Special equipment and other items

We know that often, the items you need to take with you when you fly won’t fit neatly in your suitcase. With our flexible baggage policy, we help you travel with everything you need.

From 1 June 2026, you can carry one golf bag as part of your checked baggage allowance. This applies to all tickets, regardless of when you booked your flight.

 

Each bag may contain golf clubs, golf balls, an umbrella and one pair of golf shoes. Please ensure that all equipment is securely packed for safe transport.

 

Additional charges will apply if the total number of pieces or overall weight exceeds your checked baggage allowance.

 

Flights to the U.S. and Canada:

Your golf bag counts as one checked bag within your allowance. If you check more bags than your allowance includes, additional charges will apply.

 

Flights to the rest of the world:

Your golf bag counts towards your total checked baggage allowance. If the total weight is over your allowance, additional charges will apply.

Scuba diving equipment can be included as part of your baggage allowance as long as they do not exceed the maximum dimensions of 300cm. Some airports may have stricter size restrictions, so check their guidelines before bringing your equipment.

 

A set of scuba diving equipment includes:

  • Scuba regulator
  • Tank harness
  • Tank pressure gauge (pressure-sensitive devices may need special packaging: the manufacturer will be able to highlight any specific packing requirements)
  • Face mask, fins and snorkel
  • Buoyancy control device (BCD)
  • Weight belt
  • Cylinder tank (must be empty and presented at check-in for inspection)

Spear guns and harpoons are not permitted in your checked or cabin baggage without approval. You must obtain the relevant permits from all countries that you are visiting or transiting through at least seven days before your journey. For your health and safety, we recommend you pack your diving equipment in hard or padded case.

You can take a set of skis or snowboard equipment as part of your checked baggage allowance.

Use a bag made for skis and snowboards to carry your equipment – this must be no longer than 300cm. Some airports may have stricter size restrictions, so check their guidelines before bringing your equipment. Longer equipment must be carried as cargo.

 

A set of ski equipment includes:

  • One pair of skis
  • One pair of ski poles
  • One pair of ski boots

 

A set of snowboard equipment includes:

  • One snowboard
  • One pair of boots

 

A set of water ski equipment includes one pair of standard water skis OR one slalom water ski.

Skis, snowboards and boots can be packed in your checked baggage provided it doesn’t exceed the maximum weight or dimension allowance – you will be charged at the airport if it does. 

You may carry a boot-bag as cabin baggage as long as it is within the cabin baggage allowance and dimensions. Otherwise, you will be asked to check the bag in.

You can take surfboards and water sports boards as part of your checked baggage allowance. They must be no longer than 300cm, otherwise they must be carried as cargo. Some airports may have stricter size restrictions, so check their guidelines before bringing your equipment.

 

This includes:

  • Surfboards
  • Wakeboards
  • Wave skis
  • Boogie boards
  • Skim boards
  • Paddle boards
  • Speed boards
  • Kiteboard / kitesurf

 

Keels, kedges, and/or fins must be removed or properly protected.

You can take a set of fishing equipment as part of your checked baggage allowance. They must be no longer than 300cm, otherwise they must be carried as cargo. Some airports may have stricter size restrictions, so check their guidelines before bringing your equipment.

 

A set of fishing equipment includes:

  • Two rods
  • One reel
  • One landing net
  • One pair of fishing boots
  • One tackle box

 

All equipment must be carried in one package.

Bikes can be included as part of your baggage allowance as long as they do not exceed the maximum dimensions of 300cm. Make sure your bike is carefully packed in a protective case or bike box. Before you travel, please remove or fix the pedals inwards. The handlebars must be fixed sideways and tyres deflated to reduce the risk of damage. If you need to carry additional parts, you may be required to buy additional baggage. Some airports may have stricter size restrictions, so check their guidelines before bringing your equipment.

If you're carrying a football, basketball or any other inflatable ball in your checked or cabin baggage, it must be deflated before your flight.

You will be charged an oversized baggage fee of USD $100 if the TV dimensions are 40 inches or above for flights to or from all our destinations.

Due to restricted airport facilities, we will be unable to accept any televisions over 42 inches from King Fahd International Airport in Dammam..

For safety reasons, loose or spare batteries and power banks are not permitted in your checked baggage. They must be placed into your cabin bag individually wrapped or protected.

Lithium batteries 

The output of Lithium-ion batteries must not exceed 100Wh and their metal content must not exceed 2g. Only two lithium batteries that meet this criteria may be carried. Any lithium batteries between 100Wh and 160Wh will require authorisation, where Wh is above this or cannot be established the battery/device will not be accepted on board.  

Non-lithium batteries

You can carry a maximum of 10 loose or spare batteries of 100Wh or less. If Wh are between 100Wh and 160 Wh only two may be brought with you. If what you require exceeds this, get in touch with us for approval of carriage. 

Power banks

The use of power banks on board is strictly prohibited. This includes charging your power bank on board and using it to charge a device. The same watt-hour restrictions that apply to non-lithium batteries apply to power banks.

You may carry up to 15 electronic devices (including a laptop, tablet, e-reader, mobile phone or medical device) on your flight with us, in both your cabin or checked baggage. Any device in checked baggage must be completely switched off (not in sleep or hibernation mode) and protected from damage.

Apple MacBook Pro

Following a safety recall of certain models, all Apple MacBook Pro laptops are only permitted as cabin baggage and cannot be carried within your checked baggage. If your laptop has been recalled, it must remain powered off throughout the flight and cannot be charged on board.

Find out if your laptop has been affected by entering the serial number here.

E-cigarettes, e-pipes and other personal vaporisers must be placed in your cabin-baggage. As these devices are prohibited in some countries always check country restrictions before you fly. Where these are battery-operated, please refer to power banks and batteries.

You can carry your drone as part of your baggage allowance. If your drone is lithium battery-operated, the battery Watt Hour (Wh) rating must not exceed 160Wh and the following applies

  • If the drone's battery is non-removable and the Wh rating cannot be verified, it will not be accepted for carriage.
  • If the drone's battery is removable and the Wh rating cannot be verified, you may choose to travel only with the drone. The battery, in this case, will be disposed of locally.
  • The drone must remain completely switched off and protected from damage at all times . You must not operate the drone within the airport premises (this includes buses, gates, corridors, trains, duty-free areas, etc.) or onboard the aircraft
  • A maximum of two spare batteries not exceeding 160Wh, individually protected, may be carried as cabin baggage only.

Small musical instruments that fit within our standard cabin baggage dimensions are permitted on board as part of your cabin baggage allowance.

You are permitted to carry musical instruments as part of your checked baggage allowance.

 

If the instrument exceeds standard checked baggage dimensions, you will be charged an oversized baggage fee. They must weigh no more than 32kg and not exceed the maximum linear dimension of 300cm (length + width + height).

 

Alternatively, you may wish to purchase an additional, full-fare seat for your instrument. You will only be permitted to carry large instruments within the below dimensions if you are sitting in a row with the bulkhead/ lavatory wall behind you:

 

Height: 155cm/61”

 

Depth:  22cm/9”

 

Width:  43cm/17”

 

Weight: 75kg/165lbs

Guests with visual or hearing impairments can request wheelchair assistance online via Manage Trip. For guests with physical or mobility impairments who require wheelchair assistance, please contact our  Contact Centres, Live Chat bot, or virtual Whatspp assistant up to 48 hours before your flight., or you can bring your own wheelchair or assistive device for free in addition to your checked baggage allowance. They must be:

 

  • Up to 120cm in height 
  • Weigh no more than 60kg 

 If your wheelchair is battery-powered, you must have prior approval to bring it on board. 

 

You may also use and carry a walking stick, collapsible crutches, prosthetic aids or braces in addition to your standard cabin allowance. Please ensure you advise us of any special service requests at least 24 hours before your flight. 

To check which medical devices are permitted on board and for more information about carrying medical equipment, visit etihad.com/medicalassistance.

You can transport cremated remains in an urn in your checked baggage or as cargo on all Etihad Airways flights. The carriage of ashes in the cabin is strictly prohibited. 

The casket or urn must be packed in a secured outer box or case, and documentation including a cremation and death certificate issued by the appropriate authorities must be presented to authorities upon request.

To transport a coffin, please contact Etihad Cargo

If you’d prefer us to take care of the difficult details, we offer a repatriation process for cremated and human remains worldwide. 

Find out more