The operations of air transport in goods also called air freight is executed by cargo planes carrying cargo only or in the carriages of passenger flights. Carriers may sometimes also provide transportation of goods by road for short distances from the airport to the recipient's warehouse: trucked flight as it is called.

Within Cameroon, you can deliver your packages in a short time, from one airport to the other airport served by the companies operating domestic flights.

For packages to other countries, their ferrying can be provided on the requested flight. Tariffs for cargo vary according to destination, distance, volume, nature of goods and the type of service requested (home collection and delivery to the airport, express transportation, etc.) Consult your carrier or agency, who will in turn connect you with cargo experts or freight services from your carrier.

One can also carry their heavy large luggage in a freight, as well as their bulky or surplus items (benefit scheme only in case of significant excess baggage) which falls under the unaccompanied baggage scheme, where the price per kilo is more moderate than the normal additional fee charged for excess luggage.

Note should also be taken that the fee which will be charged at the departure, do not take into account any costs that will be borne on arrival (customs duties, cost of intervention of a freight forwarder for customs clearance or home delivery fee).

In anyways, some particularly large items cannot but be transported using a freight forwarder. And any unaccompanied baggage must imperatively be posted several hours prior to departure (or even before). Your carrier will tell you the time and tell you where to get them on arrival. Low-cost insurance are also provided for such shipments.

A franchise is the weight or the number of checked bags, placed in the carriage, which one can travel with or without extra payment, after already paying for their ticket. It varies according to the company, classes and networks.

The franchise normally allows for two baggage’s of 23 kg each per person in the carriage or 46 kg in economy class. With the business and first class, it is 2 bags of 32 kg each or 64 kg per passenger. Your carrier will advise you on franchise duty applied to babies.

Note that the sum total of the three dimensions of your baggage must not exceed the limits;(according to the classes, 158 cm for the first and 140 cm for the other, or 158 cm for the two), passengers with additional or oversized baggage will be charged a flat extra tax at the check in room.

On the charters, the franchise in general is usually at 15 kg on short / medium-haul routes and 20 to 25 kg on longer distances in the tourist class (if configured in two classes).

Your free baggage allowance will always be mentioned in your ticket or, if you have an electronic ticket, on your "itinerary receipt".

You will have to pay extra for the transportation of luggage which exceeds the specified franchise and the amount depends on the destination of your flight. The company will furnish you with the price list upon request in case that amount is generally high. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it is good to first of all find out.

If the surplus is too valuable, it is advisable to opt for a cheaper alternative which is freight transport. However, some companies may offer you a flat fee for excess baggage. Your reservation agent will explain your precise case to you when you buy your ticket.

These are needed to search and identify individual luggage on the delivery belt or search in case of loss, and in cases of dispute. As a precaution, use two labels with your details, one inside and one on the outside of each bag. Another label indicating codes of the airports concerned with the journey is also affixed by the registration staff on all carriage baggage. Remember to remove labels from a previous trip so as to avoid misdirection.

By Luggage, we mean articles, items and other personal belongings of a passenger, to be carried or used by them, which are necessary for their comfort or well-being while they travel. Unless otherwise specified, these include both checked baggage (carriage) and the unregistered (hand luggage) of the passenger.

Bagages de soute (carriage baggage)
This is the baggage of which the air carrier takes exclusive charge of during the flight, and for which she has issued a baggage receipt. Refer to the section on Franchise to know the weight and number of checked luggage placed in the carriage.

Do not put your medicines in the carriage baggage, as well as perishable, fragile or valuable items.
For security and safety reasons, national and international regulations prohibit airline to place dangerous items in carriage baggage (see prohibited items).

For the sake of safety and security, never accept that someone hands you the luggage or parcels of another person and, given the high cost of an additional kilo, remember to limit the contents of your suitcase.

In case of delay, loss and damage to your luggage, the provisions of the national, sub-regional and international (Montreal Convention of 28 May 1999. See website of CCAA) stipulates that the carrier is liable for the resulting damage (Article 19).

The carrier is liable for the damage sustained in case of destruction, loss or damage to, checked baggage on condition that the event which caused the destruction, loss or damage took place on board the aircraft or during any such period where the carrier had custody of baggage (article 17, paragraph 2).

In case of delay or loss of baggage, complaints must be tabled in writing to the carrier in exchange of an acknowledgment of receipt from the carrier, within the space of 21 days from the date on which the luggage should have and /or arrived (Article 17, paragraph 3 and Article 31 paragraph 2).

In case of damage, the demand for compensation must be made to the Company within 7 days of the discovery of the damage (Article 31, paragraph 2). Failing complaint within the prescribed period, such an action against the carrier is inadmissible (Article 31, paragraph 4).
Any claim for damages is not admissible after a period of 2 years on arrival at the destination or from the date the aircraft ought to have arrived at the destination, or transit stop.

Compensation is limited to a calculated ceiling based on the weight of registered baggage, about 15 000 CFA per kg (Article 22, paragraph 2); it is thus advisable to ensure an additional insurance who will ensure full compensation for damages if according to you, the value of your luggage exceed the legal compensation ceiling.

Hand Luggage .

This includes all the baggage of the passenger other than carriage baggage. The Luggage (s) remains in the custody of the passenger.

Theoretically, one baggage whose combined dimensions do not exceed 115 cm and whose weight does not exceed 10 kg is accepted. In addition, the company is authorized to deny the entry of a hand luggage which exceeds the prescribed limits.

Do not place objects considered dangerous in your hand luggage (see cabin prohibited items).

In the case of damage to the baggage, see Damage and Indemnity.

Articles prohibited in the Cabin

In conformity with the new international requirements on civil aviation safety aimed at implementing the highest standards, before boarding, security services at airports are asked to verify that you do not bring any prohibited articles on board. To this effect, you must pass under a gantry metal detector, and your hand luggage, in an X-ray machine which may then be opened for visual inspection.

As such, travel light! And place your sharp and/or blunt objects, etc. in your checked luggage. Liquids and soft products are subject to the same conditions.

The list of prohibited items is non exhaustive.

The indicated items are generally prohibited in the cabin of the aircraft:

Firearms namely, any object capable or appearing capable of discharging a projectile or causing injury;
Pointed / edged weapons and sharp objects; these articles capable of causing injury;
Blunt instruments capable of causing injury;
Explosives and inflammable substances pose a risk to the health of passengers and crew or the security / safety of aircraft or property; and,
Chemical and toxic substances pose a risk to the health of passengers and crew or the security / safety of aircraft or goods.
Liquid or soft products over 100ml not placed in a proper transparent bag.

The following items are prohibited in carriage baggage:

• Explosives, including detonators, fuses, grenades, mines and explosives, gas, fireworks, antioxidants, etc.

The transportation of wild animals or certain protected species is subjected to special conditions, your airline or the competent administrative authority (Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife) will inform you about it.

Regarding your pets  (dogs, cats, birds) under 5 kg, they can in principle be accepted in the cabin when placed in a crate louvered whose total three dimensions must not exceed 115 cm. If bigger, they will be placed in packaged boxes and moved to the carriage.

Remember to bring their valid documents along such as health certificates, vaccinations and entry permits or transit.

In all cases, when booking your passenger ticket, notify the company that these pets will accompany you. Most of the time however, the animals are subjected to a specific rate. And they are not automatically accepted by all carriers.

Guided dogs, together with their cages and food, will be carried in addition to the normal free baggage allowance in line with the regulations of the carrier.

Note that the airline assumes no responsibility for injury, loss, delay, illness or death of such pets or dogs. It applies same if their entry or transit is refused in a particular country, state or territory.