British Airways doesn't charge a separate golf clubs fee like other airlines — whether it's free depends on your fare and baggage allowance. Here's how to work out which applies to you.
British Airways handles golf clubs quite differently from the low-cost carriers flying into Faro. There's no separate "sports equipment" fee to work out — your clubs are simply treated as one of your checked bags. Whether that ends up costing you anything at all depends entirely on your fare type and what else you're checking in, so it's worth understanding before you assume it's either free or expensive.
How British Airways treats golf clubs
A golf bag counts as a standard checked bag, not a separate paid category. If it's packed in a proper golf bag or hard case and comes in under the weight limit, it simply uses up one of the checked bags your fare already includes — the same as a suitcase would. That's a genuinely different approach to Ryanair, easyJet or Jet2, all of which charge a dedicated sports equipment fee regardless of what else you're carrying.
When it's free
It comes down to your fare. Basic fares (British Airways' cheapest tier) don't include a checked bag at all, so anything you check in — golf clubs included — is extra. Standard fares and above typically include at least one checked bag up to 23kg, and if your golf bag is packed under that weight and it's the only hold item you're bringing, it can travel completely free, using up that included allowance. Bring a separate suitcase too, though, and the golf bag becomes your second piece — which is where the fees below kick in.
When you'll pay, and roughly how much
If you're on a Basic fare, or your golf bag is an additional item beyond what your fare already includes, it's charged at British Airways' standard extra checked bag rate. That price isn't fixed — BA prices it by route and demand, and figures reported for European short-haul routes vary fairly widely, roughly £25–£60+ each way. Rather than rely on a single number, use British Airways' online baggage calculator for the actual Faro route when you book — it's also always cheaper to add it in Manage My Booking ahead of time than to pay at the airport.
Size limits and checking it in
Golf bags are classed as out-of-gauge baggage — larger than a normal suitcase — up to roughly 190 x 75 x 65cm. Because of that, you can't just drop it at a standard bag-drop desk; British Airways asks you to take it to the dedicated oversize/out-of-gauge baggage point at the airport, and to allow at least 2 hours before departure for a short-haul flight like one to Faro. Turning up at the last minute with an oversize item is the easiest way to have a stressful start to a golf trip.
Free doesn't always mean easiest
Even when the fee works out to nothing, there's still a golf bag to haul to a separate oversize desk, load onto a trolley, and hope arrives in one piece. Some golfers flying British Airways decide that's still more hassle than it's worth for a short trip, and rent instead. Two operators work directly out of Faro Airport (FAO): one with a desk in the arrivals hall, another at a counter in the departures terminal. Either way, you can collect a set the moment you land, or have one waiting at your hotel or first course, with nothing to check in at all.
Rental terms, delivery areas and daily rates differ between operators, so it's worth comparing before you decide — our directory of club rental shops covers every option across the Algarve, not just the two based at the airport.
Bottom line
British Airways is the one airline on this list where flying with your own clubs can genuinely cost nothing extra — check your fare's baggage allowance before assuming otherwise. But between the fare-type rules, route-based pricing if you don't qualify, and the out-of-gauge drop-off, it takes more homework than the flat per-bag fee other airlines charge. If that's more admin than you want for a short trip, renting at Faro Airport removes the question entirely.
