Flights coming into the United States typically have a maximum, cumulative weight limit of 44 pounds. Only two bags are allowed per passenger, and as the luggage items and weight increases, so do the surcharges. By comparison, domestic airlines allow up to 50 pounds per item before a surcharge, as of 2010.
The cost of baggage transit depends on the airline and the length of travel. For example, as of 2010, a British Airways customer traveling to the United States on an economy fare gets one free checked in bag. However, if that same person travels to Brazil, he may have two free checked in bags.
Some airlines, such as Air France, charge tiered amounts for shipping luggage, based on which kind of ticket you purchased. For example, an economy traveler on Air France departing from New York to Algiers may have one 50-pound piece of luggage (as of 2010). Alternatively, a first-class traveler may have three 50-pound bags.
