The following is a compilation of the questions our customer service section is most frequently asked. If you don't find the answer to your query here, please contact our on-line customer service unit.
1. What are the rules applying to animal transportation on Albanian Airlines flights?
2. What other possibilities exist to transport animals?
3. How large can your carry-on baggage be?
4. How large can your checked baggage be?
5. How can I carry fragile and oversize baggage?
6. How can I carry musical instruments?
7. What are the items that I am not allowed to transport as carry-on and checked baggage?
8. I have diabetes. What rules apply to transporting insulin?
10. What rules are applicable to pregnant women?
11. How can unaccompanied minors travel on Albanian Airlines flights?
12. What are the discounts available for children?
13. What rules are applicable to the carriage of infants?
14. How can I transport a stroller on a Albanian Airlines flight?
15. What time do I have to arrive at the airport before the scheduled departure time?
1. What are the rules applying to animal transportation on Albanian Airlines flights?
Animals, solely dogs and cats, may be transported on board in accordance with IATA (International Air Transport Association) regulations, with Albanian Airlines’s prior consent, by paying the applicable excess weight fee. Requests regarding animal transportation have to be presented at booking. No animals can be transported on board of flights longer than 4 hours and on certain types of aircraft.
Conditions for transporting animals: locking up the animal in a regular kennel (waterproof, not hindering animal’s movement, escape-proof, complying with IATA Live Animal Regulations and the size and weight limits defined by Albanian Airlines), presenting valid certificates of the authorities, veterinary certificate and certificate of vaccination, entry visas and other documents required by the states that the flight transporting the animal passes through and paying the proper excess weight fee. In all cases, kennels for the animals and the necessary documents must be supplied by passengers.
Only small-size dogs and cats, of a total size and weight not exceeding the size and weight limits defined by the tariff rules, including the kennel and the animal food, may be transported on board.
The above restrictions do not apply to service dogs assisting travellers with visual and hearing disabilities, and disaster vsearch and rescue dogs.
One passenger may transport a maximum of two animals onboard as excess weight; any additional animal that the passenger wishes to bring may be transported as air cargo.
For further information call Albanian Airlines’s Contact Center.
2. What other possibilities exist to transport animals?
If you do not travel together with the animal or you do not wish to transport the animal on board, or the applicable regulations do not allow for that, the animal must be checked as air cargo. For prices and further information send an e-mail to oprdplv@albanianair.com
3. How large can your carry-on baggage be?
Baggage transported onboard of Albanian Airlines flights must fit underneath the seat or in the overhead locker;
- in Economy class: 1 item of 55x40x20 cm, weighing max. 20 kg.
On flights which, due to aircraft dimensions, do not allow for onboard transportation carry-on bags, we take over the carry-on baggage before boarding and give it back immediately after arrival. In such cases, the responsibility rules applying to checked baggage must be applied and so you are requested to retrieve your valuables from your baggage that you will hand over.
4. How large can your checked baggage be?
On our flights, in Economy class is 20 kg. In Economy class, two pieces of baggage of a total dimension (width, length, height) of less than 273 cm may be checked. The sum of dimensions of each item may not exceed 158 cm. In all classes, for children less than 2, one piece of baggage of a maximum dimension of 115 cm and weighing a maximum of 10 kg may be checked. The general baggage allowance applies for children over 2 and children under 2 travelling with a child discount entitling them to a separate seat. The weight of checked items may exceed 32 kg.
An excess weight fee must be paid for overweight baggage according to the following.
5. How can I carry fragile and oversize baggage?
Fragile baggage may be transported on board without booking an additional seat. The item must be placed underneath the seat or in the overhead locker. Restriction applying to the size of fragile items: the item must weigh less than 10 kg.
If you intend to transport oversize baggage that requires additional seat(s), you must purchase additional ticket(s), which are exempted from airport taxes.
6. How can I carry musical instruments?
Musical instruments are considered to be oversize baggage. Separate seats must be booked for chellos and double-basses kept in a leather case. A double-bass kept in a wooden case must be transported in the baggage compartment. Large musical instruments exceeding 190x80x30 cmv (e.g. double-bass) may be transported in certain types of aircraft as checked baggage.
If you intend to carry other special items (e.g.: sports equipment, musical instruments, guns etc.) you are requested to inquire about the conditions when you purchase your ticket, or call Albanian Airlines Contact Center.
7. What are the items that I am not allowed to transport as carry-on and checked baggage?
The following items shall not be carried in checked and carry-on baggage:
- except for weapons of hunting and sports purposes, any item or substance that looks like a weapon or explosive;
- inflammable substance (exception: alcoholic beverages, hair spray, perfume, eau de cologne, which may be carried in checked baggage in quantities set forth by IATA);
- radioactive substances/materials;
- condensed gas (exception: CO2 used for moving artificial limbs, containers for inflammable gas used for self-inflating lifejackets and avalanche rescue backpacks, and oxygen and air bottles for medical purposes, in the quantities set forth by IATA);
- poison, poisonous or infectious substances;
- corrosives and oxidizers (exception: thermometers containing mercury may be carried as carry-on or checked baggage, gel-containing leakage-free acidic batteries for wheelchairs may be carried as checked baggage, in the quantities set forth by IATA);
- briefcases and security type attaché cases with built-in alarm devices containing lithium batteries or pyrotechnic material;
- items or materials that endanger the life, health, bodily safety or valuables of those on board;
- items or materials that cause discomfort or inconvenience to those on board;
- camping cooker operated with liquid fuel or from a gas container;
- any item or material forbidden under the rules and regulations of the states affected by the carriage;
- any item not suitable for carriage because of its weight, size or any other features;
- items listed in the “Technical Instructions For The Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air” of ICAO and in the “Dangerous Goods Regulations” of IATA.
The checked baggage shall not contain:
- cash, securities, bank and credit cards;
- watches, jewellery, high-value garments and accessories, precious metals, precious and semi-precious stones;
- computer, video camera, camera, cellular phone, and any other valuable electronic devices, musical instruments or technical appliances and their accessories;
- official and other documents, product samples;
- travel- or other identity documents;
- keys;
- medicine, medical devices, dioptric spectacles;
- pieces of art and fine arts;
- any other valuable items;
- fragile items and perishable materials.
We do not recommend that liquids should be transported in checked baggage, and we do not take responsibility for damage caused to and by such liquids.
The carry-on baggage cannot contain:
lighters,
lighter fuel,
safety matches,
liquids,
piercing and cutting tools, and
any other sharp objects which, as judged by Albanian Airlines and the security service, may be used as weapons.
8. I have diabetes. What rules apply to transporting insulin?
Insulin syringes may be carried in the carry-on baggage. For this, travellers having diabetes must provide a physician’s statement completed no later than 3 days before travelling, in Albanian and English, stating also the brand name of the insulin.
9. What are the rules applying to passengers requiring special care (physically or mentally handicapped, sick, etc.)?
The passenger or the person paying for the ticket shall, not later than 48 hours prior to the scheduled time of departure of the flight, inform Albanian Airlines if the passenger:
- has reduced mobility or is disabled;
- is physically or mentally handicapped;
- is sick;
- requires carriage on stretcher;
- requires or uses oxygen bottles for breathing;
- requests special food;
- travels with a portable kidney dialysis equipment;
- needs more than one seat reserved due to the size of his/her body;
- reaches the 28th week of pregnancy in any phase of her travel;
- needs special care during the carriage by air for any other reason.
For further information, please call Albanian Airlines’s Contact Center.
10. What rules are applicable to pregnant women?
If a woman reaches the 28th week of pregnancy in any phase of her travel, she must inform Albanian Airlines about it at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure time. Pregnant women travelling after their 28th week must hold a medical certificate stating that they may travel by air without any risk on the specific days of their trip.
Women who have reached the 36th week of pregnancy may not travel on flights operated by Albanian Airlines
11. How can unaccompanied minors travel on Malév flights?
Children less than 5 years old must be accompanied by an adult (upon request Albanian Airlines provides escort); children over 5 may travel without an escort on Albanian Airlines flights if the unaccompanied minor service and/vor an extra flight attendant are requested and purchased.
The one-way fee for the unaccompanied minor service is 25 EUR on Albanian Airlines flights. At the parents’ request, the unaccompanied minor service may be requested for children over 12, for a one-way fee of 35 EUR.
The service must be ordered and paid for 24 hours and 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure time, respectively, for short and long haul flights.
Upon request, Albanian Airlines may provide escort for an extra charge.
For further information, please call Albanian Airlines’s Contact Center.
12. What are the discounts available for children?
Discounts from certain fares are available for children. Children older than 2 years at the time of commencement of their journey and children under the age of 12 at the beginning of the last section of their travel are entitled to discounts.
For further information, please call Albanian Airlines’s Contact Center.
13. What rules are applicable to the carriage of infants?
An infant ticket can be purchased for children under the age of 2 years. In that case, the baby is not entitled to sit on a separate seat, but must travel on the lap of an adult.
Not more than one baby may travel with one accompanying adult without booking a separate seat. For further infants, a child ticket entitling the use of a separate seat must be purchased. For a baby travelling on a separate seat, the accompanying adult must provide a CE or FAA certified baby restraint seat.
Upon request, we provide baby food on Albanian Airlines flights. Please present your request upon booking.
14. How can I transport a stroller on a Albanian Airlines flight?
If an adult travels with a baby, he/she is entitled to bring on board one folding stroller or one baby restraint seat free of charge. Depending on the size and load of the aircraft, our colleagues may store the stroller and the baby restrain seat in the baggage hold and hand them over to the traveller at the aircraft door, or in the transit area of the arrival airport.
15. What time do I have to arrive at the airport before the scheduled departure time?
We advise you to arrive at the airport two hours before the scheduled departure time of your flight. In both terminals of Ferihegy 2, check-in closes 20 vminutes before the scheduled departure time of the flights. Regarding further information about check-in at airports outside Albania, contact Albanian Airlines Contact Center.