Airline sports baggage fees for golfers in 2025/2026

Why your golf bag is big business for airlines today

For many years, sports equipment (and especially golf gear) was simply part of airline services, but the air-transport industry has evolved to monetize payments in a completely separate way (ancillary revenues). In 2025, travelers face an extremely varied fee landscape. Traditional network carriers like the Lufthansa Group are making increasingly desperate efforts to standardize through zone systems and even flat-rate pricing, while low-cost and hybrid carriers prefer dynamic pricing models that depend heavily on booking time, sales route, and weight class. In our blog, we run a complete analysis for you and examine the cost structures, rules, and challenges involved in transporting your valuable golf equipment.

The “value” of ancillary revenues.

For airlines, extra baggage fees are not a side issue but a key component of profitability. In an environment of volatile fuel prices and brutal price wars on base fares, special-baggage fees are a margin-protection mechanism. For you, this means weight limits and pre-registration deadlines are enforced strictly — something you feel at the counter time and again. Golf equipment, once treated as a nice perk with a 25 kg allowance, now incurs significantly higher costs at many airlines that are unwilling to accept more than the 23 kg limit.

Our blog looks at the key players in European air travel, especially on routes to the golf paradise of Mallorca. These include:

• Lufthansa Group: Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Edelweiss.
• Charter airlines: Condor, TUI fly.
• Low-cost & hybrid airlines: Eurowings, Ryanair, EasyJet, Vueling, Transavia.
• International network carriers: Iberia (as a player for Spain/Mallorca).

We will not only compare prices, but also examine the “under-represented” small print that nobody reads — such as insurance exclusions, packing rules, and the effects of frequent-flyer status programs.

The Lufthansa Group is pursuing a harmonization strategy across the core brand (Lufthansa, Austrian, SWISS), but many details remain uneven, as is typical with subsidiaries and status customers.

✈️ Deutsche Lufthansa AG & Austrian Airlines.

Solid, but expensive

For sports equipment, the core brands Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines follow an identical zone model. It’s meant to be transparent, but on many short-haul routes it can be relatively costly due to fairly rigid flat-rate prices.
By 2025, pricing for golf equipment has stabilized at levels well above historical norms. Fees are charged per flight segment (one-way) on the journey.

For a golfer traveling from Frankfurt or Vienna to Mallorca, this means fixed costs of 160 EUR for the round-trip transport of the equipment. It’s a flat rate that applies at all times, but it requires advance registration (up to 24 or 48 hours before departure) due to limited cargo capacity.

The contents of a golf bag matter.

What exactly is allowed in your golf bag?

Both Lufthansa and Austrian have precise definitions of golf equipment to prevent misuse (i.e., stuffing regular clothing into the golf bag). Allowed are:

• One golf bag with one set of golf clubs.
• Golf balls and tees.
• One pair of golf shoes.
• Maximum weight: 32 kg.
• Maximum dimensions: 220 cm (length + width + height).

This 32 kg weight limit is a crucial competitive advantage for you compared with low-cost carriers. It means you can load the travel cover (which typically weighs between 4 and 6 kg) and a large amount of accessories safely without risking falling into the excess-baggage trap.

The “Economy Light” problem for status customers.

Status-customer trap: Economy Light

A central aspect of the 2025 transport rules is the disappearance of status perks. Senators, HON Circle members, and Star Alliance Gold members historically enjoyed complimentary transport of one golf bag.
Many status customers fall into a “cost trap” here, as our research shows. As a Senator, you must pay the full 160 EUR (round trip) for your golf gear if you book the cheapest fare (Light) to Mallorca.

A surcharge for a higher ticket (“Economy Classic”) is only 20–40 EUR — a price that pays off because it includes a standard checked bag, which can indirectly benefit golfers under leniency rules, or if your normal baggage allowance is used for clothing while your status covers the golf bag (often included with the Classic fare).

✈️ SWISS International Air Lines.

The end of “SWISS Golf Traveller”

The Swiss subsidiary essentially follows Lufthansa’s rules but marks a drastic shift in its loyalty strategy for 2025.
The discontinuation of “SWISS Golf Traveller”. The “SWISS Golf Traveller” (SGT) membership had been the gold standard for Swiss golfers and cross-border travelers for years. For an annual fee (most recently about CHF 200), golf equipment up to 23 kg was transported free of charge on all Lufthansa Group flights.

Unfortunately, SWISS has now closed this program to new customers and no longer allows renewals for existing members. Current members retain their benefits until expiry. After that, former members revert to the same status as before and — without Senator/FTL status — you must pay the regular fees of about 80 CHF/EUR per direction. This is, of course, a massive cost increase for you as a long-time loyal customer and reflects the airline’s shift from specialized loyalty toward general service.

✈️ Edelweiss Air

Generous — but only up to 23 kg

Edelweiss, as SWISS’s sister company, is a special case. Edelweiss is a stronger competitor in its leisure segment because of different customer-friendly conditions that attract more golf trips from Zurich. Unlike parent company SWISS, Edelweiss often offers free transport of the first piece of standard sports equipment (up to 23 kg). This applies to: golf equipment up to 23 kg and dimensions up to 200 cm. Contents may include clubs, balls, and shoes. However, if the golf equipment exceeds 23 kg (maximum 32 kg, which is the international limit), it falls into the “Large” category. On European routes (Mallorca/Balearics), this costs 150 CHF per direction. The jump from 0 CHF (under 23 kg) to 150 CHF (over 23 kg) is therefore substantial. Travelers with Edelweiss must weigh their bags carefully. If it’s just a few kilos over the 23 kg limit, the advantage of free transport quickly turns into one of the most expensive options (300 CHF return) for you.

✈️ Condor & TUI fly

Condor and TUI fly are the two iconic leisure airlines dominating package traffic to Mallorca with their bundled tour-operator networks. Their pricing seems transparent at first glance, yet it carries the risk of last-minute surprises.
The zone & timing model: Condor uses a zone model in which Mallorca (Spain excluding the Canary Islands) is Zone 1. Pricing depends heavily on when and how the baggage is booked. For early online booking, the price starts at 54.99 EUR per direction. If you register your baggage only at the airport, you pay a flat 120.00 EUR per direction. The “airport penalty” is over 118%. Condor is particularly clear that unregistered sports equipment may be refused. The permitted weight is max. 30 kg and dimensions are limited to 200 cm length x 40 cm width x 100 cm height.
Very important: Bags over 30 kg are not accepted as excess baggage but excluded from transport. This differs from network carriers, which normally accept up to 32 kg or offer cargo solutions.

✈️ TUI fly.

Simple model, fixed price

TUI fly uses a simpler business model — less dynamic but pricier — a basic sports-equipment product with slightly higher costs. The price is 65 EUR flat per direction for golf equipment up to 30 kg. Advance registration is definitely required. Compared with Condor’s early-booker price (approx. 55 EUR), TUI fly is about 10 EUR more online, even though it has the same 30 kg limit. If you booked a package holiday, sports equipment may be included during promotional periods or as part of premium bundles. Be sure to double-check the website.

✈️ Eurowings

Not quite a “hidden champion” — but close

Eurowings, Lufthansa’s hybrid subsidiary, can be a sweet spot for golfers. The price for golf equipment is attractive in practice, but the airline becomes a top choice for price-sensitive golfers mainly with its credit-card product. A fixed rate of 50 EUR per direction applies. You may take a generous 32 kg. The bag must be registered as “sports equipment.” If the total exceeds 32 kg, an additional sports item must be booked; there is no per-kg pricing in the traditional sense for one piece. The “Eurowings Premium Credit Card” is the strongest “value hack” for golfers in 2025. Perk: the cardholder and one companion travel with sports gear free together when booked on the same reservation. Condition: you must pay for the trip with the card. Cost-benefit check: annual fee ~99 EUR. Savings on a Mallorca trip (2 people): 2 × 50 EUR (outbound) + 2 × 50 EUR (return). In total, the card pays for itself with about two trips per year with a partner — with some admin effort, of course. In 2025, no other airline offers similar savings for the occasional golfer without elite status.

✈️ Ryanair

Cheap ticket, expensive golf bag.

A detailed cost trap: Ryanair lures with low ticket prices, aggressive sports-equipment fees, and strict weight speculation. Online booking fees are about 30–40 EUR per direction. At the airport & via call center about 40–50 EUR. This seems cheaper than Eurowings or Lufthansa at first glance. However, the 20 kg weight limit is crucial — and with a 20 kg limit for golf equipment, you hit the ceiling quickly. Lufthansa allows 32 kg and Condor 30 kg, while Ryanair stops at 20 kg. A hefty excess-baggage penalty then looms: each kg over 20 kg is charged at 11 EUR.
A golfer with a 25 kg bag (typical for a tour bag + travel cover) would pay at Ryanair: Base: 40 EUR; Overweight (5 kg × 11 EUR): 55 EUR; Total (one-way): 95 EUR. Therefore, for realistic golf-baggage weights, Ryanair is often the most expensive option available — well ahead of Lufthansa or Condor.

✈️ EasyJet

Two tiers, small trap.

EasyJet uses a realistic size-differentiation approach, making customer choice more transparent. The airline’s two-tier system categorizes sports baggage by weight:
Small sports item (up to 20 kg):
Online: approx. 42 EUR (37 GBP) / at the airport: approx. 56 EUR (47 GBP).
Large sports item (up to 32 kg):
Online: approx. 52 EUR (45 GBP) / at the airport: approx. 63 EUR (55 GBP). Our strategic recommendation: the online price difference between “Small” and “Large” is only about 10 EUR. Book “Large” in advance. If you book “Small” and show up with 23 kg and pay at the counter, you’ll already pay budget-baggage overage of 12 GBP/EUR per kg — that’s 36 EUR more than the original 10 EUR premium for the larger category.

✈️ Vueling

Fully dynamic.

Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling, part of IAG (like Iberia), uses a fully dynamic model. Price: 45–65 EUR per direction online. Up to 32 kg, though the effective allowance is often lower and extra baggage is charged steeply. A special feature: Vueling offers a “special baggage” protection add-on at extra cost. Prices vary widely by route. Mallorca flights: upper range (50–60 EUR).

✈️ Transavia

Hardly sensible for golfers

Dutch airline Transavia — important for departures from border regions or direct routes — is problematic for golfers.
Fee: from 42 EUR (online).
Weight limit: only 15 kg for golf equipment.
And it’s the smallest limit of all airlines reviewed. 15 kg is barely enough for a full set. A typical travel cover weighs 3–4 kg, an iron set 6 kg, driver/woods/putter another 3 kg, bag 3 kg. That maxes out the allowance without balls, shoes, or clothing. Bottom line: Transavia can barely transport standard golf equipment (and is exorbitant due to fees).

✈️ Iberia

The international player

Iberia can also offer flights via Madrid or direct to Mallorca. Golf-baggage fees are about 35–40 EUR online for short/medium-haul (Europe). At the airport: approx. 45–50 EUR. Status benefits: As a Oneworld member, Iberia typically allows status customers (Emerald/Sapphire) some additional allowances (or occasionally golf gear counted as “regular” checked baggage within the allowance if size permits) or complimentary under favorable fare bundles.

Cost comparison for the route to Mallorca

We’ve compiled total round-trip costs for a 25 kg golf bag (a standard size for ambitious golfers) to simplify the complexity for you.

Our takeaway

Ryanair’s nominally “cheap” price (30–40 EUR) often turns out to be the most expensive on the market for realistic golf-bag weights. Eurowings offers the best price-performance ratio — though it clearly aims to lock you into its credit-card ecosystem.

Packing and liability

Operational risk factors affect transport in addition to pure costs. Airlines are subject to the Montreal Convention, which limits liability for damaged baggage to about 1,288 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) or roughly 1,600 EUR. Liability caveat: Various airlines state in their terms that they disclaim responsibility for scratches, dents, or damage typical of “insufficiently packed” sports bags. Our recommendation: use a hard-shell travel case or a soft case with a “stiff arm” (telescopic rod to protect club heads). With Transavia or Ryanair, a “Limited Release Tag” signature may be required, stating that the passenger is responsible for damage to a soft bag.

Registration deadlines as a practical constraint

In practice, there is limited physical capacity for larger baggage, especially on smaller aircraft like the Airbus A319 or A320 that often fly to Mallorca.
Lufthansa: confirmation required. Transport is not permitted if the hold is full (e.g., many cyclists in spring).
Condor: no transport guarantee without prior registration 8 hours before departure. Travelers should register golf baggage when booking the ticket — don’t wait until check-in.

Conclusion & recommendations

By 2025, the market segments for transporting golf baggage have become even more granular. The days when golf bags simply “came along” are definitely over. Consumers must “pay” with research effort to avoid hidden costs. For heavy equipment on trips to Mallorca, if you absolutely want to travel with your own clubs, choose Eurowings or EasyJet. Frequent Eurowings travelers should consider the Eurowings Premium Credit Card as a no-brainer. Avoid “Economy Light” with status: Lufthansa Senators can book the “Classic” fare to leverage a free golf-bag privilege, since “Light” explicitly excludes it. Definitely buy a portable luggage scale. With estimated 10–15 EUR per kg of excess (Ryanair, Vueling, and EasyJet), guessing the weight is an expensive gamble!
SWISS status quo: Swiss golfers must look for pricier options and also consider Edelweiss from ZRH, where the 23 kg free allowance still exists.

After all our research, our recommendation is that renting high-quality golf clubs like the ones we offer is the most stress-free solution. That way, you can focus on your rounds and enjoy your days on the most beautiful island in the world.

With that in mind: Sports baggage costs extra. We deliver — included.