Airline baggage fees what a effin rip off

[powhunter]

Looks like its gonna cost me about $250 inbaggage fees for my Mt. Hood trip at the end of the month....100 bucks each way for a ski bag????WTF??? Gonna check and see if I can fedex my skiis out to the Mt. Hood Inn

steveo

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Why so much..I paid $40 each way when travelling to and from Jackson Hole..are your bags over 50 pounds?

 

[severine]

Fees went up again recently.

Steve, did you check to see if that's not considered oversized baggage? Most airlines have an exception that a ski bag can count as a regular checked bag. However, I've also seen some switch over to all checked baggage carrying a fee now. Sucks. I bought a Sportube for when I went to CO last year to better protect my skis but if I return, I don't think I'll bring mine again. Too expensive.

 

[o3jeff]

Just get some rentals out there.

When I went out to Missouri in June American Airlines charged $25 for first checked bags(under 50lbs) and $20 for each additional.

 

[severine]

Which airline, Steve?

I flew NWA and their policy right now:

Checked Baggage Allowance

+Effective for tickets purchased on or after July 16, 2009, for travel on or after August 4, 2009, customers traveling domestically who pre-pay baggage fees on nwa.com will be charged $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second checked bag. Customers traveling domestically who check in and pay bag fees at an airport kiosk or with an agent will incur a $5 surcharge for the first and second checked bags.

Ski/Snowboard - (Domestic) Two pieces-ski boot bag and one pair of skis are charged the applicable checked bag fee for the 1st or 2nd checked bag. When in excess, each item will be subject to the baggage charge for single piece. (International) Between US/Europe: Two pieces-ski boot bag and one pair of skis are charged the applicable checked bag fee for the 1st or 2nd checked bag. When in excess, each item will be subject to the baggage charge for single piece.
Other international travel: Free if under 50 lbs

 

[andyzee]

Which airline? I've used Delta numerous times and there was never an additional charge: http://www.delta.com/traveling_chec...aggage/fragile_bulky/sporting_goods/index.jsp

 

[severine]

Which airline? I've used Delta numerous times and there was never an additional charge: http://www.delta.com/traveling_chec...aggage/fragile_bulky/sporting_goods/index.jsp

But they are charging for all checked baggage now. Just that the ski equipment can stand in for one bag, not be charge the $100 excess fee. Unless you pack too much, I guess...

Checked Baggage—within the United States

When traveling within the United States, U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico, customers who purchased a ticket on or after November 6, 2008, will be charged $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second checked bag (each way, for round trip).

For tickets purchased on or after July 16, 2009 for travel on or after August 4, 2009 there will be a $5 surcharge on each of the first two checked bags when checking in via ticket counter, kiosk, or curbside. There is no surcharge for bags prepaid during online check-in at delta.com.

Checked Baggage—International

Currently when traveling to or from cities outside the United States you can check two bags, per passenger at no extra charge. For customers traveling between the U.S. and Europe for tickets purchased on or after May 23, 2009 for travel beginning July 1, 2009 customers in economy class will be charged $50 US (or the local equivalent currency) for the second checked bag. Exceptions to the second checked bag fee include:

* First and Business Class passengers
* SkyMiles and WorldPerks Elite members (Platinum, Gold, and Silver)
* Active duty military members traveling on orders
* Passengers who purchased tickets prior to May 23, 2009
* Passengers who are confirmed on a Full Y class Economy ticket.

You can refer to the chart below for exceptions to the checked baggage policy.

If you have additional bags to check, you may be charged excess baggage fees.

Each bag must:

* Weigh 50 pounds (23 kg) or less.
* Not exceed 62 inches (157 cm) when you total length + width + height.

So Steveo, you're gonna have to pack lightly. Use your boot bag as carry-on so your boots don't get banged up (you can actually carry your boots on a strap in place of an "additional" carry-on bag like a laptop bag in addition to the carry-on bag...or worst case scenario, wear them on the plane, LOL) and only check on piece of luggage in addition to your ski equipment. You can do it! You're a guy!

 

[dmc]

I don't pay for bags because of all the friggin traveling I do and my rewards level...

BUT - try balancing out your bags to make them less heavy... One is 60 lbs and the other 40 lbs... transfer some stuff to even it out...

 

[hammer]

I don't pay for bags because of all the friggin traveling I do and my rewards level...

BUT - try balancing out your bags to make them less heavy... One is 60 lbs and the other 40 lbs... transfer some stuff to even it out...

Good point...going over the 50 lb limit makes the bag "oversized" and the fees are much higher.

When traveling on vacation with the family, I usually end up packing one bag right up to the 50 lb limit.

 

[ctenidae]

Good point...going over the 50 lb limit makes the bag "oversized" and the fees are much higher.

When traveling on vacation with the family, I usually end up packing one bag right up to the 50 lb limit.

Our recent trip to Poland made our big piece of luggage completely useless- there's no way to keep it under 50 pounds unless you only fill it halfway. It's funny, 50 pounds isn't all that much.

Last time we flew to Italy we packed a whole boatload of stuff into the SporTube, since Alitalia considered it sports equipment and didn't put a weight limit on it (good thing we didn't bring our javelins, though, because you can't check those through). Downside was the Tube wouldn't fit into the Smart4 we rented, so we had to unpack the whole thing to break it down.

I second the carry-on boot bag idea. Pack as much crap into that bag as you can- cram your socks into the boots, wrap the boots in your fleeces, etc- it sucks if you have to hump it across a couple terminals, but there's no weight limit on carry-ons (which amazes me).

 

[andyzee]

Our recent trip to Poland made our big piece of luggage completely useless- there's no way to keep it under 50 pounds unless you only fill it halfway. It's funny, 50 pounds isn't all that much.

Last time we flew to Italy we packed a whole boatload of stuff into the SporTube, since Alitalia considered it sports equipment and didn't put a weight limit on it (good thing we didn't bring our javelins, though, because you can't check those through). Downside was the Tube wouldn't fit into the Smart4 we rented, so we had to unpack the whole thing to break it down.

I second the carry-on boot bag idea. Pack as much crap into that bag as you can- cram your socks into the boots, wrap the boots in your fleeces, etc- it sucks if you have to hump it across a couple terminals, but there's no weight limit on carry-ons (which amazes me).

Trip to Poland this year was crazy with baggage limitation, 1. 50 lbs limit, 2. Dimensions of second piece were unrealistically small.

 

[powhunter]

Which airline, Steve?

I flew NWA and their policy right now:

Continental...and United
So if my ski bag is over 62 linear inches( Length by width by height) the oversize bag fee applies

steveo

 

[severine]

Continental...and United
So if my ski bag is over 62 linear inches( Length by width by height) the oversize bag fee applies

steveo

They all say that... but the ski equipment is still able to stand in for one bag. You're welcome to use my Sportube if you'd like. I'll probably never use it again.

 

[RootDKJ]

Going to FL this year, Newark airport was too damn busy to weigh anyone's bags. Coming back from Tampa, my bag weighed 49.5 pounds. Lucky.

 

[SkiDork]

I don't believe a ski bag is subject to the 62 inch limit.

 

[severine]

Continental...and United
So if my ski bag is over 62 linear inches( Length by width by height) the oversize bag fee applies

steveo

From United's website:

Allowance/requirements
1 ski bag, containing 1 pair of skis and poles, plus 1 boot bag, containing boots and bindings only, are allowed in place of one checked bag.

If additional ski equipment is checked, each piece will count as a standard-sized special item, and the associated fee(s) will apply.

Maximum size/weight
If combined weight of ski bag and boot bag exceed 50 pounds (23 kg), an overweight fee applies.

It has a weight limit but not length. You should be ok. Just check the skis, not the boots.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

my favorite are airline gapers who don't way their bags ahead of time and get slammed with overweight bag fees. My ski bag with two sets of skis, poles, and a couple fleeces weighs under 40 pounds. I really believe fed-exing your skis would cost more than the baggage fees..

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

. Coming back from Tampa, my bag weighed 49.5 pounds. Lucky.

What the hell kind of sourvenirs did you buy? For a trip to Florida my bag would weigh about 8 pounds..could probably just carry-on as it's all warm weather stuff which hardly weighs anything..

 

[severine]

Ahhh... I see what you're talking about on Continental's website:

Continental accepts one item of ski equipment per customer as checked baggage. Ski equipment must be securely encased in a suitable container. An item of ski equipment consists of:

* 1 pair water skis or 1 water ski bag containing 2 pairs of skis
* 1 snowboard or 1 snowboard bag containing 2 snowboards
* up to 2 pair of snow skis and associated equipment in 1 bag and 1 ski boot bag. (Note: If ski boot bag contains other items in addition to or in place of boots, it will be subject to applicable baggage fees or excess baggage fees.

If applicable, the first ($20) or second bag fee ($30) applies to ski equipment.

Ski equipment in addition to the baggage allowance will be assessed at the excess baggage charge applicable in the market for a single piece.

Ski or boot bags weighing over 50lbs (23kg) that contain other items in addition to or in place of appropriate ski equipment will be subject to the applicable overweight fee.

Ski bags measuring over 62 linear inches (157 cm) that contain other items in addition to or in place of ski equipment will be subject to the applicable oversize charge.

Just don't pack anything other than skis in the bag and you'll be ok. Like I said, you can use my Sportube if you want.

 

[drjeff]

Looks like its gonna cost me about $250 inbaggage fees for my Mt. Hood trip at the end of the month....100 bucks each way for a ski bag????WTF??? Gonna check and see if I can fedex my skiis out to the Mt. Hood Inn

steveo

With ample time ahead of travel and not an immediate need for your sticks when you return, Fedex will likely be cheaper and frankly more reliable than the airlines for getting your gear out + back.

I know when I goto Utah, the ski bag I send, which with mine + my wife's + my daughters skis and poles weighs usually about 55-60lbs gets from Eastern CT to Utah in 3 days for roughly $50-55 each way and I can track it's progress the entire time. Frankly after seeing how easy + reliable Fed Ex is(and very often cost competitive with the airlines) its a no brainer that ends up making travel easier since you don't have to deal with lugging a ski bag through the airport and cramming it into a rental car.