What do airlines think of dual-ski bags?

#1

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11/12/09 at 7:22pm

Elistan
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I'm thinking of picking up something like a Dakine Concourse Double, but I'm concerned that American Airlines' webpage only talks about "[b]One pair of skis[/b]/snowboard and one bag containing a pair of ski /board boots only." I'm concerned that if I check ski bag with two pairs of skis, they'll charge me the oversize baggage fee of $150. Ugh. Anybody have personal experience taking such a bag on AA?

#2

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11/13/09 at 3:23am

Philpug
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I have used that bag for the past 4 years w/o issue, just keep it under 50lb.

Click. Point. Chute.

#3

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11/13/09 at 3:28am

SkiSmiles
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But, will they allow a double bag and a boot bag to count as one bag? Smiles

#4

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11/13/09 at 3:31am

Philpug
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Quote:

Originally Posted by SkiSmiles

But, will they allow a double bag and a boot bag to count as one bag? Smiles

I carry my boots on, as you should too.

Click. Point. Chute.

#5

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11/13/09 at 4:24am

Trekchick
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Um, yea, what Phil said ^^
If you read the airline baggage allowance, most say, 2 pr skis and one pair of boots = one sports bag, but combined they need to be 50lbs or less.
Always always always carry your boots on.

Surviving is essential, thriving is incredible!
EpicSki Academy

#6

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11/13/09 at 4:43am

catskills
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For the last 4 years on American and Delta I have traveled with hard case double ski http://www.sportube.com without any problems. They ask if there is one pair of skis and I always say yes.

They never check. The important part is the double ski bag must be under 50LBS. I bring a hand held digital luggage scale just to be sure its under 50lbs. That scale was a great investment.

My only check in bag was my one double hard case Sportube.

Last year I traveled Delta. I had two skis in the double Sportube which comes to 35 LBS for my skis/poles. Add another 14 LBS of clothes for good padding and you got 49LBS. My only other bag is a carry on bag which has my ski boots, helmet, ski pants, goggles, gloves, base layer, shampoo, shaving, etc. If the airlines loose my check in ski bag for a few days, I still have everything I need to ski with my ski boots for a few days by renting only skis and poles. I also wear both outer and liner jackets on the plane.

Edited by catskills - 11/13/09 at 5:08am

#7

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11/13/09 at 4:51am

SkiSmiles
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Yes, I know all about carrying on boots. Sometimes, however, that won't work because one has to carry on baby supplies. No getting around that one. And, sometimes, I travel for a number of days before I get on the snow and need to carry work materials on board. In that instance, my boots can be delayed for days before it is a problem. The preference is certainly to carry on. I was wondering for those circumstances where I can't, or where it hopefully isn't as important.

I did read the airline policy. In this case, Delta's policy says "one ski/pole bag" coupled with the boot bag, etc. So the question is, can one bag have more than one pair of skis, and still be okay from their perspective? It seems like the answer should probably be yes.

Smiles

#8

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11/13/09 at 5:10am

Trekchick
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug

I have used that bag for the past 4 years w/o issue, just keep it under 50lb.

Quote:

Originally Posted by catskills

The important part is the double ski bag must be under 50LBS.

<snip>
Last year I traveled Delta. I had two skis in the double Sportube which comes to 35 LBS for my skis/poles. Add another 14 LBS of clothes for good padding and you got 49LBS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trekchick

Um, yea, what Phil said ^^
If you read the airline baggage allowance, most say, 2 pr skis and one pair of boots = one sports bag, but combined they need to be 50lbs or less.

I travel Delta Northwest all the time........
Keep it under 50 lbs and you're all right.

Surviving is essential, thriving is incredible!
EpicSki Academy

#9

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11/13/09 at 5:25am

Philpug
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I picked up a triple ski tube with it weighting in at 17LB, it will be tough to keep it under 50lb. I will put 2 pair in w/o bindings and a 3rd with.

Click. Point. Chute.

#10

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11/13/09 at 5:35am

skier_j
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but....

be aware that the rule---if the airline actually wanted to enforce it---is ONLY skis, poles and boots.

You 'technically' can't add 14 pounds of winterwear or whatever in order to stay under the weight limit.

A United agent commented on that when we flew to JH last Feb, actually I believe it was at the JH airport---but I don;t remember it could have been Albany. Saying that 'ski gear only' was going to get enforced 'soon'.

I don;t know exactly what that warning was supposed to mean and have not traveled with a ski bag since, but I'm inclined to pack a spare collapsable and lightweight duffle bag in the ski bag---just in case so if it does get questioned, I can unpack the soft goods into the duffle. An extra checked bag fee is cheaper than getting an oversize bag fee!

We have always traveled with a double bag with multiple sets of skis---but there are two travelers.

Whee!

#11

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11/13/09 at 5:44am

C.B.
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FWIW, the wife and I fly every year to CO carrying, (dragging?), a Sportube Double. 2 prs skis, 2 prs poles and my quickie tuning junk, NO chothing. Flown Delta, NW and US Air. No problems. I figure they have enough sense to see that there are two of us and both of our skis are in one bag. We do carry-on the boots.

#12

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11/13/09 at 6:49am

Walt
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My experience is that the check in agents only care about a) the number of bags and b) the weight of each bag. If you're checking N bags and paying for N bags and each weighs under 50 lbs they don't care what's in them - that's TSA's job.

The problem comes if you try to pull the "ski bag and boot bag counts as only one bag" trick. While this is true according to the letter of the airline rules, the rules also say that you can't have more than one pair of skis in the ski bag and you can't have anything other than "sports equipment" in these bags. Since it's a PITA for the attendant to do the "free" bag (usually involving getting a supervisor to come over and approve it) they're not very cooperative about it. And if you push it, they can pull out the rule book and ding you for an extra bag.

Anyway, never check your ski boots. You can rent or buy anything else, but you can't rent ski boots. And don't try to tell me that those things they put on people's feet at the rental counter are ski boots. They're not.

#13

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11/13/09 at 7:26am

Philpug
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt

My experience is that the check in agents only care about a) the number of bags and b) the weight of each bag. If you're checking N bags and paying for N bags and each weighs under 50 lbs they don't care what's in them - that's TSA's job.

The problem comes if you try to pull the "ski bag and boot bag counts as only one bag" trick. While this is true according to the letter of the airline rules, the rules also say that you can't have more than one pair of skis in the ski bag and you can't have anything other than "sports equipment" in these bags. Since it's a PITA for the attendant to do the "free" bag (usually involving getting a supervisor to come over and approve it) they're not very cooperative about it. And if you push it, they can pull out the rule book and ding you for an extra bag.

Anyway, never check your ski boots. You can rent or buy anything else, but you can't rent ski boots. And don't try to tell me that those things they put on people's feet at the rental counter are ski boots. They're not.

With curbside checkin and a good tip, sometimes the weight is overlooked.

Click. Point. Chute.

#14

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11/13/09 at 8:12am

AJ24
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Location: IA
Post Count: 70

Hmm, these posts hit home on a couple fronts. I always check my boots (never had a problem..yet) and I usually have a double ski bag (with two sets of skis). Guess I'll start carrying the boots on. Off to buy a boot bag.

#15

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11/13/09 at 8:21am

MastersRacer
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Location: Breckenridge, CO
Post Count: 1,255

I carry my boots loose, with the power straps serving as a handle. Stuff them with things like socks, water bottle (empty at security), magazines. They are easier to stuff into compartments and under seats when they are separable. You can sling them over your shoulder or a back pack for transport.

#16

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11/13/09 at 9:27am

SkiMangoJazz
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Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug

With curbside checkin and a good tip, sometimes the weight is overlooked.

This has worked well for me, and if they can't take the overweight bag they help me, give me a plastic bag and let me rearrange things from the suitcase to the ski bag, to my carryon, etc.

I stand at the curbside kiosk with $40 in my hand, quite visible. That's $10 per bag (there's two of us.) I've seen guys saying "that's overweight sorry" then notice the money and say "let's see what we can do."

I like tipping them anyway, it's kind of a superstition for me. They need the money and I've never lost a bag this way.

(Remember the Seinfeld where Elaine's bags went to Hawaii because she was telling Jerry not to tip them so much?)

Nothing can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

#17

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11/13/09 at 9:44am

JDoyal
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I always find it funny that I finish a 2 or 3 hour boot fit/stance/balance only to have the customer tell me they are going to check their boots, even AFTER I tell them how important it is to carry on the boots. You can lead a horse to water I suppose.

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#18

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11/16/09 at 9:22am

ragin' cajun'
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Post Count: 2,261

Quote:

Originally Posted by catskills

For the last 4 years on American and Delta I have traveled with hard case double ski http://www.sportube.com without any problems. They ask if there is one pair of skis and I always say yes.

They never check. The important part is the double ski bag must be under 50LBS. I bring a hand held digital luggage scale just to be sure its under 50lbs. That scale was a great investment.

My only check in bag was my one double hard case Sportube.

Last year I traveled Delta. I had two skis in the double Sportube which comes to 35 LBS for my skis/poles. Add another 14 LBS of clothes for good padding and you got 49LBS. My only other bag is a carry on bag which has my ski boots, helmet, ski pants, goggles, gloves, base layer, shampoo, shaving, etc. If the airlines loose my check in ski bag for a few days, I still have everything I need to ski with my ski boots for a few days by renting only skis and poles. I also wear both outer and liner jackets on the plane.

^^^^ Works perfect every time! Never had an issue doing exactly what catskills recommends..

#19

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11/16/09 at 5:49pm

kkerley33
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the answer my friends is Southwest. Sorry, couldn't resist.

#20

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11/16/09 at 5:58pm

SkiMangoJazz
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Location: Massachusetts
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I'm flying Southwest for the first time in February (BOS to DEN.)

So they take dual ski bags as one piece of luggage if it's under 50lbs?

Nothing can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

#21

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11/17/09 at 6:02pm

kkerley33
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Post Count: 27

I have never had any problems with southwest whatsoever. Last year, I checked a double ski bag with three pairs of skis (48 lbs) and a boot bag which had no boots, but included helmet, gloves, pants, etc. I checked a full duffel as my second bag.

Frontier generally is pretty lenient on bags too, thought they do have baggage fees. If you fly frontier, I recommend upgrading to the "Classis" ticket option as it comes out to like $40 RT more for the ticket, but does include 2 checked bags each way and free direcTV for the flight.

KAK

#22

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11/17/09 at 6:54pm

at_nyc
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Quote:

Originally Posted by kkerley33

the answer my friends is Southwest. Sorry, couldn't resist.

First, move to a city that Southwest serves.

But wait, why not move to a city you can drive to ski?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

(who needs southwest when one can have JetBlue anyway! :) )

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