Many airlines carry skis and snowboards absolutely free. You just need to pack everything well in a special case and bring it to baggage check-in. We tell you about the rules for transporting ski equipment. Go!
Lovers alpine skiing And snowboarders won’t let you lie: skiing in your favorite boots and on the skis and boards you once liked is a real pleasure. Of course, you can rent everything you need for skiing, but then you are relying on chance: the choice of boots, skis and boards of your size may not be very large, and you will have to ride what they give you.
Yes, one day you will have to spend time and money to choose and buy what is right for you. But then you will ride with pleasure. Let's see which airlines are friendly to skiers and snowboarders.
Life hack: you can put not only a pair of skis with poles or a board in the case, but also quite a lot of things. This is especially useful when flying on airlines that charge baggage fees. For example, Siberia Airlines has tariffs where you can fly with ten kilograms of hand luggage and still take skis or a board with you. Or with the Pobeda airline, which charges for absolutely everything, you can only pay for the transportation of ski equipment and put all the things you need in a case and not pay separately for luggage. Moreover, the denser you pack the contents, the more intact the most valuable thing will be - skis or board.
Free transportation of ski equipment
Aeroflot
If you are planning to go skiing and snowboarding - in our country or in the near abroad - most likely you can fly there on Aeroflot flights. During the winter season (from November 1, 2017 to May 15, 2018), ski and snowboard equipment is transported free of charge. In addition to the main luggage, each passenger can bring two more cases to check-in: one with a pair of skis or snowboard and the second with boots. If you are flying economy class, your total weight should not exceed 23 kilograms.
Aeroflot is also friendly to those wishing to transport water skis, bicycles, hockey equipment, golf clubs, fishing gear, equipment for diving and surfing. However, transportation and payment rules may vary, please find out about them before your trip.
"Russia"
On regular Rossiya flights, the rules for carrying hand luggage, baggage and ski equipment are fully consistent with the “parent” company - Aeroflot. But on charters, conditions may differ; you can find out about them from the tour operator, who is the consolidator of the flight.
Where Rossiya flies: the main airports are Pulkovo in St. Petersburg and Vnukovo in Moscow. It is from them that most flights to other Russian cities are carried out.
S7 Airlines (“Siberia”)
With any ticket for S7 flights (regardless of whether you paid for baggage allowance or not), passengers can carry a set of skis or a snowboard with boots. The weight of equipment in economy class should not exceed 23 kilograms.
Where S7 Airlines flies: this airline has a lot of convenient destinations for skiers both in Russia and abroad.
Georgian Airways
If you want to go skiing and boarding in Bakuriani or Gudauri, you may want to consider flying with the Georgian airline Georgian Airways. For passengers from Russia and Ukraine, ski and snowboard equipment is transported free of charge.
Where Georgian Airways flies: flights to Georgia are operated from Moscow, Kazan and St. Petersburg.
Air Astana
If you decide to go skiing or boarding in the Almaty area - for example, at the Chimbulak or Ak-Bulak resorts, then you may be interested in Air Astana flights. Transportation of ski equipment is included in the ticket price; the total weight should not exceed the baggage allowance of your fare. Under the same conditions, you can check in equipment for tennis, squash, badminton, fishing, horse riding, roller skating, archery, surfing and kitesurfing. A separate rate exists for the transportation of canoes, bicycles, golf clubs and diving equipment.
Where Air Astana flies: flights to Kazakhstan are operated from Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Magadan, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, St. Petersburg, Ulan-Ude, Khabarovsk and several other Russian cities.
Armenia
In Armenia there is one, but very decent ski resort, Tsaghkadzor. If you want to fly with Armenia Airlines, the transportation of ski or snowboard equipment must be agreed with the airline when purchasing a ticket. Transportation of equipment will not require additional payment if the total weight together with the rest of the luggage does not exceed the norm specified in the tariff. The same goes for transporting golf clubs.
Where Armenia flies: flights to Armenian cities are operated from quite “rare” Russian airports— Voronezh and Mineralnye Vody.
Payment for transportation of ski equipment depends on the tariff
Utair
Ticket holders of all tickets except the cheapest “Light” fare can transport sports equipment all year round: in principle, it does not include free baggage allowance and allows flights only with hand luggage. In economy class, the weight of ski equipment is limited to 23 kilograms.
Where does Utair fly: the airline has an extensive route network in Russia and abroad.
"Ural Airlines"
At any time of the year, free transportation of sports equipment is allowed for all tariffs except “Promo”. Weight should not exceed 23 kilograms if you are flying in economy class.
Where do they fly? Ural Airlines": as the name suggests, this airline has many interesting destinations for skiers in the Urals, but not only that. For example, an airline flies from Moscow to Sochi.
Paid transportation of ski equipment
"Victory"
Pobeda Airlines charges an additional fee for transporting everything: hand luggage, baggage, and, of course, ski equipment. The weight of one case with skis or snowboards and other related equipment should not exceed 20 kilograms. If you pay for the transportation of ski equipment when purchasing a ticket on the airline’s website or through a call center, the price will be 1,499 rubles. If you have not done this in advance, you will be asked to pay for this piece of luggage at the airport: in Russia it will cost four thousand rubles, abroad - 55 euros.
Where does Pobeda fly: in addition to flights to Sochi, there are many destinations in the Urals - Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Perm, Novosibirsk and others. And also Gyumri, Tbilisi and Alma-Ata in the “ski” countries of the CIS.
The best vacation for a skier is a skiing vacation. The best weekend is a ski marathon. But the question of transporting skis arises. Of course, it is convenient to get there by private car, but there is a limit to the comfortable distance. For example, you can’t get around by car. Even by train it will take a very long time. The plane is here best transport for a great ski weekend at any distance from home.
In this article we will tell you how to transport skis on an airplane, the rules for transporting skis on an airplane, and how to transport skis for free.
How to transport skis on an airplane?
When transporting skis by plane, it is not enough to pack them in a cover. Secure your skis with special ties so that they do not rub against each other. Then attach the poles to the skis and wrap it all with bubble wrap, put it in the case and wrap the case itself in luggage film. Yes, it’s a chore, but believe me, it’s better than later suing the airline for broken equipment.
Medalist of the Olympic Games in Turin Ivan Alypov's ski poles were broken while loading luggage. Despite the fact that they were packed in a special tube, Ivan had plenty of experience in flying with skis. Therefore, play it safe, lay and wrap everything you can. Some skiers recommend stuffing clothes into the case so that the luggage can be freed up and the skis will be good.
It is always necessary, regardless of the airline, warn the carrier about the upcoming transportation of skis! This needs to be done at least 48 hours before departure, or better immediately when purchasing a ticket. At the same time, check whether the rules of transportation and the features of registering such baggage have changed.
The standard set is: case with 1 pair of skis and 1 pair of poles + 1 piece of luggage with 1 pair of boots. Almost always, airlines do not control the number of skis in a case, so you can carry 2 pairs in one case. Restrictions on the amount of dimensions have been canceled by many or increased from 203 to 350 cm. In terms of weight, usually up to 23 kg, and in general there are restrictions from 10 to 32 kg.
Free ski transportation: list of airlines
Most airlines take care of their customers and provide free ski transportation on the plane. The exception is low-cost airlines, that is, airlines with cheap tickets, but without baggage included. For example, “Victory”. Low-cost airlines always charge for luggage.
So, the list of major airlines transporting skis for free:
Aeroflot
For free transporting skis from November to March. From April to October, transportation of skis will cost 2500 rubles. on flights within Russia and 50 euros on international flights.
S7 Airlines
Free transportation of skis all year round, except for Economy Basic tariffs.
Case with 1 pair of skis and 1 pair of poles + 1 piece of luggage with 1 pair of boots. There are no restrictions on the dimensions of the skis, only on the weight – 23 kg.
Utair
Case with 1 pair of skis and 1 pair of poles + 1 piece of luggage with 1 pair of boots. There are no restrictions on the dimensions of the skis, only on the weight – 23 kg.
At the same time, this free carriage in excess of the established norm does not apply to accompanying equipment (sticks, boots, helmet) transported without skis/snowboards.
Ural airlines
Transportation of sports equipment free all year round, except for Promo tariffs.
Case with 1 pair of skis and 1 pair of poles + 1 piece of luggage with 1 pair of boots. There are no restrictions on the dimensions of the skis, only on the weight – 23 kg.
Nordwind
Case with 1 pair of skis and 1 pair of poles + 1 piece of luggage with 1 pair of boots. There are no restrictions on the dimensions of the skis, only on the weight – 20 kg.
VIM airlines
Free transportation of skis on all tariffs. Case with 1 set of equipment (1 pair of skis and 1 pair of poles) in a case with a total weight of no more than 10 kg. Additional equipment (boots, gloves, goggles) in a case with a total weight of no more than 6 kg.
Lufthansa
Free transportation of cross-country skis: 1 pair of skis + 1 pair of poles + 1 pair of ski boots. Weight up to 23 kg. Except for the Light tariff.
Air France
Free transportation of cross-country skis: 1 pair of skis + 1 pair of poles + 1 pair of ski boots. Weight up to 23 kg. In addition to Light and Basic tariffs.
Skis and snowboards must be transported in special cases, the length of which should not exceed 300 cm. Ski shoes can be transported in a separate bag. These 2 pieces of baggage (case with skis/snowboard and bag with shoes) are considered one piece of checked baggage. Their transportation is included in your free baggage allowance.
Finding cheap flights to ski resorts and marathons
For trips to and active rest We use a search engine from . There is no need to waste time searching and comparing tickets from different airlines, all search results will be before your eyes. You can find and buy in literally 2 clicks.
Play sports, move, travel and be healthy! 🙂
P.S. If you find an error, a typo, or you have something to discuss, write in the comments. We are always happy to communicate :)
To go to mining ski resorts, many snowboarders have to endure air travel. In winter, at airports at every turn you come across people carrying snowboards. How to transport a snowboard on a plane, how much it costs and how to save money on transporting your board, we will find out in this article.
Paid or free
Since ski tourism is the basis of the winter economy of a number of countries, many self-respecting airlines have agreed to accept one set of ski equipment per passenger for free transportation during the ski season (the specific dates should be checked in advance with the representative of the airline you are flying with).
A set of ski equipment means:
- One set of skis and poles + ski boots;
- One snowboard + snowboard boots.
By this, airlines attract an additional flow of passengers, and fans winter holiday can save a lot of money.
However, it is worth finding out in advance whether your equipment will be accepted for free transportation. Some low-cost airlines, despite the general trend, charge a lot of money for transporting a snowboard. The fact is that if we consider snowboarding equipment as luggage, it falls under the heading “oversized luggage”, and therefore has an increasing factor when calculating the cost of transportation. If you are flying with a discount airline, be sure to calculate all the costs; the cost of baggage may be greater than your benefit in the cost of the flight.
In any form
The snowboard is accepted for transportation by air, packed in a special snowboard cover. Some airlines, such as Aeroflot, allow snowboards and boots to be carried in the same bag, while some foreign airlines, such as Czech Airlines, require that snowboards and boots be transported separately. In this case, you will need to have a special boot cover.
Officially, airlines prohibit transporting other personal items in a case with equipment, but in practice they do not find fault with this.
Therefore, people are actively filling up the free space in the case with their things. However, remember that you should not place hard or sharp objects next to the board that can scratch it, cover the crepes with something soft so that they reach their destination safe and sound, and be sure to stick identification marks and contact information on the cover. Just in case, take an extra bag, in case you come across strict dispatchers who will ask you to unload your things from the case.
Dimensions and weight
As a rule, airlines do not impose any requirements on the dimensions of snowboarding equipment. But the weight restrictions are quite strict: from 15 to 20 kg for all equipment, depending on the airline. Be sure to weigh your luggage at home when packing; the amount of re-sowing can be quite significant.
Be sure to check weight standards with all airlines you fly with. This advice is especially relevant for transit passengers, since rules and regulations may change during transfers.
The procedure for receiving and issuing equipment
To check in your snowboarding equipment, you need to take it to the check-in counter, where the dispatcher will bring your luggage onto the flight, weigh it and attach luggage tags to the covers. The case with your boots will be accepted at the counter there, but the case will have to be taken separately to the oversized baggage counter (usually close to the freight elevator). If you didn’t wrap it in film, you can add it to the case of things, because no one else will weigh it.
It will be possible to receive oversized luggage in a separate place, and sometimes ski equipment is dumped in one large pile near the conveyor belt. In any case, the unloading site can be identified by a large crowd of people.
No matter how confident you are in your right to free transportation of snowboarding equipment, be sure to check the transportation details with the carrier, since in modern conditions airlines tend to change transportation rules.
Ski season is just around the corner and today we will talk about transporting skis and snowboards on an airplane.
As always, it all depends on the airline.
During high season, most European carriers will carry your skis on the plane for free in addition to your standard baggage allowance.
This means that you can take with you, for example, 20 kg of checked baggage + 8 kg of hand luggage + a set of ski equipment (skis, poles and boots or snowboard + boots).
In most cases, your ski equipment set should consist of 2 pieces: skis and poles in one case and boots in the other.
How to transport skis on a plane?
After or at the time of purchasing your air ticket, you must notify the airline that you plan to fly with ski equipment. If you bought your ticket online, contact the agent on whose website you bought the ticket, or the airline.
If you do not report the transportation of skis, there is a chance that they will not be accepted.
During check-in, your skis or snowboard will be put aside and taken to luggage compartment airplane, like oversized luggage. At some airports, you will have to check your skis at a separate oversized baggage counter.
Upon arrival at your destination, you will also receive your skis not on the belt with regular baggage, but in the oversized baggage department.
Since a standard ski bag has handles, many airlines ask that they be packed with clear film so that they don't get caught on anything and interfere with loading onto the plane.
Which airlines transport skis for free?
These include:
- Aeroflot
2 pieces (skis + boots), total weight up to 23 kg. Dimensions are not limited.
- Transaero
2 pieces with a total weight of up to 10 kg. On flights where the number of pieces of baggage is valid - 1 piece, weighing up to 10 kg. Dimensions are not limited.
Transaero allows 2 passengers to carry skis in one case. In this case, the weight of sports equipment should not exceed 30 kg on flights where a weight system is in effect. And no more than 32 kg on flights where the number of seats system is in effect.
- UTair
The permissible weight of ski equipment is up to 20 kg. Dimensions are not limited.
The permissible weight of ski equipment is up to 20 kg. Allowed to add weight extra baggage two or more passengers, but the weight of one seat should not exceed 32 kg.
Ski equipment weighing more than 32 kg or dimensions exceeding 203 cm in the sum of three dimensions is paid as oversized baggage.
- Lufthansa
1 piece of ski equipment on all routes, with the exception of flights from/to the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Central American countries. Maximum weight is 23 kg for economy class and 32 kg for business class.
- Austrian
You are allowed to carry 1 set of equipment on all flights except from/to the USA and Canada.
- SWISS
One pair of skis + boots and poles or snowboard + boots is transported free of charge. Maximum weight up to 32 kg.
- Russia
Only during the period from 10/27/13 to 03/29/14 it is allowed to transport one set of ski equipment per passenger free of charge. Maximum weight - 15 kg.
Airlines that carry skis for a fee
Let's make a small disclaimer right away. On flights of these airlines you can carry ski equipment free if it plus your baggage does not exceed the free baggage allowance.
For example, you are carrying a set of skis weighing 10 kg and a suitcase weighing 10 kg. The total weight of your luggage is 20 kg, which does not exceed the standard norm. If you want to take a larger suitcase, you will have to pay for the excess.
In addition, if there is a number of seats system on the route, when not only the weight of luggage, but also its quantity is limited, you can only check in your ski kit for free, i.e. 1 piece of luggage. In this case, as an exception to the general rule, you can return 2 cases: one with skis and poles and the second with boots.
Airlines with paid transportation of ski equipment:
- Finnair
- Air Baltic (except business class passengers)
- Air Berlin
- Air France
How to deal with such airlines?
As a rule, the weight of a ski set (skis, bindings, boots and poles) is about 10 kg. If the airline's baggage allowance is 20 kg, then in addition to skis you can also take a small suitcase, so that the total weight of the luggage does not exceed 20 kg. And of course, don’t forget about hand luggage, as a rule, it is about 8 kg, but exact data can be found on the airline’s website.
If the airline does not use a weight system for baggage allowances, but a system for the number of seats, then everything is more complicated. You can check in only 1 piece of luggage weighing up to 23 kg free of charge. The option in this case is the following - put some of your things in your ski bag and boots, and the rest in your hand luggage.
Can I put clothes and other things in the ski bag?
Let's face it, many people do just that. But if ski equipment is carried free of charge, in excess of the free baggage allowance, this is prohibited.
But you can still try :)
Many fans of winter sports are interested in how to transport a snowboard on an airplane? How much could it cost? How to save money on a flight and what conditions do popular Russian air carriers offer for snowboarders? We’ll talk about all of this in this article.
Special conditions for transporting a snowboard on an airplane
It is worth noting that the popularity of this sport has significantly influenced the policies of many airlines. The fact is that usually transporting a snowboard on an airplane is a very expensive service. Boards are classified as oversized luggage and a considerable check is issued for their transportation (on average 20-50 euros per set for foreign airlines). If the carrier does not provide special conditions, the weight of the snowboard is taken into account in the total weight of baggage allowed for free transportation, which is 20 kg. in economy class.For every kilogram of excess weight, be prepared to pay at least 11 euros for foreign airlines and 300 rubles for domestic ones. But a number large companies in winter especially for lovers extreme species sports, offer special conditions that include transporting a snowboard on the plane absolutely free of charge. Moreover, we are talking not only about the board itself, but rather about a full set of equipment in a case, into which you can compactly put the necessary equipment, clothes, and fairly heavy boots with bindings. Whether there are special conditions for transporting such oversized items in a particular company, it is worth checking by phone with representatives of the air carrier or on the company’s website.
How to transport snowboard equipment
The board itself is quite durable, so you can transport it without any cover, but doing it with it is certainly more convenient and still calmer. Before you pack your snowboard for an airplane, find out how much the cover itself weighs. Models with a rigid reinforced frame can weigh up to 6 kg, but the permitted weight of a ski set for air transportation is usually no more than 20 kg (varies among different airlines). Take this point into account so that you don’t have to pay extra at the airport for excess weight. We recommend monitoring your weight and not going over the permitted limits, in Lately At airports everything is very strict.
Some universal tips for properly packing a case:
- do not place objects near the board that could scratch it;
- it is better to have a separate protective cover for the mask;
- to further protect the snowboard from possible impacts during transportation, it can be covered with a layer of clothing;
- it is advisable to write your contact information on the case so that you can quickly identify it or, in case of loss (and such cases do occur), quickly find it;
- do not overload the case: the handles and fastenings are designed for a certain permissible weight recommended by the manufacturer. And in addition, overweight is fraught with additional financial costs.
Ski bag return rules
We wrote above how to transport a snowboard on a plane, now we’ll tell you how much it will cost. The price depends on the specific airline. Ski kit is classified as oversized baggage, so it must be checked in and accepted after the flight in a separate place for oversized baggage (as a rule, such baggage is transported to the freight elevator). If you are flying to rare destinations, then you should notify the carrier company in advance that you plan to transport a snowboard (preferably at the stage of booking a ticket). Otherwise, you may not be allowed to take oversized cargo on board.
Carriers do not have any requirements for the length of the cover itself. In general, you can transport a snowboard on an airplane without a cover; we know of many cases when boards flew safely without any covering. But in this case you need to remove the fastenings.
When flying with transfers, when tickets are different airlines, there is one important nuance. At the transfer point, the permissible norms and rules for transporting equipment may be different and you may be subject to additional payment.
How to deal with overweight
The loyalty of airlines towards passengers with snowboard covers allows you to travel with your own equipment as cheaply as possible. But the weight of the cases is always strictly regulated: you can carry luggage weighing up to 20 kg for free, for anything heavier you will have to pay extra. Experienced snowboarders who often carry snowboards on planes have figured out how to get around this ban a little. The fact is that initially the cover is weighed, and then the passenger himself carries it to the freight elevator. Along the way, you can quietly upgrade your case (no one will re-weigh it). You can also transfer something from an overloaded case to your hand luggage or main luggage (if possible). Or put snowboard boots on yourself =)Basic airline conditions for transporting sports equipment
Here we list the most popular airlines and their stated requirements for the transportation of ski equipment:
S7 transportation of a snowboard: in addition to basic luggage, free transportation of a snowboard and equipment (helmet, boots, clothing, goggles and other accessories) in a case with a total weight of up to 20 kg is allowed; Group booking of tickets is allowed, in which several snowboards can be transported in one case (no more than the number of people in the group);
Aeroflot snowboard transportation: free 1 case with 1 snowboard, 1 piece of luggage with 1 pair of boots; Aeroflot allows snowboards to be carried free of charge on an airplane in a case with a total weight of up to 23 kg;
UTair: two cargo spaces for snowboards and related equipment are provided free of charge, with a total weight of up to 20 kg;
Transaero: one snowboard and a bag with additional accessories (up to 10 kg) free of charge with your main luggage.
Answers to questions about how to carry a snowboard on a particular carrier’s plane should be agreed upon immediately before purchasing a ticket, since the stated requirements may differ depending on the season and flight direction, availability special offers and auction conditions.
