Checking-in your Ski Equipment on Discount Airlines

Photo Credit: P J Partridge

To celebrate the launch of CherryPow.com yesterday, I’ve decided to write on a topic that has many ski-bunnies quaking in their boots, being how to carry your prized ski equipment on a low-cost flight in Australia and New Zealand.

Now, many of you will be saying, “Well, I’m paying thousands for a holiday to the snow, why skimp on the airfare?”, however with the glut of cheap Winter fares to New Zealand in recent months, it’s inevitable that many people, perhaps including yourself, would have purchased a cheapie fare and worried about the consequences later.

The good news first – it is possible. The bad news – you may have to pay for it. Here is a breakdown of how each discount carrier handles ski equipment.

Jetstar

Checked-in Baggage Allowance: 0kg (JetSaver Light), 20kg (JetSaver & JetFlex fares) or 30kg (StarClass)

Excess Baggage Fee: $20 AUD / $20 NZD per kg

Jetstar was the cheap ski-season fares culprit for 2009 and justly, I’ll tackle them first. Jetstar can check-in your ski equipment, on the following conditions:

• Your skis and gear are carefully packed into a bag that is less than 1.9m long
• You check in at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled departure time for flights departing from a domestic terminal and 3 hours prior to the scheduled departure time for flights departing from an international terminal
• No bag should weigh more than 23kg

Once you weigh your ski clothes, boots, stocks etc together, you may find yourself pushing the 20kg limit. Keep an eye on those excess kilos, as they can soon erase the savings on your bargain fare and Jetstar is entitled to refuse flying your gear should you not comply with their baggage policy. Note that you are also entitled to 10kg of cabin baggage (being a cabin bag and a smaller bag), so distribute your cargo carefully and check-in early to save yourself (and the ground staff) any undue stress. Read Jetstar’s baggage policy here.

VirginBlue

Checked-in Baggage Allowance: 0kg/23kg (‘Go’ or Blue Saver fares, $8 per sector for 23kg allowance), 23kg (Flexible Fare) or 32kg (Corporate Plus or Premium Economy fare)

Excess Baggage Fee: $8 AUD / $8 NZD per kg

VirginBlue have a more flexible policy towards checked-in equipment and their excess baggage fees are considerably cheaper. As snow skis are categorised as sporting equipment, the following rules apply:

• If you check in skis, you are entitled to an additional 5kg of baggage allowance on top of your existing allowance (see above). For example, if you have purchased a baggage allowance of 23kg, and are travelling with skis, you will be eligible for a total checked baggage allowance of 28kg
• All ski gear must be properly packaged and cannot exceed 3m in length
• You check must in at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled departure time
• No bag should weigh more than 23kg

Nice, an additional 5kg on your allowance. VirginBlue are certainly more flexible with ski gear and their excess baggage fees don’t hurt anywhere as much. Plus you have an on-board allowance of 7kg (across two bags), so again, consider how you pack. View VirginBlue’s sporting equipment policy here.

Tiger Airways

Checked-in Baggage Allowance: 0kg/15kg/20kg/25kg/30kg (Free/$10AUD/$20AUD/$35AUD/$70AUD, with advanced booking), $30 flat fee for ski equipment (Sporting Equipment)

Excess Baggage Fee: $15 AUD per kg

Tiger Airways categorises ski gear as ‘sporting equipment’ and  charges a flat-fee of $30 AUD per item, per sector, irrespective of weight! Well, up to 30kg per item, anyway. However, this is followed by the ominous caveat:

Tiger Airways is prepared to carry such items on a ‘limited release’ (i.e. entirely ‘at your own risk’ for damage or delay) basis. You may therefore wish to ensure that you have suitable private insurance cover in force for such items. If the fee is not paid on your outbound journey it will still be imposed on your return journey.

That said, common sense applies – if you’re going to bring your pricey gear, you sure as heck should insure it!

Other rules are:

• You must check in at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled departure time
• No bag should weigh more than 30kg

Good one, Tiger! Cabin allowance is 7kg. View Tiger’s checked luggage policy here.

AirAsia

Checked-in Baggage Allowance: 0kg/15kg/20kg/25kg (Free/$10AUD/$28AUD/$53AUD, with advanced booking)

Excess Baggage Fee: $30 AUD (up to 15kg), $10 AUD per kg thereafter

Finally, for our Asian guests, ski equipment is not categorised as sporting equipment and therefore must be checked in as part of your baggage allowance. Note that even when baggage allowance is pre-booked, AirAsia’s fee schedule is not very forgiving, so weigh your gear and pre-purchase your baggage allowance accordingly. A kilo over your pre-ordained allowance and bam! $30 worth of excess baggage fees!

More fine print:

• You must check in at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled departure time
• No bag should weigh more than 32 kg and have combined dimensions of more than 81cm height, 119cm wide and 119cm depth

That said, AirAsia is a great ride, but hang on to your pennies, folks! Cabin allowance is 7kg. AirAsia’s carriage conditions can be viewed here.

Anyway, that’s the skinny of it! Amongst the discount airlines, VirginBlue and Tiger Airways appear to have the most skiier-friendly baggage policy, however it pays to read the fine-print and check with your airline if you have any questions. Enjoy the powder!