Flying with an odd-shaped bag on Iberia could land you with a £125 charge
February 13, 2026
Iberia has introduced stricter rules for irregularly shaped luggage, with charges that can reach £125 on long-haul routes. The policy targets bags that are not rigid, rectangular, or “proportionally sized,” including soft or rounded items.
The new baggage policy means travellers heading to Spain in 2026 may face higher overall trip costs as stricter enforcement of baggage rules comes into effect.
What counts as an “irregular” bag on Iberia?
Iberia defines irregular baggage as items whose “shape, material, or dimensions may interfere with the airport’s automated systems,” such as “soft bags, plastic-wrapped packages, round or oval items, or non‑rigid packaging.”
These items are assessed at a designated check-in counter at the airport and may be refused or subject to an additional fee. In some cases, the airline warns that the irregular bag “may not travel on the same flight as the passenger and could be transported in a special hold or on a later flight.”
How much Iberia passengers could be charged for odd-sized bags
The airline’s irregular bag fees vary by route and depend on whether the flight is direct or involves a connection:
- Direct domestic flights €35/$45/£35
- Connecting domestic flights €40/$50/£35
- Direct flights to/from the Canary Islands, Europe or Africa €60/$75/£55
- Connecting flights to/from the Canary Islands, Europe or Africa €70/$80/£65
- Direct long-haul flights to/from the Americas and Asia €125/$150/£110
- Connecting long-haul flights to/from the Americas and Asia €140/$165/£125
Irregular bag charges are in addition to standard baggage fees, which are included in fares or added to the airfare, depending on the type of booking.
Iberia defends odd baggage fee as standard industry practice
Iberia has defended the introduction of irregular baggage fees, stating that they align with industry-standard practice. The Independent quotes an airline spokesperson as saying,
“Many carriers apply supplementary fees for oversized or irregularly shaped baggage to reflect the extra resources and care involved. It is also important to note that, even with the introduction of this special baggage fee, Iberia’s pricing for irregular items remains well below the industry average for comparable services.”
However, while many airlines have published fees for oversized or overweight baggage, and may charge extra for sports equipment and musical instruments that are irregularly sized, Spain’s airline is unique in publishing new fees for oddly shaped and soft baggage.
What Iberia’s standard baggage rules still allow
Iberia baggage allowances vary by travel class and loyalty status.
- Cabin baggage limit is 56 × 40 × 25 cm and up to 10 kg in economy (up to 14 kg in business class).
- Passengers may carry one additional personal item on board, no larger than 30 × 40 × 15 cm.
- Checked baggage is typically capped at 23 kg (max 32 kg), with excess weight fees varying by region (fixed at €75/$100/£65 for flights to and from the US, Mexico and Canada; ranging from €12 to €15 per kilo for other international and domestic flights).
- Airline loyalty program members and business class passengers may be eligible for free overweight baggage.
- The maximum standard checked baggage linear dimension (height + width + length) is 158 cm.
How Iberia’s odd-sized bag fees fit into Spain’s airline hand baggage fee battles
Iberia’s new irregular bag fees raise questions amid regulations that have pitted consumer rights against airline ancillary revenue strategies in Europe.
Spain has taken one of Europe’s toughest positions on airline baggage charges, arguing that standard cabin luggage is a basic part of air travel rather than an optional extra. Under Spain’s Air Navigation Law and consumer-protection rulings, reasonably sized hand baggage should be included in the ticket price.
Authorities have fined several low-cost airlines (including Ryanair, Norwegian, Vueling, and Volotea) a combined €179 million ($213 million / £156 million) for charging passengers to bring cabin bags on board. Airlines have challenged those penalties in court and won temporary suspensions that allow current baggage policies to remain in effect while appeals proceed.
The dispute has also reached Brussels. The European Commission says Spain’s crackdown may breach EU rules that allow airlines to set prices for ancillary services, including baggage. The Commission has given Spain time to respond to its findings and may raise the dispute to the European Court of Justice.
For travellers, the result is confusion. While Spain pushes for stronger passenger rights, EU law still largely permits à la carte airline fees. Iberia’s introduction of a new fee scheme for irregularly shaped checked bags adds another layer of uncertainty about what passengers can and cannot bring to the airport when they fly.
Featured Image: kamilpetran / stock.adobe.com
