Which has the bigger carry-on allowance, Lufthansa or SAS?

Lufthansa: 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in), up to 8 kg (17.6 lb). SAS: 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in), up to 8 kg (17.6 lb).

Where do Lufthansa and SAS fly from?

Lufthansa's main hubs are Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC). SAS's are CPH, OSL, ARN. The better pick is often whichever flies nonstop from your airport.

Are Lufthansa and SAS partners?

They aren't in the same alliance (Lufthansa: Star Alliance; SAS: SkyTeam), so miles and status generally don't transfer between them.

LH vs SK · 2026 comparison

Lufthansa vs SAS

Q: Do Lufthansa and SAS include a carry-on on basic economy?

Lufthansa: Economy Basic, on every European route from October 27, 2026, includes only a personal item; you can buy a carry-on online but not at the airport. Long-haul fares start at Economy Light, which keeps the 8 kg carry-on. SAS: Light fares on domestic and European flights include only a personal item; Standard and higher fares, and long-haul fares, include the 8 kg carry-on.

Lufthansa and SAS are closely matched on the things we compare. Here's how they compare on bags, fees, comfort, reliability and loyalty.

Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction

Lufthansa

No clear category wins

SAS

No clear category wins

Quick verdict

Lufthansa and SAS are closely matched on the things we compare. Check the cheapest fare's bag rules before you compare prices.

Carry-on size: Lufthansa: 55 × 40 × 23 cm · SAS: 55 × 40 × 23 cm
Carry-on on the cheapest fare: Lufthansa: Not on some basic fares · SAS: Not on some basic fares

Side by side

	Lufthansa	SAS
Bags
Carry-on size	55 × 40 × 23 cm	55 × 40 × 23 cm
Carry-on on the cheapest fare	Not on some basic fares	Not on some basic fares
Carry-on weight limit	8 kg (17.6 lb)	8 kg (17.6 lb)
Personal item	40 × 30 × 15 cm	40 × 30 × 15 cm
Network
Alliance	Star Alliance	SkyTeam
Loyalty program	Miles & More	EuroBonus
Main hubs	FRA, MUC	CPH, OSL, ARN

Highlighted values are better for travelers. Fees are for U.S. domestic economy flights; on-time data is 2025 U.S. DOT figures for each airline's own flights.

Bags and fees

Both airlines allow a carry-on up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm (21.7 × 15.7 × 9.1 in).

Lufthansa's Economy Basic / Light can be personal-item only, while SAS's Light can be personal-item only.

Carry-on weight limits: 8 kg (17.6 lb) on Lufthansa, 8 kg (17.6 lb) on SAS.

Personal items: 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) on Lufthansa, and 40 × 30 × 15 cm (15.7 × 11.8 × 5.9 in) on SAS.

Basic economy

Lufthansa (Economy Basic / Light): Economy Basic, on every European route from October 27, 2026, includes only a personal item; you can buy a carry-on online but not at the airport. Long-haul fares start at Economy Light, which keeps the 8 kg carry-on.

SAS (Light): Light fares on domestic and European flights include only a personal item; Standard and higher fares, and long-haul fares, include the 8 kg carry-on.

Loyalty and where they fly

Lufthansa is in Star Alliance and SAS is in SkyTeam.

Loyalty programs: Miles & More (Lufthansa) and EuroBonus (SAS).

Lufthansa's main hubs are Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC). SAS's are CPH, OSL, ARN. The best choice often comes down to which airline flies nonstop from your airport.

Which should you book?

Choose Lufthansa if you want…

to earn and use Star Alliance miles and status
nonstops from FRA, MUC

Choose SAS if you want…

to earn and use SkyTeam miles and status
nonstops from CPH, OSL, ARN

On a route both fly, the cheaper ticket isn't always the cheaper trip: add the bags you'll actually bring, and check the fare rules before you book.

Lufthansa vs SAS FAQ

It depends on what matters most to you. Lufthansa and SAS are closely matched on the things we compare. If they fly the same route, compare the total price with bags included.

Keep comparing

Sources

Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Airlines change their rules without notice, so confirm with the airline before you fly.

Read how we collect and check this data, or tell us if something's out of date.

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