Sports baggage and special baggage
You can easily take your sports equipment with you on Lufthansa flights. You can find out more about our services and what you need to know here. Sports baggage that exceeds the free baggage allowance will be charged at a flat rate.
Registration of sports equipment
There is only limited storage space available for sports equipment. Therefore, we recommend that you register the sports equipment you want to take with you as early as possible. You can register via your travel agency or the following online form.
You can only register up to 24 hours before departure, and our limited storage space for sports equipment may already be used up. Please quote your booking code when making your reservation.
Please settle any flat rate payments that may arise directly at a Lufthansa Service counter at the airport. Sports equipment can be counted as part of your free baggage provided that the number of items and the weight do not exceed the free baggage allowance for your travel class. This does not, however, apply to the Economy Light fare.
* Please note that registration of sports baggage is in English for some countries.
Prices and rules for the chargeable carriage of sports equipment
If your sports equipment exceeds the free baggage allowance and the weight limit of the respective travel class, but does not exceed the maximum weight of 32 kg, you will be charged the flat rates for sports equipment.
If your sports equipment is not listed under the Rules for Sports Equipment given below, the carriage of your baggage will be charged in accordance with the flat rates for excess baggage.
Baggage calculator
You can check your free baggage allowance in just a few steps with our baggage calculator – based on route, travel class and fare. It will also give you the prices and dimensions for the carriage of your sports equipment.
Additional sports baggage
The items listed below can be checked in as additional sports baggage. Please check the current prices for your flight by using our baggage calculator.
- 1 item of baggage with one fishing rod
1 item of baggage with fishing gear - Maximum number of baggage items: 2
- Dimensions (height + width + depth): 200 cm, with packaging
- 1 empty oxygen cylinder in one item of baggage
1 item of baggage with one pair of diving goggles, one snorkel, one pair of fins, one wetsuit, one BCD jacket, one regulator and one lamp complying with IATA DGR (Dangerous Goods Regulations) - Maximum number of baggage items: 2
- Dimension (height + width + depth): 200 cm
- One board that can be used for different sports
- Maximum number of baggage items: 1
- Dimension (length only): 200 cm
- One board that can be used for different sports
- Maximum number of baggage items: 1
- Dimensions (length only): 315 cm
- 1 standard bicycle (non-motorised/no e-bikes) OR
1 children’s bicycle trailer OR
1 unicycle - Maximum number of baggage items: 1
- Dimension (height + width + depth): 280 cm
Packaging information:
bicycles will only be accepted if they are packaged in a suitable bicycle case or a similar container. Lufthansa is not able to provide you with packaging.
- One tandem with a maximum of 2 seats (non-motorised/no e-bike)
- Maximum number of baggage items: 1
- Dimension (height + width + depth): 350 cm
- Dimensions (length): 315 cm
- 1 golf bag with a set of golf clubs, golf balls and tees
one pair of golf shoes - Maximum number of baggage items: 1
- Dimension (height + width + depth): 220 cm
Packaging information:
all items must be packed in the golf bag. All battery-driven golf trolleys are prohibited.
Please note:
golfing equipment is transported free of charge for our status customers: HON Circle Members, Senators and Star Alliance Gold members. This does not apply if they are travelling on the Economy Class Light fare and excludes routes to/from the USA and Canada. For SWISS Golf Traveller members, golfing equipment up to 23 kg is transported free of charge on flights operated by Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines on all routes. This does not apply if they are travelling on the Economy Class Light fare.
- 1 hockey bag
1 hockey stick
1 pair of ice skates
1 set of body protectors
1 helmet - Maximum number of baggage items: 2
- Dimension (height + width + depth): 200 cm
- 1 item of baggage with one pair of skis OR one snowboard
1 item of baggage with one pair of ski poles and one pair of ski OR snowboard boots
1 helmet - Maximum number of baggage items: 2
- Dimension (length only): 200 cm
Information about carriage:
In addition to your free baggage allowance, you may take one piece of skiing equipment with you free of charge on your Lufthansa flight (except on flights to and from the USA, Mexico and Central America).
On the Economy Class Light fare, free transport of skiing equipment instead of a booked item of baggage, or in addition to a booked item of baggage, is not included.
The weight of skiing equipment must be within the weight restrictions for the respective travel class.
Information about checking in your ski bag:
your skiing equipment is always transported as bulky baggage. You can therefore check it in at the counters especially provided for this purpose at the airport. At Munich Airport, you can check your ski bag in at bulky baggage counters 425–426 and at Frankfurt Airport, at bulky baggage counter 445. Please make sure that you arrive at the airport with your bulky baggage in plenty of time for your flight. At Frankfurt, you should arrive at check-in at least 60 minutes before departure.
Special regulations apply to the transportation of sporting and hunting firearms and ammunition.
Several firearms can be booked per passenger.
Check in with this baggage at least 120 minutes before departure. Register the transportation of firearms or ammunition with our Service Centre at an early stage.
Passengers are solely responsible for complying with the customs regulations, for the import licence as well as other required documents. This applies both to entering a country and to travelling through it.
In the case of the Lufthansa Group airlines, ammunition must be booked separately as "AMMO" in accordance with the latest IATA standard. Other airlines may not yet be using this standard and may only accept bookings without the separate "AMMO" element.
Firearms
Each firearm must be packed in a secured and unloaded state in a locked transport container intended for this purpose. Several firearms are permitted per transport container.
Ammunition
A maximum of 5 kg of ammunition of the 1.4S, UN 0012 or UN 0014 categories is permitted per passenger. The ammunition must be packed, separate from the firearm, in a rigid container made of wood, metal or fibreboard. This container protects the ammunition from shock, movement and accidental self-detonation. The ammunition must be packed in a lockable ammunition crate on flights to and from South Africa.
Charges
- Domestic: EUR 70
- Europe: EUR 80
- Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia: EUR 100
- Medium intercontinental routes: EUR 200
- Long intercontinental routes: EUR 250
Based on local security measures, an additional airport fee for firearms will always be charged for departures in South Africa (USD 80), Italy (up to EUR 90, depending on the airport), Spain (EUR 60), Turkey (EUR 30), Zurich (CHF 55), Cyprus (EUR 25) and Geneva (CHF 200 or CHF 250 earlier than two hours before departure).
The transportation of firearms to and from London Heathrow (LHR), Aberdeen (ABZ), Edinburgh (EDI), Inverness (INV) and Glasgow (GLA) is forbidden. Please choose another airport in London or Great Britain if you want to take your licensed sporting or hunting firearms with you.
Information about carriage
- Only sporting and hunting firearms, handguns and rifles plus securely boxed ammunition (cartridges for firearms) belonging to Hazard Class 1.4S.
- Checked baggage: yes (N.B.: separate reservations required for the weapon and the ammunition)
- Carry-on baggage: no
- On the person: no
- Carrier’s permission required: yes (This permission is not given in writing. It is given upon request and confirmed verbally at the Service Center or, at the latest, when checking in at the airport.)
- Weapons and ammunition must be packed in different bags in accordance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. If necessary, a special luggage box must be used to separate both items from each other.
- Weapons must be unloaded.
- Ammunition carried in passenger aircraft must be for personal use for sporting and/or hunting purposes only.
- Only ammunition classified as 1.4S, UN0012 or UN0014 will be accepted.
- Each passenger may carry a maximum of 5 kg gross of ammunition (must be weighed) for their own personal use.
- Ammunition must be securely packaged, i.e. in standard commercial packaging.
Prohibited
- Ammunition with explosive or incendiary projectiles.
- Black powder may not be transported under any circumstances.
Please note, however, that it is not possible to book the Lufthansa Express Bus.
- 1 set of hang-gliding equipment in one item of baggage
- Maximum number of baggage items: 1
- Dimension (height + width + depth): 350 cm
- Dimensions (length): 315 cm
Further information about taking sports baggage with you
Make sure each item of baggage is labelled (inside and outside) with your name and your (mobile) phone number before you check it in at the airport. You can get free bag tags and stickers for items of baggage you wish to check in at the check-in counter. You are also welcome to use your own bag tags.
As a general rule, we collect data in order to fulfil the contract of carriage you have agreed with us. This includes passenger and baggage data. So that your baggage can also be carried by other airlines and transferred at airports, we pass on data to the relevant airlines and airports. In addition, we support the German customs authorities in the fulfilment of their legal obligations by allowing limited access to selected data.
Large sports equipment is not counted as part of your free baggage allowance and must always be paid for separately.
Sports equipment that is heavier than 32 kg and longer than 315 cm will not be accepted as travel baggage. You can, however, send these items as air freight.
For information about sending air freight from Germany, you can also contact Lufthansa Cargo in Germany.
Information about sending air freight to other destinations and from other locations is available at the respective local Lufthansa Cargo offices.
Taking musical instruments with you
You have the option of taking your musical instrument with you into the cabin. Depending on the weight and size, you can carry it with you as carry-on baggage or you must book an extra ticket. Furthermore, you can also take your musical instrument with you as an additional item of baggage and check it in.
Please ensure that your musical instrument is packed in a hard protective case with as little room for movement as possible and with good padding. Only in such a way can we ensure that it cannot be damaged by being carried in the cargo hold. This also applies to musical instruments that cannot be accepted as carry-on baggage in the cabin and have to be loaded at short notice. Traditional transport cases are not suitable for transporting.
You can take your musical instrument with you into the cabin free of charge as long as its dimensions do not exceed 55 x 40 x 23 cm (height x width x depth) and its weight does not exceed 8 kg. Please bear in mind that your musical instrument thereby replaces a permitted item of carry-on baggage and that, where applicable, you may not take any further item of carry-on baggage on board with you.
If your musical instrument exceeds the dimensions of 55 x 40 x 23 cm and/or the weight of 8 kg, an additional seat must be booked. This must be done when booking your ticket. Please be sure to contact our Service Center to do this. Prices for taking your musical instrument with you depend on the ticket prices available. Musical instruments that you wish to book to be taken with you into the cabin may not exceed the following dimension and weight specifications:
- 55 x 42 x 25 cm (height x width x depth) for musical instruments that stand on the floor in front of the seat
- 110 x 42 x 50 cm (height x width x depth) for musical instruments that are strapped to the seat
- Maximum weight 75 kg
You can also check in your musical instrument as an additional item of baggage as long as it complies with the excess baggage dimensions. You can find information on the dimension and weight limits permitted on your flight in our baggage calculator.