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Checked baggage refers to items of baggage delivered to an airline for transportation in the hold of an aircraft, which means it is inaccessible to the passenger during the flight.

This baggage is limited by airlines with regard to size, weight, and number, usually dependent upon the fare paid, or class of ticket. Baggage exceeding the limits is regarded as excess baggage.

Should passengers with checked baggage fail to arrive at the departure gate before the flight is closed, that person's baggage must be retrieved from the aircraft hold before the flight is permitted to take off, according to the rules of most air transportation authorities, such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and European Union's Joint Aviation Authorities. Making sure passengers board flights onto which they have checked baggage is called "passenger-baggage reconciliation." The security presumption of passenger-baggage reconciliaton is that bombers will not want to kill themselves, and will not board an aircraft if they have caused a bomb to be placed in its hold. This presumption does not hold true of suicide bombers.

Unaccompanied suitcases led to the downing of two flights, when a bomb inside the suitcase exploded:

• Air India Flight 182
• Pan Am Flight 103

Excess baggage is the amount of baggage that is in excess of the free allowance in size, number, or weight permitted for the air journey. At the airline's discretion, this may be carried at an extra charge, but no guarantee is made and it might have to be sent as freight instead. Some airlines impose excess baggage embargoes on certain routes, indicating that they will accept no (or very little) excess baggage.

See also: Check-in