Baggage these days is getting more and more diverse, especially as more travellers are venturing to other parts of the world with bicycles or special sport equipment. While you might think this could be complicated, in fact it doesn’t have to be. Here are some of the travel basics:
Ski Equipment and Snowboards
For purposes of transportation, snow ski equipment is defined as a pair of skies and poles or a snowboard or monoski plus a pair of ski boots and binding. In the case of water skis, it’s considered to be a pair of standard-size skis or a slalom water ski.
All equipment may be checked without difficulty, but in order to avoid potential damage, it should be carefully packed and secured. It’s worth checking ski shops for specially designed travel bags and containers for skis, snowboards, and boots.
These items are part of each passenger’s baggage allowance as long as they do not exceed each individual’s authorised weight. If any additional piece of equipment is added that puts the total over the weight limit, it must be treated as excess weight.
Golf Equipment
A permissible golf bag may contain up to 14 clubs, a dozen balls, and one pair of golf shoes. It goes without saying that the bag the golfer takes onto the course is sufficient to transport this equipment, so it’s not considered additional baggage and no fee is charged.
If any additional piece of equipment is added that puts the total over the weight limit, it must be treated as excess weight.
Surfboards and Windsurfing/Kiteboarding Equipment
Transporting this type of equipment – especially for windsurfing and kiteboarding – is a special case because of its greater size; windsurfing kit is comprised of a board, a boom, a luff, a mast, and a sail; a kiteboard is a board and a chute (one per passenger in each case). It’s therefore critical to file a space request when you book your ticket, a minimum of 24 hours before your flight, and arrive at the airport early enough to ensure it is properly checked and boarded.
It goes without saying that all equipment should be thoroughly and carefully packed so as to avoid damage, as well as not to damage surrounding baggage in various stages of the flight.
Such items are always considered outside the normal baggage allowance, and will be charged at 150 euros per flight leg (US$150 for flights originating within the USA), payable at the airport (and by the way, this is apart from any charges or taxes which may be charged by each destination).
Bicycles
Only single-seat, non-motorised bikes may be checked, and again, passengers need to notify Iberia at the time of booking. It must be shipped in a container, and you may use your own, or at the airport, a special box will be made available for the transport of your bike, with dimensions 131 by 72 by 21 centimetres (51½ by 28 by 8 inches), at a cost of 20 euros. Bicycles must be placed within the containers with the handlebars against the sides, pedals removed and the tyres disinflated.
Bikes are considered as excess baggage, with a fixed charge of €75 per leg (US$75 if the flight originates in the USA or Israel), payable at the airport.
Fishing Equipment
You can carry a bag for rods and other equipment at no additional charge so long as it falls within your free baggage allowance. If you add other items exceeding the permitted number of free items, it will be considered excess baggage.
Scuba/Snorkeling Equipment
You can check in one mask, a pair of flippers, a pressure meter, a safety jacket, a snorkel, a weight belt and an empty cylinder (transport of compressed air bottles is banned by IATA regulations).
This, too, is categorised as excess baggage, with a fixed charge of €75 per leg (US$75 if the flight originates in the USA or Israel), payable at the airport.
Sporting Firearms
If you are traveling with a hunting rifle, safari rifle, or air rifle, each piece will be treated as special baggage outside of the baggage allowance, incurring an additional fixed fee of 75 euros per flight (or US$75 if the flight originates in the United States), payable only at the airport.
For more details on special baggage, click on this link.