Gulf Air is the main carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. It commenced operations in 1950 and was one of the first commercial airlines established in the Middle East. It currently services around 42 destination in Europe, Africa and Asia from its main base at the Bahrain International Airport. It operates one of the largest networks in the Middle East, with double daily flights to over 10 regional cities.

What are Gulf Air Airway’s Baggage Allowance Limits and Fees?
How Can I Contact Gulf Air?
What Are My Gulf Air Check in Options?
Flying with Children
Disabled Access
Gulf Air Additional Fees and Charges
What Gulf Air Amenities are There?

What are Gulf Air Airway’s Baggage Allowance Limits and Fees?

Gulf Air Hand Luggage Size
Gulf Air Checked Luggage Size
Excess Baggage
Sports Equipment and Special Luggage

Gulf Air Hand Luggage Size

Listed below are the cabin bag dimension and weight allowance for Gulf Air depending on ticket class:

• Economy: 1 piece with the maximum dimensions 45 x 40 x 30 cm  not exceeding 6 kg.
• Falcon Gold: 2 pieces with the maximum dimensions 55 x 40 x 30 cm and 45 x 40 x 30 cm with a combined weight not exceeding 9 kg.
• Infant: 1 piece with the maximum dimensions 44 x 35 x 20 cm not exceeding 3 kg.

In addition to the free cabin baggage allowance, each passenger can carry any of the following personal items without additional charges:

• A handbag, pocket book, or purse which is appropriate to normal travel dress and is not being used as a container for other items which could be regarded as baggage.
• A laptop/ personal computer.
• An overcoat, wrap or blanket.
• An umbrella or walking stick.
• A small camera or pair of binoculars.
• A reasonable amount of reading matter.
• Infant’s food for consumption during the flight.
• A fully collapsible wheelchair.
• A pair of crutches and/or braces.

Note that if you plan to bring any liquids into the cabin, you can do so as long as they are stored in containers no bigger than 100ml and are carried in a clear, re-sealable plastic bags with maximum dimensions of 20 x 20cm. Each passenger can carry a maximum of 1000ml (e.g. 10 x 100ml).

Gulf Air Checked Luggage Size

Listed below are the Gulf Air checked luggage allowances depending on ticket class:

• Economy: 30 kg
• Falcon Gold: 40 kg

For all tickets, a maximum travel weight of 32 kg per item of baggage applies.

If you are a Gold or Silver member of the Gulf Air Falconflyer programme, you also receive an additional baggage allowance over and above the applicable allowance, free of charge. This will be handled at the airport by Customer Service staff when you present your membership details. The extra allowance when travelling on flights operated by Gulf Air is:

• Black: an additional 25 kg
• Gold: an additional 20 kg
• Silver: an additional 15 kg

Any additional checked in baggage items will incur excess baggage fees.

Excess Baggage

The following fees apply for every kilogram above the free baggage weight allowance:

Sports Equipment and Special Luggage

Sporting equipment or musical instruments can be carried as part of your free baggage allowance.

Normal excess baggage charges as displayed above will apply if you exceed this free allowance. Each item must not exceed the maximum single piece weight of 32 kg or the following dimensions: 190 cm x 75 cm x 65 cm.

How Can I Contact Gulf Air?

Customer Service
Delayed, Missing or Damaged Luggage
Gulf Air Airline Compensation

Customer Service

Gulf Air head office can be contacted on (+973) 1737 3737. For specific queries such as passenger assistance, baggage claims, local offices and check-in, click here.

Delayed, Missing or Damaged Luggage

Should you discover that your checked in luggage has been delayed or is missing, you will need to report this to the Gulf Air baggage tracing desk at the airport so that an official report can be filed. You will then receive a written confirmation with a reference number. You can use your tracking reference number to trace your baggage online here.

In cases of damaged baggage, if you do not notice the damage until you are at home or in a hotel, be sure to report it in writing within the legally prescribed period of seven days after your flight. You must also produce evidence that the damage occurred whilst the bag was in the care of the airline concerned.

Gulf Air Airline Compensation

In international travel, the liability for damage, destruction, loss or partial loss and for late delivery of baggage is limited to a cumulative 1,131 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per journey and traveller (approximately €1,213). Liability for damage caused by delay is limited by to 4,694 Special Drawing Rights.

If you complete a special declaration of higher value (also known as an excess valuation) at check-in and pay the applicable fee, the airline’s liability is limited to the higher declared value.

What Are My Gulf Air Check in Options?

Mobile Boarding Passes
Priority Boarding
Group Bookings
Senior Fares
Pets

Mobile Boarding Passes

When booking a flight with Gulf Air, eligible passengers can check-in online from 24 hours up to 90 minutes ahead of departure here. Boarding passes can then be printed out and shown to pass through the gates at participating airports.

You can choose your preferred seat from an interactive seat map when using the online check-in function.  Special ‘Web Check-in Baggage drop’ dedicated counters are also available at airports for passengers with baggage to check-in.

Priority Boarding

Passengers travelling as Falcon Gold members and departing from Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, London Heathrow or Karachi can use dedicated Fast Track immigration channels to avoid queues during departure procedures.

Fast Track counters for Falcon Gold passengers are also available on arrival into Bahrain, Dubai and London Heathrow.

Group Bookings

Group bookings can be made via wwcc.support@gulfair.com or your travel agent. In your request, you will need to give the following information:

• Name of the person to be contacted.
• A daytime telephone number.
• Number of passengers. (including children)
• Flight dates.
• Destination.

Senior Fares

Gulf Air does not offer any special fares specifically for seniors.

Pets

Gulf Air does not transport pets in the passenger cabin. Live animals must be sent as cargo. For more information, click here.

Flying with Children

Infants
Pushchairs and Strollers
Seating for Babies and Children
Unaccompanied Children
Flying While Pregnant

Infants

Infants of less than seven days are not permitted on board, but newborn babies older than one week will be accepted if they are accompanied by an adult.

Children older than 7 days but younger than 2 years can sit on parent’s lap and an infant seat belt will be provided by Gulf Air cabin crew. infants up to 2 years old will be charged 10% of an adult fare plus taxes, even if the infant will be on the lap of another passenger for the flight.

A child fare will also be charged for the infant if a separate seat is needed. Infants up to 7 months old, weighing no more than 10 kg can travel using the on-board bassinets (carry-cots). You will need to request a bassinet when you book your ticket to ensure availability and to obtain advance confirmation.

Pushchairs and Strollers

Push-chairs cannot be accepted on-board but are allowed as far as the gate, after which they must be checked in as baggage. Certain destinations will allow pushchairs to be made available during disembarkation.

Seating for Babies and Children

Seating arrangements for babies and children depending on their age are listed below:

• 7 days – less than 6 month: On parent’s lap. An infant seat belt will be provided by the crew.
•  6 month – less than 2 years: On parent’s lap or a car safety seat provided by the parent (a passenger seat must be booked at the child fare).
• 2 years – less than 3 years: A car safety seat provided by the parent, or a passenger seat.
• 3 years or more: Passenger seat with the seat belt of the aircraft.

Unaccompanied Children

Children aged between 5 and 11 years may only fly unaccompanied if they are using the Unaccompanied Minor service. Gulf Air requires you to complete an Unaccompanied Minors Declaration form for each child travelling alone. Four copies of the form must be handed over to Airport Staff along with your child at time of check in.

Flying While Pregnant

Expectant mothers with complication-free pregnancies can fly with Gulf Air until the end of the 36th week of pregnancy. Any expectant mother is required to have a letter of clearance from her own doctor starting the following:

• Confirmation that the pregnancy is progressing without complications.
• The expected due date.
• That the patient’s pregnancy does not prevent her from flying.

Pregnant women between 29 and 36 weeks are required to have pre-approval from Gulf Air doctor. This must be obtained within 48 hours of intended travel through the Carriage of Medical Passengers form. Those between 34 and 36 weeks pregnant must also have a medical escort.

Disabled Access

Travelling with Wheelchairs
Flying with Guide Dogs

Travelling with Wheelchairs

Gulf Air will carry one fully collapsible wheelchair per passenger. The wheelchair does not count toward the the passenger’s luggage allowance and will be loaded in the hold at the departure gate.

Gulf Air will also  carry a pair of crutches and/or braces or other prosthetic device provided that the customer is dependent on them. Such mobility devices will not count toward the passenger’s baggage allowance.

Wheelchair passengers who do not require individual attention during the flight, but who would like help at the airport, while boarding and/or at disembarkation, can request this assistance when booking their tickets. No medical clearance is required unless the passenger’s condition calls for special care or attention.

Wheelchair passengers temporarily disabled, either due to illness or injury, will need special care during the flight, as well as assistance in the airport terminal, during boarding and disembarkation. In these cases, medical clearance must be obtained before travel but Gulf Air can provide a wheelchair if requested at the time of booking.

Any disabled traveller should obtain approval prior to departure from the Head of Medical Services at Gulf Air as there is a maximum number of wheelchair passengers that can be accepted on each flight/aircraft.

Flying with Guide Dogs

You have the option of taking a guide dog or an assistance dog with you free of charge. Note that some countries have special regulations regarding the entry of animals it is important to determine these and take that appropriate measure in advance of departure. You will need to contact the airline for details regarding the carriage of your guide dog.

Gulf Air Additional Fees and Charges

Booking Fees
Travel Insurance
Flight Cancellation Policy
Seating
Gulf Air Frequent Flyer Program

Booking Fees

All fares, taxes, fees and charges are outlined in individual ticket documentation and are not listed on the Gulf Air website.

Travel Insurance

Gulf Air offers a range of travel insurance products via Allianz:

• Up to $70,000 medical expenses
• Up to $50,000 personal liability
• Up to $1,400 for personal possessions
• Maximum trip duration of 90 days

More information regarding policies and coverage is outlined here.

Flight Cancellation Policy

If the airline cancels a flight, fails to operate a flight reasonably according to the schedule or fails to stop at your destination, you can:

• Take the next scheduled service on which space is available without additional charge and, where necessary, extend the validity of your ticket; or
• Within a reasonable period of time fly to the destination shown on your ticket using the airline’s own services or those of another carrier, or by other mutually agreed means and class of travel without additional charge. If the fare and charges for the revised routing are lower than you have paid, the airline shall refund the difference; or
• Receive a refund.

If your flight is cancelled, you may also be entitled to financial compensation but only if the cancellation is not attributed to extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather conditions, political instability, strikes, security, risks, unexpected flight safety shortcomings.

More information about Gulf Air compensation can be found here.

Seating

Gulf Air offers you the option of choosing seats for yourself in advance. Economy Class passengers can, up to 9 hours prior to departure, upgrade to a seat with greater legroom for a small additional charge. Listed below are the cost of seating upgrades specific to departure and destination locations:

• £9.50 to and from GCC and Middle East.
• £19 to and from the Indian Subcontinent.
• £38 to and from the Far East and Europe.

The preferred seats include bulkhead seats and those located in exit rows and are subject to availability.

Gulf Air Frequent Flyer Program

Gulf Air’s frequent flyer program goes by the name of Falconflyer. For a complete overview, click here.

What Gulf Air Amenities are There?

Lounges
In-Flight Refreshments
In-Flight Entertainment

Lounges

Pre-paid lounge access can be purchased for £47 per passenger. Note that prepaid lounge access is only on sale at Gulf Air Seef Mall office for Bahrain Falcon Gold Lounge.

Walk-In Lounge access can be also purchased for £57 for the Bahrain Lounge and £30 for the Dubai Lounge.

In-Flight  Refreshments

European and Middle Eastern dishes are available for free on long haul flights along with soft drinks, wines, spirits and vintage champagne.

Customers on Gulf Air may request a special meal to suit their dietary requirements. Orders should be placed at least 24 hours prior to travel.

In-Flight Entertainment

Free in-flight entertainment is offered on long-haul Gulf Air flights.