Baggage Policy

• Accompanied pets and container shall not be included in the free baggage allowance and the normal excess baggage rates apply. 
• Carriage of dogs, cats and other pets is subject to Carrier’s approval.  It is contingent on the fact that the animals are properly crated and accompanied by valid health and vaccination certificates, entry permits, and other documents require by countries of entry or transit.  Airlink reserves the right to determine the manner of carriage and to limit the number of animals that may be carried on a flight within the hold.
• No pets are permitted in the Cabin.

Exceptions:

Airlink may accept for transportation in the aircraft cabin without charge:

• “Seeing-eye dogs” accompanying blind passengers. Dogs trained to assist deaf passengers or comparable service dogs are carried free of charge and may be accepted in the cabin only once prior arrangements have been made with the carrier.
• “Seeing-eye”, service dogs and Emotional Support / Psychiatric Service dog, together with containers and food will be carried free of charge in addition to the normal free baggage allowance.  A medical certificate must be produced as evidence of the passenger’s dependence upon a hearing or other service dog.
• Acceptance for carriage of pets or “seeing-eye dogs” or other service dogs, Emotional Support / Psychiatric Service dog is subject to the conditions that the passenger assumes full responsibility for such pet where carriage is not subject to the liability rules of the Convention.
• Airlink will have no liability in respect of any such animal not having all the necessary documents for entry into or passage through any country unless such damage has been caused by carrier’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The passenger is liable for all damages which a pet might cause to others.
• The dog, when properly harnessed, may be permitted to accompany such passenger into the aircraft cabin but shall not be permitted to occupy a seat.

No excess baggage charges shall be raised for the carriage of the following items:

• A non-collapsible wheelchair or power-driven wheelchair may be accepted provided the passenger is dependent on it. Wheelchairs weighing in excess of 32 kg may not be accepted as checked baggage and must be pre-booked and handled as cargo through Airlink Cargo Customer Care contact +27 10 880 3632/3.  

Individual sportspersons or sports groups will be permitted, sporting equipment (subject to SPEQ items listed in 4.4 of the 4Z baggage policy) packed as one piece, maximum 15kg on top of the free checked baggage allowance allocated on the ticket.  

Should the overall baggage allowance weight exceed the free allowance, excess baggage rates will apply. The maximum overall allowance that can be carried free of charge varies according to the class and destination. 

Example of the overall free baggage allowance is 20kg permitted on an Economy class ticket and an additional 15kg permitted for a golf bag which means the total free baggage allowance is 35kg before excess baggage charges will apply.

Individual sports items with maximum dimensions of 190 x 75 x 65 cm. Sports items exceeding these dimensions cannot be transported as checked baggage and must be sent as cargo.

Sports equipment bags and cases cannot contain clothing or other personal items. They must be used only to carry sports equipment.

Aircraft restrictions limit the quantity and types of certain sports equipment that can be accepted so it is advisable to pre-book such items.

All excess baggage purchases are non-refundable regardless of whether the excess baggage charges have been utilized or not.   

To ensure acceptance of such at the airport, a facility is offered whereby this may be pre-booked as a Special Service Request in respect of Sports Equipment (SSR SPEQ or SSR WEAP) through your travel agent or through the Airlink Helpdesk on Tel + 27 11 451 7350. 

Exception: If passage is between Johannesburg and Nosy Be, Madagascar an allowance of 20 kg only will be permitted per adult passenger.

Note: Sporting Equipment can only form part of the free baggage allowance and no excess baggage will be permitted.

N.B.  

1. Sporting Equipment NOT specified above must be included in your free baggage allowance, please contact Airlink Head Office for verification. Please note that this sporting equipment will be permitted strictly at the discretion of the Airline. 
2. Hold space restrictions on Airlink aircraft due to the nature of the smaller airports which     Airlink serves with medium-size aircraft, hold space may be restricted on full flights and/or in certain weather conditions. 

In such instances Airlink will do all possible to load all hold baggage but, in the interest of operational safety, may elect to carry some baggage on the next available flight to your destination. Extra baggage may also be carried at an additional charge. However, this may not guarantee that the baggage is carried on the same flight on which you travel, under the afore-mentioned circumstances.

Musical instruments, cello, harp, guitar etc, are not accept in the aircraft cabin and accepted only as Checked baggage for placement in the hold compartment. This type of baggage shall have a “Fragile” sticker attached and the Passenger shall be required to sign a Limited Release tag. Advance arrangement must be made no later than three (3) days Business days prior to departure. The musical instrument must be in its hard-shell case for appropriate protection. 

A maximum mass of 10 kg of perishable goods may be included in the free baggage allowance. Due to its perishable nature, it will be carried at the passenger’s own risk and will not be accepted on Airlink regional flights.

Each Regional country that Airlink operates to have strict import and export regulations thus perishable items of any nature shall only be acceptable as manifested cargo. Special clearance needs to be obtained. Permits and documents need to be applied for. The correct labeling, packaging and special load notification to captain needs to be completed.
Contact Airlink Cargo on +27 10 880 364/5 or www.airlinkcargo.co.za for further information.

Cremated human remains (ashes) are acceptable for carriage as checked baggage provided the Passenger is in possession of all the necessary documentation including the certified copy of the death certificate. 

The Container or Urn containing the cremated remains should have the ashes placed in a plastic bag   inside as supported sealed container for added protection that will pass airport x-ray machines. 

Permits are not required for the conveyance of the ashes of bodies which have been cremated in a crematorium, but a Certificate of Cremation must be produced if required during security inspections prior to boarding.  

Coffins

Coffins containing human remans (body must be embalmed and not leaking) is not accepted at check-in but only as Cargo after a assessment is made due to the restricted cargo capacity size of Airlink aircraft. 

[email protected] needs to be contacted 48 hours in advance by a registered undertaker or funeral parlour. 
 

Your hold luggage should not contain:

• Fragile articles
• Perishable articles
• Valuable items such as:
  • cameras and accessories;
  • computers and accessories (notebooks and notepads)
  • phones
  • legal and/or company documents
  • legal tender (cash cards or cheques)
  • Bullion (gold, silver etc.)
  • leather jackets and clothing 
  • any type of jewelry
  • merchandise 
  • Electronic Cigarette

Airlink will assume no liability for loss or damage of the aforementioned items and may refuse to carry such as Checked/Sky-check baggage.
 

The following list (aligned with ICAO and IATA recommended practice) is provided as a guideline of what items are not to be allowed in the cabin of Airlink aircraft.  Items indicated on this list, except firearms and ammunition, may however be carried in the checked baggage of passengers.  This does not include the obvious items considered as harmful items i.e. knives, firearms, explosives, grenades, etc.

NOTE:
Manicure sets, including small scissors and metal nail files are permitted.

The items below, shall incur a handling fee charge as per cities and charges under Paragraph 4.12

Further restrictions on items allowed in sterile areas of airports, may be imposed or may differ from country to country, dependant on the Policy of the Local Authorities. Certain items not listed as Prohibited items which may be carried on a person or in cabin baggage for medical or other use, such as syringes and hypodermic needles should be declared to the airline check-in agent or checkpoint security staff. The airline will accept the carriage of these items in the cabin of the aircraft only if such items are accompanied by clearly labelled medication such as insulin or other lifesaving medicines. Unlabelled or unidentified substances accompanied with syringes, or packs of needles not accompanied by the above, may be denied for carriage on a person or within cabin baggage. Passengers carrying these items, when not requiring access to such items during flight, are encouraged to rather pack these within their checked baggage. When such items are considered as unjustified or non-essential, security staff may confiscate such items if a passenger fails to provide sufficient reason and/or medical evidence to carry such items.

Refer to Clause 10.5 (Lithium Batteries) in the Airlink Conditions of Carriage 

To minimize the risk of PED’s interfering with the aircraft systems, the carrier must ensure that passengers are adequately briefed on the potential dangers of using PEDs on-board aircrafts.  Certain PEDs may only be used during the cruise phase of the flight with permission of the Captain, who has the final authority regarding such usage. These include:

• Laptop computers outside critical stages of flight with permission of the Captain (associated printers and CD ROM equipment may not be used)
• I-Pads
• Hand-held calculators and electronic games
• Audio tape players and recorders.

The following equipment may be used on board the aircraft without restriction:

• Heart pacemakers
• Hearing aids
• Clocks, watches and timers
• Medical equipment approved for use in an aircraft

The following equipment is prohibited from use on board an aircraft at all times:

• AM / FM / TV transmitters and/or receivers
• Walkie Talkies
• Remote controlled toys
• Scanners
• Citizen band transceivers
• Cordless microphones
• Satellite receivers
• Portable video equipment
• Electric power converters
• Electronic Cigarette
• Computer printers
• Laser pointers
• CD players and CD-ROM devices
• The Limit to the number of PED and spare batteries that may be carried by passengers and crew are:
  • Maximum of 15 Portable Electronic Devices
  • Maximum of 20 non-spillable Spare Batteries and must be 12V or less and 100Wh or less 
     

Items that may not be carried on board an aircraft:

• Explosive munitions, fireworks, toy gun caps and flares.
• Gases. Flammable, non-flammable, deeply refrigerated aerosols, gas cylinders, lighter and butane gas hairbrush refills and liquid nitrogen.
• Oxygen. For safety reasons the airline does not permit Passengers to bring their own oxygen cylinders aboard an aircraft in Checked or Unchecked Baggage. The airline also cannot supply oxygen onboard.
• Flammable Liquids and Solids such as, but not restricted to, paints, thinners, solvents and firelighters.  
• Magnetized materials such as a compass.
• Teargas, such as self-protection mace canisters.
• Substances liable to spontaneous combustion and substances which, on contact with water, emit flammable gases.
• Oxidizing substances (such as bleaching powder and peroxides).
• Poisonous (toxic) and infectious substances.
• Radioactive materials.
• Corrosives (such as mercury, acids, alkalis and wet cell batteries).
• Magnetized materials and miscellaneous dangerous goods as listed in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Items that may be carried on board an aircraft:

• Medicinal and toilet articles in small quantities which should not exceed 2 kg or 2 liters.  Each individual article should not exceed 500ml.  This includes such items as hairsprays, perfumes and medicines containing alcohol.
• Alcoholic beverages. The maximum quantity of alcoholic beverages may not exceed 5 litres and may not exceed 70% alcohol volume including alcohol-based hand sanitisers maximum 100 ml in carry-on baggage.
• Carbon dioxide gas cylinders for the operation of mechanical limbs. Spare cylinders are also permitted.
• Dry ice.  A maximum of 1 kg of dry ice may be carried provided it is well ventilated to allow the escape of carbon dioxide gas.  
• Medial / Clinical thermometer.  For personal use only and must be in a protective case.
• Two small non-flammable gas cylinders which are fitted into a self-inflating life jacket plus two spare cartridges.
• Hair curlers containing hydrocarbon gas.  No more than one set per passenger or crew member, provided that the safety cover is securely fitted over the heating element.  These hair curlers must not be used on board the aircraft at any time. Gas refills for such curlers are not permitted in checked or carry-on baggage.
• Personal smoking materials intended for use by an individual when carried on their person.  However, lighter fuel and refills and lighters containing unabsorbed liquid fuel are not permitted.
• Cardiac pacemakers containing radioactive material such as plutonium batteries, when surgically implanted in medical patients.

Items that may only be carried in the Cabin of a Passenger Aircraft

• Pacemakers. Passengers with surgically implanted cardiac pacemakers powered by lithium batteries may travel onboard without restriction.
• Matches or a lighter.  Only enough for personal use and must be carried on the person.
• Underwater torches or soldering iron.  The heating element or the batteries must be removed.
• Mercurial barometer – may only be carried by a weather bureau official and must be securely packed in leak-proof and puncture-resistant packing.

Items that may only be carried in the Hold of a Passenger Aircraft

• Ammunition.  Cartridges in quantities not exceeding 5 kg per passenger for sporting purposes provided it is securely boxed.
• Aqualung air cylinders. Only empty cylinders used for water diving will be accepted.
• Battery operated wheelchairs wet and dry cell.  Wheelchairs can be carried in the hold of all aircraft.

Items that are forbidden on Passenger and Cargo Aircraft

• Security equipment such as attaché cases, cash boxes and cash bags incorporating dangerous goods, such as lithium batteries and/or pyrotechnic material, are totally forbidden.
• Disabling devices.  Disabling devices such as mace, pepper spray, etc. containing an irritant or incapacitating substance is prohibited on the person, in checked baggage and cabin baggage.
• Ammunition with explosives or incendiary projectiles are completely prohibited for carriage by air.

South African Laws prohibit the carriage of firearms and ammunition in checked or cabin baggage of a passenger. These firearms and ammunition must be produced to security staff for the correct handling.  A maximum weight of 15 kg of ammunition may be transported.

No hand weapons (small-arms, handguns i.e. pistols/revolvers) will be accepted or may be transported on any Airlink aircraft.  However, hunting rifles, shotguns, Sporting firearms and hunting handguns (maximum 15 kg) may be transported as checked baggage but only to and from the following destinations and see the handling fee below from all the destinations: 

a. South Africa - 

• Cape Town
• Durban
• East London
• Johannesburg
• Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
• Hoedspruit    
• Mthatha
• Nelspruit 
• Polokwane
• Sishen    
• Upington
• Bloemfontein 
  • Handling Fee: will apply for loading and a fee will apply for offloading – One Firearm ZAR 400 / Two ZAR 350 per firearm / Three ZAR 300 per firearm, excluding VAT. 
  • Payment: paid directly to the Handling agent at the airport. 
• Kimberley
  • Handling Fee: ZAR 300 excluding VAT will apply for loading ad ZAR 300 excluding VAT for offloading per gun or rifle bag. 
  • Payment: paid directly to the Handling agent at the airport.
• Richards Bay
  • Handling Fee: ZAR 350 excluding VAT will apply for loading ad ZAR 350 excluding VAT for offloading per gun or rifle bag. 
  • Payment: paid directly to the Handling agent at the airport.
• Skukuza - Station Manager MUST be advised.
• George – any firearms prohibited from transporting 
• Pietermartizburg - no handguns permitted

b. Botswana

• Kasane / Gaborone / Maun 

c. Democratic Republic of Congo

• Lubumbashi - any firearms prohibited from transporting.

d. Lesotho

• Maseru

e. Madagascar

• Antananarivo    
• Nosy By -– any firearms prohibited from transporting

f. Mozambique 

• Beira  / Maputo / Pemba / Tete / Vilanculos 

g. Namibia

• Windhoek / Walvis Bay – Hunting Rifles may ONLY be transported. 

h. Eswatini

• Manzini

i. St Helena

• St Helena Island / Ascension Island – any firearms prohibited from transporting

j. Tanzania

• Dar Es Salaam

k. Zambia

• Livingstone /  Lusaka / Ndola 

l. Zimbabwe

• Bulawayo / Harare 
• Victoria Falls – Hunting Rifles may ONLY be transported.  

Applicable handling fee per sector, needs to be issue on an EMD. 

Within South Africa – 

Except for travel from: Bloemfontein, Kimberley, and Richards Bay. See above 

• Handling Fee: ZAR 500 excluding VAT will apply for loading per gun or per rifle.
• Payment: paid directly in advance to Airlink or at the airport.

Ex Johannesburg. Cape Town, Nelspruit to Africa - 

• Handling Fee: ZAR 600 excluding VAT will apply for loading per gun or per rifle.
• Payment: paid directly in advance to Airlink or at the airport.

Ex Africa to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nelspruit -

• Handling Fee: USD 40 excluding VAT will apply for loading per gun or per rifle.
• Payment: paid directly in advance to Airlink or at the airport.

Rifles and shotguns will not be accepted as Checked Baggage, unless approved no less than three (3) working days prior to departure through Airlink Revenue Control Tel +27 11 451 7350. Rifles must be unloaded with the safety catch on, and suitably packed and accompanied by all documents legally required by the countries of departure, destination and any stopovers. Only five (5) kilograms of ammunition is allowed per Passenger. Ammunition will never be carried in the cabin or flight deck of the aircraft. Ammunition must be packed separately and securely from the firearm case. 

Weapons such as antique firearms, knives and similar items may be accepted as Checked Baggage only at the airline’s discretion. 

Airlink will have no liability or responsibility where any item accepted is removed from Checked Baggage and/or retained or destroyed by security personnel, government officials, airport officials, police or military officials or other airlines involved in the carriage of a Passenger.                                                
 

Any item(s) of baggage which is mislaid, wrongly labelled, misrouted or damaged whilst in the custody of Airlink shall be regarded as mishandled baggage.

Mishandled baggage should be reported immediately upon arrival at the Baggage Enquiries office in the arrivals area.
 

Essential items of clothing and toiletries may be purchased and claimed from Airlink should baggage which has been mislaid by Airlink or its appointed handling agent not be returned to the passenger on the same day, except where the passenger resides in the area where the loss has been reported. Such items are restricted to maximum value of ZAR350.00 per passenger, per day, limited to a maximum of 5 days. 

The extent of Airlink's liability is determined by the applicable Convention being either the Montreal Convention or the Warsaw Convention.

The liability of the Airline in regard to any claim that the Passenger may have against Airlink in regards to Loss or Damage to Baggage is limited to the higher of:

• the sector fare paid by the Passenger for the Ticket; or
• the applicable Convention in terms of any claims related to the loss of or damage to Baggage, provided that the Passenger comply in all material respects with the procedures in submitting the claims as provided for in the applicable Convention.