 Poster: A snowHead
|
I've was looking at all the various ski courier/transport services and their costs. Adds up when you have a regular suitcase 15Kg, and ski bag 15Kg etc.
I also looked at www.parcel2go.com and other comparison sites. These were cheaper than the ski transport companies.
Then I went straight to UPS: www.upstoday.com. This seems to be their "direct" website for the occasional user.
And here, you can send a 30Kg ski bag for £62.40 (inc VAT) return to France. Size: 198cm x 39cm x 20. That price is far better than anything else I could find.
I can fit everything I need in such a bag; but you can also take a cabin bag if you need extra Kg.
This is my current bag (the XL size).
http://www.evocsports.com/snow/snow-travel-bags/snow-gear-roller
Now most airlines won't take a bag heavier than 15/20/23Kg. And if they do, the excess charges would be a lot. So you end up paying for your regular suitcase and your ski bag. And even if your ski bag goes free (SWISS, Lufthansa), the suitcase is going to cost you each way most likely. Plus, you have the luxury of not having to lug your stuff around the airports etc.
Note that the specialist ski courier services simply use folks like UPS and DHL themselves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Interesting find. As you move through it says "Powered by Parcel2Go" so it seems like they are running it for UPS. The main issue is the insurance cover. Standard is £50 but increasing it to £1000 adds a further £47.50 each way to the price. It starts to look less good value.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
@PeDaSp, is the idea to get it delivered to your hotel or chalet? What are the chances of being to send it so it arrives the exact day you arrive?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
@Gaza, Yes, I saw the "Parcel2Go" name at the top. Yet, if you go to their site, the same bag is more expensive. The insurance is something to consider for sure; but my home contents covers my luggage, either with me on an airline, or by a courier service. Plus airlines on their own don't cover very much; and most insurance companies these days want full receipts etc.
@Themasterpiece, The idea is to get it delivered a few days before you arrive. Most hotels and chalets are familiar with this, and can store your luggage for you.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
| And even if your ski bag goes free (SWISS, Lufthansa), the suitcase is going to cost you each way most likely |
Wrong: Lufthansa take your ski bag plus boot bag for free, in addition to your 23kg suitcase, so no need for any additional charges - just need to notify them in advance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
@geoffers, you can get the hand luggage only ticket on Swiss though so only half wrong
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@geoffers
@holidayloverxx
| geoffers wrote: |
| Quote: |
| And even if your ski bag goes free (SWISS, Lufthansa), the suitcase is going to cost you each way most likely |
Wrong: Lufthansa take your ski bag plus boot bag for free, in addition to your 23kg suitcase, so no need for any additional charges - just need to notify them in advance. |
er... to be clear, I stated that with Lufthansa (UK to Europe), the ski bag goes free and the checked bag will cost you. And yes, the boot bag is free as well,but I didn't mention that.
Are you saying that they take a checked bag for free? That is not the case. For example: London-Geneva, you have Economy Light: no checked bag, or Economy Classic: 1 checked 23Kg bag. The difference is £15 each way — so £30 return.
Not only that, it's only with Economy Classic that you get your skis transported free:
In addition to your free baggage allowance, you may take one piece of ski or snowboarding equipment free of charge on your Lufthansa flight. The maximum weight of an additional piece of ski or snowboarding equipment must be within the weight limits of the travel class you have booked.
And elsewhere
Exception rules for sports baggage... 1. The sports baggage exceeds the free baggage allowance
So you need to have paid for at least one checked bag, before your skis go free. Unless, for some strange reason, the consider the "weight limit" and "free baggage allowance" to included you 8Kg cabin bag allowance (all you get with Economy Light). In which case, if your ski bag weighs 8Kg or less, it would go free 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@PeDaSp, I was agreeing with you regarding Swiss. I didn't know Lufthansa did London to geneva
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swiss have transported ski gear for free for years.
Great airline free food, chocolate etc in economy
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
@stanton, Yep. I always try and fly SWISS if I can. I just like the image — the advertising has got to me. I see it as the "skiers' airline". They also fly from London City Airport which is great.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
It's a good idea... in theory but there are issues to be aware of.
Check whether UPS require your parcel to be 'cartonised'.
I shipped our luggage to Italy and had to wrap it in cardboard so UPS would take it.
Also, you need to bear in mind that courier service is not as reliable as airline baggage handling and doubly so when its intended destination is a village way up in the mountains. (Ask Dingdongdel for one!)
I had stuff shipped to me 'next day' from UK to Italy this season and it arrived a week and a half later than advertised.
And if you think that was bad... a package from Switzerland, about 30 mins from the Italian border, arrived 3 weeks late!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
er... to be clear, I stated that with Lufthansa (UK to Europe), the ski bag goes free and the checked bag will cost you. And yes, the boot bag is free as well,but I didn't mention that.
|
Wrong - hold bag goes free, and skis and boots go free too with Lufthansa - I've just travelled Lufthansa LHR>MUC 3 weeks ago (and also in December), and had 2 sets of skis (telemark + alpine) plus a pair of boots in my ski bag, plus a boot bag with the tele-boots, plus a normal hold bag - all for free. This has been their policy for a number of years... the website wording does take a bit of reading/understanding, but there is definately no charge...
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
@admin, Good points. Many thanks. Can I ask which courier service you were using? Was it a major like DHL, UPS, FedEx etc? Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
@PeDaSp, The Lufthansa group have the "Economy Light" fare on routes where they have direct competition with low cost airlines.
I think BA do the same these days.
Annoyingly, Silver LH cards got an extra (or the first) checked bag for free until sometime last year. Which I am reasonably sure was a retorgrade step economically for them as I would preferentially book Swiss over Easyjet up to the marginal cost of baggage ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Guys, just a thought before using this kind of service: bear in mind that someone will have to be there at the other end to receive the package. This might be OK if you're staying in a hotel with 24h reception or similar, but if you're staying in a chalet, it's likely to mean someone missing out on their ski time or, worse, coming in on their day off to wait around for your skis to turn up. If a lot of people started using this kind of service, it would rapidly become unmanageable for your accommodation provider (waiting around constantly for bags to be delivered/picked-up, where to store bags when you already have a full-house of guests, etc.). All so you can save £10.
If this became a regular thing for us, I can see us ending up having to make a charge to receive/store bags.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| PeDaSp wrote: |
| @stanton, Yep. I always try and fly SWISS if I can. I just like the image — the advertising has got to me. I see it as the "skiers' airline". They also fly from London City Airport which is great. |
Huh, not my experience - despite confirmations at check in all was ok they confiscated mine and a friends airbag canisters, and despite following all the rules and IATA regulations (so Swiss were at fault!) we still had to pay to get them back on return to Zurich.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@stevomcd, good point well made
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@PeDaSp, yep, it's the standard economy where bags go free.
I've never done economy light but assume that's just carry on bags only hence the"light" in the name, and it's not unreasonable to charge slightly less cos it's weight which burns fuel, so why should the airline have to pay 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
@stevomcd, Yes, you are spot on. I've always checked with the chalet or hotel in advance, and so far, had no issues. I don't think that most folks use a delivery service to save money, as that will not often be the case. The reason is they are just lazy and don't want to lug all their gear around — that's me
Plus, most folks will (rightly) be concerned about their gear going missing, and would prefer to have it on their flight with them. So I don't see these services causing any real issues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@clarky999, always found them ok with my airbag. Did you email them in advance?
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
@Kelskii, yep, emailed in advance, confirmed at check in, included original packaging with printout of IATA regulations with appropriate clauses highlighted...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Buy skis in resort.
Resell on Ebay or SnowHeads upon return.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
