · per piece | 1 pc | Must fit under seat | Not specified |
| Checked Baggage Cargo hold · weight system | 20 kg 44 lbs | - | 50 kg 110 lbs |
Full Cabin Class Comparison
Compare allowances across all fare types and cabin classes for your selected route.
| Item | Basic Economy | Standard Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Item Under seat | 1 pc | 1 pc | 1 pc | 1 pc | 1 pc |
| Personal Item Size L × W × H | Must fit under seat | Must fit under seat | Must fit under seat | Must fit under seat | Must fit under seat |
| Carry-on Pieces Overhead bin access | 1 pc | 1 pc | 1 pc | 2 pc | 2 pc |
| Carry-on Size L × W × H | 55×40×20cm 22×16×8in | 55×40×20cm 22×16×8in | 55×40×20cm 22×16×8in | 55×40×20cm 22×16×8in | 55×40×20cm 22×16×8in |
| Carry-on Weight Per piece | 8 kg 18 lbs | 8 kg 18 lbs | 8 kg 18 lbs | 8 kg 18 lbs | 10 kg 22 lbs |
| Free Checked Bags Total weight | 20 kg 44 lbs | 20 kg 44 lbs | 20 kg 44 lbs | 30 kg 66 lbs | 40 kg 88 lbs |
| Checked Bag Size Max per piece | - | - | - | - | - |
| Checked Bag Weight Per piece max | 50 kg 110 lbs | 50 kg 110 lbs | 50 kg 110 lbs | 50 kg 110 lbs | 50 kg 110 lbs |
Recent Traveller Feedback
Took China Eastern from Shanghai to Beijing and was glad I remembered that domestic flights use the weight based system instead of piece system, so economy class passengers get 20 kilograms of free checked baggage total which is plenty for a short business trip as long as you do not overpack.
Got caught out at Shanghai Pudong airport because my carry on suitcase weighed about 10 kilograms and China Eastern only allows 8 kilograms for economy class passengers on domestic routes, so I had to pay around three hundred yuan extra to check it in at the gate which was way more than I expected.
300 CNY
Flew China Eastern from Shanghai to Los Angeles and really liked that the international flight uses the piece based baggage system, so standard economy passengers get two free checked bags weighing up to 23 kilograms each which is way more generous than the domestic weight allowance and perfect for longer trips.
Went through security at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport before my China Eastern domestic flight to Guangzhou and the standard 100 millilitre liquid rule applied just like everywhere else, so I kept all my toiletries in a clear plastic bag and everything passed through the security checkpoint completely smoothly with no delays at all.
Common Luggage Compatibility
Based on China Eastern Airlines · Economy class · Domestic routes. Compare luggage compatibility across all fare types and cabin classes using the filters above.
| Luggage | Personal Item | Carry-on | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
Regular Backpack | Must fit under seat | OK | OK (20kg total) |
16" Under-seat Briefcase | Must fit under seat | OK | OK (20kg total) |
18" Cabin Suitcase | Must fit under seat | OK | OK (20kg total) |
Standard 20" Carry-on | Too large for under seat | OK | OK (20kg total) |
22" North American Carry-on | Too large for under seat | Over Limit | OK (20kg total) |
24" Medium Checked Suitcase | Too large for under seat | Over Limit | OK (20kg total) |
26" Mid-size Checked Suitcase | Too large for under seat | Over Limit | OK (20kg total) |
28" Large Checked Suitcase (IATA Standard) | Too large for under seat | Over Limit | OK (20kg total) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How strict is China Eastern with carry-on baggage size and weight?
China Eastern can be fairly strict about carry on baggage limits especially at busy airports like Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao, and staff at the check in counter or boarding gate may ask you to place your bag on the scale if it looks heavier than it should be.
Your carry on bag must fit within 55 x 40 x 20 centimetres or 22 x 16 x 8 inches including wheels, handles and side pockets, and this size is standard across all cabin classes on domestic China Eastern flights.
Economy and Premium Economy passengers can bring one carry on bag weighing up to 8 kilograms, Business Class passengers get two carry on bags at 8 kilograms each, and First Class passengers get two bags with a higher 10 kilogram limit per piece.
If your carry on clearly exceeds the allowed size or weight China Eastern may require you to check it in before boarding and you could be charged an extra fee, so it is always worth weighing your bag at home before you leave for the airport.
Can I bring a backpack or personal item on China Eastern?
Yes, every passenger on China Eastern is allowed one small personal item in addition to their regular carry on bag allowance no matter which travel class they are flying in, and this item has to fit completely under the seat in front of you during the flight.
Common examples include a handbag, briefcase, laptop bag, camera bag or small backpack, and larger backpacks may be counted as your main carry on bag instead if they are too big to go under the seat.
China Eastern does not publish a strict separate size chart for personal items on its English website, so the safest approach is to choose a reasonably small bag that obviously fits under the seat and save the larger overhead locker space for your main cabin suitcase.
How much free checked baggage do I get on domestic China Eastern flights?
China Eastern uses the weight based baggage system on all domestic routes within China, which means there is no fixed number of bags and instead you get a total weight allowance that you can split across as many suitcases as you need.
Economy class and Premium Economy passengers get 20 kilograms of free checked baggage in total, Business Class passengers get 30 kilograms, and First Class passengers get the most generous allowance at 40 kilograms per person.
Each individual checked bag on domestic flights should not weigh more than 50 kilograms for safety and handling reasons, and most travellers find the 20 kilogram economy allowance perfectly adequate for short trips or business travel within China.
How many free checked bags do I get on international China Eastern flights?
Most international China Eastern routes use the piece based baggage system instead of the weight system, and the exact number of free checked bags depends on your fare type and which part of the world you are flying to.
Standard economy fares normally include two free checked bags weighing up to 23 kilograms each on longer routes to North America, Africa and Oceania, while some shorter regional routes in Asia or Europe only include one free bag or even zero bags on the cheapest Basic economy fares.
Premium Economy passengers get two free bags on most international routes, Business Class gets two bags at 32 kilograms each, and First Class passengers get either two or three bags depending on the destination with the same 32 kilogram per piece weight limit.
Every checked bag on international flights must stay within 158 centimetres or 62 inches in total linear dimensions, which is the standard international size used by most full service airlines worldwide.
What is the difference between Basic and Standard economy baggage on China Eastern?
The biggest difference is that Basic economy fares often include fewer or zero free checked bags especially on international routes, while Standard economy fares normally include the full regular baggage allowance for that particular route.
The carry on baggage allowance is exactly the same for both Basic and Standard economy tickets, with one cabin bag of up to 8 kilograms plus one personal item included free of charge for every passenger.
If you are only travelling with hand luggage then a Basic economy fare can be excellent value and save you quite a lot of money, but if you definitely need to check a suitcase it is always worth comparing the total price because upgrading to Standard might work out cheaper than paying for baggage separately afterwards.
All baggage rules on this page are from the official China Eastern Airlines website. Last updated July 10, 2026. Before you fly, please check the official site again to make sure nothing has changed.
Help keep this data accurate. If you spot outdated baggage rules or have recent experience flying with China Eastern Airlines contribute your update