Cathay Pacific's HK Express bans cabin baggage for passengers paying its lowest fares

Cathay Pacific Airways budget airline HK Express is locking the cabin door on carry-on suitcases for its lowest-paying customers as it announced a new baggage policy on Wednesday.

The carrier announced today that the number of fare categories will be increased from two to four, effective immediately, giving travelers more options “according to their travel needs and reduce unnecessary expenses.”

“Our variety of flexible fare options allows customers who prefer traveling light to enjoy more affordable fares, and, if needed, purchase extra allowances for checked baggage and select add-on services.” The carrier noted.

Customers who booked their tickets on or before Tuesday can still enjoy the previous policy’s baggage allowance of up to one small personal item and one piece of cabin baggage with a maximum weight of 7kg.

Under the new baggage policy, the amount of carry-on and checked baggage allocated to passengers will differ between passengers of the four new fare categories: “Ultra Lite”, “Lite”, “Essential” and “Max”.

Passengers flying the cheapest fare - the Ultra Lite option - will only be allowed to bring one small personal item weighing less than 7kg on board. It must also fit under the seat of the passenger in front and not exceed a length of 40cm, width of 25cm or height of 20cm.

For the Lite fare, one extra cabin suitcase will be allowed. Yet the suitcase, along with the one personal item, must not exceed a weight of 7kg.

Moving up to the Essential fare, passengers flying this category can bring on one small personal item weighing no more than 7kg and a piece of checked baggage with a maximum weight of 20kg.

As for the most expensive fare type - Max-fare passengers will be allowed to bring on board one small carry-on item and a cabin suitcase with a total weight of under 7kg, along with one piece of checked baggage weighing 32kg or less.

Speaking at Cathay’s annual general meeting this morning, Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam Siu-por said the move is to address passengers’ expectations that the airline should offer cheaper fares for customers traveling without checked baggage.

He said HK Express is the only low-cost carrier in Hong Kong with a vision to provide the most favorable ticket prices for Hong Kong passengers.

“When it sets its ticket prices, it will take into account the approach of other low-cost carriers in Asia, as well as our passenger needs,” Lam added.

HK Express is a low-cost airline wholly owned by the city's flagship carrier Cathay Pacific Airways.