Fragile and Perishable Items

Continental recommends that you do not pack high value, fragile or perishable items in your checked baggage. Continental will accept such items as carry-on baggage (if it adheres to carry-on baggage allowances) and as checked baggage if it adheres to checked baggage allowances. If you choose to pack high value, fragile or perishable items in or as checked baggage in connection with domestic travel, Continental is not liable for the loss of, damage to or delay in delivery of such items. For most international travel, Continental’s liability for destruction, loss, delay or damage to checked and unchecked baggage is limited.

Examples of high value, fragile or perishable items for which Continental is not liable (in the case of domestic travel) or for which Continental’s liability may be limited (in the case of most international travel) 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
Flowers and plants
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Items made of paper (e.g., advertising displays, blueprints, maps, manuscripts, business/personal documents, historical documents, photos, books, negotiable papers, securities, etc.)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, alcohol/liquor, jerkins, zamzam water
Medicines, medical equipment
Money, gift cards and gift certificates
Musical Instruments
Natural fur products
Perishable items such as food (e.g., fruits and vegetables, cheese, fresh or frozen meat or poultry, seafood, baked goods, dry ice, tobacco)
Photographic/cinematographic/audio/video equipment, cameras and related items
Precious metals/stone;
Tools, battery powered hand tools, tool boxes/containers, automotive towbars
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 Continental

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 5.5 lbs. (2.5 kg.) of dry ice. Continental will not accept perishable items packed in Styrofoam coolers or in containers that include wet ice.

Antlers

Continental will accept one set of antlers or animal horns per ticketed customer. Antlers are subject to a $100 service charge per item. This charge is in addition to any excess baggage charges that may apply.

Aircraft size and load conditions permit
Antlers must be as free of residue as possible
Skull must be wrapped and antler tips must be properly protected
Antler linear dimensions (L+W+H) must not exceed 120 inches, however on Continental Express* or Continental Connection flights, the linear dimensions cannot exceed 33 inches x 43 inches (83 cm x 109 cm) and overall linear dimensions must not exceed 98 inches (248 cm).

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.

Dry Ice

Continental Airlines will accept packages containing 5.5 lbs. (2.5 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.

For tickets purchased on or after March 9, 2011, a $100 USD* service charge applies to the transportation of dry ice as checked baggage on flights within or between the U.S. and Canada, and a $200 USD* service charge applies to the transportation of dry ice as checked baggage on flights to all other destinations.

For tickets purchased before March 9, 2011, a $35 USD* handling service charge applies to the transportation of dry ice as checked baggage on all flights.

*For departures from Canada, the fees are $35 CAD for tickets purchased before March 9, 2011, and $100 CAD for tickets purchased on or after March 9, 2011, for travel within or between the U.S. or Canada, and $200 CAD for travel to all other international destinations.

All fees referenced here are for one direction of travel only, and apply only when checking in with Continental or United.

Dry ice in quantities greater than 5 lbs. (2.2 kg.) wil not be accepted.

Liquor

Alcoholic beverages in retail packaging may be carried as checked 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 limitations in the arrival country and transporting alcoholic beverages may subject to country regulations.

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

We understand that the valuable and fragile nature of many instruments requires that they be treated with special care. Please help us to keep your musical instruments safe by following the guidelines below.

Please make sure that each instrument is securely packed in a sturdy case. In addition, checked and carry-on stringed instruments should have the strings loosened prior to boarding or checking to protect the neck from damage.

Carried on Board

You can carry on one guitar or similar or smaller sized musical instrument, which will count as your one carry-on item. The musical instrument, which may exceed 45 linear inches, must be able to be stowed under the seat in front of you or in an overhead bin or another approved stowage location. If space is unavailable prior to departure, the item must be checked as baggage.

Checked as Baggage

We will only accept a musical instrument as checked baggage if it is protected in a hard-sided case; no soft-sided cases are permitted, for the protection of your instrument.
Excess charges apply if checking more than the baggage allowance.
Oversize charges apply to musical instruments that measure more than 62 linear inches (158 linear cm).
Overweight charges apply to musical instruments that are over 50 pounds (23 kg).
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.

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.

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 in cabin baggage.

If more than one jerry can is checked, the extra jerry cans will be subject to excess baggage charges.