No, they are different airlines. Check the flight number on your ticket: 9C is Spring Airlines (a Chinese airline, Shanghai), IJ is Spring Japan (a Japanese airline, Tokyo Narita). IJ flies China–Japan routes and inside Japan. Spring Japan's "Differences" page says the two have different baggage limits and excess baggage fees, so read only your section.
Fare names differ: 9C sells SpringSaver, SpringFlexi and SpringPlus; IJ sells Lucky Spring, Spring and Spring Plus. The two "Plus" fares have different allowances.
| 9C Spring Airlines | IJ Spring Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft | A320-200, A320neo | B737-800 |
| Free carry-on | 1 piece: 7 kg (SpringSaver, SpringFlexi), 10 kg (SpringPlus) | 1 personal item + 1 bag, up to 7 kg |
| Free checked bag (9C: flights sold on or after March 29, 2026) | None / 20 kg only with a baggage package / 20 kg | None / 20 kg / 30 kg |
| Last time to buy extra baggage | 1 hour before departure (online) | 2 hours before departure (online) |
Spring Airlines (9C)
These rules come from Spring Airlines' General Terms and Conditions for Carriage, which the page says take effect on September 30, 2026, and its Chinese baggage page, where the ticket names 超惠飞, 优选飞 and 尊享飞 are SpringSaver, SpringFlexi and SpringPlus.
Carry-on
- SpringSaver and SpringFlexi: one free piece, up to 7 kg, 20x30x40 cm, measured without wheels, pull rod and handle.
- SpringPlus, or any passenger who buys the "upgraded carry-on baggage" product: one piece up to 10 kg, 20x40x55 cm, measured the same way. It is sold in limited numbers; the Chinese baggage page lists CNY 159 for domestic flights (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) and CNY 219 for international flights, bookable online until 1 hour before departure.
Free checked baggage and size limits
For flights sold on or after March 29, 2026: SpringSaver gets no free checked bag; SpringFlexi gets 20 kg only if the fare package includes baggage; SpringPlus gets 20 kg. For flights sold on or before March 28, 2026, SpringPlus gets 30 kg. The free allowance applies to bags up to 40x60x100 cm, measured with wheels.
If any side is above 40x60x100 cm, the three sides must add up to no more than 203 cm and the longest side must be within 160 cm (skis and surfboards: up to 180 cm). On international and regional routes, each piece may weigh up to 32 kg.
Buying extra baggage and what it costs
Online. Buy only once, through the website, app or mini program, until 1 hour before departure. The Chinese baggage page says app or mini program purchase costs less than the airport counter and lists packages of 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 kg. Prices depend on flight distance, membership level, channel and purchase time; neither the terms nor the baggage page gives a fixed online price table, so use the calculator on that page.
Airport counter, international routes. The terms charge per 5 kg step, by distance; less than 5 kg is charged as 5 kg.
| Distance | Counter price per 5 kg |
|---|---|
| 0–999 km | CNY 120 |
| 1,000–1,999 km | CNY 135 |
| 2,000–2,999 km | CNY 150 |
| 3,000 km and above | CNY 165 |
Boarding gate. A carry-on that does not meet the limits is charged on international routes at CNY 500 per piece (each piece up to 10 kg and 20x40x55 cm); the Chinese baggage page's local-currency table lists JPY 11,000 for the same fee. Pay in cash in local currency; your checked allowance cannot be used at the gate.
Companions
Passengers on the same flight to the same destination who check in at the same time and place may combine their free allowances. Infants have no free allowance.
Spring Japan (IJ)
These rules come from the SPRING JAPAN pages on en.ch.com and the IJ Conditions of Carriage for international passengers (the document says it took effect on December 28, 2024). The free allowance is the same on international and domestic flights; the fees are not.
Free allowance and carry-on
Free carry-on is 7 kg on all three fares; free checked baggage is none (Lucky Spring), 20 kg (Spring) or 30 kg (Spring Plus). Children get the same allowance as adults; infants have none unless they pay the children's fare (Conditions of Carriage, Article 13-1).
Each person may bring 1 personal item plus 1 bag, up to 7 kg. The bag must be within 56x36x23 cm, and its three sides must add up to no more than 115 cm. Duty-free goods and anything else bought after check-in count as carry-on. Over-limit bags at the boarding gate go in the hold for the gate fee. Store your bag in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you (exit-row and first-row passengers: overhead bin). Laptops and tablets do not count toward the 7 kg. The carry-on page says a piece limit applies to them but does not show the number, so ask the Spring Japan call center.
Checked baggage limits
There is no limit on the number of pieces on international flights, and each piece may weigh up to 30 kg. The page adds that even a bag within the size limits may be refused depending on cargo capacity on the day. The size rule changes on December 21, 2026:
- Flights through December 20, 2026: the three sides add up to no more than 203 cm. Larger bags are accepted as oversize baggage for a fee up to 277 cm (longest side) and 320 cm (three sides).
- Flights on or after December 21, 2026: the longest side must be within 100 cm and the three sides within 203 cm. Bags beyond either limit are oversized baggage for a fee, up to 277 cm and 320 cm; nothing beyond that is accepted.
Excess baggage: how to buy
On the website or by call center, you can buy extra allowance only once, up to 2 hours before departure; call center purchases must be made during business hours. After booking, the website and call center accept only credit card or PayPay (both the international and domestic pages say so); cash is possible at the airport counter. Online purchases use your ticket currency; call center purchases use the currency of your departure airport's country. The fee is non-refundable. The international page's FAQ says excess baggage must be checked in at least 2 hours before scheduled departure. The unused part of extra allowance you buy cannot be used by anyone else, even a companion.
On September 2, 2026, Spring Japan moved the new fee structure (10 kg steps, regular and peak seasons) from December 1 to December 21, 2026 because of a reservation system issue; the structure itself did not change.
International excess baggage prices
Extra weight is on top of your free allowance. Prices are JPY and CNY as listed on Spring Japan's international checked baggage page.
For flights through December 20, 2026 (steps of 5 kg)
| Extra weight | Online / call center | Airport counter | Boarding gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 kg | JPY 2,500 / CNY 150 | JPY 5,000 / CNY 300 | JPY 6,000 / CNY 360 |
| Up to 10 kg | JPY 4,500 / CNY 270 | JPY 9,000 / CNY 540 | JPY 10,000 / CNY 600 |
| Up to 15 kg | JPY 6,500 / CNY 390 | JPY 13,000 / CNY 780 | JPY 14,000 / CNY 840 |
| Up to 20 kg | JPY 8,000 / CNY 480 | JPY 16,000 / CNY 960 | JPY 17,000 / CNY 1,020 |
| Up to 25 kg | JPY 9,000 / CNY 540 | JPY 18,000 / CNY 1,080 | JPY 19,000 / CNY 1,140 |
| Up to 30 kg | JPY 10,000 / CNY 600 | JPY 20,000 / CNY 1,200 | JPY 21,000 / CNY 1,260 |
| More than 30 kg, per kg | Not available in advance | JPY 1,500 / CNY 90 | JPY 1,500 / CNY 90 |
For flights on or after December 21, 2026 (steps of 10 kg)
| Extra weight | Season | Online / call center | Airport counter | Boarding gate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 10 kg | Off-peak | JPY 5,000 / CNY 300 | JPY 10,000 / CNY 600 | JPY 11,000 / CNY 660 |
| Up to 20 kg | Off-peak | JPY 9,000 / CNY 540 | JPY 18,000 / CNY 1,080 | JPY 19,000 / CNY 1,140 |
| Up to 30 kg | Off-peak | JPY 13,000 / CNY 780 | JPY 26,000 / CNY 1,560 | JPY 27,000 / CNY 1,620 |
| Up to 10 kg | Peak | JPY 6,000 / CNY 360 | JPY 12,000 / CNY 720 | JPY 13,000 / CNY 780 |
| Up to 20 kg | Peak | JPY 10,000 / CNY 600 | JPY 20,000 / CNY 1,200 | JPY 21,000 / CNY 1,260 |
| Up to 30 kg | Peak | JPY 14,000 / CNY 840 | JPY 28,000 / CNY 1,680 | JPY 29,000 / CNY 1,740 |
| More than 30 kg, per kg | Both | Not available in advance | JPY 1,500 / CNY 90 | JPY 1,500 / CNY 90 |
The September 2 notice calls off-peak "Regular". Spring Japan's pricing calendar shows peak and off-peak dates by color. It covers dates through March 27, 2027, and says the calendar for March 28 and later will be announced at a later date.
Oversized bags and sports gear (international)
All of these are paid at the airport counter on the day of departure; advance purchase is not permitted and the fee is non-refundable.
| Item | Flights through December 20, 2026 | Flights on or after December 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Oversize baggage (per item) | JPY 8,000 / CNY 500 | JPY 4,000 / CNY 240 |
| Golf equipment (1 set), diving gear (1 set), skis (1 pair), snowboard (1) | JPY 4,000 / CNY 250 | No separate fee listed; oversized baggage fee applies if the bag exceeds the size limits |
| Surfboard (1), bicycle (1) | JPY 8,000 / CNY 500 | No separate fee listed; oversized baggage fee applies if the bag exceeds the size limits |
For flights through December 20, 2026, the page says these are not included in the checked baggage allowance and a separate fee applies. From December 21, 2026, you also pay the checked baggage fee by weight: normal and oversized weights are added together, and you pay for any weight above your free allowance.
For flights through December 20, 2026, golf equipment is charged as golf equipment whatever is inside the bag, and an empty golf bag is still charged. Pack skis in a case; for a bicycle, release the air from tires and shock absorbers, remove the pedals, hold the handlebars parallel to the frame, and pack it in a case or cardboard box. Electric bicycles are not allowed in checked or carry-on baggage. A tennis or badminton racket can go in the cabin within the carry-on limits and 115 cm (three sides).
The FAQ on the same page says a 4,000-yen bicycle fee also applies to children's bicycles, without naming a period. For flights from December 21, 2026 the page lists oversized baggage at JPY 4,000 / CNY 240 per item; the table for flights through December 20, 2026 lists bicycles at JPY 8,000 / CNY 500.
Flights inside Japan
The free allowance is the same as on international flights (0 / 20 / 30 kg). Prices on the domestic checked baggage page are in JPY, tax included, in two sets; from December 21, 2026 the steps are 10 kg (— = no such step). Each cell shows online / call center, airport counter, boarding gate.
| Extra weight | Through December 20, 2026 | From December 21, 2026, off-peak | From December 21, 2026, peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 kg | 750 / 1,500 / 2,500 | — | — |
| Up to 10 kg | 1,500 / 3,000 / 4,000 | 2,000 / 4,000 / 5,000 | 3,000 / 6,000 / 7,000 |
| Up to 15 kg | 2,250 / 4,500 / 5,500 | — | — |
| Up to 20 kg | 3,000 / 6,000 / 7,000 | 3,500 / 7,000 / 8,000 | 4,500 / 9,000 / 10,000 |
| Up to 25 kg | 3,750 / 7,500 / 8,500 | — | — |
| Up to 30 kg | 4,500 / 9,000 / 10,000 | 5,000 / 10,000 / 11,000 | 6,000 / 12,000 / 13,000 |
| More than 30 kg, per kg | 500 at counter and gate | 500 at counter and gate | 500 at counter and gate |
Domestic counter fees (JPY): through December 20, 2026, oversize baggage 4,000; golf equipment, diving gear, skis or snowboard 2,000 per set or item; surfboard or bicycle 4,000. From December 21, 2026, oversized baggage 2,000 per item.
On the number of bags, the domestic page says two things: its limits section says there is no limit on pieces on domestic flights, and its FAQ says you can check only three bags per person.
Companions on the same flight who check bags at the same time and place to the same destination can ask to combine their free allowances by pieces and weight (Conditions of Carriage, Article 13-1).
Special items side by side
| Item | 9C Spring Airlines | IJ Spring Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Baby stroller | Infants: one folding stroller checked free. Children and adults: charged by weight over the allowance. | One stroller, car seat or carry-cot per infant checked free; the Conditions of Carriage also accept a child's own collapsible stroller, basket or car seat free. No stroller rental. |
| Golf, ski, fishing gear, bicycle | Normal checked baggage; pack well, deflate inflatable items; skis and surfboards up to 180 cm on the longest side. A bicycle is carried as cargo; if you insist on checking it, pack it, turn and fix the handlebars, remove pedals and wheels (folding bikes folded) and deflate the tires. Weight counts toward your free allowance. | Separate counter fee for flights through December 20, 2026 (bicycle JPY 8,000 / CNY 500); from December 21, 2026, an oversized fee only if over the size limits, plus the weight fee. |
| Liquids in carry-on (international) | Containers up to 100 ml, in one resealable transparent bag of up to 1 litre per passenger; the rest goes in checked baggage. | Containers up to 100 ml, in one clear zip bag of up to 1 litre per person. For flights leaving Japan the page points to Japan's transport ministry (MLIT). |
| Alcohol | Not in carry-on, except drinks bought in the sterile area. In checked baggage: labeled retail packaging, each container up to 5 litres; up to 24% alcohol, no limit; above 24% up to 70%, 5 litres per passenger; above 70%, not allowed. | In checked baggage: sealed retail packaging; 24%–70%, up to 5 litres per passenger; above 70%, not allowed. Duty-free liquids count toward the 7 kg carry-on. |
| Power banks | Carry-on only, not checked. Maximum 2 per passenger, up to 160 Wh, clearly marked; above 100 Wh up to 160 Wh needs Spring Airlines' approval. Use is prohibited throughout the flight (terms, 12.2.4). | Maximum 2 per passenger, up to 160 Wh. Charging the power bank, or charging other devices from it, is banned for the whole flight. The notices do not say whether power banks may go in checked baggage. |
The IJ notice dated April 14 (effective April 24, 2026, Japan time) says that from January 2027, because of IATA changes, the limit may be lowered to 100 Wh or less. A notice dated July 4, 2025 (effective July 8, 2025) says not to store power banks in the overhead bin.
Changing or cancelling
| 9C Spring Airlines | IJ Spring Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket refunded or changed | Prepaid baggage is refunded or changed together with the ticket, no service fee. | Ticket refunds exclude optional services such as baggage and seat selection. The checked baggage fee is non-refundable. |
| Unused prepaid baggage, ticket kept | Apply in the app or mini program more than 24 hours before departure (booker, purchaser or passenger); within 24 hours, or after the flight, contact online customer service. Used baggage, including a partly used allowance, is not refunded. Valid for that flight only. | Non-refundable. |
| Flight change | Same as the first row. | No extra charge and no price-difference refund for checked baggage (notice of September 2, 2026); seat selections are not carried over. |
| Illness | Terms, Article 9.3.5: apply before departure with ID photos, medical certificates and expense receipts; the ticket refund fee may be waived after verification, and companions can apply at the same time. The article does not mention prepaid baggage. | With a medical certificate issued by a medical institution before scheduled departure, a full refund including baggage purchase and seat selection for the passenger and one companion, if both applications are made simultaneously. Apply before departure through the call center if you booked on the official website, by call center or at the airport counter; agency bookings follow the agency's terms. |
Connecting and codeshare flights
- Codeshare: Spring Airlines' terms apply only to codeshare flights it actually operates. The IJ Conditions of Carriage say that on a flight operated by another carrier, that carrier's baggage limits, free allowance and excess charges may apply.
- IJ domestic leg inside international travel: the free allowance follows the international leg; after an involuntary reroute, the free allowance of the fare you originally paid applies.
- Separate tickets with 9C (Passenger Guidelines): leave at least 5 hours between two airports in the same city, 2 hours between domestic flights at the same airport, and 3 hours between international connections at the same airport. 9C international flights have no transit service at overseas airports, so a transfer to a third country means immigration at the transfer point.
- Through check-in: it applies only to products that include it and depends on the airport. On 9C tickets with other airlines' segments, if a segment is delayed or cancelled within 48 hours of departure and leaves under 3 hours to transfer, or you cannot catch the next flight even with an emergency transfer, the onward flight's involuntary refund, change or rebooking follows the next airline's rules.
Which should you choose
- 9C, and you need a checked bag on SpringSaver or more than 20 kg: buy in the app or mini program up to 1 hour before departure; Spring Airlines says this costs less than the counter, and unused allowance is refundable more than 24 hours ahead.
- IJ, and you know your weight: buy online or by call center up to 2 hours before departure. You get one purchase, so pick the step that covers all your extra weight; counter and gate prices are higher at every step you can buy in advance.
- IJ flight on or after December 21, 2026: use the 10 kg tables and check whether your date is peak or off-peak in the pricing calendar.
- Golf clubs, skis or a bicycle: on 9C they are checked baggage (a bicycle must be packed to the conditions) and their weight counts toward your allowance. On IJ, flights through December 20, 2026 carry a separate counter-only fee; from December 21, 2026 their weight counts toward your allowance, and the oversized fee applies only to bags over the size limits.
- You might cancel: 9C prepaid baggage is refundable if unused; IJ baggage fees are not, except in the illness arrangement.
Need a flight quote?
If you want a quote for a Spring Airlines or Spring Japan flight, contact us with your route and travel dates through our contact page and we will send a quote for your dates.
