Salt Lake City, UT – Face it: as if airline travel these days isn’t enough of a hassle, traveling with skis or a snowboard has become an absolute pain.
As a result, many travelers who used to bring their own gear now rent when they arrive at their destination. That, however, can be costly, and the situation can be further complicated by skiers who use AT boots or other specialized gear.
Many of us therefore still bring our own planks along, and when doing so it’s important to include the cost of ski baggage when comparing the various prices available for a seat, as the price to bring skis or a snowboard along can vary from free to $200. That budget airline seat may not end up being so economical after all, and in some instances it may be cheaper to rent! Adding to the confusion and frustration, the relevant information is often buried in an obscure location on the airline’s website.
![There must be some great pow awaiting, because we don't know anyone who smiles like this while lugging their skis and bags through an airport! (file photo: Dakine)](http://www.firsttracksonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/0038-13W_P097_GIRLS_FallLineDouble_FLOURISH_leanne1-300x199.jpg)
Thankfully, Matt Clark, Marketing Manager of LUEX Travel, has already done the heavy lifting and compiled a current list of ski and snowboard baggage restrictions and fees for 95 airlines across the globe. The following chart should prove an effective resource as you plan your ski and ride getaways for 2015-16.
Keep in mind that this table’s “Cost” column only refers to any extra charges that an airline imposes if a piece of your luggage contains skis or a snowboard. If the cost is listed as “free,” but the airline still charges a checked baggage fee for your class of ticket, that fee will still apply.
![Did that flight get canceled again? (file photo: Dakine)](http://www.firsttracksonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/PR-Photo-Dakine1-300x199.jpg)
Note also that while all of this information is correct at the time of publication, airlines can change their regulations at any time. Use the information in the list as a guide, but double-check before booking your flight.
Finally, do yourself a favor and bring your boot bag in the cabin as your carry-on. Even if the airlines lose the rest of your baggage, the most important piece of gear to have on hand is your own pair of boots!
Airline | Accepts Skis or Snow-boards | Size Restrictions | Details | Cost | More Info |
Aeroflot | Yes | N/A | 1 ski/board + boot bag flies free of charge if within checked baggage allowance; however, you must confirm with the airline at least 36 hours before flight. | Free | Click here |
Aer Lingus | Yes | N/A | For Aer Lingus flights operating to/from North America, ski equipment is carried as part of the standard free baggage allowance. For all other flights, ski bags are subject to a fee of €40 per passenger, per direction. |
Free- €40 | Click here |
Aero Mexico | Yes | 204 or 294cms total linear dimensions, varying by plane/route | You can take ski/snowboard equipment for a fee of $40-50 USD. Size restrictions are: Narrow-Body Cabin (E-145, E-170, E-175, E-190, B 737-700/800)up to 204cm; Wide-Body Cabin (B-767-200/300, B-777, B-787) 294cm | $40-$50 USD | Click here |
Air Asia | Yes | N/A | All ski and snowboard equipment is subject to a fee, which varies by route, weight, and when you book (it’s cheapest to pre-book online). Charges for a 20kg ski bag from Australia to Japan are 32 AUD if pre-booked, or 59 AUD if paid at the airport (15kg limit if paid at airport). | Approx 30-70 AUD | Click here |
Air Berlin | Yes | N/A | You can take a ski/board bag free of charge if within your free baggage allowance, or for the following fees depending on route/ticket: Just Fly Short and medium-haul =€15 – €35; FlyDeal, FlyClassic, FlyFlex Short and medium-haul= €70 – €90; Long-haul = €150; FlyFlex Short and medium-haul = €70; Long-haul = €150 | Free – €150 | Click here |
Air Canada | Yes | N/A | Skis or snowboards travel free when within checked baggage limits (number of bags and weight). They must be packed in proper, rigid cases, and and multiple skis/boards are allowed in one case – though other items like clothing are not. Boot bag can be taken seperately at no extra charge. | Free | Click here |
Air China | Yes | Varies | In principle, Air China do accept snowsports equipment, subject to max linear dimensions of 158cms – which excludes every adult ski on the market. However, when we called Air China, we were told that you can take a longer ski bag (up to 23kg) for ‘33% of the standard rate,’ or approximately £15 if flying from the UK. In short, call them when booking to confirm fees for your flight! | Varies – £15+ | Click here |
Air France | Yes | 300cms | Ski equipment is considered as a standard checked baggage item and is included at no extra charge in your baggage allowance (except for Economy Mini and Basic fare tickets). | Free | Click here |
Air India | Yes | N/A | Skiing equipment may contain 1 pair of skis or 1 board, and one pair of boots. Such skiing kit may be pooled in the free baggage allowance but if in excess, it will be charged at the applicable rate for 3 Kilos of excess baggage. | Free-Varies | Click here |
Air Malta | Yes | N/A | €30 per piece per flight, but if the total weight of your baggage is less than your checked-in baggage allowance, sports equipment will be completely free of charge. | Free – €30 | Click here |
Air New Zealand | Yes | 200cms and 23kg | You can take a ski bag under 200cm long and 23kg for free as part of your standard checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Air Vanuatu | No | N/A | N/A | N/A | Click here |
Alaska Air | Yes | 292cm total linear dimensions | Ski bags under 292 total linear dimensions fly for free if within your checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Alitalia | Yes | 23kg | Ski and snowbaord bags under 23kgs are free if within your checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
American Airlines | Yes | 320cm total linear dimensions | One pair of skis/snowboard and one boot bag containing only boots/bindings can be taken at the applicable checked bag charge, which varies by route | $25-200 USD | Click here |
Ana | Yes | 292cm total linear dimensions | Skis can be taken, but costs vary by size and route. Bags under 203cm linear dimensions should fly for free, depending on route, if within your checked baggage allowance. | Varies | Click here |
Asiana | Yes | 23kg | Ski bags weighing less than 23kg can be taken for free if within checked baggage limits. | Free | Click here |
Austrian Air | Yes | 23kg | 1 ski- or snowboard equipment per passenger is transported free of charge – except in Europe fare ‘Economy Light’ and not on routes to/from/via USA.Sports equipment MUST be confirmed with the airline at least 24 hours before flying! | Free – €100 | Click here |
Avianca El Salvador | Yes | 230cm total linear dimensions | In principle, a ski bag under 230cms linear dimensions and 23kg should fly for free, however this is subject to space so you MUST confirm with the airline when booking! | Free – Varies | Click here |
Azul | Yes | N/A | Flat fee of $150 USD per flight for sports equipment | $150 USD | Click here |
Bel Avia | Yes | 210cm long | Flat fee of €50 for ski/snowboard equipment | €50 | Click here |
BMI Regional | Yes | 20kg | Depending on ticket class, you can take a ski bag up to 20kg in weight free as part of your checked baggage allowance, or for a fee of £30/€45 per sector. | Click here | |
British Airways | Yes | 23kg | Ski/snowboards up to 190cm long can be taken for free as part of your checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Brunei Air | Yes | N/A | In principle ski equipment can be taken as part of your free checked baggage allowance, depending on ticket class on route. You should confirm any fees with the airline when booking. | Free – Varies | Click here |
Brussels Airlines | Yes | N/A | 1 set of ski or snowboard equipment may be transported free of charge, except on routes to/from/via US/Canada and for Check&Go tickets. Following rates apply: for Check&Go €45 per one-way if booked in advance (€50 at the airport), and €100 per one-way on intercontinental flights. | Free – €100 | Click here |
Cape Air | Yes | N/A | Varies by route, ticket class and plane. Confirm fees with the airline when booking. | Varies | Click here |
Carpat Air | Yes | N/A | Depends on route and ticket class. Confirm fees with the airline when booking. | Varies | Click here |
Cathay Pacific | Yes | N/A | In principle ski equipment can be taken as part of your free checked baggage allowance, depending on ticket class and route. You should confirm any fees with the airline when booking. | Varies | Click here |
Cayman Airways | Yes | N/A | You can take ski equipment for a flat fee of $40 USD. We recommend to confirm space and availability with the airline when booking. | $40 USD | Click here |
China Airlines | Yes | N/A | In principle ski equipment can be taken as part of your free checked baggage allowance, depending on ticket class and route. You should confirm any fees with the airline when booking. | Free – Varies | Click here |
China Eastern | N/A | N/A | Varies by route, ticket class and plane. Confirm fees with the airline when booking. | Varies | Click here |
China Southern | N/A | N/A | Varies by route, ticket class and plane. Confirm fees with the airline when booking. | Varies | Click here |
Condor | Yes | 400cm long | Ski bags up to 400cm long and 30kg can be taken for a fee, which varies by route. Fee is discounted when paid at least 30 days before flying, and ranges from $65 to $111 USD. | $65-111 USD | Click here |
Copa Air | Yes | 272cm linear dimensions | Flat for of $100 USD to take ski/snowboard equipment. | $100 USD | Click here |
Corsairfly | Yes | N/A | You can take ski/board equipment for free within your checked baggage allowance, which varies by route. Confirm fees with the airline when booking. | Varies | Click here |
Croatia Airlines | Yes | N/A | One set of ski- or snowboard equipment per person is free of charge on all flights operated by Croatia Airlines, but you most notify the airline when booking. | Free | Click here |
Czech Airlines | Yes | N/A | One ski/board bag up to 15kg can be taken for free IN ADDITION to your checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Delta | Yes | N/A | One ski/board bag can be taken for free if within checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Easyjet | Yes | N/A | One ski bag up to 20kg can be taken for £30 per flight. | £30 | Click here |
Egypt Air | Yes | 23kg | One ski bag up to 23kg can be taken as part of your checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Emirates | Yes | N/A | Ski equipment can be carried as part of your normal baggage allowance. However, in some situations additional charges may apply when checking in ski equipment – confirm with the airline when booking. | Free – Varies | Click here |
Etihad | Yes | N/A | Free if within checked baggage allowance, which varies by ticket class and route. | Free – Varies | Click here |
Ethiopian Airways | Yes | N/A | One set of skiing equipment consisting of one pair of skis, one pair of ski poles, one pair of boots, and one snow board, one pair of standard water skis or one slalom water ski shall be charged as: €20 on European flights, €40 on intercontinental flights. | €20-40 | Click here |
Finnair | Yes | 220cm long | On most ticket classes you can take a ski bag up to 220cm long and 23kg in weight for free as part of your checked baggage allowance. | Free – Varies | Click here |
First Air | Yes | 292cm linear dimensions | Sporting items will be accepted as checked baggage, and when in excess, each item will be subject to the excess baggage charge for a single piece. Please ensure that the items do not exceed the maximum weight of 45kg (100lbs) or size of 292cm to be accepted as checked baggage. | Free – Varies | Click here |
Flybe | Yes | N/A | You can take a ski/snowboard bag for £30 per sector, but you must notify the airline when booking. | £30 | Click here |
Frontier Airlines | Yes | N/A | Varies by route, ticket class and plane. Confirm fees with the airline when booking. | Varies | Click here |
Garuda Indonesia | Yes | N/A | Varies by route, ticket class and plane. Confirm fees with the airline when booking. | Varies | Click here |
Georgian Airways | Yes | N/A | Free within your checked baggage allowance, but you MUST confirm with the airline when booking. | Free | Click here |
German Wings | Yes | N/A | You can take one ski bag weighing up to 30kg for free, but you must confirm with the airline when booking. | Free | Click here |
Gulf Air | Yes | 190cm long | One ski/board bag up to 190cm long can be taken free if within your checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Hawaiian Airlines | Yes | 206cm linear dimensions | In principle you can take ski/board bags up to 206cm total linear dimensions, but not many skis fit within this limit. | Varies | Click here |
Iberia | Yes | N/A | Ski equipment is considered an item that can be carried within the passenger’s baggage allowance. If you add other items, exceeding the permitted number of free items, it will be considered excess baggage. However, on return flights originating in Brazil, a charge of $81 USD applies. | Free – $81 USD | Click here |
Iceland Air | Yes | N/A | One ski/board bag can be taken for free if within checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Interjet | Yes | N/A | 50kg baggage allowance! You can take sports equipment in addition to one other hold baggage item for free. | Free | Click here |
Japan Airlines | Yes | N/A | While you can take ski/board equipment, it will almost certainly incur an oversize charge, which varies by route and ticket class. | Varies | Click here |
Jet2 | Yes | 182cm long | You can take a ski/board bag up to 182cm long for £25 if paid online in advance. | £25 | Click here |
Jetblue | Yes | N/A | Ski and snowboard equipment are accepted on flights EXCEPT flights to/from the Dominican Republic. There is no additional charge for ski and snowboard equipment; however, one item of equipment will count as one of your checked bags. Skis and snowboards are exempt from the standard size requirements (62″) but should still follow weight and other equipment guidelines. |
Free | Click here |
Jetstar | Yes | 190cm/277cm | Ski/board equipment flies free if within your checked baggage allowance, but must not exceed 1.9 metres for Jetstar flights operated by an A320, A321 or Q300 aircraft, and 2.77 meters for Jetstar flights operated by an A330 or 787 aircraft. | Free | Click here |
Kenya Airways | Yes | N/A | In principle ski/board equipment can be taken free of charge, however you must confirm this (and space in the hold) with the airline when booking. | Free | Click here |
KLM | Yes | 300cm long | You can take a ski/board bag up to 300cm long for free if within your checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
LAN Airlines | Yes | N/A | Ski/board equipment is accepted, but will incur a charge if over 203cm linear dimensions. Charge varies by route and ticket class. | Varies | Click here |
LOT Polish Airlines | Yes | N/A | Ski/board equipment can be taken for free if within your checked baggage allowance. Size restrictions are waived. | Free | Click here |
Lufthansa | Yes | N/A | Ski/board equipment can be taken for free if within your checked baggage allowance, but you most notify the airline at least 24 hours before flying to guarantee hold space. | Free | Click here |
Luxair | Yes | N/A | €35 per piece of equipment each way) up to 30kg. | €30 | Click here |
Malaysia Airlines | Yes | N/A | One ski/board bag can be taken free if within the checked baggage allowance, which varies by route and ticket class. | Free | Click here |
MEA | Yes | N/A | 1 ski or board bag weighing up to 23kg can be taken for free if within your checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Meridiana | Yes | N/A | You can take ski/board equipment for a fee of €30-60 depending on route. | €30-60 | Click here |
Monarch | Yes | N/A | You can take ski/board equipment for a fee of £24.99, which entitles you to an additional 20kg checked baggage allowance. | £24.99 | Click here |
Oman Air | Yes | N/A | Ski/board equipment is accepted but will exceed the permissable size restrictions. You must call the airline when booking to reserve space in the hold and confirm any fees. | Varies | Click here |
Penair | Yes | N/A | Ski/board equipment can be taken for free if within your checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Philippine Airlines | Maybe | N/A | Ski/board equipment may be taken at the discretion of the airline; you must call them to confirm fees when booking. | $25 USD – Varies | Click here |
Qantas | Yes | N/A | Free if within checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Qatar Airways | Yes | N/A | Free if within checked baggage allowance, which varies by ticket class and route. | Free | Click here |
Royal Jordanian | Yes | N/A | Sports equipment and musical instruments can be carried as part of the free baggage allowance and excess rates will be applied when the free baggage allowance is exceeded. | Free | Click here |
Ryanair | Yes | N/A | Ski/board bags up to 20kg can be taken for €40/£40 per item per flight if booked in advance, or €45/£45 | €40/£40 – €45/£45 | Click here |
Saudi Airlines | Yes | 157-205cm linear dimensions | In principle ski equipment can be taken, but it will exceed the permissable size dimensions, resulting in substantial fees, which depend on route. | $130-440 USD | Click here |
Singapore Air | Yes | N/A | Free if within checked baggage allowance, which varies by ticket class and route. | Free | Click here |
South African Airways | Yes | 158cm | In principle ski/board equipment up to 158cms can be taken for free, which rules out most skis on the market. Fees for longer skis vary by route/ticket; call the airline when booking to confirm availability and space. | Varies | Click here |
SouthWest | Yes | N/A | When substituting ski equipment for your free checked baggage allowance, Southwest allow you to take up to two bags (containing one set of snow skis, ski poles, and ski boots), which count as one item (even if they are packed and tagged separately). Size restrictions are waived, though weight limits still apply. | Free | Click here |
Suncountry | Yes | 182cm long | Skis up to 182 cm long can be taken for free as your checked baggage allowance. Longer skis incur a charge of $75 USD per flight. | Free – $75 USD | Click here |
Sunwing Airlines | Yes | N/A | Ski/board bags up to 20kg can be taken for free. | Free | Click here |
Swiss | Yes | N/A | Free if within checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
TAP Portugal | Yes | N/A | Ski/board equipment can be taken for €50 per flight. | €50 | Click here |
Thai Airways | Yes | N/A | Free if within checked baggage allowance, which varies by ticket class and route. | Free | Click here |
Transavia | Yes | N/A | Ski/board equipment can be taken for €25 per flight, but you must notify the airline beforehand. | €25 | Click here |
Turkish Airlines | Yes | N/A | Free if within checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
United | Yes | N/A | Free if within checked baggage allowance, which varies by ticket class and route. | Free | Click here |
US Airways | Yes | N/A | Ski equipment may be accepted in the normal baggage allowance in lieu of a piece of baggage. | Free | Click here |
Virgin America | Yes | N/A | Free if within checked baggage allowance, which varies by ticket class and route. | Free | Click here |
Virgin Atlantic | Yes | N/A | Free – in addition to standard checked baggage allowance. | Free | Click here |
Virgin Australia | Yes | Varies | Free if within checked baggage allowance, which varies by ticket class and route. | Free | Click here |
Vueling | Yes | N/A | €45 per item per flight. | €45 | Click here |
Westjet | Yes | N/A | Ski/board bags can be taken for free if within checked baggage allowance. Oversize fee is waived. | Free | Click here |
Wizz Air | Yes | N/A | Ski/board equipment can be taken for €30 per bag per flight if paid in advnace, or €60 if paid at the airport. | €30-60 | Click here |