It can be really frustrating travelling with your kit. Frankly unless you are particularly wed to your stick(s) then maybe you should just rent ! However, if you own your own board, of course you want to bring it!
I think my first top tip is to use a snowboard bag, with wheels. And even if you have skis. Pack as much as you can in that one bag and many airlines will allow you to include it as part of your regular baggage weight allowance.
Here’s a little info about a few of the airlines, we think this is up to date (Sep 19), but deffo check with the airline before you press that book button!
Swiss Air – everyone raves about how good these guys are in terms of ski / snowboard carriage AND you get a free chocolate. Just make sure you don’t buy the ‘Economy Light’ ticket as the offer isn’t covered here.
“We are happy to transport your first set of skis/snowboard and boots free of charge in addition to your standard free baggage allowance. Your standard free baggage allowance per person is 1 piece of max. 23kg in Economy Class* and 2 pieces of max. 32kg in Business Class. “
“You can pool the total weight allowances for your sports equipment and hold luggage, as long as no single item weighs more than 32kg. (For example: If you have a total weight allowance of 52kg you could bring hold luggage weighing 31kg and sports equipment weighing 21kg)”
EasyJet – most of our guests travel with them and ‘most’ of them time they run on time and offer great prices from all over Europe to the mountains. The ‘sports equipment’ forms part of your total baggage weight allowance.
Read More ->
British Airways – There’s something real nice about flying with BA, somehow it just feels a bit calmer than some of the other airlines – as for carrying your plank(s)
” You can take larger sporting items of up to 190 x 75 x 65cm (75 x 29.5 x 25.5in) as checked baggage so long as they weigh no more than your permitted baggage weight allowance.”
” Each passenger can purchase up to 3 checked bags of 20 kilos. In addition to 3 checked bags, passengers can also check-in sports equipment and musical instruments. “
RyanAir – Everyone has a story about the no-frills airline. They don’t yet come to Geneva, but surely they’ll come soon! Just make sure your ski/board bag is 20kg or less or you’ll get stung with excess baggage fees.
Thomas Cook – the main problem with flying with TC is that you often end up in the ‘other’ terminal at Geneva. This is one of the most depressing places in the world…
” Max. dimensions: 200 cm length x 40 cm width x 80 cm height. Passengers may carry of 1 set of skis, 1 pair of ski shoes, 1 helmet, 1 pair of ski sticks as however the combined weight should not exceed 20 kg and all items must be placed in one secure bag. “
Of course if you are staying with the HOFNAR experience several times in a season – then bring your kit the first time and then we’ll store it so you can travel with no luggage on your flights in between.