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Dimensions, number of bags and weight
All baggage you do not check in but take with you in the cabin is called hand baggage. You can stow this baggage in the overhead baggage compartment or under the seat.
Flights operated by KLM Cityhopper and KLM Boeing 737 aircraft have limited storage space in the cabin, and so we may ask you to put your hand baggage in the hold.
We advise you to minimize your hand baggage as much as possible.
| You may take the following as hand baggage: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Travel class | Number & dimensions | Weight restriction | Permitted accessories | ||
Economy Class | 1 bag measuring 55 x 25 x 35 cm (21.5 x 10 x 13.5 inch) (l x w x h)* | Your hand baggage, including accessories, may not exceed 12 kg (26 lbs). | 1 of the following: handbag, briefcase, camera, small laptop, or 1 other item of similar or smaller size | ||
Business Class | 1 bag measuring 55 x 25 x 35 cm (21.5 x 10 x 13.5 inch) (l x w x h)* and one bag smaller than 45 x 20 x 35 cm (18 x 8 x 13.5 inch) (l x w x h)** | Your hand baggage, including accessories, may not exceed 18 kg 40 lbs). | 1 of the following: handbag, briefcase, camera, small laptop, or 1 other item of similar or smaller size | ||
* The sum of the dimensions may not be greater than 115 cm (45 inches), including wheels and handles.
| |||||
Special rules for liquids
Special rules apply for liquids, creams, pastes, gels and aerosol cans.
You may only carry these in your hand baggage in small amounts not exceeding 100 ml ( 3.4 oz) per article. They must be placed in a transparent and sealable plastic bag with a volume of no more than 1 litre. The bag must be closed and the articles must fit inside it easily.
One transparent plastic bag may be taken per person. When your hand baggage is inspected you will be asked to present the plastic bag for liquids separately.
These rules do not apply to the following:
- Baby food to be consumed during the flight
- Medicines to be taken during the flight / provided you have a prescription or attending physician's statement
- Special diet foods to be consumed during the flight
Tax-free articles
If you want to take on board articles you have bought tax-free in the airport, it is important to know that for:
- Travel within Europe: you can purchase liquids such as liquor and perfume after passing through ticket and passport control, or on flights operated by European airlines. Liquids will be packed and sealed for you. The seal is valid for one day. If your journey involves a transfer, you may not break the seal until you have reached your final destination.
- Travel starting outside the European Union: according to an EU regulation effective per 29 April 2011, passengers who started their trip outside the European Union and who will transfer at an EU airport may again be permitted to bring with them duty-free liquids and gels bought at non-EU airports. However, the authorities of the Netherlands and some other EU countries will continue to maintain the rule that passengers travelling from non-EU countries are not allowed to bring duty-free liquids and gels with them when transferring at an EU airport.
We therefore strongly advise against buying any duty-free liquids and gels at non-EU airports if you will transfer at an EU airport since liquids and gels might be confiscated upon boarding.
However, you are allowed to bring these liquids on board if the liquids have been purchased at the following airports:
- All airports in Canada
- All airports in the United States
- Kuala Lumpur
- Singapore
- Croatia: Dubrovnik, Pula, Rijeka, Split, Zadar or Zagreb
The liquids must be properly packed and sealed within the last 36 hours.
- Travel to the United States: you may only bring tax free liquids on board that were purchased and sealed at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
- If you are transferring flights in the United States or Canada, your check-in baggage will not be labelled through to your final destination. We advise you to pack any tax-free liquids purchased earlier in your check-in baggage.
Restricted articles
Please note: No printer or toner cartridges weighing 453 grams or more may be taken in your baggage on board flights to the United States. This applies to both hand baggage and check-in baggage.
According to European Union rules, the following articles may not be carried in hand baggage in the cabin of a passenger aircraft:
- Liquids, unless in small quantities and packed separately according to the official rules
- Products of animal origin
- Firearms
- Blunt and edged items
- Explosives, flammable, chemical and toxic substances
Loose lithium batteries, such as rechargeable lithium batteries and AA lithium batteries for laptops and DVD players, may only be carried in hand baggage. Each spare battery must be packed in the original packaging. If you no longer have this packaging, you must cover the battery contact points with tape to insulate them and pack each battery in a separate plastic bag.
View the list of restricted articles
Read more about restricted articles of animal origin(PDF, 217KB)
For more information, please contact your travel agent or Telephone Reservations
Hand baggage for children
Children travelling in their own (booked) seat may bring the same amount of hand baggage as an adult.
For a child younger than 2 years of age for whom no seat was booked, you may bring 1 piece of hand baggage:
- Containing items to care for your baby only
- Max. dimensions 55 x 35 x 25 cm (21.5 x 13.5 x 10 in)
- Max. 12 kg (26 lbs.)
Our partners’ baggage policy
Some of our partner airlines have different baggage rules. For more information, please contact your travel agent or the airline concerned.
