Special baggage

You can bring different kinds of unusual and special baggage with you on your KLM flight: your bicycle, sports equipment, musical instrument, extra items for kids, or a wedding dress. Here, you’ll find out how to bring them with you and when to make a reservation.

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.

Open all

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.

Reserve bicycle transport

Packing your bike

Your bike should be packed in a bike box or other packaging designed for transporting bicycles. Bike boxes are available at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. You can pay by credit card or debit card.

Directions: The baggage storage facility is located at Kelderplein. From Plaza on the ground floor, follow the signs to Departure Hall 1 & 2, then take the elevator down one floor to Kelderplein.

Read more on the Schiphol website

Make sure the handlebars are turned lengthways along the frame, and remove the pedals and any other parts that stick out. We also recommend deflating the tires to help prevent damage from pressure changes 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.

Read more about battery restrictions

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 gear as 1 piece of checked baggage.

  • Booked a Basic or Light ticket? This does not include checked baggage. You can buy 1 piece of checked baggage to take your golf gear with you. In My Trip, you can arrange this easily and at a more attractive price than at the airport.
  • Booked a Standard or Flex ticket? Then you can bring 1 piece of checked baggage. That can be golf gear, 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

Want to bring a dive lamp? You’re only allowed to bring it into the aircraft's cabin. 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.

View more on the required license from the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration

Open declaration form

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

Traveling to or from Cape Town or Johannesburg? You'll need to pay a safety fee of EUR 50 per bag with 1 or more weapons, per one-way flight. The fee applies to baggage containing weapons, ammunition, or both. Please contact the KLM Customer Contact Center at least 48 hours before departure. We'll make sure you're good to go.

Special baggage for kids

In addition to your kids' baggage, you can bring extra items like a buggy or car seat. You may need to make a reservation, so please check the requirements for your items.

Open all

You can bring 1 buggy, stroller, or back carrier for each child free of charge. 

 

Large buggies, strollers, and back carriers

These buggies, strollers, and back carriers must be checked in at the check-in desk:

  • Buggies and strollers larger than 15 x 30 x 100 cm
  • Buggies and strollers larger than the maximum hand baggage size (55 x 35 x 25 cm) 
  • Buggies and strollers that are heavier than 10 kg 
  • Back carriers of any size or weight 

Tip: Bring a baby carrier or sling to carry your baby comfortably at the airport. 

 

Small, collapsible buggies and strollers 

You can take your buggy or stroller to the gate if it's:

  • Fully collapsible
  • No larger than 15 x 30 x 100 cm 
  • No larger than the maximum hand baggage size (55 x 35 x 25 cm when folded)
  • No heavier than 10 kg

 

Buggies and strollers on KLM flights

If there's enough space, you can take your buggy or stroller into the cabin. If the stroller doesn't fit under the seat or in the overhead baggage bin, it will be placed it in the hold at the gate. Please note that back carriers must always be checked in.

 

Collecting your buggy, stroller, or back carrier upon arrival for KLM flights

If your buggy or stroller was checked in, you can collect it at the baggage belt. You can also collect your back carrier — which must always be checked in — at the baggage belt.

Depending on the airport, you may collect your buggy, stroller, or back carrier at the odd-size baggage belt. Please follow the signs to the odd-size baggage belt , or ask an agent for directions.

 

Buggies and strollers on KLM Cityhopper flights

Because space on board is limited, your buggy or stroller will always be placed in the hold at the gate. 

Please note that back carriers must always be checked in.

 

Collecting your buggy, stroller, or back carrier upon arrival for KLM Cityhopper flights Depending on your destination, your buggy or stroller may be handed to you immediately after you exit the airplane. If not, you can collect your buggy or stroller at the baggage belt. There, you can also collect your back carrier — which must always be checked in. 

 

For each child, you can bring a car seat or Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) free of charge.

Booster seats are not allowed on our flights.

Bringing your car seat on board

When to use a CAR seat or CARES

  • Traveling with a baby up to 2 years old? You don't have to book a seat for them. You also won't need a car seat or CARES . However, your little one must sit on your lap during the flight.
  • Booked a seat for a baby up to 2 years old? You won't need to bring a car seat or CARES if your baby sits on your lap during taxiing, takeoff, and landing.
  • Traveling with multiple babies up to 2 years old? One baby can sit on your lap. If there are no other adults in your booking who can take a child on their lap, the other babies must use their own seats. You'll then need to bring one car seat or CARES harness for each child.

Contact us to make a reservation for your car seat or CARES

Because seating options for car seats or CARES are limited, you'll need to make a reservation for these items. You can do so by contacting us — the earlier, the better! You can make a reservation up to 48 hours before departure.

 

Car seat requirements

The car seat must:

  • Not show any defects.
  • Be owned by the accompanying adult.
  • Be visibly certified for air transport.
  • Have a manual showing compatibility with the aircraft's two-point seat belt.
  • Fit between the armrests of the airplane seat, which is 42 cm wide.

The child using the car seat must:

  • Have their own seat. If they don't, the car seat must be checked in. 
  • Sit next to their accompanying adult, at a window seat in outer rows or a middle seat in center rows, near a cabin door.

Boeing 787 Business Class: no car seats allowed

Please note car seats are not allowed in Business Class on Boeing 787 airplanes.

Securing your car seat on board

When you're securing your child's car seat, please follow the manufacturer's manual. During takeoff and landing, you can secure it in a rear-facing position. When the fasten-seatbelt sign is off, you must place the car seat facing forward. That way, the seat in front of it can recline.

Checking in your car seat?

If you're checking in your child's car seat, these requirements do not apply.

If you book a seat for your child, you can bring an inflight bed or leg-rest extension. You won't need to make a reservation.

Safety

For your child’s safety, please make sure their head is pointing towards the airplane's tail. That way, they can use the safety belt properly. Do not directly attach your inflight bed or leg-rest extension to the seat. Finally, you cannot use an inflight bed or leg-rest extension during takeoff and landing.

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 piece of hand baggage, it’s properly packed, and it can fit in the overhead bins 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 your instrument exceeds the maximum dimensions allowed for hand baggage, such as a guitar, 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 additional hand baggage, except for a small bag that must be placed under the seat in front of you.

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 140 cm and its maximum depth is 33 cm. 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 a piece of checked baggage.

If you’re flying intercontinental and there’s enough storage space, you can bring it on board with you instead of your 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 small bag, 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

Open all

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.