Shirak Avia's baggage policy allows passengers to bring one compact personal item and one carry-on bag weighing up to 7 to 10 kg, depending on the fare class. Checked baggage allowance depends on your purchased ticket tier: Promo or Light fares include zero checked bags, while Standard Economy tickets typically include one checked piece weighing 20 kg or 23 kg. Single bags over 32 kg are not accepted.
Baggage Allowance Snapshot
Shirak Avia operates a tiered baggage system where free checked bags depend on your purchased fare family. Hand luggage is generally permitted across all booking tiers, but exact weight caps vary by ticket type.
What can change: Fare class, charter contract conditions, international route segments, and ticket purchase channel directly impact your exact baggage allowance.
Official Source Verification
Baggage rules can vary by fare, cabin, route, operating carrier, traveler status, and purchase channel. BaggageBase separates published rules from practical guidance.
Overview of Shirak Avia Baggage Allowances
Shirak Avia (IATA code: 5G / ICAO code: SHS) is an Armenian airline headquartered in Yerevan. The carrier operates scheduled and charter flights primarily connecting Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) with destinations across the CIS, Russia, and the Middle East.
Baggage allowances on Shirak Avia follow a tiered fare framework common to regional airlines in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Rather than granting a flat baggage allowance to every traveler, Shirak Avia separates tickets into distinct fare categories. Low-tier economy fares focus on hand baggage only, while standard and flexible tickets include a hold baggage allotment.
Because aircraft capacities and route bilateral agreements vary, travelers must pay close attention to the specific baggage allowances printed on their booking receipt. Below is an in-depth breakdown of cabin rules, hold luggage guidelines, overweight fees, and packing regulations for flying with Shirak Avia.
Shirak Avia Carry-On & Personal Item Rules
Hand luggage permissions on Shirak Avia allow passengers to carry necessary personal belongings, medications, and valuable electronics on board. Every passenger with a confirmed seat may bring carry-on items into the passenger cabin.
Personal Item Allowance
In addition to a primary carry-on bag, passengers are typically allowed one small personal item free of charge. This item must be small enough to fit completely under the seat directly in front of you. Permitted personal items include:
- A small handbag, purse, or pocketbook.
- A compact laptop bag, tablet sleeve, or briefcase.
- A small camera bag or compact backpack.
- An infant food carrier or diaper pouch containing essentials needed during flight.
- Goods purchased at the airport duty-free shops, packed inside a sealed, clear duty-free bag.
All personal items must be stowed under the forward seat during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Passengers seated in emergency exit rows must place all bags-including personal items-in the overhead storage bins.
Primary Cabin Bag Allowance
Passengers are generally permitted one standard piece of hand luggage. This bag must fit comfortably inside the overhead luggage bins above the passenger seats.
- Weight Limit: Cabin bags generally must weigh between 7 kg and 10 kg, depending on the fare class and aircraft type. The specific limit is noted on your booking confirmation.
- Size Parameters: Shirak Avia generally aligns with standard international carry-on size limits, usually around 55 × 40 × 20 cm. Because specific sizer dimensions can vary slightly across regional ground operations, keeping your bag within these limits avoids gate disputes.
- Gate Screening: Airport agents at Zvartnots and outstations may weigh or measure carry-on bags at check-in or at the boarding gate. Bags exceeding weight or size parameters will be removed, tagged, and transferred to the cargo hold for an additional airport handling fee.
| Item Type | Piece Limit | Maximum Weight | Target Dimensions | On-Board Placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Item | 1 item | 3–5 kg (guideline) | Must fit under seat | Under seat in front of you |
| Main Carry-On | 1 piece | 7–10 kg (ticket-dependent) | Approx. 55 × 40 × 20 cm | Overhead locker compartment |
Checked Baggage by Fare Category
Shirak Avia applies a piece-and-weight system for checked baggage. Your ticket fare category determines whether checked luggage is included and what weight limit applies.
Fare Categories Explained
- Promo / Light Fares: Designed for passengers traveling light. These tickets do not include any checked luggage. If you hold a Promo ticket and arrive at the airport with a suitcase, you must pay for a checked bag at the counter.
- Standard / Classic Economy: The standard ticket product. It typically includes 1 checked piece weighing either 20 kg or 23 kg, depending on the specific route agreement.
- Flex / Premium Fares: Provides greater booking flexibility and may permit higher weight allowances (up to 30 kg or 32 kg) or an extra checked piece on designated routes.
Size and Linear Dimensions
The standard dimensional threshold for checked baggage on Shirak Avia is a total linear size not exceeding 158 cm (Length + Width + Height). On certain charter itineraries, luggage up to 203 cm total linear dimensions may be accepted without an oversize penalty, provided it falls within the weight limit.
Single-Piece Safety Maximum
Under international civil aviation safety rules, no single piece of checked luggage may weigh more than 32 kg (70 lbs). Airport baggage handlers are prohibited from lifting individual items exceeding this limit. Any bag weighing more than 32 kg must be repacked into two separate bags or handled as commercial cargo.
| Fare Tier | Included Checked Pieces | Max Weight per Piece | Max Linear Size (L+W+H) | Inclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promo / Light | 0 pieces | 0 kg | N/A | Available for purchase |
| Standard Economy | 1 piece | 20 kg or 23 kg | 158 cm | Included in ticket |
| Flex Economy | 1–2 pieces | 23 kg to 32 kg | 158 cm | Included in ticket |
| Infant (under 2 years) | 1 piece | Stroller / Pushchair | Collapsible | Free of charge |
Excess, Overweight, and Oversized Baggage Fees
When your baggage exceeds the limits stated on your electronic ticket, excess baggage charges apply. Paying for excess weight or extra pieces at the airport check-in desk is consistently more expensive than pre-purchasing allowances online or through your booking agent.
Overweight Surcharges
If your bag falls within the standard piece allowance but exceeds the allowed weight limit (for example, a 25 kg bag on a 20 kg ticket allowance):
- Overweight charges are calculated based on the excess kilograms up to the 32 kg maximum.
- Rates are applied either per additional kilogram or as a flat surcharge bracket.
- Official verification required: Exact per-kilogram rates vary by route, operating station, and local currency (such as Armenian Dram [AMD] or Russian Rubles [RUB]).
Additional Checked Pieces
If you need to check a second or third bag:
- Additional pieces are charged as an extra-bag fee.
- Each additional piece must adhere to the standard 20 kg or 23 kg weight cap and 158 cm linear dimension limit.
- Space for extra luggage on regional routes is subject to overall aircraft cargo capacity. During high-demand holiday seasons, airlines may restrict extra piece sales.
Baggage Pooling Rules
Shirak Avia generally permits baggage pooling only for passengers traveling together on the same booking reference (PNR) who check in at the airport counter at the same time.
For instance, two passengers with individual 20 kg allowances may distribute their combined 40 kg total across their bags. However, no single bag may exceed the 32 kg occupational safety ceiling. Combining allowances across separate reservations is not permitted.
Special Baggage: Infants, Sports Gear, and Fragile Items
Traveling with non-standard items requires advance planning to prevent issues at the check-in desk.
Traveling with Infants
- Collapsible Stroller: Parents traveling with an infant (under 2 years of age) without a separate seat may transport one fully collapsible baby stroller, pram, or infant car seat free of charge.
- Gate Check-In: You can push your stroller through airport security and use it up to the aircraft boarding door. Ground staff will tag the stroller, load it into the aircraft hold, and return it to you at the aircraft door upon arrival, depending on airport regulations.
- Checked Allowance for Infants: Lap infants do not usually receive an independent checked baggage allowance unless specifically designated on the e-ticket.
Sports Equipment
Sports equipment such as skis, snowboards, golf clubs, and fishing gear can be transported on Shirak Avia flights under specific conditions:
- Equipment must be packed inside protective travel cases or heavy-duty travel bags.
- Ski equipment typically includes one pair of skis, one pair of poles, and one pair of ski boots.
- Sports gear may count toward your standard checked baggage allowance if its total weight and size fall within the ticketed limit. If it exceeds your allowance, standard oversized or sports equipment tariffs apply.
- Because regional aircraft cargo holds have limited space, passengers traveling with large sports bags must notify the airline or their booking agent at least 48 to 72 hours before departure.
Musical Instruments
- Cabin Stowage: Small instruments such as violins, flutes, and clarinets may be brought into the passenger cabin in place of your primary carry-on bag, provided they fit within the overhead bins and do not exceed carry-on weight limits.
- Extra Seat Purchase: For bulky, delicate instruments like cellos or acoustic guitars, passengers can purchase an extra passenger seat (Cabin Baggage / CBBG). The instrument is secured directly to the adjacent passenger seat using seatbelt extensions.
- Checked Instruments: Instruments transported in the aircraft hold must be packed in a rigid, heavy-duty flight case. Shirak Avia assumes limited liability for fragile musical instruments checked as hold baggage.
Regional Carrier Comparison: South Caucasus Route Options
Travelers flying out of Yerevan or connecting across the South Caucasus frequently compare Shirak Avia with other regional carriers.
When planning your itinerary, reviewing the FlyOne Armenia baggage policy provides clear insight into how ultra-low-cost cabin luggage dimensions and strict personal item sizing compare to Shirak Avia's standard offerings.
Similarly, checking the Georgian Airways baggage policy is helpful if you are considering alternative transit hubs in Tbilisi, where full-service luggage inclusions often come standard on international tickets.
| Airline | Standard Cabin Allowance | Checked Bag Allowance (Base Economy) | Max Single Bag Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirak Avia | 1 personal item + 1 bag (7–10 kg) | 0 kg (Promo) / 20–23 kg (Standard) | 32 kg |
| FlyOne Armenia | 1 small personal item (included); trolley fee | 0 kg (Basic) / 10–20 kg (Tiered add-on) | 32 kg |
| Georgian Airways | 1 personal item + 1 bag (up to 8 kg) | 1 piece (up to 23 kg on standard fares) | 32 kg |
Airport Procedures and Baggage Drop Deadlines
To ensure your baggage is loaded onto your flight without delays, follow these standard airport handling steps:
- Check-In Desk Opening Times: Baggage drop counters for Shirak Avia flights typically open 2 to 3 hours prior to scheduled departure at Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) and foreign departure stations.
- Strict Counter Cutoffs: Check-in counters close 40 to 60 minutes before scheduled takeoff. Passengers presenting luggage after this cutoff will be denied baggage acceptance and may lose their flight reservation.
- Bag Tag Checking: When the ground handler tags your suitcase, verify that the airport code printed on the destination tag matches your itinerary (for example, EVN for Yerevan). Keep your baggage claim stickers attached to your passport or boarding pass until you have collected your bags at your destination.
- Prohibited Items in Hold Luggage: Never place lithium batteries, power banks, spare e-cigarette batteries, or loose matches inside checked suitcases. Aviation safety authorities require all spare lithium cells and battery packs to be transported exclusively inside cabin baggage.
- Damaged or Missing Luggage: If your suitcase fails to arrive or appears broken on the conveyor belt, visit the airport Lost & Found / Baggage Service desk before exiting customs. You must complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) to initiate a tracing file and preserve your right to file an insurance claim.
How BaggageBase Checks This Information
BaggageBase monitors and reviews baggage policies across regional and international carriers using direct operational data sources. Our research focuses on:
- Verified carrier conditions of carriage and ticket contract clauses.
- Airport ground-handling operational updates at hub airports like Yerevan (EVN).
- Real-world operational checks comparing ticket classes, dimensional allowances, and gate-check procedures.
When regional airlines do not publish static, universal currency excess tables, we clearly mark those tariffs as requiring confirmation on your booking receipt rather than publishing unverified figures.
Shirak Avia Departure Checklist
Follow these essential luggage steps before heading to the airport for your Shirak Avia flight.
- Verify your e-ticket fare category. Confirm whether your ticket is a Light fare (no checked bag) or a Standard ticket (20 kg or 23 kg included) to avoid surprise fees at the airport counter.
- Weigh your packed cabin bag at home. Ensure your primary hand luggage stays within the 7 kg to 10 kg limit so you are not forced to pay gate-check fees.
- Measure total linear dimensions. Verify that your checked bag does not exceed the standard 158 cm (length + width + height) threshold.
- Keep power banks in your personal item. Lithium-ion batteries and power banks are strictly prohibited in checked luggage and must travel with you in the aircraft cabin.
- Pack essential medications and paperwork in your hand luggage. Never place prescription medicines, cash, or important travel documents in checked bags in case of transit delays.
- Arrive at the terminal at least 2.5 hours before departure. Regional check-in desks close promptly 40 to 60 minutes before takeoff, leaving no room for late baggage processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Shirak Avia include free checked baggage on every flight?
No. Shirak Avia offers several ticket types. Promo and Light fares do not include checked luggage, while Standard and Flex economy tickets generally include one checked bag weighing 20 kg or 23 kg. Always check your booking confirmation.
What is the maximum carry-on bag weight on Shirak Avia?
Shirak Avia typically limits main cabin bags to between 7 kg and 10 kg, depending on your fare class and aircraft type. Passengers may also carry one small personal item that fits beneath the seat in front.
What is the maximum weight allowed for a single piece of checked luggage?
No single checked bag may weigh more than 32 kg under any circumstances. Bags over 32 kg cannot be processed by airport baggage handlers due to health and safety regulations and must be repacked into multiple containers or sent as cargo.
Can two passengers combine or pool their checked baggage allowance?
Yes, baggage pooling is generally allowed if both passengers are traveling under the exact same reservation code (PNR) and check in at the airport counter together. Even with pooled allowances, no individual suitcase may exceed 32 kg.
Can I bring a baby stroller on Shirak Avia for free?
Yes. Parents traveling with an infant under 2 years old may check one fully collapsible stroller, pram, or infant car seat free of charge. Ground staff will typically collect the stroller at the boarding gate.
What happens if my carry-on bag is too large at the departure gate?
If your hand luggage exceeds cabin size or weight limits, gate agents will tag it and place it into the aircraft cargo hold. You will be charged an airport gate-handling fee before boarding is allowed.
What should I do if my checked baggage is delayed or damaged?
Go directly to the airport Lost & Found or Baggage Service counter in the arrivals hall before passing through customs. File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with the handling agent and keep your luggage claim receipt to track your bag or file an airline claim.
Summary Notice
Baggage rules, weight thresholds, and excess fees can vary based on your specific route, seasonal operating schedules, and ticket conditions. The operating transport company's official terms and conditions of carriage always prevail over third-party summaries. Always check the baggage allowances printed directly on your confirmed flight itinerary before departure.
