Lufthansa Ski carriage 24-25 season

A snowHead

Just booked Easter flights for Lufthansa. The systems now direct you to add skis by an online form rather than phoning them.

The online form specifies that it must be 1 pair of skis. I normally take 2 double ski bags for the 4 of us. It also won't submit unless you tick "I understand I will be charged at the airport" which the page on ski carriage says it is free.

I contacted the chat to ask to add the double ski bags and got told only1 pair allowed. I highlighted the booking for 4 people and is only 1 pair per person, I just want to take them in 2 bags. Repeated only pair allowed. Fine.

I asked the what about "I understand I will be charged" thing, I said I don't understand, as what I have read said I won't be charged. Response: this a chargeable service. I gave a link to the page where it claimed it was free. Confirmation it was free. I got the chat add the 4 skis bags which was done.

This interaction was allegedl with a human not the automated chat assistant (I am dubious it was all, suspect there was some automated answers with a human called in occasionally....there were some exceedingly long pauses and 3 times my booking was checked. Thing that was code for, automated responses aren't illiciting expected response get the human involved.).

Now my real question, please can anyone who is flying with Lufthansa this season who takes a double ski bag, relay any issues encountered at airports? We are flying Heathrow to Munich.

Thankyou. We have had no issues with the double ski bag but there have clearly been changes to the booking systems and words since I last did it

A snowHead

Flew Lufthansa this March and don’t know if the wording has changed since then, but the ski bag was indeed free, just required an online form to be filled beforehand. This was new from 22/34 when one had to call them.

Re. two skis: they’ve always had that but have heard that they don’t actually open the bags and check. Haven’t noticed them opening either. They just weight the bag and if everything’s in order they put the tag on and away the bag goes. But there is the small risk of them denying taking your skis onboard should they find out that there’s actually two pairs inside.

I presume you might get in some trouble if the bag gets lost, damaged or something, in which case they could claim responsibility for just one pair of skis, be that paying for your rentals if the skis arrive later or so on.

Sorry, doesn’t answer your question about this season but hopefully someone chimes in when people start to gain experiences 24/25.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@Ravensburger, thanks. This is first time I have tried to use online form.

Previously it has been phoning up and then I have always verbalised I am adding 2 double ski bags, all well under weight (~ 16kg per double bag) longest bag is 190cm other Iis 170.

I have got each person showing as 1 skis, I would just rather not have to buy more ski bags, we have 2 singles and 2 doubles, which own gathered over the years.

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@NickyJ, but did you fill in the online form in the end or book via chat?

I’d just say be wary, as last year when it was book by phone call, I was on their chat for something and then “booked” a ski bag via the chat then. But was a bit dubious it had been done as I never got an email confirming the amended booking nor could I see it on line on my booking so rang to check. Turns out it hadn’t gone onto the booking. So be wary if they say book via phone/on-line form then do that rather than rely on the bot and I think you should either get an email confirming or see it when managing booking on-line.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Yes I booked by chat, and I was VERY wary. I asked if I would get email confirmation. Got told yes. I checked my booking a bit later, and can see the skis on the booking.

An email came through about an hour later.

I am particularly paranoid as last time we came back with them our flight got cancelled we moved onto different flight and our skis fell of, and I hadn't realised. At airport they had no end of trouble getting them added on - something about flight not being tagged in right way to allow skis (maybe that's why it gell off booking?), even though they confirmed there was space. Thankfully after a lot of phones from desk staff they managed it. A lot of stress we could of done without

You'll need to Register first of course.

I wasn't aware of the online form for ski carriage with Lufthansa, when I made a booking a few months ago I just phoned them up as usual and asked for them to send an email confirmation which they did with updated booking details.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

My daughter flew with them today and took multiple sets of skis (no idea how many). I had booked the skis in on line and could see them listed on the booking. Nobody asked about the bag contents beyond confirming that the bag contained skis.

After all it is free

Be careful which ticket you get. I got caught out last year. Free ski carriage is only applicable on the Classic ticket.

They've never opened or checked my bags btw

I've just been looking at Lufthansa for the BB next year.
I think from the above, and from what I've seen on the website that if I purchase an 'Economy Classic' ticket that I get free ski carriage, which means I can take a ski bag (up to 2m long) that weighs up to 23 kg in lieu of my normal checked luggage plus an 8kg carry-on.

Can someone confirm this is what they've experienced?
Also, can someone confirm if this only applies to Lufthansa operated flights? - as it looks like it may not apply when part of one of the flights is with another carrier like Brussels Airlines.

From playing about with the system - if you book the cheapest 'Economy Lite' fare ... then they'll charge over 100 Euro per flight to carry skis! Confused

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Thanks for the responses - any ideas on how they consider big ski bags that you can pack all your gear into? as that's what I'm considering taking

Its on their website calculator

Baggage calculator

“You can check your free baggage allowance in just a few steps with our baggage calculator, based on route, travel class and fare. It will also give you the prices and dimensions for the carriage of your sports equipment.”

You know it makes sense.

Have now booked an 'Economy Classic' flight, notified them of the 'special baggage' (they require a length & weight) specified bag length and same weight as my hold allowance and have now had an email confirmation back which says 'Special baggage: confirmed' - so looks like job done Very Happy

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Flying with Lufthansa to/from NA is a completely different set of "rules" - very vague and subject to interpretation of gate agent which will cost you $230 (€200) each way ... and that in addition to "registering" ski bag with Lufthansa in advance and flying on Economy Classic ticket.

I am trying to avoid Lufthansa, Swiss is a bit better but they are inching closer to Lufthansa ski bag policy when flying to/from NA Sad

A snowHead

@Cheapski, I am doing so in March and there is no charge either direction for my ski bag. I did register the bag. I am sitting up front this time so that might be why. Low fares=prepare to pay for everything but the seat.

A snowHead

Yes, front of the plane gives you certain benefits Wink

I did fly Lufthansa in the past and that is exactly what happened to me - they would not budge despite the fact that I had economy ticket with 1 bag included. Not Economy Light fare ... That "included" bag happened to be my ski bag, under 23kg, packed as required (skis, boots, helmet, poles, gloves ... and they would not budge a bit - $230 !!!

Explanation was that it is "oversized" bag (over 158cm !?) or something of sorts ...

ORD-MUC

Just be sure before you leave, their policy re. ski bag transportation states "This does not apply to flights to the USA/from the USA, Mexico and Central America OR if you have booked the Light fare." (quoted from their site).

I could not find anywhere on their site what policy do apply to USA flights in standard Economy ... some vague references to "pay appropriate fee at the counter", "oversize baggage", "flat rates for the sports equipment" ... basically left for the gate agent to interpret their own policies.

But again, when flying business class none of this apply !

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Has anyone flown Lufthansa this season yet. We always seem to have a problem at bag drop over the ski carriage (normally on the way back). I have confirmation that the ski carriage is booked and my understanding is that you have a hold back plus a ski bag, but the combined weight of the 2 is no more than 23kg? Is this correct?

Or does all the hold luggage skis/clothes etc all have to be in the one bag?

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@cham08, unless something has changed this year, then skis are in addition to your checked baggage allowance. There are restrictions on size, and they mustn't exceed your checked allowance in weight (i.e. not be over 23 kg themselves - it's not a cheap way to take 30+ kg of extra luggage). I've never had a problem taking skis in addition to a checked bag, albeit I travel fairly light so I'm probably not far off 23kg total anyway.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@cham08, I flew LHR-MUC before Christmas with Lufthansa on their standard Economy fare (*not* the lite version) and had no standard luggage. I booked my wheeled ski bag in as ski equipment, and had no issues in either direction with 22Kg in total plus hand luggage (a small backpack). I've never travelled with ski kit plus a standard suitcase or similar, but the ski carriage was included in the fare. According to the baggage details on the website, your ski kit can be carried free in addition to your free baggage allowance:

You'll need to Register first of course.

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.

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Lufthansa Ski carriage 24-25 season

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