Luggage Guidelines
Below are some of the more common guidelines for luggage allowance and special items. If you wish to know the exact guidelines for a specific airline please check at the bottom of this page for links to various the different airlines and their guidelines.

Free Luggage Allowance
Most airlines flying a long distance allow a total of three pieces of discount luggage free of charge for each ticketed coach passenger--one carry-on bag and two checked items. They also allow an extra personal carry on item such as a note book computer. First Class and international Business Class passengers are usually allowed one carryon bag and three checked items. International airports determine luggage allowance and luggage charges (if applicable) based on weight and number of pieces.

Additional restrictions may apply on shorter international flights and may only allow one carry on and one piece of checked luggage for a maximum weight of 20 kilos.

Carryon Luggage
Carryon luggage must fit underneath the passenger seat or in an overhead compartment. Maximum carryon size is 45 in (9 x 14 x 22) or 115 cm (25 x 35 x 55). Maximum carryon weight is 40 lbs (18 kgs).

Checked Luggage

The general guideline for free checked baggage allowance to North American destinations is as follows. The overall measurement of each piece (L + W + H) must be less than 62 inches or 158 cm, and the weight less than 70 lbs. or 32 kgs. If you exceed these limits you'll have to pay an additional amount at the airport prior to travel. Some carriers recently have been reducing this amount to two 23 kilos pieces. Prsently these airlines include Norwthwest, AmricanAirlines, Eva Airways and China Airlines.

For destinations to Europe the free checked baggage allowance is usually two 20 kilo pieces.

"Special" Items
In addition to the free luggage allowance limit, the following items may be carried on or checked at no additional charge:

Coat
Umbrella
Crutches, cane, brace, or other prosthesis on which passenger is dependent
Collapsible manual wheelchair
One stroller
Infant car seat
Infant diaper bag
Reading material
Camera
Two-wheeled luggage cart (cart and bag must fit under seat or in overhead bin)

Bicycles
There is usually a fixed charge for bicycles on most Airlines. Once you decide on the airlines you will be traveling with it is best to check with that airline what is required as each airlines have their own policy.

Most airlines require that you prepare your bicycle in the following manner prior to arrival at the airport :

• Fix the handlebars sideways and remove the pedals.
  
• Place the bicycle in a rigid and/or hard shell container specifically designed for shipping.
• If not packaged in a container, most airlines will provide a plastic bicycle bag and will accept the item with a limited release form (to be signed at check-in), releasing the airline of liability.
• Bicycle suitcases containing collapsible bicycles are also accepted.

Pets

Some airlines will allow your pet to travel on the same flight as you in a temperature controlled and ventilated baggage compartment. The costs and policy of each airline varies. Here are some basic guidelines to consider:

• You must request space for your animal when making your reservation.
• Give us your pet carrier dimensions when booking your flight.
• Pets must be placed in hard-sided Pet Carriers.
• Pet carrier wheels must be removed prior to the flight.
• You should prepare your pet properly prior to the trip, see our Preparation Guidelines.
• Many countries place restrictions on the entry of animals you will need to all the required Documentation.
  

Some airlines also allow small household pets to travel in the cabin with the customer, as long as they are in a kennel small enough to fit under the seat. Again Here are some basic guidelines to consider:

• Requests to bring animals in the cabin must be made at time of booking.
• The pet kennel is part of the carryon baggage allowance and must conform to the carryon size limitations of the airlines.
• Dimensions of the kennel must be given to WHOSE at the time of booking.
• Pets must remain in the kennel, under the seat, at all times.
• Reptiles (including snakes and lizards) and animals such as rats, mice, ferrets, weasels, etc. cannot be carried in the cabin.
• Many countries place restrictions on the entry of animals you will need to all the required Documentation.
  

Pet carriers

• The majority of carriers are made of hard plastic with holes for ventilation.
• No part of the animal is allowed to protrude from the carrier. As a result, wire carriers are not permitted.
• International regulations state that the carrier must be big enough to allow the animal to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably. If the pet carrier does not allow the animal to do this the airline will refuse transport.
• All carriers must be secure and leakproof.
• If an airlines accepts pets they usually sell a full range of carriers at most airports. Carriers must be purchased prior to the travel date.
  

Preparation for travel

Airlines don't assume the responsibility for the care or feeding of pets while in transit, it is most important that you prepare both the cage and the animal ahead of time. Hereâs what you should do:

• Feed your pet four to six hours prior to departure, as a full stomach may cause discomfort during travel.
• Give your pet water right up to the time of travel. Be sure to empty the dish at Check-In otherwise spillage during the flight will give your pet a wet and uncomfortable ride.
• Leave the dish in the kennel so that our the airline can provide water in the event of an extended wait before, between or after the flight.
• Tranquilizers and other medications are not generally recommended. Consult your veterinarian.
• Cover the bottom of the kennel with absorbent material such as a blanket.
• Do not lock the kennel door as Airline personnel may need to access your pet in the event of an emergency.
  

Documentation

Many countries place restrictions on the entry of animals. WHOSE doesn't have all this information on our site. You need to comply with all restrictions, and be in the possession of all documents required by your destination country. If you don't it can lead to refused entry, lengthy quarantines or even the destruction of the animal on arrival. Below are some links that give you more details about the restrictions placed on the entry of animals.

Australia - http://www.affa.gov.au/
Canada - http://www.inspection.gc.ca/
Germany - http://www.zoll-d.de and http://www.zoll-d.de/
Hong Kong - http://www.afcd.gov.hk/
Japan - http://www.maff-aqs.go.jp/english/ryoko/index.htm
New Zealand - http://www.maf.govt.nz/
Sweden - http://www.sjv.se/net/SJV/Home/
Switzerland - http://www.bvet.admin.ch/
United Kingdom - http://www.defra.gov.uk/
USA - http://www.aphis.usda.gov/NCIE/pet-info.html
France ö http://www.agriculture.gouv.fr (French only)

The address for the Government Office in Taichung responsible for approving your documentation from your veterinarian is as follows:

No. 12 SEC 2 Fu Hsing Road Taichung. Phone 04-22660188

Bonded Baggage Storage at Taoyuan Airport

If you are looking at storing all your heavy bags while you are visiting Taiwan it may be a good idea to look at a bonded baggage storage at Taoyuan. Your can leave your bags and feel assured that they are save. The charge is according to the weight of your bags and is charged for 45 day intervals. Please refer to the chart below for the most recent rates

If you need to store baggage when you are leaving Taiwan you can drop it off at the bonded baggage storage in Terminal 1 on the first floor. They are open 7:30 am to 8:00pm everyday. The cost of storage is NT 50 per piece of luggage per day. For more information their phone number is 03-3982143.

Airline Links

Packing Tips

Here are a few packing tips you may want to consider on your next trip.

Carryon
Keep your cash, travelers cheques and important documents in your carryon bag. Other important personal items such as medication, contact lenses should also be included. If you are on a long flight with multiple stopovers having a change of clothes is a good idea as luggage tends to get lost or delayed more often on these kind of flights. A tooth brush, shaving kit, etc. is nice to have to freshen up during your stop overs.

Separate your valuables
Put your credit cards, cash, travelers' cheques into as many possible different pockets in your bags when packing. If one bag gets stolen then you may still have some other cash available in another bag. It is also a good idea to keep you travelers' cheques and their receipts separated, so in the case that your travelers' cheques are stolen you have all the receipt numbers.

Clothes
Pack only the clothes you know you will use and if you are traveling for a longer period of time plan to wash on the road. Roll you clothes, you will be able to fit more clothes into your bag if you roll them instead of folding them. Your clothes will also get less wrinkled if you roll them in tissue paper.

Shoes
By placing your shoes inside some socks and then inside a ziploc bag will help in making sure everything else in you bag stays clean and odor free. As well placing socks inside your shoes can also save some room.

Using a backpack
If you are going to use a backpack make sure you put the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier ones on the top. This helps make your bag will feel lighter because the backpack actually rests on your lower back. Also consider putting things that you will probably need the most at the top of your pack while things that you need less at the bottom.

Toiletries
Store your shampoo in small containers, only take half a tube of toothpaste and roll it up tight. If you want to pack toilet paper for emergencies, only take half a roll and crush it so you can fold it in the middle. Plastic bags are always handy to put your toiletries in to prevent leakage and they also have many other uses.

Gifts
If you are planning on packing some gifts with for friends or family, it might not be a good idea to wrap them. You could be checked at customs and be required to open them.

Items that use batteries
If you are packing an item with batteries, for example a flashlight you may want to turn the batteries around so that if the item is turned on accidentally, you won't drain the batteries. Remember to turn the batteries back around when you get to your destination.