In addition to the checked baggage allowance, each passenger may carry without additional charges hand baggage suitable for placement in the closed overhead rack or under the passenger’s seat with maximum dimensions specified by the carrier subject to space availability.  Maximum dimensions for one piece are 56cm + 36cm + 23cm and maximum weight 8kg. The size of one carry on item shall not exceed the overall dimensions of 115cm.

Dimensions of Hand-baggage:

The standard allowance per class for domestic and international flights is:

• Business Class    2 Pieces plus 1 slimline laptop bag
• Economy Class    1 Piece plus 1 slimline laptop bag

The following is classified as hand or cabin baggage:

• Handbag, pocketbook or purse
• One foldable garment bag (sum of dimensions of 185cm)
• Overcoat, wrap or blanket
• Umbrella or walking stick
• Small camera and/or binoculars
• Reading matter for flight
• Infant food for consumption during the flight
• Infant carry basket/carry cot
• A handicapped Passenger may carry the below free of charge, even if it is carried in the aircraft hold:
  • 1 Wheelchair (only in the aircraft hold) maximum 32 kg
  • 1 Pair of crutches or braces
  • 1 Small dialysis machine.  For self-use of the passenger (only in aircraft hold)
  • 1 Other orthopedic device
  • Braces or prosthetic devices (provided passenger is dependent on them)
  • Portable PC to be carried in applicable bag. The PC bag may not to be utilized for any other purpose and may not to be activated without permission from crew
  • Mobile phone (not to be utilized during flight).

1.1 Exceptions and Important Need-to-Knows about Hand/Cabin Baggage:

• If passage is on the Lodge-Link services i.e. between Nelspruit / Skukuza and the Sabi Sands / Ngala / Phinda lodges – Cessna Caravan operations, an allowance of 8 kg will be permitted provided such is packed in a soft/pliable bag
• When, for operational reasons, there is no space in the cabin to accommodate carry-on items, such items may be carried in the hold of the aircraft.
• The above articles, other than wheelchairs and infant carrying baskets, must be limited to a size which may be conveniently stowed in the aircraft’s cupboard or under the seat in front of the passenger.
• Persons with reduced mobility may carry free of charge one wheelchair maximum weight of 32 kg and/or other assertive devices upon which they are dependent.
• The standard allowance in Business class is two pieces of cabin baggage.  Economy class allows for one piece of carry on for domestic and regional flights for through journeys where the passenger travels partly in Business Class and partly in Economy Class, the free hand baggage allowance on each portion of travel shall be that applicable to the class of service for which the fare is paid.
• When an item, which is claimed to be one specified above, does not visibly accord with the relevant description or, if the passenger has more than one piece of hand baggage, it must be mass checked and such mass will be included in the total checked baggage mass.
• Any other articles shall not be carried free, in addition to the free allowance, and the acceptance of such other articles in the passenger cabin must be limited and conform to airline regulations.

Airlink applies the weight concept. The general free baggage allowance on Airlink flights is 20 kg in Economy Class and 30 kg in Business Class per adult passenger. 

Children & Infants paying at least 75% of the adult fare are entitled to the same baggage allowance as adults. 
Infants not entitled to a seat shall only be permitted 10 kg of checked-in baggage in addition to one collapsible pram/buggy and one infant car seat. 

Exceptions exist:

• 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.
• If passage is on the Lodge-Link services i.e. between Nelspruit / Skukuza and the Sabi Sands / Ngala / Phinda lodges – Cessna Caravan operations, an allowance of 20 kg only will be permitted per adult passenger provided such is packed in a soft/pliable bag. Note: no excess baggage including sporting equipment will be permitted however free baggage storage facilities are provided at Skukuza Airport and Nelspruit KMIA. 
• If passage is between South Africa and Harare / Bulawayo / Lusaka / Ndola where an allowance of 30 kg in Economy Class and 40 kg in Business class applies per adult passenger. 
• If passage is between Harare / Bulawayo / Lusaka / Ndola where an allowance of 30 kg in Economy Class and 40 kg in Business class applies per adult passenger. 
• If you are flying on a single-contract/interline no-stop ticket connecting with any Other Carrier  Regional or International flight where the baggage allowance of the most significant carrier will reflect on your ticket (If passage is on separate-contract tickets or constructed with sector fares, the baggage allowance for each ticket shall apply). See important need to know below on MSC – Most Significant Carrier. 
• If you are flying on a single contract/interline ticket on an approved interline partner airline where the applicable airline’s allowance will reflect on your ticket.

Important Need-to-Knows:

MSC – Most Significant Carrier – Interline tickets – IATA Resolution 302 refers if you purchase a ticket which is wholly on the services of Airlink, Airlink’s baggage policy will apply.

If you purchase an interline no-stop ticket involving more than one carrier, the baggage policy of the MSC will apply per direction of travel i.e. the first international carrier per direction.

The MSC policy will apply only if a through-check is possible – i.e. no night stop or stopover is permitted. However, the MSC policy is applied according to the ticket construction, so even if a passenger travelling on a “non-stop” ticket is required to clear luggage at first point of entry in South Africa, the luggage may be considered as “through-checked” in respect of the allowance.

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 opt 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.

2.1 Size and Weight of Checked-In Baggage

The maximum dimensions of any one piece of baggage permitted where travel is wholly on the services of Airlink flights are:

90cm + 72cm + 45cm (including handle, wheels and pockets) total dimensions 207cm

Dimensions of Hold baggage:

Bulky items may also be carried up to maximum dimensions of 190cm + 75cm + 65cm (including handle, wheels and pockets) but may incur an excess baggage charge if the free baggage allowance is exceeded.

The maximum permitted weight of any one piece of checked luggage is 32 kg.

Any item exceeding the above dimensions may be booked as Cargo through the following channels:

Airlink CARGO or enquiries@airlinkcargo.co.za . For more information regarding Cargo please visit www.airlinkcargo.co.za +27 10 880 3632/3

To ensure that bags fit the dimensions of the conveyor belts, ACSA has stipulated the following dimensions:
The sizes do not include the items that form part of sporting equipment / fragile items.

Free Baggage Allowance – Checked Baggage - Weight Concept

Domestic Flights: Twenty-six (26) South African Rand per kilogram plus 15% VAT.

Regional Flights: Flat amounts as per the table below: -

More Need-to-Knows:

Differences in Baggage policies from all over the world affect the allowances shown on tickets which are interlined on Airlink flights and perceived anomalies may occur from time to time. Airlink staff will do all possible to honour the allowance shown on the passenger’s air-ticket. 

Important Need – to – Know:  Interlining of baggage

If baggage allowances differ per sector on an interline air-ticket (normally a sector fare construction), the allowance per sector shall be applied. In this instance, if excess baggage charges are applicable, these should be charged separately per sector however passengers may still be through-checked.   

In case of through-check-in on airlines, the applicable excess charges should be charged if required for each part of the journey.  If excess baggage applies on a routing where no published excess baggage charge is available, the applicable charge applies in the direction of travel for 4Z sectors and for other airline sectors according to the transporting carrier’s rules and charges.
 

Click here to get more information on Special Baggage Categories

Airlink may refuse to carry as baggage:  

• Any item reasonably considered to be prohibited or unsuitable for carriage because of its size, shape, weight, content, character, for safety or operational reasons, the comfort of other passengers or which are fragile or perishable having regard to, amongst other things, the type of aircraft being used.  Information about unacceptable items is available from us or our authorized agents upon request.
• Items of which the carriage is prohibited by the applicable laws, regulations or orders of any state to be flown from or to.
• Airlink may refuse the acceptance of baggage for carriage unless it is in reasonable condition as well as properly and securely packed in suitable containers.
   

Click here to download the Baggage Policy PDF.