Special baggage items

Customers travelling with balls intended for sports (such as footballs, basketballs and soccer balls), can bring them in their carry-on or checked baggage. Balls must be partially deflated (containing no more than 70% of the balls air capacity) to avoid any incidents due to the change in pressure on board the aircraft.

Customers travelling with a bicycle should consider the below packaging options and guidelines:

• Strong, custom-made cardboard box.
• Bike case. 

Qatar airways advises customers to use foam tubes around bike parts to ensure better protection of the parts if the bike is packed in a box. 

*Note: tyres must be deflated, pedals must be removed, and handlebars must be turned and fixed lengthways. 

Customers travelling with ski equipment should consider the below packaging options and packing guidelines:

• Place your ski equipment in a ski bag.
• Make sure the bag is well padded to protect ski equipment.

*To ensure maximum protection, Qatar Airways recommends the hard case for ski packaging equipment.

Customers travelling with golf equipment should consider the below recommended packaging options and guidelines:

• Place your golf equipment in a Golf case bag. The case can be a soft case or a hard case bag. 
• Hard cases are preferable to avoid any damage to the equipment.

Customers travelling with a surfboard equipment are advised to consider the below recommended packaging options and guidelines:

1. Surfboard travel bags: Pack your surfboard in bags with reinforced foam padding water-resistant materials, and durable zippers. 

• If your bag dooesnt have padding you might use clothing and towels for padding. 

• Make sure you detach the fins of your surfboard before packing

• If possible, place foab tube around your surfboard for extra padding and protection 

2. Surfboard hard case: A hard case will offer greater protetion for surfboard.

Surfboards and kayaks accepted by Qatar Airways must be:

- Less than 3 m (10 ft) in length 

- The mast / sail is detachable and collapsible 

 Items with greater lengths will be carried as Cargo.

Customers travelling with fishing equipment are advised to consider the below recommended packaging options and guidelines:

• Place the equipment in padded hard cases customiszed for fishing equipment to provide better protection.

Customers travelling with Kayaks are advised to consider the below recommended packaging options and guidelines:

• Always dry off the kayak and accessories before packing them away. This will preserve the condition of your kayak.

• deflate the kayak 

• Fold the sides of the kayak towards the middle and align the spray skirts towards the center. 

• Roll the kayak from the bow to the stern where the air valves are located. This will help to push the air out as you roll it up. 

• Put the skeg protectors on the skegs and pack everything into the carry bag, make sure the bag is well padded.

Please note that Qatar Airways shall accept surfing boards and Kayaks provided that 

• They are less than 3 m (10 ft) in length and 

• The mast / sail is detachable and collapsible 

Items with greater lengths will be carried as Cargo.

Customers travelling with wind surfing equipment are advised to consider the below recommended packaging options and guidelines:

• The windsurfer needs to be dismantled for travel

• A board bag is recommended, and either a separate mast bag and sail/quiver bag, or a bag to accommodate both. 

• Buy separate fin and boom bags (or pack them in with the board and masts respectively). 

• Ensure that the packaging of choice is well-padded and that your equipment has no sharp edges are protruding out of the bag.

Customers travelling with diving equipment are advised to consider the below recommended packaging options and guidelines:

· We recommend to pack your diving equipment in a Scuba Gear bag to protect them, including your fins and diving mask.

· Pack your diving mask in its hard protective case

· Please pack valuable diving equipment such as your diving regulator and your diving computer in your carry-on baggage.

· To pack your buoyancy compensator (BC) make sure all the air is out before packing it. Then fold the sides fairly tightly so it as small as possible.

Customers travelling with trekking equipment are advised to consider the below recommended packaging options and guidelines:

• Make sure your bag is well padded and no sharp edges are protruding from the bag to protect against damage

• Please note that some trekking and hiking equipment including fuel, pocket knives, trekking poles, camping stoves, a multi-tool or a machete and other sharp objects are not to be packed in hand luggage. 

• In general all trekking equipment’s can be packed in the checked baggage, keeping in mind that restrictions might apply in destination airport.

• Wind instruments and Brass Instruments: Trumpets, saxophone, clarinet etc. have their own packaging, like: 

• Instruments in Percussion family: Gong Bass drum, conga, snare drums, long drums, electronic drums,bongo drums, etc.

• String instruments: Guitar , Bass guitar ,violin, cello double bass, banjo ,lutes etc. They are sold in their hard shell cases

• Electronic Instruments: Keyboard, electronic guitar 

Acceptance of such categories should be in its original packing with some foam in its interiors, or it’s advised that the instrument is packed in hard case with soft material to wrap around, to avoid damage during travel.