Air Travel w Skis as baggage (was best ski bag?)

Previous rec.skiing.backcountry topic on best ski bag turned to a
discussion on air travel ski baggage hassles.

Here is what Delta's offical policy is with regard to ski equipment:

One item of ski or snowboard equipment is accepted as part of your
free checked baggage allowance.
One item of ski or snowboard equipment is defined as: One ski/pole
bag or one snowboard bag, and one boot bag.
These combined items must meet the standard free baggage allowances
for weight and number of pieces or normal excess baggage charges will
apply.

http://www.delta.com/traveling_check...oods/index.jsp

Other airlines have similar rules. For us Nordic skiers, a big problem
is the term "one". Depending on my ski holiday, I may "need" two or
three pairs of skis, boots and poles. E.g. mountain touring skis,
track or light touring classic skis and skating skis. In multi-ski
trips, it becomes "don't ask, don't tell". The number of ski issue is
even more of a problem for those traveling to multiple event races
where one may want to be bringing a couple of pairs of classic skis and
a couple of pairs of skating skis.

I suspect that the best strategy in traveling with multiple skis is to
keep the weight of the bag as low as you can so that the agent doesn't
feel obligated to look inside, and not pack it with too many clothes so
that it looks like a stuffed sausage.

The other downside of multiple skis is that would become more
problematic if you need to claim damage. Of course, the other downside
is that on international travel the breakage compensation is based on
weight. What is the airline liabilty on braking your 2 kg Atomic RS11
+ bindings skating skis ?

Edgar

Edgar wrote:

Previous rec.skiing.backcountry topic on best ski bag turned to a
discussion on air travel ski baggage hassles.

Here is what Delta's offical policy is with regard to ski equipment:

One item of ski or snowboard equipment is accepted as part of your
free checked baggage allowance.
One item of ski or snowboard equipment is defined as: One ski/pole
bag or one snowboard bag, and one boot bag.
These combined items must meet the standard free baggage allowances
for weight and number of pieces or normal excess baggage charges will
apply.


i think it says one item which is one bag of skies and one bag of boots
.... not one pair of skies
interesting. would seem that together they count as one checked item.
need to enquire there and make sure that doesn't use up your two item
luggage limit, that is, if you are traveling peon class.

are you traveling to sweden? on delta? i guess if you have delta
tickets, you come through paris on air france?

http://www.delta.com/traveling_check...oods/index.jsp

Other airlines have similar rules. For us Nordic skiers, a big problem
is the term "one". Depending on my ski holiday, I may "need" two or
three pairs of skis, boots and poles. E.g. mountain touring skis,
track or light touring classic skis and skating skis. In multi-ski
trips, it becomes "don't ask, don't tell". The number of ski issue is
even more of a problem for those traveling to multiple event races
where one may want to be bringing a couple of pairs of classic skis and
a couple of pairs of skating skis.

I suspect that the best strategy in traveling with multiple skis is to
keep the weight of the bag as low as you can so that the agent doesn't
feel obligated to look inside, and not pack it with too many clothes so
that it looks like a stuffed sausage.


there is a weight limit and you can only have one other piece of checked
baggage

The other downside of multiple skis is that would become more
problematic if you need to claim damage. Of course, the other downside
is that on international travel the breakage compensation is based on
weight. What is the airline liabilty on braking your 2 kg Atomic RS11
+ bindings skating skis ?


depends on how much they weigh ... same liability as for the broken
skies from the thrift shop

Edgar

klh wrote:

i think it says one item which is one bag of skies and one bag of boots
... not one pair of skies
interesting. would seem that together they count as one checked item.
need to enquire there and make sure that doesn't use up your two item
luggage limit, that is, if you are traveling peon class.


The various airlines have "different" yet similar rules.
Alaska/Horizon clearly define one as ONE PAIR. That said, I have flown
Horizon to Canada and Montana with more than one pair of XC skis, poles
etc but my ski bag doesn't weight more than the typical back of Alpine
skis. Keep the weight down and be kind to the luggage handler's back
and they are not likely to open the ski bag.

Alaska/Horizon's Domestic Contract of Carriage:
http://www.alaskaair.com/www2/compan...c_section5.asp
Skiing Equipment: Items of skiing equipment will be accepted as checked
baggage, will be included in determining the free baggage allowance,
and when in excess, each item will be subject to the excess baggage
charge for a single piece, whether or not presented as a single piece.
Skiing equipment must be packaged in a proper soft or hard
ski/snowboard bag. Limit of ONE PAIR of skis/snowboard, ONE PAIR of
poles, bindings and boots. Additional items shall count as excess
baggage.... [Emphasis (All Caps) added]

Alaska/Horizon's International Contract of Carriage re Skis is similar
to the Domestic
http://www.alaskaair.com/www2/compan..._section1K.asp

Other airlines have similar rules that exempt skis from the combined
length rule.

Edgar

Edgar wrote:
klh wrote:

i think it says one item which is one bag of skies and one bag of boots
... not one pair of skies
interesting. would seem that together they count as one checked item.
need to enquire there and make sure that doesn't use up your two item
luggage limit, that is, if you are traveling peon class.


The various airlines have "different" yet similar rules.
Alaska/Horizon clearly define one as ONE PAIR. That said, I have flown
Horizon to Canada and Montana with more than one pair of XC skis, poles
etc but my ski bag doesn't weight more than the typical back of Alpine
skis. Keep the weight down and be kind to the luggage handler's back
and they are not likely to open the ski bag.

I've flown many many times with skis - many times on Alaska. What
they're looking for is tow checked bags and if one (or both) are ski
bag, under the weight limit, period. I've never had them take a second
look, nor have I heard of anyone who's been questioned about a single
ski bag, no matter how large or how many skis are in it. I ALWAYS have
at least two pair of skis, packed with soft clothing. I have often
traveled with 4-5 pair in a bag when I'm with my family. The ski teams
travel with large, multiple ski bags.

Edgar wrote:
Previous rec.skiing.backcountry topic on best ski bag turned to a
discussion on air travel ski baggage hassles.

is the term "one". Depending on my ski holiday, I may "need" two or
three pairs of skis, boots and poles.

Fit them into the bag.

In article XOUsf.9869$Q73.3084@trnddc03,
klh wrote:
there is a weight limit and you can only have one other piece of checked
baggage

This is an imcomplete thought, sentence.
You can have more bags; you just have to an added luggage charge.
In the past, this was not a big deal. With more people packed on fewer
planes, the weight becomes a deal. It's not a big deal.

People have no idea what you can bring onto planes (like Alaska Air
allows 50 lbs of ammo).

The other downside of multiple skis is that would become more
problematic if you need to claim damage. Of course, the other downside
....
depends on how much they weigh ... same liability as for the broken
skies from the thrift shop

Skis are generally pretty tough, but
Friends skied down Orizaba near Mexico city, and one broke her skis
on the baggage carosel in LAX. United reimbursed her. He (now ex-)
boyfriend said she should have claimed original sale price, but she got
the beaters from a thrift shop for less than $25. She was quite honest.

--

so.......

been following this post and NOBODY ever seems to mention the SOLID ski
tubes for flying with skis.
I'm going to Sweden for Vasaloppet and debating whethere or not to purchase
a SOLID ski tube or pack my skis up in a regular ski bag with padding ....

why not just get the solid ski tube and be safe???
are we all too cheap to do so???

JK

32 degrees wrote:

why not just get the solid ski tube and be safe???
are we all too cheap to do so???

A solid tube like I've seen only holds one pair of skis and not much
else. Next week's trip to Seefeld I'll have 3 pairs (tele skis for some
downhill, a pair of combi track skis plus a pair of skaters I've just
got hold of). Can you get tubes that will take a couple of pairs easily
(and if so, where)?

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

I found one on the internet for 139.00 shipped. The newest version that
easily carries four pairs of skis.
http://cozywinters.com/sportube/

I've traveled by air with skis maybe 20 times and never had a problem.
Figured "my time is up" so I sprung for a Sportube.

Gary Jacobson
Rosendale, NY

"Peter Clinch" wrote in message
...
32 degrees wrote:

why not just get the solid ski tube and be safe???
are we all too cheap to do so???

A solid tube like I've seen only holds one pair of skis and not much else.
Next week's trip to Seefeld I'll have 3 pairs (tele skis for some
downhill, a pair of combi track skis plus a pair of skaters I've just got
hold of). Can you get tubes that will take a couple of pairs easily (and
if so, where)?

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

I have a Sportube which fits 4 pairs of skis and 2 pairs of poles. It's
the bigger Sportube of the two (?) they make. The price Gary mentioned
makes sense. I use it both for air travel and for car travel (see
http://www.stanford.edu/~revyakin/00...1778_miata.jpg).

Photo of the new year. What's that rig like in the wind?

Gene


wrote:

I have a Sportube which fits 4 pairs of skis and 2 pairs of poles.
It's the bigger Sportube of the two (?) they make. The price Gary
mentioned makes sense. I use it both for air travel and for car
travel (see
http://www.stanford.edu/~revyakin/00...1778_miata.jpg).