 Poster: A snowHead
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A quick warning to fellow travellers, if flying by Monarch on charter flights
There is no point taking boot bags.
The allowances are
Hold bag - 20kg
Boot bag - included in hold bag allowance
Skis/snowboard - 20kg
Cabin bag - 5kg
Therefore, taking a boot bag limits the amount you can carry (unless your boot bag is weightless of course)
I had a truly farcical experience with Monarch on my current trip
In fairness to them, I had failed to read what might be new allowances or are old allowances now being enforced.
So I was forced to switch my boots from my boot bag to my ski bag, and instead of using my back pack as hand luggage I had to put that into my ski bag too. My nearly empty boot bag became my hand luggage.
So in effect I carried the same amount of weight in the hold, just redistributed in a 20 minute repack, what a farce! Why not allow you 20ks for the combined weight of skis and boot bag? It's rare to use the full allowance for a ski bag alone. A money making exercise perhaps?
Next time it won't be Monarch....
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We are flying Monarch next Sunday, so thanks for the info.
We have never yet had a problem with boots as we always pack them in our hold luggage. We have large holdalls with sections for the boots at either end. (Just bought two new ones from Sports Direct - a bargain at £26 pound each - http://www.sportsdirect.com/nevica-large-ski-holdall-400306 I've bought the wheeled ski bag too - http://www.sportsdirect.com/nevica-vail-elite-wheel-bag-400443?colcode=40044303 ). Even with the boots, we have always managed to stay within the 20kgs weight limit. Any extra clothes plus ski helmets go in the ski bags - three pairs of skis split between two bags. I hate dragging bags onto the plane with me, so only ever carry a small backpack.
Every airline has its own policy, so I always check carefully in advance. On a long ski weekend flying with BA, I just take my ski bag packed with as much as possible up to 23kgs, then take my boots plus some clothes in a small wheeled case which meets the hand luggage criteria.
Hope you are enjoying your trip and have found some snow.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I'm not sure what issue is. Many airlines give more generous 23kg for ski bag but everything else looks quite standard. Is it that you used to be allowed carry boots in separate bag to skis as long as all within allowed weight but now you can no longer?
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| peanuthead wrote: |
| I'm not sure what issue is. Many airlines give more generous 23kg for ski bag but everything else looks quite standard. Is it that you used to be allowed carry boots in separate bag to skis as long as all within allowed weight but now you can no longer? |
other airlines let you take separate boot bags and its included as part of you ski allowance not hold allowance
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| FionaG wrote: |
We are flying Monarch next Sunday, so thanks for the info.
We have never yet had a problem with boots as we always pack them in our hold luggage. We have large holdalls with sections for the boots at either end. (Just bought two new ones from Sports Direct - a bargain at £26 pound each - http://www.sportsdirect.com/nevica-large-ski-holdall-400306 I've bought the wheeled ski bag too - http://www.sportsdirect.com/nevica-vail-elite-wheel-bag-400443?colcode=40044303 ). Even with the boots, we have always managed to stay within the 20kgs weight limit. Any extra clothes plus ski helmets go in the ski bags - three pairs of skis split between two bags. I hate dragging bags onto the plane with me, so only ever carry a small backpack
Hope you are enjoying your trip and have found some snow. |
Would you manage to put 2 pairs of skis in the wheeled ski bag.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Last year I had an email from Monarch Customer Services which said that they didn't care how the weight was distributed between bags going into the hold, as long as it didn't exceed the total weight paid for, and no bag was heavier than 32Kgs. If that's different this year, it's changed.
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| Quote: |
Would you manage to put 2 pairs of skis in the wheeled ski bag.
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It would depend on the size of the bag. We have one bag which will take two pairs, but prefer to split the three pairs between two bags just for ease of carrying.
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@stuart, I thought this was completely normal with all airlines. My boots and main bag contribute to the same luggage allowance. I usually try to put them in the same bag if possible so I have fewer bags to carry.
Last edited by After all it is free  on Sun 7-12-14 10:43; edited 1 time in total
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I don't see what's crazy about it. Most airlines have a similar policy. Put your boots in your hold bag, one less bag to carry, all the weight in one place, simples. Or if you like carrying heavy boots around the departure lounge, put them in your carry on.
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@stuart, surely that's enough weight allowance? Just throw loads of heavy bulky stuff in with your skis, ie shoes, toiletries, jeans, sweatshirts etc? I rarely take a boot bag, too much faff in resort. If it don't go in it ain't coming is my view, plenty of room for ski boots in main bag IME.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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A tip to save weight, use a cheapo hold-all from Argos, weighs less than a kilo (has wheels and a extendable handle). It's ridiculous how much some bags and cases weigh and take up your weight allowance.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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In response to some of the replies above, I paid for ski carriage and was trying to keep the weight of the ski bag down, purely for convenience and to avoid an excessively heavy ski bag. It just seemed daft to me that having paid for an extra 20kg carriage (for the skis) I couldn't use part of it for the boot bag. And they weighed hand luggage, restricting it to 5kg, so I couldn't take my boot bag on board as hand luggage, so I ended up spending 20 minutes, holding up a desk, while I shuffled stuff around, with my ski boots going in to my ski bag
A bit of discretion from Monarchs check in staff would have helped, after all I loaded the same weight, they just decided for me which bags had to be heavier!
Anyway, I won't be taking a boot bag if I travel with Monarch in future and will do what I used to do, putting boots in my hold bag and putting more stuff in the ski bag.
I just posted this to pre warn other Monarch passengers that they have changed their policy - I've been able to use boot bags for the same trip in the past
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@stuart, fair comments, good shout.....secret is not to travel Monarch I guess! I travel Lufthansa, EJ (well used to until they hiked up ski carriage prices) or Swiss, never any issues and very rarely cancel flights, Monarch do. It's always a pain getting weights right, but let's face it if one (not you) decides to turn up unawares you are fair game, they are there to make money......you swim with the sharks, your going to get bit is my view on this.
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You know it makes sense.
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#firstworldproblems
Get a bag big enough for everything and bung it all in there. You're going for a week FFS, how much junk do you need?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Lizzard, +1, 2 bags actually! 
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Poster: A snowHead
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I guess it's the ski trip equivalent of Parkinson's Law - the more bags you are allowed (or in this case think you are allowed) the more gear you take 
Anyway, lesson learned...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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If you don't read the details of the baggage policy when you buy tickets. then you can easily wind up paying more to carry your gear than the ticket price.
Whilst I don't like some airlines' tariffs regarding snowboards, I think that's the whole point of a competitive market - vote with your bags.
I can never understand why many people take so much stuff with them on a ski holiday though.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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^+1
Although every year i come home thinking "I really didn't need that many t-shirts (or whatever)".
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Went skiing for a week with a chap last year who had, wait for it.....
38 kg including a snowboard plus cabin baggage!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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That looks really tempting. My current holdall has no wheels. Roughly how much does it weigh?
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@sugarmoma666, agreed looks good.
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Don't think you can blame Monarch in this case, the checkin staff for not going about it correctly maybe. Thanks for letting others know - the baggage rules are on their website as well.
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Just bought the nevica holdall thanks for the link
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
That looks really tempting. My current holdall has no wheels. Roughly how much does it weigh?
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Quite heavy at 7lbs, but very sturdy and well-made. Depends how light you want to go.
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@FionaG, is it possible to strip the pull handle out you think?....that's usually where there's a good chunk of weight, leave tge wheels and just pulling by the handle.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Maybe not sinkrate
However, having paid for 20kg worth of sports equipment why do I have to take the weight of my ski boots off the hold baggage allowance? Kind of defeats the object, that was my point
The lady on the desk weighed my boot bag and hold bag together and I would have had to pay an extra fee for being over 20kg combined. She refused to weigh the ski bag and boot bag together which was under 20kg and would not have incurred a penalty
So was it a cynical attempt to earn more revenue? Is Monarch challenging for Ryanair's crown?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Yes sounds like the checkin staff got that wrong mate. Surely the weight of the boot bag should have been included in the weight of the ski bag as it is ski equipment, it is being loaded into the same place on the plane so like you say you have already paid for the weight in total in that area. It does sounds like a checkin mistake - maybe they they have been told ski equipment must be in a single bag and that's that.
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A case of the check in staff getting out of the wrong side of the bed. 
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You know it makes sense.
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No, the check-in staff didn't get it wrong. They just applied Monarch's baggage rules (http://www.monarch.co.uk/faq/flights/baggage/sports-equipment-charter):
"Skis & Snowboards
- On Charter flights Skis and Snowboards are normally booked through your tour operator. Please contact them for advice.
- Skis and snowboards are subject to a maximum weight of 20kgs per item. Any item exceeding this allowance will be subject to standard excess baggage rates.
- Ski boots can be taken in a separate bag as part of the passengers main hold baggage allowance providing that the combined weight does not exceed 20kg."
However mad it may seem, that is what they've said on their website and is what they've applied. It doesn't make any sense to me that these are their rules, but at least they've stated them fairly clearly. I guess you can include your boots in you ski carriage, but only if you put them in the bag with your skis.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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All alternatively pack some of your clothes in with your skis !! Haha. It's all in the same place in the hold should not make a difference really. Rules are rules though 
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Poster: A snowHead
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| hammerite wrote: |
| A tip to save weight, use a cheapo hold-all from Argos, weighs less than a kilo (has wheels and a extendable handle). It's ridiculous how much some bags and cases weigh and take up your weight allowance. |
Taking this idea on board, I'm now considering this holdall as an alternative. I've got a cabin suitcase in the same brands and it seems really light and good.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
@FionaG, is it possible to strip the pull handle out you think?....that's usually where there's a good chunk of weight, leave tge wheels and just pulling by the handle.
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The ski handle seems to be quite lightweight. The main reason for the bag being heavy is that it has strengthening along the base (you can see this in the pic on the Sports Direct website), plus the material the bag is made of is quite substantial. I don't think it's been designed to be a lightweight bag, more for being durable.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Rishie wrote: |
Went skiing for a week with a chap last year who had, wait for it.....
38 kg including a snowboard plus cabin baggage! |
 That is quite impressive, for a week. What on earth was he taking?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Rishie wrote: |
Went skiing for a week with a chap last year who had, wait for it.....
38 kg including a snowboard plus cabin baggage! |
I took less than that for a season!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@ArcticFox1, I'm not sure but I got pulled up for my lack of fashion sense (jeans and t-shirts for dinner are ok, aren't they?) on that holiday!
@Sitter, well, I think I did 23 kgs with 2 skis and 2 bindings last season.
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| Lizzard wrote: |
#firstworldproblems
Get a bag big enough for everything and bung it all in there. You're going for a week FFS, how much junk do you need? |
+1
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If anyone is still reading this who might be travelling Monarch and is worried - the terms and conditions are very clearly stated on the website and they sound as though they are actually enforcing them this year.
One handy tip that might help those trying to bring the kitchen sink, is that Monarch CS have confirmed to me via email that you can pool your travelling group's luggage allowance as long as no bag weighs more than 32Kgs. However, it is not possible to combine hold and ski allowance (20 Kgs each) - which all seems fair to me. 40 Kgs for one week!
5Kgs hand luggage is a bit tight if you're trying to bring boots though - shame, as I can see the logic in taking those on with you.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Still think it's a money making exercise 😡
Anyway, think I've bored you guys enough and I've achieved my objective in warning fellow travellers of the pointlessness of boot bags when travelling with Monarch
Thanks for your feedback
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Have they been weighing hand luggage for all, or was it just bad luck that @stuart got his checked, does anyone know?
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FAQ
We're flying with them this year and we wont need to anything different to normal! As with any airline, just check what they say well before you pack 
