Special baggage

Due to coronavirus, there are changes in our airport and inflight services. Checklist for safe travelling

We want to make travelling easy for you – also when you have special baggage with you. There are a bunch of things that are good to know before starting your journey. We hope that you get started with the quick checklist below.

Good to know before you go

Special baggage is usually anything larger or heavier than standard baggage. A standard bag weighs a maximum of 23kg/50lb (Economy Class, Premium Economy Class) and 32kg/70lb (Business Class) and its external dimensions (length + width + height) are no more than 158cm/62in.

The following sports items are also considered special baggage:
- Ski jumping equipment and skis longer than 220cm
- Bicycles
- Sports guns and firearms
- Windsurfing boards, canoes and kayaks
- Vaulting poles.
Please contact us via our chat service to notify us about your special baggage and to book transportation for it. Just open the chat and select “Informing about special baggage”. We ask you to let us know about special baggage in advance to make sure that there is room for it in the aircraft hold and that everything goes smoothly for you at the airport. We are working on a digital solution that in the future will allow you to register special baggage directly via the Manage Booking self-service.
Please note that a group of ten or more people travelling with skis also need to contact us regarding special baggage transportation.
Please note that currently you do not need to inform us about sports equipment that is packed to fit into the weight and size limits of standard baggage. You also do not need to inform us for:
- Skis with maximum length of 220cm and maximum weight of 23kg
- Surfboards with a maximum length of 190cm and maximum weight of 23kg.
Also, most musical instruments can be carried as part of the normal baggage allowance. You’ll find detailed information on carrying these items further below.
You can transport special baggage on our flights either as part of your regular baggage allowance or for an extra charge depending on your baggage allowance, the number of bags you have with you and the size of your special baggage. Please see this page for information about baggage fees.
Your baggage allowance is printed on your ticket, e.g. 1 PC means one bag. You can also check it through Manage booking or the Finnair app.
Please note that instructions for carrying special baggage vary between airlines. If your trip includes flights operated by other airlines, it is good to check their baggage regulations.

Pay for extra baggage

Sports equipment

Travelling for sports? We are happy to carry your equipment on our flights. Please check below for more details on carrying your equipment.

Sports equipment is considered a standard bag, if it weighs no more than 23kg (50lb) and its external dimensions (length + width + height) are no bigger than 158cm (62in). Some exceptions apply to golf bags, hockey and skiing equipment and surfboards, but if your equipment exceeds the standard measurements, you can take it with you for an extra charge.

Skiing or snowboarding equipment is considered one piece of standard baggage, unless the ski shoes, snowboard shoes, or poles are packed in a separate bag (in which case your skiing equipment would be checked in as 2 pieces).
You can carry your equipment as part of your baggage allowance depending on your allowance, the total number of bags you have with you and the size of your equipment.
Normally you can carry skiing equipment that is within your baggage allowance without informing us in advance. If you are travelling in a group of ten or more people and you all have skis with you, please inform us by chat or phone about the skis in advance.
Want to carry your skiing equipment as extra baggage? Please purchase it in advance at a lower price online through Manage booking.
Finnair Plus Gold and Platinum members are allowed to carry one ski or snowboard bag for free.
Ski jumping equipment and other skis longer than 220cm (79in) are counted as oversized items and a heavy bag charge applies. A prior approval is needed from the airline.

Watch the video below to find out what you need to know in advance and how to pack your skiing equipment safely for your flight.

Golf equipment is considered one piece of standard baggage.
Golf equipment may include a set of golf clubs, one golf bag and one pair of golf shoes – all these items count towards the total weight of your golf equipment.
Finnair Plus Gold and Platinum members are allowed to carry one set of golf equipment for free.

Watch the video below to find out what you need to know in advance and how to pack your golf equipment safely for your flight.

Please notify us when you make your flight reservation to ensure that your bike fits on the flight, and arrive at the check-in well in advance of your flight’s departure time as bikes require special handling.
If you already have a flight booking and haven't notified us about the bike, please use our chat service to inform us.
A bicycle must be packed in a protective case meant for transportation of bicycles. Please note that if your bike is not packed appropriately, the airline may not accept it for transport and the liability in case of damage is limited.
The maximum weight for a bicycle is 23kg. If your bike is heavier, heavy baggage fees apply (up to 32kg).
Electric bikes cannot be transported as checked baggage, even if the battery is disconnected or removed.
The transportation fee is €75 or USD/CAD100 for long-haul flights and €55 within Europe and the Middle East. For tandem bikes the fee is double. Fees are for flights in one direction. Please note that you need to pay the fee in advance; you can get the payment link via our chat service.

Watch the video below to find out what you need to know in advance and how to pack your bike safely for your flight.

Diving equipment (without air tanks) is considered one piece of baggage.
If the diving equipment includes air tanks, you will need to pay a heavy bag charge at the airport.
Air tanks must be fully emptied prior to transportation.
Finnair Plus Gold and Platinum members are allowed to carry one set of diving equipment for free.

Firearms for sports or hunting may be carried in checked baggage, but prior approval from Finnair is needed. If you already have a booking, you can notify us about the firearm through our chat service. Please note:

Make sure you have all the required permits and licenses by consulting the embassy of the destination country. It is not possible to travel with weapons to/via London Heathrow or to/from Hong Kong.
A firearm case may contain maximum 2 rifles or shotguns (long arm) or 5 guns (short arm), and it is considered one piece of standard baggage.
The firearm must be unloaded and packed in a sturdy package.
Cartridges may be carried in checked baggage when securely boxed and the quantity (including the packaging) does not exceed 5 kg (11 lb). The ammunition may not include explosive or incendiary bullets, and its classification must be 1.4S and the UN number either UN0012 or UN0014. Read more here. The ammunition must always be packed in a separate suitcase from the firearm.
For transporting firearms, a handling fee of €45 on short-haul flights (within Finland, Scandinavia, Baltics, Europe, Russia and Middle East) and €80/$90 on intercontinental flights per firearm case is always collected. The handling fee includes one (1) extra piece of baggage up to 23kg. Firearm and ammunition always need to be packed in separate suitcases. In case the baggage allowance (ticketed allowance plus the one piece of extra baggage included in the handling fee) is exceeded, an extra bag charge also applies.
These conditions also apply to the transportation of replicas, decommissioned guns and guns for game purposes, e.g. airsoft and paintball guns.
If you are carrying guns, it is not possible to check in your baggage the evening prior to departure.

Surfboards with a maximum length of 190cm (75in) and maximum weight of 23kg (50lb) are considered one piece of standard baggage. If you do not exceed your baggage allowance, no extra charge applies. If the board and the sail are packed separately, they are considered as two separate checked-in bags.
If a surfboard exceeds the maximum measurements (190cm x 75cm x 65cm or 75in x 29.5in x 25.5in), a charge of €150 or USD/CAD170 is collected at the airport.
For carrying windsurfing boards, canoes and kayaks, an extra charge of €150 or USD/CAD200 is always collected at the airport. The fee is for flights in one direction.
Please notify us when you make your flight reservation and ensure that you arrive at the check-in well in advance of your flight’s departure time.

Watch the video below to find out what you need to know in advance if you are travelling with a surfboard or wakeboard.

Fishing equipment is considered one piece of standard baggage.
A set of fishing equipment may consist of 1 or 2 rods, a reel, a landing net, a pair of fishing boots and a bait box, all packed together.

Hockey equipment is considered one piece of standard baggage, unless the hockey sticks are carried separately (in which case your hockey equipment would be checked in as 2 pieces).

Walking poles are always carried as checked baggage.
If walking poles are carried separately, they count as one piece of baggage.

Vaulting poles are always carried as checked baggage.
An extra fee is always collected for carrying vaulting poles. The extra fee is €75 or USD/CAD100 on intercontinental flights and €55 or USD/CAD55 on European flights. The fee is for flights in one direction.
The fee for vaulting poles depends on the baggage allowance of your ticket as well as how much other baggage you’re taking with you. If your ticket bears the code “1 PC”, you can take a vaulting pole with just the vaulting pole extra fee. If you wish to travel with a vaulting pole and checked baggage, you will need to pay an extra bag charge on top of the extra fee.
If you’re travelling on a scheduled Finnair flight, you can pay your excess baggage fees on via Manage booking.
Please notify Finnair Customer Care when you make your flight reservation and ensure that you arrive at the check-in well in advance of your flight’s departure time.

Musical instruments

You can take your musical instrument with you on our flights. Depending on their size, musical instruments are carried either in the cabin or in the hold of the aircraft. Most musical instruments fit in your normal baggage allowance. Each item counts as one piece of baggage. You’ll find more information below.

Musical instruments in the cabin

You can bring your musical instrument in the cabin when it is packed in a hard case with dimensions no bigger than 125cm/49in (width + length + height, the typical size of a violin case) and the weight is the allowed carry-on baggage weight at maximum. Please place your instrument in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.
The musical instrument is counted as one piece of carry-on baggage, and in addition to that you can take with you one personal item such as a small handbag, a small laptop bag or a small backpack.
If you want to take your instrument in the cabin but it exceeds the size limit (125cm/49in and 8kg/10kg), you can do so by purchasing an extra seat. Please contact our Customer Service by chat or phone to book the extra seat.

Musical instruments as checked baggage

You can carry your musical instrument as checked baggage in the hold of the aircraft when the instrument fits into the size limits: maximum 23kg (50lb) and external dimensions no more than 158cm (62in). Some exceptions to external dimensions apply: For example, guitars and medium-sized keyboards are considered a standard bag.
Larger musical instruments up to 32kg and/or 190cm x 75cm x 65cm can be carried for an additional heavy bag charge.
If you wish to carry even larger musical instruments exceeding all of the above measures, please contact our Customer Service via chat or phone before you travel. We will do our best to ensure you can carry your instrument with you easily.

Watch the video below to find out what you need to know in advance if you are travelling with musical instruments.

This information applies to all flights operated by Finnair – if your trip includes flights operated by other airlines, please check their baggage regulations.