 Our sporting equipment policy:
British Airways will no longer accept sporting equipment free of charge in addition of the free baggage allowance. This applies to all customers in all cabins.
Carriage of sporting equipment - Sporting equipment will be included as part of your free checked baggage allowance.
- If the number of bags exceed your free allowance you will be charged the excess baggage rate for each extra bag.
- The heavy bag charge £40 ($60) will apply to all bags more than 23kg (51lbs) and up to 32kg (70lbs). *
- All sporting equipment (excluding the not acceptable for carriage list) will be accepted for travel only if they are packed correctly within the maximum weight and reduced maximum dimensions of 190cm x 75cm x 65cm (75in x 29.5in x 25.5in).
- The carriage of firearms will incur a £50 charge each way to cover third party handling costs.
*The following customers are entitled to a 32kgs baggage allowance per bag at no additional charge:
- Customers travelling to and from Brazil.
- British Airways Gold and Silver Executive Club members, American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum and Iberia Plus Platinum members.
- First, Club World and Club Europe customers on all routes.
Sporting equipment allowances on codeshare, oneworld and alliance partners may differ. Charges may apply.
How to pack sporting equipment
Equipment must be packed in a travel case specifically designed for that piece of equipment.
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Angling
Must be packed in a recognised angling rod case or bag.
Equipment accepted:
Rods and reels contained in a case and one bag with fishing tackle, landing net and fishing boots.
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Archery
Must be packed in a standard bow and arrow case. Equipment accepted:
One bow, one quiver and arrows.
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Cricket
Must be packed in a recognised cricket coffins or team bags. Equipment accepted:
Bats, wickets, pads and balls.
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Cycling
Bicycle must be packed in a compact bag for dismantled bicycle or in a folding bicycle bag or in a hard shell bicycle case. Equipment accepted:
One non motorised bicycle.
The majority of non motorised bicycles comply with maximum dimensions, although all bicycles will be accepted.
Special rules apply for bicycles when groups with more than 4 bicycles travel together
Preparing bicycles for travel: - Bike pedals must be removed (or fixed inwards).
- Handlebars must be fixed sideways.
- The bike must be contained in a protective box or bag.
- You may wish to deflate the tyres to reduce risk of damage.
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Diving
Equipment must be packed either in a draw string backpack, a tote style bag or a wheelie bag/rucksack. Equipment accepted:
One scuba tank, scuba regulator, tank harness and tank pressure gauge (subject to maximum baggage weight).
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Field hockey
Field hockey must be packed in a Player bag Team bag.
Accepted travel cases:
Standard team kit bags not exceeding maximum baggage dimensions. Equipment accepted:
Sticks, balls and pads in one equipment bag.
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Golf
Golf equipment must be packed in either a hard shelled case or a soft bag resp. soft bag with wheels
Accepted travel cases:
Recognised golf cases. Equipment accepted:
One bag containing 14 clubs, 12 balls, umbrella and golf shoes.
The majority of golf bags comply with maximum dimensions, although all golf bags will be accepted.
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Ice hockey
Must be packed in a team bag Stick bag.
Accepted travel cases:
Recognised ice hockey kit or team bag. Equipment accepted:
Team kit including sticks.
The majority of sticks comply with maximum dimensions, although all sticks will be accepted.
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Lacrosse
Must be packed in a wheelie bag or rucksack
Lacrosse bag Accepted travel cases:
Recognised team or kit bags. Equipment accepted:
Lacrosse sticks in one equipment bag.
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ShootingAll firearms are subject to a £50 charge each way at check-in. This charge applies to each firearm case for all Biritsh Airways operated flight. There are no exemptions to this charge, therefore MUW and PPO’s will also be required to pay. This charge has been introduced to cover the third party handling costs to British Airways for transporting these items. All firearms (including replica and decommissioned) and ammunition are restricted under UK law.
You are responsible for ensuring you have all the required documentation and licences for your weapons and ammunition. This may include export/import licences and authorisation from local and national authorities for the items to be carried. Personal protection handguns are classified as restricted articles and we are unable to carry these.
Important Information: The minimum connection time (MCT) in London-Heathrow Terminal 5 for firearms is 3 hours.
When passengers travel with firearms they must be at check-in at least 2 hours before their flight.
Firearms will be accepted provided they are packed in an appropriate carriage case, or if this is not possible, packed securely inside a suitcase.
You must notify of travel at least 72 hours before travel
Preparing firearms for travel: - The firearm must be unloaded.
- If possible the firearm should be dismantled.
- Ammunition must be packed in either its original packaging or in a suitable container that prevents movement between shells or cartridges, i.e. loose ammunition is not permitted.
- The weight of the ammunition must not exceed 5kg (11lbs) per passenger - sharing the weight allowance between passengers is not allowed.
- There will be no additional charge for ammunition packed in your checked baggage, or in a separate compartment in the gun case, if it is carried separately, you will be charged for the extra bag.
- Baggage containing ammunition must not bear 'explosives' labels.
- The heavy bag charge will apply to bags weighing more than 23kg
- Sporting guns are part of the free checked baggage allowance, if a customer wishes to carry their sporting gun and this exceeds their baggage allowance they will be charged an excess baggage fee, in addition to the firearm handling fee.
Note when travelling to/from countries that do not allow transportation of firearms and ammunition in the hold baggage
If you are travelling to or from South Africa or Italy you cannot pack your firearms or ammunition in your checked hold baggage with your personal effects. The firearms and/or ammunition must be packed in separate locked bags or containers. In this instance you will not be charged for the extra bag(s) but will be subject to the appropriate handling fee(s).
Preparing firearms for travel - each firearm carried must be accompanied by the appropriate firearms certificate
- the firearm must be unloaded
- if possible the firearm should be dismantled
- the total weight of the ammunition (including shell) must not exceed the allowance of 5kg (11lbs) per passenger per bag
- sharing weight allowance between passengers is not allowed
- there will be no additional cost for the carriage of ammunition packed with the firearm*
- ammunition must be packed in either its original packaging or in a suitable container that prevents movement between shells or cartridges, i.e. loose ammunition is not permitted
- bags with ammunition must not bear 'explosives' labels
- the Heavy Bag Charge will apply to all bags over 23kg
*If ammunition is carried on its own without a firearm, the £50 charge will still apply as special handling for the item is still required.
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Ski
Accepted travel cases are ski boot bags, recognised ski or snowboard bags. Equipment accepted:
One pair of skis, poles and boots or one snowboard and boots.
The majority of skis comply with maximum dimensions, although all skis will be accepted.
Preparing skis and snowboards for travel:
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Ten pin bowling
Ten pin bowling equipment must be packed in a four ball bag or a double ball bag resp. single ball bag
Accepted travel cases:
Must be non rolling carry case. Equipment accepted:
Bowling case with bowling balls and shoes.
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Tennis
Tennis equipment has to be packed in a tour bag or a racket bag.
Accepted travel cases:
Standard single or multiple racket kit bags. Equipment accepted:
Rackets and balls
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All other sporting items
The following items should not be packed in sporting travel cases: - sport clothes
- sports holdalls and bags
- smaller items or accessories such as football shin-pads
We will accept these as part of your checked baggage allowance.
Sporting equipment not acceptable for carriage
Due to the large size and handling complexities, some sporting equipment cannot be accommodated through the airport baggage system or within the aircraft hold. Therefore we no longer accept the following equipment at check-in as part of your sporting equipment allowance. - hang gliders
- windsurfing boards and sails
- surfboards that exceed the maximum dimensions
- kayaks, canoes and oars
- pole vaults
- javelins
- water-skis that exceed the maximum dimensions
Please contact your local freight company to arrange carriage for any items that exceed the permitted weight and size.
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