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Important: reservations
You can quickly and easily arrange online to take sports equipment or other special baggage with you:
- Through My Trip or by calling KLM Telephone Reservations.
- Reservations must be made no later than 48 hours prior to departure.
- Make sure your reservation is confirmed before departure to ensure that you can take your special baggage with you.
Many types of sports equipment and other special baggage are considered regular pieces of baggage. This means they can be taken as part of your baggage allowance. There are some limitations and exceptions: your sports equipment may not contain other baggage and some items can only be taken at a fee.
If part of your journey is operated by an airline other than KLM or AIR FRANCE, different rules for special baggage may apply. Please check with the relevant airline(s).
Wind, wave or kite surfing equipment and body boards
- Windsurfing equipment may consist of a board, mast, sail and boom and must be packed in 1 package, preferably in a ‘quiver bag’.
- Kite surfing equipment may consist of a board and a kite bag and must be packed in 1 package, preferably in a kite bag.
- The weight limit for wind or kite surfing equipment is 23 kg (50.5 lbs).
- The length limit for wind or kite surfing equipment is 300 cm (78 inches) (regardless of width).
You are always required to pay a special fee.
Only if it is shorter than 107 cm (42 inches) will your equipment be considered standard baggage and can be checked in as part of your regular baggage allowance. If you are taking this equipment with you in addition to your standard baggage, you will be required to pay the excess baggage fee.
You are always required to pay an additional fee for surfing equipment between 107 and 300 cm/42 and 118 inches.
Surfing equipment longer than 300 cm (118 inches) and/or weighing more than 32 kg (70.5 lbs) can only be transported as freight by AIR FRANCE-KLM Cargo.
Bicycles and tandems
You can take your bicycle or tandem (non-electric) with you in suitable packaging or a bike box. The handlebars should be turned lengthways along the frame, pedals and other protruding parts should be removed, and tyre pressures should be reduced. Special KLM bike boxes are available at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for EUR 20 each (176.5 X 23.0 X 101.5 cm – 66.5 x 9 x 39 inches). The KLM bike box weighs 4.5 kg (10 lbs).
Your bicycle, including bike box, may weigh no more than 23 kg (50.5 lbs).
Always make a reservation for your bicycle at least 48 hours before departure through My Trip or KLM Telephone Reservations. Ensure your reservation is confirmed. Space is limited on some aircraft types, so please reserve your bicycle or tandem as early as possible.
A bike or tandem counts as special baggage, for which a special fee is charged.
Diving equipment
A set of diving equipment may consist of a wetsuit, vest, socks, mask, shoes, flippers, knife and regulator. Diving lamps must be transported as hand baggage, with the bulb and batteries removed. Air cylinders (scuba tanks) must be empty and the valve should be open or removed.
Always make a reservation for your diving equipment at least 48 hours before departure via My Trip or KLM Telephone Reservations. Ensure your reservation is confirmed.
A set of diving equipment (excluding a scuba tank) counts as a single piece of baggage. If you bring a set of diving equipment on top of your standard baggage allowance, or if it weighs more than 23 kg (50.5 lbs), you pay an excess baggage fee.
For a scuba tank you always pay the special baggage fee.
Golf bags
A golf bag counts as a single piece of luggage and may weigh up to 23 kg (50.5 lbs). You pay an excess baggage fee if it weighs more, or if you are taking the golf bag in addition to your standard baggage allowance.
A set of golf equipment may consist of a golf bag containing only clubs, balls and a pair of golf shoes. Golf bags containing clothing or other items are considered as regular baggage.
Always make a reservation for your golf bag at least 48 hours before departure through My Trip or KLM Telephone Reservations. Ensure your reservation is confirmed.
Flying Blue Golf Club
If you are a member of the Flying Blue Golf Club and all flights in your itinerary are operated by KLM or AIR FRANCE (including CityJet and Brit Air), you may take 1 golf bag with you free of charge on top of your standard baggage allowance. You will need to bring a Flying Blue Golf voucher .
This does not apply to flights operated by our partners. Consult the airline in question for their golf bag rules and limitations.
Kayaks and canoes
Kayaks and canoes can only be transported as freight by AIR FRANCE - KLM Cargo.
Skis and snowboards
A set of (water-) ski or snowboard equipment may consist of a board or pair of skis, two ski poles and a pair of ski boots.
Such a set counts as a single piece of baggage, which may weigh up to 23 kg (50.5 lbs). If your equipment weighs more, or if you bring it on top of your baggage allowance, excess baggage fees apply.
If you want to take an avalanche rescue backpack, this also counts as 1 single piece of regular baggage. If you will take it on top of your standard baggage allowance, you will need to pay the fee for an extra piece of regular baggage.
Always make a reservation for your skis or snowboard at least 48 hours before departure through My Trip or KLM Telephone Reservations. Ensure your reservation is confirmed.
Firearms and ammunition for shooting and hunting sports
Carrying ammunition and firearms in hand baggage is not permitted. You may carry such items for shooting and hunting purposes as check-in baggage under certain strict conditions.
A weapon or a weapon case is considered 1 piece of baggage, which you can bring instead of 1 piece in your standard baggage allowance. You may also bring max. 5 kg sports/hunting ammunition, a shooting mat, small tools and hearing protector.
If you wish to take more baggage than the maximum allowance, the excess baggage fees apply.
Please note:
- You always need to have all the required permits in your possession.
- You must make a reservation for travel with firearms and/or ammunition. This can be done through your travel agent or by contacting us.
- Firearms must be unloaded and safely packed in a suitcase or other case. The cartridges must be packed safely, preferably in a suitcase.
- Sports and hunting rifles must be transported separately from the ammunition.
- Ammunition may only be intended for shooting sport and a maximum of 5 kg (11 lbs) of ammunition may be carried per passenger.
- Baggage containing ammunition may not carry labels with the text ‘explosives’.
- Transporting ammunition with explosive or flammable projectiles is not permitted.
- When you check in you should declare that your weapon is unloaded and the ammunition has been packed separately.
- Firearms and ammunition should be packed separately from other personal belongings that are being checked in.
Read more about Dutch Customs permits
View the excess baggage fees
Other sports equipment
Other sports equipment are also generally considered regular pieces of check-in baggage if they are under the maximum permitted dimensions and weight. This means that you can bring these as part of your standard baggage allowance.
In the case of excess weight or size, excess baggage fees apply. When transporting sports equipment of unusual size or weight you should make a reservation by telephone.
Fishing equipment
A set of fishing equipment may consist of:
- 1 or 2 rods
- 1 reel
- 1 landing net
- 1 pair of fishing boots
- 1 fishing tackle box
These must be packed together. The complete set may weigh up to 23 kg (50.5 lbs).
Such a set of fishing equipment is considered 1 piece of check-in baggage. You may bring a set of fishing equipment instead of a suitcase. If you want to bring it on top of your standard baggage allowance, you need to pay the excess baggage fee for a standard piece of baggage.
Musical instruments
You can bring your musical instrument in one of four ways:
- 1As check-in baggage
Your musical instrument must be packed in a hard case. We are not liable for damage if your instrument is not properly packed. The standard excess baggage fees apply if your total baggage including instrument and packaging exceed the maximum free allowance.
A musical instrument with a length of up to 100 cm (39 inches) can be transported as a single item of baggage, within your standard baggage allowance. If your instrument with packaging is larger than 203 cm (80 inches) (l + w + h), or is heavier than 32 kg (70 lbs), then you should request permission. - 2As hand baggage
You may take a musical instrument, such as a violin or smaller instrument, with you as hand luggage, but not in addition to your standard hand baggage allowance. The total dimensions may not exceed 115 cm/45 in (l + w + h). - 3On an extra seat
Larger instruments which do not fit in the overhead baggage compartment or under the seat can be taken into the cabin to be transported on a seat booked in advance. This is only possible if your instrument is not longer than 140 cm (55 inches) and does not weigh more than 46 kg (100 lbs). Please always contact KLM Telephone Reservations at least 48 hours before departure to book a seat for your instrument. - 4As freight
If your musical instrument weighs in excess of 46 kilograms (100 lbs) or is larger than 406 cm (160 inches) (l + w + h) you may only transport your instrument as freight using AIR FRANCE-KLM Cargo.
Read more about excess baggage
Read more about hand baggage
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