Aer Lingus carries golf clubs free in Business class, but Economy pays a separate fee each way. Here's the difference and what Economy passengers can expect to pay.
Aer Lingus flies into Faro from Cork and Dublin, making it the natural choice for Irish golfers heading to the Algarve. It's also got a genuinely different rule from most of this series: which cabin you're sitting in changes whether you pay for your clubs at all.
How Aer Lingus treats golf clubs by cabin
Fly Business class and sports equipment, golf clubs included, is carried free of charge — no separate fee at all. Fly Economy, and it's charged as its own item, the same structure as most low-cost carriers: booked in advance, with a lower online rate and a higher one if you leave it for the airport.
Weight and quantity limits
The allowance is 23kg per bag, and Aer Lingus limits you to one piece of sports equipment per passenger — so a second bag, or a set that's heavier than the norm, needs sorting separately rather than assumed to fit. Go over 23kg and standard excess baggage rates apply to the difference.
What Economy passengers pay
For Economy, golf clubs typically run at around €40 per bag, per flight, booked online in advance, rising to roughly €50 if arranged through the reservations centre or at the airport on the day. That's per direction, so a return trip means paying it twice unless you're flying Business both ways. As always, treat this as a guide figure and check the live price when you book, since it can vary by route and season.
How to add golf clubs to your booking
Add sports equipment online when you book or through Manage Booking ahead of departure — always the cheaper route compared to sorting it by phone or at the airport desk. If you're travelling as a group of golfers on one of Aer Lingus Regional's smaller aircraft, it's worth contacting them directly in advance, since those flights cap the total number of golf bags allowed on board.
The alternative: rent clubs right at Faro Airport
If you're flying Economy and the return fee starts to add up — or you'd simply rather not manage a golf bag through Cork or Dublin airport and back — renting on arrival is a straightforward alternative. Two operators are based directly inside Faro Airport (FAO), one in the arrivals hall and one at a departures-terminal counter, so you can pick up a set the moment you land or have one waiting at your hotel or first course.
For a broader comparison of rates and delivery areas, see our full list of club rental shops in the Algarve.
Bottom line
If you happen to be flying Aer Lingus Business class, bringing your own clubs to the Algarve costs nothing extra — worth factoring in if you're weighing up the cabin upgrade. In Economy, budget somewhere around €80 return for the fee alone, and decide whether that's worth it compared to renting a set once you're in Faro.
