Special baggage
Check the exact baggage allowance and extra baggage fees for your specific route and travel class.
Sports equipment
Sometimes you will have to make a reservation for the transport of your equipment or need to pay an extra fee, so please check the requirements for your specific sports items.
You can bring your bicycle or tandem with you at a fee, which is calculated based on your travel route. Make sure to reserve for the transport as early as possible, but no later than 48 hours before departure. The sooner you do this, the higher the chance that there’s enough space in the aircraft for your bike. You can reserve this in My Trip, where you’ll also find the exact price and transportation requirements.
Packing your bike
Your bike should be packed in a bike box or other type of packaging designed for bike transportation. You can buy a bike box at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for EUR 30. You can pay with credit card or pin.
Directions: The baggage storage facility is located at Kelderplein. When you follow the signs to Departure Hall 1 & 2 from Plaza on the ground floor, take the elevator down one floor to Kelderplein.
Make sure that you turn the handlebars lengthways along with the frame and that you remove pedals and other parts that are sticking out. We also recommend that you deflate the tyres, so they won't get damaged because of the pressure drop in the hold.
Electric bicycles
Please note that you can only bring an electric bike if you remove the battery. Unfortunately, we cannot transport your e-bike's battery in the cabin or the hold.
A golf set can weigh up to 23 kg in Economy Class and Premium Comfort Class, or up to 32 kg in Business Class. Make sure your golf set consists only of clubs, balls, and a pair of golf shoes. We consider golf equipment as 1 piece of checked baggage.
- Have you booked a Light ticket? This does not include checked baggage. You can buy 1 piece of checked baggage to take your golf equipment with you. In My Trip you can arrange this easily and at a more attractive price than at the airport.
- If you have booked a Standard or Flex ticket, you can take 1 piece of checked baggage with you. That can be golf equipment, so instead of 1 suitcase. You do not need to make a reservation for this. You can also choose to buy an extra piece of checked baggage, so that you can take both a suitcase and a golf set with you. In My Trip you can arrange this easily and at a more attractive price than at the airport.
Flying Blue
Are you a Flying Blue Ultimate, Platinum, Gold, or Silver member and flying with KLM, Air France, Air Corsica, Air Mauritius, or Aircalin? Then you can always take 1 golf bag with you on top of your standard checked baggage allowance. You do not need to make a reservation for this.
You can bring your (water) ski or snowboard equipment instead of an item of checked luggage without having to make a reservation. It can be up to 300 cm (length + width + height) and up to 23 kg in Economy Class and Premium Comfort Class, or 32 kg in Business Class.
A set of ski equipment may only consist of a pair of skis, a pair of ski poles, and a pair of ski boots. A set of snowboard equipment may only consist of a board and a pair of snowboard boots.
Avalanche rescue backpack
You're allowed to bring an avalanche rescue backpack instead of a piece of hand or checked baggage or to pack it in your suitcase. Please be aware that you always need to make a reservation to transport this.
Avalanche rescue backpacks with an explosive trigger mechanism are never allowed in your baggage.
You can bring your surfing equipment instead of an item of checked luggage.
Depending on your type of surfing, the equipment may consist of:
- Surfing equipment: a (wave, boogie, or body) surfboard packed in a surfboard bag.
- Windsurfing equipment: a board, mast, sail, and boom, packed together in a quiver bag.
- Kitesurfing equipment: a board and a kite packed in a kite bag.
You need to make a reservation for the transport if the bag is longer than 107 cm. Note that on flights to or from Canada, Mexico and the United States, an extra fee may apply.
Is your bag longer than 300 cm? Unfortunately, we cannot transport it for you. Please contact a third-party shipping company to help you with transportation.
You can bring your diving equipment instead of an item of checked luggage, but you’ll need to make a reservation for the transport.
A set of diving equipment may only consist of a wetsuit, vest, socks, mask, shoes, flippers, knife, regulator, and air cylinders. Make sure that air cylinders (scuba tanks) are empty, and the valve is open or removed.
Dive lamps
You’re only allowed to bring dive lamps as hand baggage. You should always remove the bulb and batteries during transport.
You can bring your fishing equipment instead of an item of checked baggage without making a reservation.
A set of fishing equipment may only consist of rods, a reel, a landing net, a pair of fishing boots, and a fishing tackle box. Please make sure they are all packed together in 1 package.
You can bring your unloaded firearms and ammunition for shooting and hunting sports in your checked baggage only. Make sure to reserve for transportation well in advance.
Aside from a weapon or a weapon case, you may bring up to 5 kg worth of sports or hunting ammunition, a shooting mat, small tools, and hearing protector. If you’re bringing a rifle, make sure the firearm and ammunition are packed separately.
Required documentation
Make sure you have the required documentation when bringing your firearms and ammunition:
- A license for the weapon
- A filled out and signed declaration form
- Import and export licenses for the countries of departure, transfer, and arrival
- A licence from the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) when travelling to, from, or via the Netherlands
Please note that it may take up to 8 weeks for you to gather all the required licenses. If you do not bring the licenses and declaration form, your weapons could be confiscated at the airport.
Passengers who do not need a license from the Dutch authorities
You do not need to apply for a license from the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingdienst) if you are:
- living in the Netherlands, travelling to or from the Netherlands, and having a valid hunting license for the firearm;
- a member of a Dutch shooting club, travelling to or from the Netherlands, and having a written declaration from the shooting club;
- in possession of an EU passport, travelling within the European Union, and have an official European Firearms Pass in your name for the firearm you’re bringing;
- in the military and are travelling as instructed by the government (NATO, the United Nations.)
Bringing a firearm to or from South Africa
If you are travelling to or from Johannesburg or Cape Town, a safety fee of EUR 50 per weapon applies. To make sure it’s all arranged, please contact the KLM Customer Contact Centre at least 48 hours before the departure of your flight.
Special baggage for kids
On top of your kids’ bags, you can bring some extra items. Sometimes you will have to make a reservation, so please check the requirements for your specific items.
For each child, you can bring a buggy, stroller, or back carrier without any additional costs.
Are you bringing a collapsible umbrella stroller with a maximum size of 15 x 30 x 100 cm? You can take it with you into the cabin. If KLM Cityhopper operates your flight, or if the stroller does not fit underneath the seat or in the overhead baggage compartment, we'll ask you to check it in at the gate. Of course, this is free of charge.
Larger buggies should always be checked in. No worries, you don’t have to carry your child across the airport. After receiving a tag for your buggy at the check-in desk, you can still take the buggy with you to the departure gate. Once you’re there, please hand it in for loading. The buggy can be covered with a protective cover, but make sure it doesn’t contain any other items.
For each child, you can bring a car seat or Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) without any additional costs.
Bringing your car seat on board
If you booked a seat for your child, we recommend bringing a child car seat on board with you. Because of limited seating options when using a car seat, you need to make a reservation by contacting us. Make sure to do so as early as possible, but at least 48 hours before departure.
The car seat may show no defects, needs to be visibly certified for air transport, and needs to fit between the armrests of the aircraft seat, which is 42 cm wide.
Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s manual when securing the child car seat. During take-off and landing, it may be secured in a rear facing position. At cruising altitude, it must be placed facing forward, to allow recline of the seat in front.
Checking in your car seat
Do you prefer to check in the car seat instead of bringing it on board with you? In that case, the requirements do not apply.
If you booked a seat for your child, you can bring an inflight bed or leg-rest extension without having to make a reservation.
For your child’s safety, please make sure their head is pointing towards the tail of the aircraft to use the safety belt properly. The inflight bed or leg-rest extension should not be directly attached to the seat. During take-off and landing, it cannot be used.
Musical instruments
You can bring your instrument as hand baggage, checked baggage or transport it on an extra seat, depending on the size and weight.
Instruments as hand baggage
You can bring your musical instrument on board with you if it has the size of a regular hand baggage item, it’s properly packed, and it can fit in the overhead compartment of our aircraft: maximum 55 x 35 x 25 cm and up to 12 kg in Economy Class and Premium Comfort Class, or 18 kg in Business Class. In that case, you don’t have to make a reservation. If an instrument is larger than hand baggage size, it can only be accepted on an extra seat or in the hold.
Please note that if you carry a musical instrument as hand baggage, you’re not permitted to bring a trolley or additional hand baggage, except for a small accessory.
Instruments on an extra seat
If your musical instrument weighs up to 45 kg, you can store it on an extra seat. The maximum allowed height of your instrument is 140 cm. On European flights operated by Embraer aircraft, this is 122 cm. An exception on these flights is made for cellos. The maximum allowed height of your cello on our Embraer aircraft is 140cm and its maximum depth is 33cm. Please note that your own seat and the extra seat for your instrument need to be booked at the same time. You can easily arrange this by contacting our Customer Contact Centre.
Instruments as checked baggage
You can bring your musical instrument instead of an item of checked baggage. Is your instrument heavier or larger than allowed in your ticket? You'll have to pay the excess fee for overweight or oversized baggage.
Does your musical instrument weigh between 32 kg and 45 kg or is it larger than 300 cm (length + width + height)? You’ll have to make a reservation to bring it with you. Please arrange this as early as possible, but no later than 48 hours before departure.
Instruments as cargo
Does your musical instrument weigh more than 45 kg? Unfortunately, we cannot transport it for you. Please contact a third-party shipping company to help you with transportation.
Wedding dress
First things first: congratulations on your wedding day! You can always bring your dress instead of an item of checked baggage.
If you’re flying intercontinental and there’s enough storage space, you can bring it on board with you instead of an item of hand baggage. Please make sure it’s packed in a clothing bag that meets the regular hand baggage weight and size restrictions. If there’s not enough storage space, we'll ask you to check it in at the gate.
Urn or coffin
We’re sorry for your loss. Guiding you through the preparations for urn or coffin transportation after a loved one has passed away is essential to us.
Urn
You can bring an urn either in your hand baggage or checked baggage, as long as it’s not made of metal. Make sure it’s sealed and wrapped, so other passengers cannot identify it as an urn. Please note that you need to show the crematorium certificate during the security check at the airport. This also applies when you transport the urn in your checked baggage.
Coffin
Please contact a specialised funeral director or cargo agent if you need to escort or transport a coffin. They can help you make the necessary arrangements and will let us know that you’re escorting a coffin.
Other types of special baggage
Is your item not mentioned on this page? Always contact your travel agency or the KLM Customer Contact Centre to be sure what you can bring.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can. You’re allowed to bring a free stroller, pram or baby carrier per child.
Small, collapsible strollers (maximum size 15 x 30 x 100 cm), can often come into the cabin with you. If it’s very busy, we may ask you at the gate to check in your stroller or pram.
Larger strollers or prams always need to be checked in. You will receive a label for your stroller at the check-in desk, and you will be able to use it until you reach the gate. There, you can hand it over to our ground crew.
Read more about
Bringing your own wheelchair
Your options when you would like to bring your own wheelchair on board or in the hold.
Reservation for pets
Make a reservation for your dog or cat and prepare them for their journey in the cabin or hold.
Baggage drop-off
Where you can drop off your check-in baggage and at what times.