Sports equipment

Find out if you can bring your sporting equipment on board with you, check it in to your baggage allowance or if you need to take extra steps before you travel. From golf clubs to pedal bikes, diving equipment and more, explore how we can help make your journey as easy as possible.

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No matter if you’re a golfer, a rock climber, deep sea diver or snowboarder, there’s plenty of space for your weird and wonderful items. Just tell us you are bringing your sporting equipment by using our online chat via our contacts page as soon as you have booked your flight.

If you’ve already used your free checked baggage allowance, you may have to pay to put extra bags in the hold.

Anything heavier or larger than the maximum checked baggage dimensions must be shipped as cargo.

What sports equipment are you bringing?

Need to go over the weight and size limits? No problem. Heavy and big items can be shipped as cargo.

The only exception is a pedal bike box, which can be taken as checked baggage. Just let us know you’re bringing it beforehand.

We know how precious and valuable your equipment is, so make sure it’s packed securely and that you have adequate travel insurance.

Some sharp, electrical or potentially dangerous items aren’t allowed on board the aircraft. It’s best to contact us to check or have a look at our list of restricted items.

You can take non-motorised, non-electric pedal bicycles or push bikes in a bicycle cover or box on our flights. They count as one item of your checked baggage allowance.

If you’re on our Economy Basic fare, which has no hold baggage allowance, or you’ve already used your free checked baggage allowance, you’ll have to pay to put your bike and container in the hold as an extra checked bag.

What size bike can you bring?

We need to know how big your bike container is and how much it weighs.

Your bike can be transported in a hard-shell box or padded bike bag up to 190 x 95 x 65 cm (75 x 37.5 x 25.5 in).

A bike box or bag is considered an oversize or out-of-gauge bag. You’ll need to check your bike in and drop it off at the airport out-of-gauge bag drop at least 90 minutes before your flight departs for it to be more likely to travel with you.

Let us know you’re bringing your bike

As soon as you’ve booked your flight, let us know that you’re bringing your bike by using the online chat on our Help page.

Please do this as soon as possible, as some flights are very popular with cyclists. Your bike is more likely to travel with you if you tell us in advance, and at least three days (more than 72 hours) before you fly.

Travelling with your bike

Please ensure your bike is clearly labelled with your details on the outside and inside of its cover or box, preferably fastened to the bike frame.

Clothes and other personal items must not be packed in your bike cover or box. This may cause delays during security screening or mean your bike cannot travel. 

You can take most items as part of your checked baggage allowance if it’s packed in a recognised kit bag and doesn’t exceed the maximum size and weight for checked baggage. 

Accepted items are: 

  • Scuba regulator
  • Tank harness
  • Tank pressure gauge (pressure-sensitive devices may need special packaging; refer to the manufacturer for advice)
  • Face mask
  • Fins
  • Buoyancy control device
  • Snorkel
  • Weight belt
  • Cylinder tank 
  • Spear guns
  • Harpoons
  • Diving lamps 

Cylinder tanks must be empty and presented at check-in for inspection. Spear guns and harpoons must be packed separately

If you’re taking a diving lamp, please contact us at least 24 hours before you travel to get approval. Please remove the bulb or fuse and pack it separately from the power source.

Golfing equipment packed in a protective golf bag, or hard case, can be taken as one item of your checked baggage allowance if your ticket includes baggage in the hold.

Your golf bag may include items such as a set of golf clubs, a golf umbrella, a dozen balls, golf tees and a pair of golf shoes.

As it is larger than our standard checked bag, it is considered an oversize or out-of-gauge bag. You’ll need to get to the airport early to check the golf bag in and drop it off at the airport out-of-gauge bag drop at least 90 minutes before your flight departs for it to be more likely to travel with you.

If you're travelling on our Economy Basic fare, which has no hold baggage allowance, or you’ve already used your free checked baggage allowance, you’ll have to pay to put your golf bag in the hold as an extra checked bag. The best price is available online, before you get to the airport where the full charge will be applied.

If you carry your golf umbrella or any large umbrella or parasol separately, it will need to be checked in and will count as an item of checked baggage. You may have to pay a fee if you are over your free baggage weight or number allowance.

Let us know you’re bringing your golf bag

As soon as you’ve booked your flight,  let us know that you’re bringing your golf bag by using the online chat on our Help page. 

Please do this as soon as possible, as some flights are very popular with golfers. Your golf bag is more likely to travel with you if you tell us in advance and at least three days (more than 72 hours) before you fly.

You can travel with firearms as checked baggage under very specific conditions.

You must contact us at least 72 hours before you fly to request approval and to comply with any government embargoes and restrictions. If you don’t contact us, your equipment won’t be allowed on board. Read more about firearms requirements.

You can take skiing or snowboarding equipment as part of your checked baggage so long as the bag is within 190 x 75 x 65cm.

Skis and snowboards must be packed in a protective bag and can be in the same bag as your boots or clothes. 

If you pack your boots separately from your skis or snowboard, your boot bag can be carried as your larger piece of hand baggage if it's within the correct dimensions. If it isn't, it must be checked in and will count as an extra checked bag.

For safety reasons you can’t board the aircraft wearing ski boots.

Let us know you are bringing your snow sports bag

As soon as you have made your booking, let us know that you’re bringing your snow sport bag, especially if you know that you are on a popular snow sport route. Your snow sport bag is more likely to travel with you if you tell us in advance and at least three days (more than 72 hours) before you fly. 

A snow sport bag is an oversize or out-of-gauge bag so check your snow sport bag in and drop it off at the out-of-gauge baggage belt no later than 90 minutes before your flight departs so it is more likely to travel with you. 

You can take short surfboards and small kayaks with paddles in a protective bag as part of your checked baggage as long as the packed bag is under 190cm in length. Clothes and other personal items must not be packed in with your equipment.

Larger surfboards, kayaks, canoes and paddles need to be booked in as cargo.

Items such as tennis or squash rackets, collapsed fishing rods or billiard/snooker/pool cues, hockey sticks or traditional skateboard decks cannot be carried as part of your hand baggage due to their length, as they generally over the 56cm length limit of items in the cabin.

In addition, they may not be permitted through many airport security points across our network.

These sporting items need to be carried in the hold, so it’s best to pack them in a protective bag or pack them in your suitcase.  

Each piece packed separately counts as an extra item towards your total baggage allowance and you may be charged for extra bags if you exceed your free checked baggage allowance.

Electric skateboards are not permitted on our aircraft at all, either in the cabin or in the hold, due to the unstable nature of lithium batteries.

Travelling on partner airlines

If your flight number begins with anything other than ‘BA’ (e.g. AA123456X), you’re flying with one of our partners and your baggage allowances may be different.

If a journey with connecting flights includes ‘BA’ and other airline codes, your baggage allowance is generally determined by the airline that operates the longest flight in your itinerary.

Please note: SUN-AIR: You can take 1 checked bag up to 90 x 75 x 43cm (35.5 x 29.5 x 16in) and 23kg (51lb).

American Airlines

Finnair

Iberia

Japan Airlines

Qatar Airways

China Southern Airlines