Baggage Rules

All baggage a passenger carries, whether as hand luggage or in the aircraft hold, must be screened at check-in. In this way the airline takes responsibility for flight safety and for the safekeeping of items marked with a baggage tag.

Baggage allowances

Free baggage is governed by allowances that depend on the route and the class of service. On some routes the allowance may be higher. This information is confirmed when you buy your ticket.

Under current international standards, the free baggage allowance for adults and children over 2 years old depends on the class of service:

First class – up to 40 kg. Size of each piece – up to 203 cm;
Business class – up to 30 kg. Size of each piece – up to 203 cm;
Economy class – up to 20 kg. Size of each piece – up to 158 cm.

Passengers in any class may also take unchecked hand luggage into the cabin. It may weigh no more than 5 to 10 kg and counts towards the total free allowance. Excess baggage is paid for separately at the rates in effect on the day it is checked in.

Additional information

The free baggage allowance for an infant under 2 years old without a separate seat is up to 10 kg. Children travelling on their own seats, regardless of age, receive the standard allowance for the class of service;
Free baggage allowances do not apply to musical instruments and animals. These categories are carried under separate rules and rates;
Baggage dimensions include handles and wheels;
The airline is responsible for tagged checked baggage; the passenger is responsible for the safekeeping of unchecked hand luggage.

What counts as hand luggage

A plastic bag, handbag, briefcase or document folder;
Books, magazines and other printed matter;
Small devices: a camera, laptop, video camera, binoculars;
Clothing and accessories: garments, an umbrella, a blanket;
Baby food and a portable baby carrier;
Medical items: a walking stick, crutches, a wheelchair, etc.;
Duty Free purchases whose size and weight are within the set limits.

Items prohibited in the passenger cabin

Firearms and projectile weapons: pistols, revolvers, rifles, flare guns, starting pistols and replicas, including toys, that imitate these weapons, as well as parts of the above items, except telescopic sights. Also prohibited are spearguns and harpoons for underwater fishing, bows and crossbows, arrows, catapults, slingshots, air rifles, pellet guns and BB guns;
Stun or incapacitating devices, including aerosol sprays;
Sharp objects that can cause injury: knives, axes, cutters, cleavers, blades of any shape, design and purpose, as well as swords, sabres and martial arts equipment;
Work tools that could threaten the safety of the flight and the health of passengers if carried in the cabin: drills, drill bits, crowbars, various bladed tools, saws, blowtorches, etc.;
Potentially dangerous blunt objects that can be used to strike: baseball and softball bats, police batons, martial arts equipment;
Ammunition, incendiary and explosive substances;
Any liquids, aerosols and gels, except those for medical use carried with special permission;

The full list of permitted and prohibited items is available on airport websites.

Carriage of animals and birds

Animals and birds are carried under the rules set by the airline:

Pets and birds travel in the aircraft hold;
When booking, the passenger states how many animals and birds will be carried;
To arrange carriage, the owner must hold a valid veterinary certificate and any other documents the carrier airline requires;
Birds and animals carried in the hold must be placed in a sturdy container or cage with a deep tray, secure locks and a top cover made of light-proof fabric. The bottom of the cage must be lined with absorbent material;
The passenger who owns the animals or birds is responsible for any consequences of the flight. The passenger also undertakes to compensate for any losses and additional costs arising during carriage.