Flying cheap will soon also mean flying light for many Indonesians after the country’s largest airline, Lion Air, and its subsidiary, Wings Air, decided to start charging for checked baggage on all their domestic flights from today. The airlines, which together served around half of the archipelago’s air travelers last year, will only allow one piece of cabin baggage, such as a suitcase of no larger than 40 x 30 x 20 centimeters, weighing less than 7 kilograms, and one personal item, such as reading material, a handbag, or laptop bag.
“Both Lion Air and Wings Air, which will enforce the new regulation until further notice, will no longer accept free checked baggage of up to 20 kilograms and 10 kg, respectively,” Lion Air Group spokesman Danang Mandala Prihantoro said in a statement on Friday.
Checked baggage exceeding 7 kg will be subject to an excess baggage fee based on the rate for the day. Carriers will further no longer allow passengers to bring several items tied together with rope or string into the cabin as these will also be subject to additional fees.
Passengers will be able to purchase prepaid baggage vouchers through tour and travel agencies, the airlines’ websites, or at their ticket sales offices.
The carriers have advised passengers to prepay for baggage when they buy their tickets, or alternatively, pay for it up to six hours before departure.
Power banks with capacities of more than 160 watt-hours (Wh), or 32,000 milliamp-hours (mAh), will no longer be allowed on aircraft, while those with capacities of between 100 and 160 Wh will require special permission by airline staff.
Passengers will still be permitted to take power banks with a maximum capacity of 100 Wh into the cabin after notifying the ground crew. However, these may no longer be used onboard.
Passengers who have purchased Lion Air and Wings Air tickets before Jan. 8 would still able to enjoy the respective 20 kg and 10 kg free baggage allowances.