Special Baggage

As an exception, Sporting equipment such as Kayaks and canoes, which are indivisible in nature, may be accepted with “Heavy” label to a maximum of 46 Kgs by charging applicable excess charge. Sporting equipment, which are heavier than 46 kg, shall be transported as Cargo as per the applicable Cargo Tariff……. 4.8

•  The following procedure shall apply for special baggage charge (sporting equipment).

• The excess baggage charge for sporting equipment can be collected in local currency of the departure station.

• Provided that the below three criteria are all fulfilled, any sporting equipment shall be transported for free on Ethiopian flights.

• The dimension of the sporting equipment is less than or equal to 158cms or 62 inches,

• The weight of the sporting equipment is less than or equal to 23 kgs even if it is the 2nd PC

• The passenger is carrying only 1 checked-in baggage, making the sporting equipment the 2nd PC

•  Ethiopian shall not carry Jet Ski

Musical instruments shall be permitted to be carried in cabin as a carry-on baggage so long as the dimension of the instrument (inside or outside of its package) do not exceed the carry-on dimension standard set by the airline. That is to say 23*40*55 (cm)...... 4.15.4

• Block seat baggage service assures passengers safe transportation of fragile or bulky baggage which should not be checked or carried in the baggage compartment.

• Such service is accomplished by allowing passengers to reserve a seat for such items subject to normal reservation procedures.

• Generally, the following list of items are considered in this category;

1. Base viol and cello

2. Musical instruments other than normal sized stringed instruments

3. Typewriters

4. Tv sets

5. Radios

6. Electronics Instruments

7. Cosmetic Cases

8. Tape recorders

9. Cameras and related equipments

10.  Pictures and paintings

11.  courier / Diplomatic Bag

• Block seat baggage service is provided to passengers traveling solely on Ethiopian and ET/LH codeshare flights. And also Ethiopian portion of interline trips, or in case a similar service is offered by other carriers, to the entire portion of the interline trip involving such carriers 

• Securing, loading and lashing of bulky, oversize, fragile or valuable  baggage should be handled by approved staff.

• Block seat baggage must be placed forward of all seated pax in the aircraft. It must be secured in a seatbelt and seat belt extensions. Articles too large and bulky will not be accepted. Any block seat bag shall not protrude to the aisle or over the height of the seat.

• Weight of property carried as block seat baggage will not be considered when determining passenger’s free baggage allowance and excess charge. Weight of such block baggage will be shown in total weight of checked baggage when international travel is involved.

Travelling with Pets

A. Policy

1. Pets (cats and dogs) as defined in current passenger tariffs, when in a container and accompanied by a passenger or shipped as Cargo, may be carried in cabin or baggage compartment.

2. Ethiopian accepts Dog or Cat into the cabin with limited number per compartment(2 in Economy class  and 1 in business class) with a box measuring dimensions not more than 55 (L) X 40 (W) X 20 (H) cm and does not exceed 8kgs including transport container.

3. Dog or Cat contained in boxes larger than 55 (L) X 40 (W) X 20 (H) cm dimension, shall not be accepted in cabin and therefore shall be loaded in belly.

4. Dogs trained to lead the seeing impaired (seeing-eye dogs), if accompanying a passenger who is dependent on the dog and if the dog is properly harnessed, and muzzled may be carried in the cabin on all Ethiopian Airlines passenger aircraft without charge. Such carriage is dependent on any local or governmental restrictions.

5. Dogs trained to assist the hearing impaired (hearing–ear dogs), if accompanying a passenger who is dependent on the dog and if the dog is properly harnessed, and muzzled may be carried in the cabin on all Ethiopian Airlines passenger aircraft without charge. Such carriage is dependent on any local or governmental restrictions and advance arrangements must be made before accepting hearing ear dog as PETC.

6. Assistance or Service dogs for visually impaired and hearing impaired persons are transported free of charge on all Ethiopian flights and may also travel inside cabin. Please remember to notify us of your guide dog ahead of time

7. As evidence that an animal is a service animal, identification card or certificate must be presented by the passenger.

B. Procedure on carriage of pets

Ethiopian shall accept pets in the cabin on all Ethiopian Q-400 aircrafts.

1. Q-400 Aircraft Pets in containers accompanied by passenger or shipped as cargo may be carried in the baggage compartment(s).

2. Advance arrangements are required for pets in containers accompanied by passenger or shipped as cargo.

C. Booking Procedure

Details of the type of pet and size of the container should be indicated during reservation.

Ethiopian does not accept emotional support or psychiatric service animal for transportation in the cabin unless the passenger provides a current documentation (i.e., no older than one year from the date of the passenger ‘s scheduled initial flight) on the letterhead of a licensed mental health professional (e.g., psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, medical doctor).

D. Condition of Carriage

1. Governmental restrictions regarding pet carriage and acceptance vary from country to country. Please contact your nearest Ethiopian Airlines office or your travel agent.

   New Entry Requirement of Live Dogs to USA

   USA CDC announced new entry requirement of dogs that will be applicable starting from 01 August 2024. Please refer the below link for further detail.

   New Entry Requirement of Live Dogs to USA

2. In the event passenger and pet are making interline connections, the applicable regulation of the interlining carrier should be checked.

3. The charge for pet in cabin/baggage compartment will be at excess baggage rates in accordance with current applicable tariffs, regardless of weight of other baggage. 

4. Owner assumes all risk for injury sickness or death of any pet accepted for transportation, and assumes responsibility for compliance with all governmental regulations and restrictions. Ethiopian will not be responsible in the event that any pet is refused carriage into or through, any state, country or territory. 

E. Common Cage sizes

• Ethiopian shall permit transportation of cremated human ash as cabin and checked-in baggage.

Carriage of cremated Human Remain

The following procedures shall be applied to accept cremated human ash on Ethiopian flights either as cabin or checked-in baggage;

1. Prior to travel, the pax shall be advised to contact the embassy of destination country in order to ascertain that carriage of cremated ash into the country permitted

2. The passenger shall be advised to choose a container or urn made of plastic or cardboard to carry the ashes.Urns made up of ceramic and metal are not permitted

3. PAx shall palace the ashes in a sealed plastic bag inside of the travel container or Urn to prevent the ashes from spilling

4. PAx should secure the deceased person’s passport, cremation certificate and death certificate

5. All relevant docs including cremation certificate and death certificate which are in foreign language need to be translated and authenticated into the local language to avoid misunderstanding with local authorities

6. PAx should arrive early to check-in and finalize formalities ahead of time , in case any eventualities may occur at the airport

7. Size and weight of any cabin bag /checked-in bag should be handled per Ethiopian baggage handling policy.

Note : Flat TV with 66" and above is not accepted as accompanied baggage and may be carried as Cargo per cargo procedure & Rate Valid on/after 6-MAY-21