These are the airlines charging the most for stowing ski equipment - and the ones that don’t charge

Are you a fan of skiing holidays? (Photo: Shutterstock)Are you a fan of skiing holidays? (Photo: Shutterstock)
Are you a fan of skiing holidays? (Photo: Shutterstock)

Jetting off to enjoy some sun, sea and sand may be the idea of holiday bliss for many, but lounging around on a beach isn’t for everyone.

For some, fun is found in much cooler climes, with adrenaline-fuelled adventures on the slopes.

But if you are a fan of ski holidays, getting to your destination with all your luggage and equipment can be costly.

Expensive charges

If you are planning a trip to the slopes this ski season, it can pay to shop around before booking to avoid being stung by extra baggage charges, as some airlines charge significantly more than others.

Ryanair has been found to be the worst culprit for ski carriage, according to research by My Late Deals, charging £45 per passenger in each direction of travel when booked in advance.

At the other end of the scale, Swiss Airlines proved to be the best airline for skiers and snowboarders, allowing passengers to carry their equipment on board for free. The airline doesn’t add any extra charges to passengers’ baggage allowance and there is no need to book in advance.

Eurowings was also found to be a good option for travellers, with the airline also allowing passengers to bring their equipment for free, without taking it out of their baggage allowance.

However, while travellers are not required to book in advance it is strongly recommended, as carriage is dependent on availability.

Ryanair charged passengers £45 each in both directions of travel for ski carriage (Photo: Shutterstock)

Which airlines are the most expensive?

These nine airlines all charge a fee per passenger, per direction, for carrying ski equipment, and require travellers to book in advance.

Listed are the fees for each airline:

Ryanair - £45.00

Tui - £40.00 (minimum)

EasyJet - £37.00

Aer Lingus - €40.00 (approximately £34)

Iberia (unless traveling long haul) - €40.00 (approximately £34)

Norwegian - £30.00- £35.00 on short flights. £50.00 on long haul.

Wizz Air - €30.00 (approximately £25)

Flybe - £30.00

Jet2 - £30.00

Which airlines don’t charge?

These airlines don’t charge an additional fee for ski equipment, but do take it out of your baggage allowance:

Air France

Alitalia

Austrian Airlines

British Airways

Finnair

KLM

Lufthansa

SAS

Should I book in advance?

Booking ski carriage in advance will not only save you time at the airport, but will also save you money with the majority of airlines, according to My Late Deals.

For example Aer Lingus charge a €40 fee prior to departure, or a fee of €50 payable through the Aer Lingus reservations centre at the airport on the day of departure.

The majority of airlines don’t require pre booking, but there are a few that do require advance notice. Austrian, Flybe, Jet2, KLM, SAS and TUI all require ski carriage to be booked in advance.

It is also strongly advised to pre-book on Eurowings, Lufthansa and Wizzair, as ski carriage may not be guaranteed due to availability.

Finnair also requires travellers to book in advance if travelling in a group of 10 people or more, if all passengers will be taking ski or snowboarding equipment.

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