Special baggage

Traveling with sports equipment

We're happy to assist you when traveling with your sports equipment. We accept sports equipment items as checked baggage, provided each piece is properly packed in a soft- or hard-sided case designed specifically for the equipment. If your travel includes multiple airlines, different restrictions may apply.

Individual sports equipment pieces

Each checked piece listed below is subject to our standard checked baggage fees and waivers. We’re glad to waive the oversize fee or overweight fee for the items listed in this section. If contents unrelated to the equipment are included, additional baggage fees may apply. Refer to our Checked baggage policy for checked piece charges and waivers.

• Archery
• Bicycles (non-motorized)
• Boogie boards
• Bowling
• Fishing Equipment
• Golf Clubs
• Hockey/Lacrosse Equipment
• Kiteboarding Equipment
• Pole Vaults
• Scuba Equipment
• Skateboards
• Skis/Snowboard
• Surfboards/Paddleboards
• Windsurfing Equipment

Oversize sports equipment

Although the items below may exceed our normal size allowance, we're glad to accept them as checked baggage. Standard checked baggage, overweight, or oversize fees apply. Refer to our Checked baggage policy for checked piece, overweight, and oversize charges.

• Kayaks
  • One set of paddles (per kayak) may be boxed with, or taped to, the kayak for no additional fee.
  • Case not required for acceptance.
  • Not to exceed 115" in length.
  • Kayaks are not accepted for flights operated by Horizon Air or SkyWest on behalf of Alaska Airlines.
  • Glass kayaks are not accepted

Multiple piece exceptions

For these sports-equipment types, you may check the following multiple pieces as one checked piece. Unless otherwise noted, all standard checked baggage fees apply. Refer to our Checked baggage page for more information about these fees. Refer to our Checked baggage policy for checked piece, overweight, and oversize charges.

• Fishing
  One piece of fishing equipment is defined as two rods, two reels, and one tackle box. Fishing equipment may exceed 62" (linear) but no more than 115" (linear), without incurring an oversize fee.
• Hockey/lacrosse
  One piece of hockey/lacrosse equipment consists of hockey/lacrosse sticks (multiple sticks must be taped/attached together) and one bag/box of miscellaneous hockey equipment (skates, pads, pucks, gloves, etc.). Hockey/lacrosse equipment may exceed 62" (linear) but no more than 115" (linear), without incurring an oversize fee.
• Kiteboarding Equipment
  One set of kiteboard equipment may be checked as two separate pieces for one charge. One set of kiteboard equipment may include one kiteboard and fin(s) (fins exceeding 3 inches in length must be removed), one foil or leading-edge inflatable (LEI) kite, one control bar with flying lines, and one helmet and personal flotation device (PFD).
• Pole vaults
  One piece of pole vaulting equipment is defined as one or two pole vaults with a maximum dimension of 6" x 6" x 17' for flights operated with a 737 aircraft or a maximum dimension of 6" x 6" x 12' for flights operated with an Airbus aircraft. Note: On Alaska Airlines flights 2000-2999 and 3300-3499 the maximum single dimension is 8 ft.
• Scuba
  One piece of scuba equipment is defined as one scuba gear container and one tank. The scuba gear container is limited to one regulator, one tank harness, one pressure gauge, one mask, two fins, one snorkel, one knife, one spear gun and one safety vest. Scuba equipment may exceed 62" (linear) but no more than 115" (linear), without incurring an oversize fee. Note: Scuba tanks must have the regulator valve disconnected. The tank must have an open end for visual inspection.
• Skis/snowboards
  1 piece of ski/snowboard equipment is defined as 1 pair of skis with poles or 1 snowboard, plus 1 boot/helmet bag. If boots/helmet are checked in a bag that also contains clothing or additional items, standard checked baggage fees will apply to the bag. Ski/snowboard equipment may exceed 62" (linear), without incurring an oversize fee.
• Surfboards/paddleboards
  One item of surfing or paddle equipment is defined as a surfboard or paddleboard case with up to two boards inside (including paddle for paddleboard only). On Alaska Airlines flights operated with 737 or Airbus aircraft the equipment may measure a maximum 115" (9 ft., 7 in.) in length alone. On Alaska Airlines flights 2000-2999 and 3330-3499 the maximum combined dimensions may not exceed 115" (linear).
• Windsurfing
  One piece of windsurfing equipment is defined as one windsurfing board and one mast, boom and sail. Airbus aircraft, the maximum mast length is 12 feet. 737 aircraft, the maximum mast length is 17. Flights operated by Horizon Air or SkyWest on behalf of Alaska Airlines, the maximum single dimension is 8 feet.

Additional sporting topics

Bicycles

Bicycles must be packaged in a soft or hard-sided case designed specifically for the sports equipment piece or in the original manufacturer's box.

• One bike per case or box
• Handlesbars must be sideways and pedals removed, all other protruding parts must be padded.

Camping

Camping equipment and fuel containers that once contained liquid fuel (e.g. camping stoves, portable heaters, and flammable liquid lanterns) are allowed as long as the fuel system is completely dry with no fuel remaining in the tank, hoses, or parts and no remaining fuel odor is evident. Any type of fuel is forbidden from transport in checked baggage. Fuel can be shipped as regulated dangerous goods through the cargo facility.

Self-heating meals (e.g. MREs, flameless ration meals) are not permitted as carry-on or checked baggage due to the risk of unintentional activation of the heating source. Customers may transport these via air cargo only. Propane and empty propane tanks may only be shipped on all-cargo aircraft. No matches or lighters are permitted in checked luggage.

Firearms & shooting equipment
For more details on firearm and shooting equipment restrictions, view our Transporting firearms policy.