United Airlines - Special items

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Special items

At United, we understand that all of your baggage is important to you. We realize that no matter what the size or shape, you count on us to treat your item with care and respect. We do our best to make sure that your special items arrive in the same condition that they were in when you checked them. To help us ensure their safety, please take care to follow the specifications and guidelines outlined below.

United classifies special items in two categories:

Checked bag equivalent - treated as checked bags and included in your normal baggage allowance or checked as excess baggage (first bag fee, second bag fee or excess baggage fees may apply, as well as fees for oversized and/or overweight baggage)
Items with extra handling charges - subject to a special item handling fee

Exceptionally bulky or fragile items will not be accepted as checked baggage. These items may ride in a passenger seat in the cabin, provided that a ticket has been purchased for the item and specific seating conditions have been met.

Checked bag equivalent examples		Items with extra handling charges
• Archery equipment • Backpacks • Bowling equipment • Fishing equipment • Golf equipment • Hockey equipment • Musical instruments • Scuba equipment • Skateboards • Snow/water skiing equipment, snowboarding equipment and wakeboards		• Antlers/animal horns • Bicycles • Dry ice • Hang gliding equipment • Kayaks/canoes • Kite boards • Surfboards • Pets in kennels • Vaulting poles • Windsurfing sailboards

Checked bag equivalent examples

Archery equipment

	Allowance/requirements 1 item of archery equipment per customer is allowed in place of one checked bag: Bow case containing bows Quiver with arrows Maintenance kit of sufficient strength to protect items from accidental damage.	Maximum weight/size 50 pounds/62 linear inches (23 kg/157 linear cm)

Backpacks

	Allowance/requirements Allowed in place of one checked or carry-on bag if within the weight and size limits for either a checked or carry-on bag.	Maximum weight/size 50 pounds/62 linear inches (23 kg/157 linear cm) Other information A backpack can be either checked or carried on as long as it is within the size limits and does not contain any of the restricted items.

Bowling equipment

	Allowance/requirements One set of bowling equipment: bowling bag, balls and shoes. Allowed in place of one checked bag.	Maximum weight/size 50 pounds/62 linear inches (23 kg/157 linear cm) Other information Bowling equipment weighing more than 50 pounds will be subject to overweight baggage fees. United is not liable for damage to bowling equipment. Excess valuation may not be purchased for bowling equipment.

Fishing equipment

	Allowance/requirements 2 rods 1 reel 1 pair of boots 1 tackle box 1 landing net The total of all fishing equipment is allowed in place of one checked bag. The total of all fishing equipment must not exceed a maximum weight of 50 pounds, or overweight charges may apply. Fishing equipment containers must not exceed 115 linear inches or oversized charges may apply.	Maximum weight/size 50 pounds/115 linear inches (23 kg/292 linear cm) Other information If your itinerary includes a United Express flight, fishing equipment exceeding 80 linear inches (203 cm) will not be accepted as checked baggage.

Golf equipment

	Allowance/requirements 1 standard-sized golf bag with clubs and 1 pair of shoes Allowed in place of one checked bag.	Maximum weight 50 pounds (23 kg) Must be enclosed in full-length protective cover (vinyl/cloth/nylon/or hard-sided case).

Hockey equipment

	Allowance/requirements Hockey/lacrosse sticks and one equipment bag Equipment bag plus up to two hockey/lacrosse sticks allowed in place of one checked bag.	Maximum weight/size 50 pounds/62 linear inches (23 kg/157 linear cm) Other information None

Musical instruments

	Allowance/requirements We understand that the valuable and fragile nature of many instruments requires that they be treated with special care. Please help us to keep your musical instruments safe by following the guidelines below. You can carry on one guitar or similar or smaller sized musical instrument, which will count as your one carry-on item. The musical instrument, which may exceed 45 linear inches, must be able to be stowed under the seat in front of you or in an overhead bin or another approved stowage location. If space is unavailable prior to departure, the item must be checked as baggage. Please make sure that each instrument is securely packed in a sturdy case. We will only accept a musical instrument as checked baggage if it is protected in a hard-sided case; no soft-sided cases are permitted, for the protection of your instrument. In addition, checked and carry-on stringed instruments should have the strings loosened prior to boarding or checking to protect the neck from damage.	Maximum weight/size for musical instruments as checked baggage 50 pounds/62 linear inches (23 kg/157 linear cm) Other information Checked musical instruments are subject to checked baggage fees and also may be subject to oversized, overweight and excess baggage fees. For musical instruments that are too bulky or fragile to be handled as carry-on or checked baggage, you may purchase a ticket for the instrument to travel as cabin-seat baggage.

Scuba equipment

	Allowance/requirements United will accept one dive bag containing equipment used for scuba diving as checked baggage. First and second checked bag fees apply. An item of scuba equipment consists of one empty scuba tank, up to 3 rebreather tanks or one dive bag containing equipment used in the scuba-diving sport. The empty scuba/rebreather tank and a separate dive bag containing scuba equipment will be charged as two separate pieces. United is not liable for damage to scuba diving equipment. The empty dive/rebreather tank must have the regulator valve completely disconnected from the tank. The tank must not be sealed (i.e. the tank has an open end). The tank must have an opening to allow for a visual inspection by a TSA Security Screener. Note: For rebreather equipment: Soda lime that is 4% Sodium Hydroxide or less will be accepted in checked baggage. Soda lime that is 4.1% Sodium Hydroxide will not be accepted in checked baggage. Excess valuation may not be purchased for scuba diving equipment.	Maximum weight/size Dive bags weighing more than 50 pounds (23kg) that contain other items in addition to or in place of appropriate dive equipment will be subject to the applicable overweight fee. Dive bags measuring over 62 linear inches (157 cm) that contain other items in addition to or in place of dive equipment will be subject to the applicable oversized baggage fee.

Skateboards

	Allowance/requirements 1 skateboard Allowed in place of one checked bag.	Maximum weight/size 50 pounds/62 linear inches (23 kg/157 linear cm) Other information Accepted as carry-on if within carry-on limits.

Snow/water skiing equipment, snowboarding equipment and wakeboards

	Allowance/requirements 1 item of ski equipment: Water skis Snowboard Wakeboard Up to 2 pairs of snow skis and associated equipment in 1 bag and 1 ski boot bag (Note: If ski boot bag contains other items in addition to or in place of boots, it will be subject to applicable baggage fees or excess baggage fees.) 1 set of ski equipment is allowed in place of one checked bag. If more than one set of ski equipment is checked, each additional set of equipment (as outlined above) will be counted as one special item, and the associated fee(s) will apply.	Maximum size/weight If combined weight of ski bag and boot bag exceed 50 pounds (23 kg), an overweight fee applies. Please note: United Airlines is not liable for damage to water skis or snow skis. Excess valuation may not be purchased for water or snow skiing equipment or wakeboards.

Items with extra handling charges

Antlers/animal horns

	Allowance/requirements One set of antlers or animal horns per ticketed customer will be accepted as checked baggage. Antlers must be as free of residue as possible. View fee information	Maximum size Overall linear dimensions (length x width x height) must not exceed 120 in. (304 cm) for most flights. However, on United Express Canadair regional jet flights the linear dimensions of the antlers cannot exceed 33 in. x 43 in. (83 cm x 109 cm) and overall linear dimensions must not exceed 98 in. (248 cm). Other information The animal's skull must be wrapped and antler tips must be properly protected.

Bicycles

	Allowance/requirements Allowed in place of one checked bag if within the weight and size limits for a checked bag. Bicycles weighing more than 50 pounds (23 kg) or exceeding 62 linear inches (158 linear cm) will be subject to a service charge each way. Any non-motorized bicycle (single or tandem) must be prepared for travel by the customer. United cannot provide tools. Handlebars must be turned sideways, and protruding pedals and accessories must be removed. The bicycle must be contained in a durable, protective case, bag or box. View fee information	Maximum weight 99.9 pounds/115 linear inches (45.4 kg/292 linear cm) Other information Allow an extra 30 minutes at check-in. If your itinerary includes a United Express flight, please contact United for information regarding aircraft cargo hold.

Dry ice

	Allowance/requirements The packaging used must allow the release of carbon dioxide gas, must be clearly marked as containing dry ice, and must show the net weight and identify the perishable item being preserved by the dry ice. Each container cannot have more than the maximum allowed per customer. Multiple customers cannot pool their portions together, even within the same traveling party. View fee information	Maximum weight 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) per customer Other information United will accept packages of dry ice as carry-on baggage or checked baggage. Dry ice in quantities greater than 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg) will not be accepted as carry-on or checked baggage.

Hang gliding equipment

	Allowance/requirements Individual components of hang-gliding equipment can generally be packed in separate bags for each component. United will accept a maximum of two items per bag for a set of four component bags. View fee information	Maximum size/weight 99.9 pounds (45.4 kg) Maximum length Varies by aircraft type. Total size of hang gliding equipment cannot exceed 156 inches (396 cm) in length. Other information Allow an extra 30 minutes at check-in. Hang gliding equipment that is 108 inches (274.4 cm) in length or more cannot be accommodated on Airbus A320 or Airbus A319 aircraft. Hang gliding equipment that is more than 72 inches (183 cm) in length cannot be accommodated on 737 series aircraft. If your itinerary includes United Express, please contact United for information regarding aircraft cargo hold limits.

Kayaks/canoes