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Continental Airlines will accept fragile and perishable items as carry-on baggage (must adhere to carry-on baggage allowances) or checked baggage (must adhere to checked baggage allowances). If accepted as checked baggage, Continental Airlines is not liable for the loss of, damage to or delay in delivery to a fragile or perishable items included in customers' baggage with or without the knowledge of Continental Airlines.
Perishable items must not violate agricultural rules for the destination country. Perishable items may be packed in hard-sided ventilated containers with a maximum of 5 lbs. (2.2 kg.) of dry ice. Continental will not accept perishable items packed in Styrofoam coolers or in containers that include wet ice.
Examples of Fragile and Perishable Items include, but are not limited to:
- Antiques, artifacts, heirlooms, collectibles, religious items and artifacts
- Antlers
- Backpacks not designed for travel, sleeping bags and knapsacks made of plastic, vinyl or other easily torn material with aluminum frames, outside pockets or with protruding straps and buckles
- Business equipment and business samples
- CDs, DVDs, MP3s
- Chinaware, glass, ceramics, pottery
- Computer hardware/software and electronic components/equipment
- Items checked in sacks or paper/plastic bags that do not have sufficient durability, do not have secure closures or do not provide sufficient protection to the contents
- Items checked in corrugated/cardboard boxes, including cardboard boxes provided by CO, except for items that otherwise would be suitable for transportation without the cardboard box (e.g., bicycle, garment bag)
- Electronic and mechanical items, including cell phones, electronic games; and other related items
- Eyeglasses, Binoculars, Prescription Sunglasses and Non-Prescription Sunglasses and all other eyewear and eye/vision devices
- Garment bags not designed for travel
- Irreplaceable items
- Items made of paper (e.g., advertising displays, blueprints, maps, manuscripts, business/personal documents, historical documents, photos, books, negotiable papers, securities, etc.)
- Jewelry
- Keys
- Liquids, perfumes, liquor, jerkins, zamzam water
- Medicines, medical equipment
- Money, gift cards and gift certificates
- Natural fur products
- Perishable items such as food, seafood, tobacco and related items
- Photographic/cinematographic/audio/video equipment, cameras and related items
- Precious metals/stone;
- Tools, battery powered hand tools, tool boxes/containers
- Totally unprotected items such as tennis racquets and umbrellas, either individually checked or tied/strapped to the outside of luggage
- Silverware, knives, swords
- Watches (Timepieces)
- Works of art such as paintings or sculptures
- Any other similar valuable property or irreplaceable property included in the Passenger's Checked or Carry-on Baggage with or without the knowledge of CO
- Flowers and plants
- Fresh or frozen meat or poultry
- Cheese
- Medicine
- Fruits and vegetables
- Seafood
- Baked goods
Antlers
Continental shall not be liable for damage to antlers. Antlers are subject to a $100 service charge per item. One service charge applies when smaller antlers are nestled inside larger antlers and strapped together. This charge is in addition to any excess baggage charges that may apply.
Continental Airlines will accept antlers retained as hunting trophies, for travel to/from the U.S. and Canada, provided the following conditions are met:
- Aircraft size and load conditions permit
- Antlers must be as free of residue as possible
- Skull must be wrapped and tips protected
- Antler linear dimensions (L+W+H) must not exceed 120 inches.
Excess Valuation may not be purchased for antlers.
Automotive Towbars
Continental Airlines accepts automotive towbars inside checked baggage.
The towbar must be packaged to prevent damage to it and other bags.
Baggage containing towbars in excess of 70 pounds (32 kilograms) or 115 linear inches (292 cm)(total length + width + height) will not be accepted as checked baggage.
Baggage containing towbars are subject to overweight and oversize charges.
Continental Airlines is not liable for the loss of, damage to or delay in delivery of towbars.
Dry Ice
Continental Airlines will accept packages containing 5 lbs. (2.2 kg.) or less of dry ice as carry-on baggage or checked baggage. The container or package must be ventilated to permit the release of carbon dioxide gas. The container or package must be marked as containing dry ice and must show the net weight and the identity of the perishable item. Styrofoam coolers containing dry ice will not be accepted.
A $35.00 handling service charge applies to the transportation of dry ice as checked baggage.
Dry Ice in quantities greater than 5 lbs. (2.2 kg.) must be shipped as cargo.
Liquor
Alcoholic beverages in retail packaging may be checked as baggage.
For alcoholic beverages less than 24 percent alcohol by volume (including most wines and beers) there are no restrictions on the amount that may be accepted in checked baggage or purchased after completing security screening at the checkpoint (Duty Free). If traveling internationally, alcoholic beverages may subject to customs limits in the arrival country.
For alcoholic beverages between 24 and 70 percent alcohol by volume there is a limit of 5 liters (1.3 gallons) per customer that may be accepted in checked baggage, or that may be purchased after completing security screening at the checkpoint (Duty Free). Packaging must be in receptacles smaller than 5 liters. Alcoholic beverages more than 70 percent alcohol by volume will not be accepted.
All alcoholic beverages must be packed to prevent breakage. Continental shall not be liable for breakage or spillage of alcoholic beverages. Normal checked baggage allowance limits, excess fees and carry-on limits apply.
Up to 3.4 oz. (100 ml) of an alcoholic beverage may be taken through the security checkpoint is provided it is less than 70 percent alcohol by volume, in a container that is 3.4 oz. or smaller, and in is carried in a plastic zip-top bag.
If you are flying to the U.S. and have a connecting flight, even duty free liquids that meet U.S. requirements will not be permitted through U.S. security checkpoints. If you have a connecting flight, liquid duty free purchases must be placed in your checked baggage. Since you will be required to reclaim your checked bags prior to passing through customs inspection, you can place duty free liquids into your bags and recheck it for your connection.
Note: Alcohol transported on an airplane cannot be consumed on board
Musical Instruments
Musical instruments can be carried on board or checked as baggage. If necessary, a seat can also be purchased for an instrument.
Carried on Board
A small musical instrument can be carried on as a personal item. If the musical instrument appears too large or irregularly shaped to fit under the seat or in the overhead compartment, it will not be accepted for in cabin stowage.
Checked as Baggage
- Instrument should be in a hard shell case to protect it during normal handling.
- Excess charges apply if checking more than the free baggage allowance.
- Oversize charges apply to musical instruments that measure 90 - 115 linear inches.
- Overweight charges apply to musical instruments that are over 50 pounds.
- Musical instruments over 70 pounds will not be accepted.
- If the instrument is over 115 linear inches, contact Reservations.
In addition to the above polices, stringed instruments should have the strings loosened to protect the neck from damage due to expansion and contraction which result from temperature variations.
Cabin Seat Baggage
- Continental will allow a customer to purchase a ticket for a musical instrument which is too fragile or bulky to be handled as checked baggage. Upright Basses and Contra Basses will not be accepted as Cabin Seat Baggage.
Continental is not liable for damage to musical instrument.
Excess Valuation may not be purchased for musical instruments.
Seafood
Continental Airlines will accept seafood as checked baggage if the following condition is met:
- Seafood will be accepted only if it is wrapped in a sealed protective material and packed in a leak-proof container.
Seafood will not be accepted if packed in wet ice or if packed in a Styrofoam container.
Seafood carried in addition to the free baggage allowance will be assessed at the current excess baggage charge. In addition, seafood is subject to overweight and oversize charges.
Continental shall not liable for seafood. Excess Valuation may not be purchased for seafood.
ZAMZAM Water
Continental Airlines will accept one jerry can containing up to 10 liters (2.64 gallons) of ZamZam water as checked baggage at no extra charge.
The jerry can must be properly packed in a plastic covering to avoid leakage and damage to other bags.
Jerry cans containing ZAMZAM water are not permitted as carry-on or incabin baggage.
If more than one jerry can is checked, the extra jerry cans will be subject to excess baggage charges.
Continental Airlines is not liable for the loss of, damage to or delay in delivery to ZAMZAM water and/or jerry cans.
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