Special Baggage / Sports Equipment

HK Express does not accept pets for carriage, whether in the cabin or in the hold. This restriction does not apply to assistance dogs. Please see Special Assistance > Travelling with an Assistance Dog for more details.

Mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers will be accepted in addition to the Customer’s baggage allowance.

Wheelchairs’ belonging to customers with reduced mobility will be transported free of charge.

We accept collapsible manual wheelchairs as checked-in baggage, if the wheelchair does not safely fit in the overhead cabin bin. Please note that although we will make every effort not to dismantle your wheelchair, in order to comply with safety requirements, we may need to dismantle your wheelchair, depending on its size.

If you are travelling with a battery powered wheelchair that needs to be transported as baggage, it will need to be in compliance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. If it is in compliance with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, we will ask you to relinquish your battery powered wheelchair upto an hour in advance of your flights departure, in which case you will be transferred to an airport wheelchair till you board the aircraft. The battery powered wheelchair will be transported in the cargo compartment of the aircraft, we recommend carriage of all removable parts of the wheelchair in the cabin overhead bins. Please note that although we will make every effort not to dismantle your wheelchair, in order to comply with safety requirements, we may need to dismantle your wheelchair, depending on its size.

Wet Cell batteries (Spillable)

If your wheelchair is powered by a wet cell battery, the battery must be removed and placed in protective packaging that is leak-tight and impervious to battery fluid. This package must be carried in the passenger cabin. We recommend you to label the battery cables with corresponding colored tape or provide detailed disconnection and reconnection directions, enabling us to best assist you to reconnect the battery to the wheelchair upon arrival at your destination.

Dry Cell batteries (Non-Spillable)

If your wheelchair is powered by a non-spillable battery, the battery can remain secured on the device. However, if the device does not have an effective means of preventing unintentional activation (key turned to “off” and removed, on/off switch in the “off” position, quick disconnection of the joystick, etc.), the battery must be disconnected and the battery terminals protected from short circuit.

Lithium-Ion batteries (Li-ion)

If your wheelchair is powered by a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, please contact our Call Centre at least 48 hours prior to departure to verify whether your battery powered wheelchair complies with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, thereby enabling us to best assist you.

The Li-ion battery must show no signs of any defects or damage. The wheelchair must be transported as checked baggage. If the Li-ion battery is securely attached and protected from short-circuit by being fully enclosed in the device’s battery housing, the battery may remain installed and there is no limit to battery size on these types of devices.

If your wheelchair is specifically designed to allow its battery to be easily removed (collapsible), there is a battery size limit. The battery must be removed, protected from short circuit, and carried onboard to be stowed in the cabin. The battery’s size in watt-hours must be displayed on the battery, or the battery should be labeled with its voltage and amp-hour (or milliamp-hour) ratings to allow for size calculation (see formula below) if needed. Any spare batteries must be transported as carry- on baggage with the battery terminals protected to prevent short circuit. A single spare battery may be transported, as long as its size does not exceed 300 watt-hours. Two spare batteries may be carried provided that each battery is not over 160 watt-hours in size.

Some Li-ion batteries do not display the watt-hour rating on the battery label. The following formulas may be used to determine the watt-hours rating for your Lithium-ion battery:

If the battery lists the Amp-hour rating, use this formula:

Volts (V) x Amp-hours (Ah) = Watt-hours (Wh)

Example for a single battery:

10 volts multiplied by 28 Amp-hours = 280 watt-hours

The 280 watt-hours are below the 300 watt-hour limit for a single battery, so your battery would be allowed.

If the battery lists the Milliamp-hour rating, use this formula instead:

Volts (V) x Milliamp-hours (mAh) ÷ 1,000 = Watt-hours (Wh)

Example for a single battery:

10 volts multiplied by 28,000 Milliamp-hours ÷ 1,000 = 280 watt-hours

The 280 watt-hours is below the 300 watt-hour limit for a single battery, so your battery would be allowed.

When travelling with a battery powered wheelchair, please bring the below with you to the airport:

• The wheelchair’s User manual, including the battery specifications
• Special Tools that may be needed to dismantle and reassemble your wheelchair.
• For Lithium-Ion Battery operated wheelchairs, the document that proves the battery meets the requirements of each test specified in UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III Section 38.3

Please contact our Call Centre at least 48 hours prior to departure to verify whether your battery powered wheelchair complies with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, thereby enabling us to best assist you.

You may bring musical instruments onboard provided they meet our standard cabin baggage size and weight limitations listed below. All musical instruments must be stored in a sturdy, hard-side case with rounded edges. Soft cases will not be accepted.

The maximum linear size (H x W x D) accepted in the cabin is 22 x 14 x 9 inches and must not weigh more than 7kg. The instrument will be considered part of your cabin baggage allowance.

From 1 January 2018, smart baggage with lithium ion batteries/power banks that cannot be removed will be banned from checked and cabin baggage on all HK Express flights.

All lithium ion battery power banks in smart baggage will only be allowed for carriage if the battery can be removed and meet the requirements of our Lithium Ion Batteries Policy.

What is Smart Baggage?

According to the International Air Transport Administration, a smart baggage is defined as an Innovative baggage with integrated lithium batteries.

Examples of Smart baggage include features such as;

• Lithium ion battery and motor allowing it to be used as a personal transportation device, either as a stand-up scooter, or sit on vehicle. These devices do not meet the criteria of a mobility device.
• Lithium ion battery power bank that allows charging of other electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets and laptops.
• GPS tracking devices with or without GSM capability.
• Bluetooth, RFID and Wi-Fi capability.
• Electronic baggage tags.
• Electronic lock/s.
• Lithium ion battery, motor and tracking device (GPS) allowing the bag to self-propel and ‘follow’ the owner.