FAQs

There are 10 FAQs for Baggage.

Checked baggage allowance

Emirates has one of the world's most generous baggage policies. Economy Class customers can check in 30 kg, Business Class travellers 40 kg and if you are flying First Class you can travel with 50 kg of checked baggage. These weights do not apply to itineraries involving USA, Canada and Brazil. Please check our baggage allowance calculator for restrictions and to find out which applies to you.

If you have calculated your allowance to be over 32 kg (71 lb), please note that Dubai Civil Aviation prohibits the acceptance of any one piece of baggage weighing more than 32 kg (71 lb), into, out of or via Dubai International Airport.

Passengers travelling with infants

Checked baggage

Allowances may be based on weight or piece (number of bags). This will be shown on your ticket.

Customers in any class of service who are travelling with an infant are permitted one extra piece of checked-in baggage that may not exceed 22 x 15 x 8 inches (55 x 38 x 20 cm) in size or 22 lb (10 kg) where the weight concept applies and 50 lbs (23 kg) where the piece concept applies.

Cabin baggage

Passengers travelling with infants in any class of service are also permitted one (1) carry-cot for infant food and other in-flight necessities or one (1) fully collapsible stroller, as a carry-on item if cabin space is available or else as checked baggage in the hold.

Handbag: 55 cm x 38 cm x 20 cm (22” x 15” x 8”).

Weight must not exceed 5 kg (11 lb).

Cabin baggage allowance and exceptions

First and Business Class

First and Business Class passengers are permitted two (2) pieces of carry-on baggage: one (1) briefcase plus either one (1) handbag or one (1) garment bag, all subject to the following size and weight limitations:

	Briefcase: 45 cm x 35 cm x 20 cm (18” x 14” x 8”)
	Handbag: 55 cm x 38 cm x 20 cm (22” x 15” x 8”)
	Garment bag: 20 cm (8”) thick when folded.

Total combined weight of both pieces must not exceed 12 kg (26 lb). While duty free purchases of liquor, cigarettes and perfume in reasonable quantities are also permitted in addition to the above, exceptions apply with new liquid restrictions in place.

Economy Class

Economy Class passengers are permitted one (1) piece of carry-on baggage, subject to the following size and weight limitations:

Handbag: 55 cm x 38 cm x 20 cm (22” x 15” x 8”)

Weight must not exceed 7 kg (15 lb). Duty free purchases of liquor, cigarettes and perfume in reasonable quantities are also permitted in addition to the above.

Exceptions

Find out more about allowances for passengers travelling with infants.

For passengers boarding at airports in India, the total dimensions of the bag are not to exceed 115 cm or 45.3” (length + breadth + height).

Exemptions may be granted for oversized hand baggage containing an item or items which are too large to fit within the permitted bag size and are valuable or fragile. Such oversized baggage shall be presented by the passenger for approval at check-in and at the screening point of examination.

‘Wheelie’ bags

Please note that rolling bags with built-in wheels and retractable handles will be permitted as cabin baggage only if the total dimensions (length + width + height) add up to less than 114 cm (45”). The larger, overnight models of this type of bag will not be permitted in the cabin.

 

Transiting or departing from Dubai

Items in excess of the maximum limitations above may not be permitted in the cabin on flights departing from Dubai. If cabin baggage is not accepted by Emirates ground staff a handling fee of AED 50 per item may apply. The baggage will be transferred to the aircraft hold and a checked baggage receipt will be issued.

Liquids, Aerosols and Gels (LAGs) in cabin baggage

In line with regulations recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the following LAGs (liquids, aerosols and gels) restrictions on cabin baggage apply for passengers boarding from or transiting through various other international airports, including Dubai:

1. All liquids, gels and aerosols, pastes, lotions, creams, drinks and other items of similar consistency must be in containers with a capacity no greater than 100 ml. Those carried in containers larger than 100ml will not be accepted, even if the container is only part-filled.

2. These containers must be placed in a transparent re-sealable plastic bag of a maximum capacity not exceeding one (1) litre. Larger bags or bags that are non-sealable, such as fold-over sandwich bags, are not allowed.

3. The containers must fit comfortably within the transparent plastic bag, which is to be completely closed.

4. The plastic bag is to be presented for visual examination at the screening point. Only one transparent plastic bag per passenger will be permitted. 

5. Exemptions will be made for medications, baby milk / foods and special dietary requirements. Appropriate and proportionate means of verifying the nature of such items will need to be available.

To facilitate screening and avoid a cluttered X-ray image, such plastic bags should be presented apart from other cabin baggage, coats, jackets and laptops for separate X-ray screening.

Passengers transiting in countries adhering to these measures may not be able to take duty free liquid goods past the transit security check. 

Note the following: if you are transiting/connecting through Bangkok/Singapore/Kuala Lumpur (BKK/SIN/KUL) and have to exit the aircraft and then re-board to continue, these airports now have strict LAGS rules in place and will remove liquids during transit.

Security Tamper-Evident Bags (STEBS)

LAGs in any volume, purchased at airport retail outlets (e.g. Dubai Duty Free) or on board the aircraft, will not be allowed through security screening points, unless they:

• are carried in a Security Tamper-Evident Bag (STEB); and
• have been protected from unlawful interference by a process of supply chain security (as applied in Dubai).

These bags, which have not yet been standardised internationally, are for the use of passengers who purchase LAGS at airport Duty Free or other outlets and will be in transit to their next destination. Once sealed, the bags cannot be opened and then re-sealed without obvious indications. 

Liquids, Aerosols and Gels (LAGs)  US bound 

Effective 1st February 2009, US bound passengers travelling on direct Emirates flights departing from Dubai International Airport to USA (i.e. Dubai-New York JFK, Dubai-Houston, Dubai-Los Angeles and Dubai-San Francisco) are permitted to carry LAGs items purchased from Duty Free Shops inside Dubai International Airport concourse irrespective of quantity and volume, as cabin baggage. Upon arrival in the US, the passengers would need to place these items (over 100 ml) in their checked baggage for any onward US domestic/international flights.

Region	Liquid Restrictions	STEBs Accepted	Exceptions
Africa	Egypt Kenya Mauritius Nigeria South Africa Tanzania Uganda	South Africa	No liquids are allowed for passengers transiting in Mauritius. For passengers departing from Mauritius, liquids are not allowed. However, liquids purchased at duty free can be carried on board depending on the regulations of the transit/ final destination country.
Asia	China Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Mauritius Pakistan Philippines Seychelles Singapore South Korea Thailand	China Hong Kong Indonesia Malaysia Maldives Singapore South Korea Thailand	No liquids whatsoever are permitted in hand luggage in the Philippines India does not currently accept STEBs
Australia &New Zealand	Australia New Zealand		Australia does not currently accept STEBs
Europe &Americas*	Brazil European Union Iceland Norway Russia Switzerland Turkey UK	Turkey USA*	USA accepts STEBS from shops inside the Dubai Airport concourse. On arrival in the USA, passengers need to place STEBS (over 100 ml) in their checked baggage for any onward domestic/international flights.
Middle East	Bahrain Dubai Kuwait Lebanon Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Yemen	Dubai

All the above information is to the best of our knowledge correct at the time of publishing. Details are subject to change with little or no notice. Please contact your local Emirates office, departure airport or follow the links to the individual regulatory authorities above for further information.
View more information on EU hand baggage regulations and FAQs here.

* The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented a series of security measures for commercial flights regarding hand baggage, although broadly similar to the EU regulations the quantities of fluids and gels allowed are slightly different.

Please note that laser pointers are also prohibited on board Emirates aircraft. Find more information on the TSA advisory on security measures, and a list of items allowed onboard here.

Cabin baggage safety

All cabin baggage must be of a size that fits under the seat in front of each passenger or in one of the overhead lockers. The placement of bags, briefcases, or other items behind passengers' legs is not permitted, and it is essential that cabin baggage does not obstruct aisles or emergency exits, as this is forbidden by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Of equal importance is a limitation on weight, which helps minimise the risk of injury to passengers, should a bag fall from an overhead locker.

Baggage when travelling on Emirates and connecting with other airlines

Emirates strongly urges you to check the baggage rules of each airline you plan to travel with.

If your journey commences with another airline that connects on to an Emirates flight, please contact that airline for their policy on the through-checking of baggage.

Depending on how their tickets were purchased and systems available at the airport, passengers travelling on Emirates and connecting to another airline may or may not have their baggage checked through for their flights. Please check with your local Emirates office.

Where the through-checking of baggage is not available between Emirates and the other airline, please ensure that enough time is allowed between the arrival at the airport, collection of baggage, clearance of immigration and customs, and check-in for the onward flight, as well as any potential delays, in order avoid the inconvenience and costs of a missed flight.

Additional allowances for passengers with disabilities

Passengers with special requirements are entitled to certain additional baggage allowances, free of charge but subject to the following limitations:

• Passengers who are dependent on a wheelchair may travel with a fully collapsible wheelchair stored in the aircraft hold. Passengers who are dependent on braces or crutches may also travel with these items stored in the aircraft hold.
• Passengers travelling with battery-powered wheelchairs should contact their local Emirates office with details before commencing their journey.
• Passengers who are dependent on a portable kidney dialysis machine are entitled to travel with one machine and ancillary equipment loaded in the aircraft hold.
• Assistance dogs of vision- and hearing-impaired passengers must be loaded in the hold in kennels and will not be permitted in the cabin.

Additional allowances for sports equipment

Scuba equipment:

Scuba diving equipment is subject to normal excess baggage charges, if exceeding the standard cabin baggage allowance, and will be subject to excess baggage charges by other airlines on interline sectors.

If air bottles are carried, it must be ensured that they are empty.

Golf equipment:

In addition to normal checked baggage allowances, one set of golf clubs and one pair of golf shoes may be carried free of charge per passenger in any class of service on any Emirates flight.

Golf equipment will be subject to excess baggage charges by other airlines on interline sectors, as per standard IATA procedures.

Sporting equipment:

As part of your normal checked baggage allowance, Emirates will carry a single surf/snow board or skis up to 9.84 feet (300 cm) long when packed, free of charge.

When checking in equipment such as golf clubs, surfboards and bicycles on an Emirates flight, you must ensure it is correctly packed in a hard shell or packaging sufficiently robust to withstand the usual and normal rigours of carriage by air without sustaining damage. You may not be entitled to claim compensation if your sporting equipment is insufficiently/inadequately packed.

Sporting weapons and ammunition

Firearms designed for sporting purposes, such as target pistols and rifles, air guns, safari rifles, hunting rifles, etc., may be carried as checked baggage on Emirates flights under the following conditions:

• The firearm must be completely unloaded and, if possible, dismantled and packed inside a suitcase or standard gun case.
• The carriage of any type of firearms, ammunition and explosives, including items containing explosives, must be approved by Emirates no less than three days before your flight. Please contact your nearest Emirates office to start the approval process. Please allow extra time for public holidays and weekends in your country of residence and the UAE.
• Ammunition must be securely stored in a strong, sealed box packed inside a suitcase and surrounded by other contents. The suitcase must not bear an ‘Explosive’ label.
• The maximum gross weight of the ammunition carried by any single passenger is 5 kg (11 lb). Passengers travelling in groups must carry ammunition in their own separate bags, with no single bag carrying more than the 5 kg (11 lb) limit.

The following special conditions apply to passengers wishing to carry firearms on flights into or through Dubai:

• Passengers who wish to bring firearms and ammunition into the UAE must obtain prior clearance from UAE Customs and the UAE Ministry of Defence. To obtain this clearance, passengers must contact these government departments directly.
• For transfer and transit passengers who are connecting to onward flights, prior clearance to travel with firearms and ammunition must be obtained from the Dubai Airport Police Department and the Department of Civil Aviation.

Other sports equipment

For sports equipment other than that mentioned above, there is no special baggage allowance. Should your overall baggage weight exceed the normal free allowance, excess baggage rates will apply. Please contact your local Emirates office for information on excess baggage rates.

Musical instruments

There is no special free baggage allowance for the carriage of musical instruments. Musical instruments can be carried on Emirates flights in three different ways:

• as normal checked baggage, subject to the usual limitations
• as normal cabin baggage, subject to the usual limitations
• as cabin baggage on an unoccupied seat in the passenger cabin if the instrument is within the usual size and weight limits for carry-on items, or on a paid-for seat in the passenger cabin if the instrument exceeds those limits.

Please note that certain specific conditions and limitations on the options outlined above apply to particular musical instruments. If you have any questions regarding a musical instrument with which you intend to travel on an Emirates flight, please contact your local Emirates office or your travel agent to review these conditions and limitations.

Dangerous Goods

Dangerous Goods are articles or substances that may pose health and safety hazards to its passengers or potentially damage the aircraft. They are also referred to as restricted articles, hazardous materials and dangerous cargo. Transportation of such goods is primarily regulated by Civil Aviation Regulations. Goods falling under the category of Dangerous Goods are not allowed in passenger or crew-checked baggage or cabin baggage, with some exceptions.

Find out the list of Dangerous Goods (PDF), what is permitted in luggage, and what you need to declare at the airport.

Weight and Piece concept

In line with international regulations, Emirates offers free baggage allowances based on either the weight or piece concept, depending on specific routes.

Weight concept:

The standard free baggage allowance for all other Emirates destinations (excluding the USA, Canada and Brazil) as per the weight concept is 50 kg for First Class, 40 kg for Business Class and 30 kg for Economy Class.

To/From	Standard Allowance
	First Class	Business Class	Economy Class
EK Network (excluding USA/Canada/Brazil)	50 kg	40 kg	30 kg

Piece concept:

The standard free baggage allowance for flights operating to or from the USA, Canada and Brazil are determined for each single piece of luggage. For piece concept journeys, total dimensions (length + width + height) of each piece must not exceed 158 cm (63”). Please check the table below for piece concept weight limitations.

To/From	Standard Allowance
	First Class	Business Class	Economy Class
USA/Canada	2 Pieces at 32 kg each	2 Pieces at 32 kg each	2 Pieces at 23 kg each
Brazil	2 Pieces at 32 kg each	2 Pieces at 32 kg each	2 Pieces at 32 kg each

Free baggage allowance for infants:

Passengers with infants are allowed additional 10 kg in weight concept and 1 piece of 23 kg in piece concept.