Ethiopian Airlines Baggage Policy – Fees & Allowance. The price of your Ethiopian Airlines flight ticket includes the transportation of a certain amount of baggage in the cargo hold of the aircraft.
This allowance differs depending on your booking class and destination.
On Ethiopian Airlines flights, the free baggage allowance is set by the Weight or Piece Concept whichever is applicable to the sector.
The Piece Concept applies for travel to/from the U.S. or Canada, as well as for numerous long-haul flights.
Checking in luggage with Ethiopian Airlines can be done online, at the airport or at the check in gate.
Checking in online is the cheapest way, however, if you check in your bags at the airport or check in gate you could pay up to 50% extra!
Find the complete guide of the Ethiopian Airlines baggage policy and allowance baggage policy, allowance, fees, restrictions, and charges.
Carry-On Allowance
Business: up to 2 pieces, each with a maximum weight of 7 kg
Economy: 1 piece with a maximum weight of 7 kg and maximum sum of dimensions equal to 118 cm (46 in.)
In addition, passengers may also carry free of charge items of personal effects for use in flight, as listed below:
- A handbag (laptop bag), pocket book or purse
- A small camera and/or a pair of binoculars
- A reasonable amount of reading material for the flight
- Infant’s food for consumption in flight
- Infant’s carrying basket
- A fully collapsible cabin wheelchair and/or a pair of crutches, and/or braces or other prosthetic device provided that passengers are dependent on them
- One laptop without accessories and attachments
Checked Baggage Allowance
Economy: up to 2 pieces, each with a maximum weight of 23 kg (50 lbs.) and maximum sum of dimension equal to 158 cm (62 in.)
Cloud Nine: up to 2 pieces, each with a maximum weight of 32 kg (70 lbs.) and a maximum sum of dimension equal to 158 cm (62 in.)
ShebaMiles Gold, ShebaMiles Silver, and Star Gold: up to 3 pieces
On long-haul flights:
- When weight system is used, ShebaMiles Gold members and Star Alliance Gold members will receive an additional 20 kg. ShebaMiles Silver members will receive an additional 15 kg.
- When piece system is used, ShebaMiles Gold members and Star Alliance Gold members are entitled to one additional baggage allowance with weight limited to the class of service used. ShebaMiles Silver members are entitled to one additional baggage allowance with weight limited to 23 kg.
Excess, Overweight, Oversize Baggage Fees
Any additional checked bags beyond the complementary is subject to a fee.
In case you are bringing more baggage than you are allowed, special fees will be charged.
Excess baggage charges must be assessed and paid for before boarding.
If part of your journey is operated by another airline, other fees might apply.
Please be sure to check with the operating carrier for specific guidelines and fees.
Please check www.ethiopianairlines.com in the Information/Baggage/Excess and Special Baggage section for current fees.
| Excess Baggage Fees – Europe & the Americas | ||
| Route | Additional Piece (up to 23 kg) | Overweight Piece (23-32 kg) |
| UK – all destinations | GBP 150 | GBP 60 |
| Brussels – all destinations | EUR 150 | EUR 70 |
| Europe (except above) – Africa | EUR 140 | EUR 50 |
| The US, Canada – Addis Ababa | USD 160 | USD 60 |
| The US, Canada – Africa (except ADD), Europe | USD 200 | USD 60 |
| The US, Canada – Middle East, Asia | USD 250 | USD 60 |
| Argentina, Brazil – all destinations | USD 150 | USD 60 |
| Asia | USD 115 | USD 45 |
| Europe, the Americas | USD 161 | USD 63 |
| Fees are cumulative if a piece of checked baggage is both additional and overweight. |
CPAP Devices:
Ethiopian Airlines recommends that passengers provide an advance notice of 48 hours and check-in one hour in advance to use their respirator, ventilator, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine or POC (Portable Oxygen Concentrator).
Sports Equipment
Sports equipment will be accepted as checked baggage for free as long as it is within weight and dimensions limits for the free baggage allowance.
If it exceeds the weight or dimensions limits for the free baggage allowance, sports equipment will be charged as follows:
| Sports Equipment | Excess Baggage Fee |
| Angling, bowling, diving, hockey, horse riding, inline skates, scuba, tennis/squash/badminton | USD 80 |
| Alpinism/hiking/walking, archery, bicycle, fencing, fishing, golf, javelins, kite surfboard, parachuting,paragliding, skateboard/wave board, snow ski, snowboard, sporting/hunting guns, wakeboard, water ski | USD 100 |
| Boogie board/bodyboard, canoe, hang gliding, kayak, longboard (exceeding 2m), rubber dinghy/boat,skibob, surfboard, vaulting poles, windsurfing equipment | USD 200 |
One set of skiing equipment (one pair of skis, one pair of ski poles and/or one pair of boots) will be charged at the applicable rate for 3 kg of excess baggage.
If you carry more than one set, the normal excess baggage charge shall apply for the extra weight.
One set of golfing equipment (one golf bag and one pair of golf shoes) will be charged at the applicable rate for 6 kg of excess baggage.
If weight of golfing equipment exceeds 15 kg, the normal excess charge shall apply.
Wheelchairs and Other Mobility Aids
All equipment needed by special passengers should be ready at any transfer and destination point.
All passengers requiring a wheelchair can request Ethiopian Airlines’ staff to place it in the cabin, where available.
This service needs to be requested at the check-in desk.
As there is so much space available in the cabin, passengers will be served on a first come first serve basis until all the space has been used.
If there is no possibility of carrying the wheelchair in the cabin, the item will be placed in the baggage hold, so it is easy to reach when the passenger needs it.
If a passenger is using crutches or canes or any other walking aid, he should be designated a special seat, close to the storage location of the mobility aid.
Damaged or Delayed Baggage
All baggage that is not at the destination point needs to be immediately reported to an Ethiopian Airlines representative at the arrival airport.
They will fill a form and set a reference code.
The airline will track the baggage and keep the passenger informed.
Tracking the package could take up to 25 days starting the day of the incident.
You can check the status of your claim online.