 Poster: A snowHead
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Some airlines (e.g. Swissair and Lufthansa) require you to notify them in advance if you are taking your skis with you. I'm wondering what happens if you don't tell them in advance? Can they refuse carriage?
I normally follow the requirements specified by the airlines. I'm going skiing to Japan for the first time later this winter and will be flying with KLM. OH has status with Skyteam and is allowed to bring in an extra piece of check-in bag (which can be skis) so we are hoping to make use of that. KLM doesn't require us to tell them in advance but that got me thinking and hence my question.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@euanovsky, there's a thread on this somewhere, with particular reference to BA. If I remember rightly, lots of people don't bother to notify (me included) but have not suffered any bad consequences. So far.
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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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@euanovsky, Swiss International Airlines (note Swissair went bankrupt in 2002  ) don't require you to notify them in advance and free ski carriage is automatic providing you have the classic fare and not the cheapest cabin bag only fare. Lufthansa do ask you to notify them in advance however (then they add a note to your booking and send you an email with the updated booking details).
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Just an FYI about British Airways and notification of ski carriage which they relatively recently began to require. When BA brought out a policy wanting to be notified of you bringing a ski bag, they said to ring them. Now you can add it via their agent chat (I did on last trip) although its a bit tricky to get past their crap “AI” chat bot to an agent. You will not receive any notification of the addition but you can print out the chat to wave around if needed.
As a personal experience all was fine at LHR T5 outbound but returning from Milan LIN I was asked if I had paid for carriage as there system was saying it was a paid option. I said no as had just swapped a checked bag for a ski bag which was allowed. A check in manager concurred and had to tell the check in agent how to waive the charge their system.
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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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@ster, I've taken to asking for a transcript of chat bot conversations to be emailed to me, although not everyone will do it.
For the sake of 10 minutes with an online chat I'd rather know that I've ticked the boxes, even if they contradict other information
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| ster wrote: |
Just an FYI about British Airways and notification of ski carriage which they relatively recently began to require. When BA brought out a policy wanting to be notified of you bringing a ski bag, they said to ring them. Now you can add it via their agent chat (I did on last trip) although its a bit tricky to get past their crap “AI” chat bot to an agent. You will not receive any notification of the addition but you can print out the chat to wave around if needed.
As a personal experience all was fine at LHR T5 outbound but returning from Milan LIN I was asked if I had paid for carriage as there system was saying it was a paid option. I said no as had just swapped a checked bag for a ski bag which was allowed. A check in manager concurred and had to tell the check in agent how to waive the charge their system. |
I hadn't heard of this. I took a snow board bag to and from Innsbruck over the new year without any queries at check in.
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@Badbobby, you can just turn up and chance your arm but its their policy now so you could be refused.
“ Let us know you are bringing your snow sports bag
As soon as you have made your booking, let us know that you’re bringing your snow sport bag, especially if you know that you are on a popular snow sport route. Your snow sport bag is more likely to travel with you if you tell us in advance and at least three days (more than 72 hours) before you fly. ”
https://www.britishairways.com/content/en/us/information/baggage-essentials/sports-equipment
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@ster, now I know I’ll let them know. I just hadn’t heard of it until now.
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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'm not sure many BA employees even know about it, certainly haven't made it easy to do this far
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| SnoodyMcFlude wrote: |
| I'm not sure many BA employees even know about it, certainly haven't made it easy to do this far |
I doubt you even encounter too many employees, save those at UK airport check in. All those overseas are likely to be employees of sub-contractors, another level removed.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We only ever seem to fly with BA (mostly via Heathrow, T5); never once have I informed them, and never have we had any issues. This also applies to the carriage of avalanche airbags and cannisters.
..Nick
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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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@big_ben, the airbag thing I'm less worried about the airline and more about security. Not had problems yet, but it's another thing where the sake of a few minutes sorting out an email gives a bit of extra comfort
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@big_ben, I wonder if it works in a similar way to vaccines - those that don’t are benefitted by those that do i.e. they don’t need exact numbers, just a good indication of expected load.
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You know it makes sense.
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Dropped my son off at Heathrow in December, for a flight to Vancouver, and the BA desk agent not only wanted confirmation that his ski bag was pre-notified and paid for, but also wanted to know what was in it i.e. anything other than skis, boots and ski clothing!
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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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@rainman, they did ask me “how many” in Linate when checking the ski bag in, which I took to mean how many ski bags was I checking in, to which I could truthfully answer one.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@rainman, seems strange, given that with BA you do not book sports equipment, it just comes out of your luggage pool...unless it was a bag outside the dimensions for that, but that's pretty lorge
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@SnoodyMcFlude, they were very hot on it all. He phoned and notified them he had a ski bag (as they request in the booking t's and c's) in advance. But when we got there, they wanted to know exactly what was in it before they ran in through the oversize scanner, stating that anything non-ski related, such as toiletries, would have to be removed. Seems a bit mad if it's all in the same hold!
When I came back through Turin with my ski bag just before Christmas, the BA desk there couldn't have given less of a toss. Just checked the weight and sent me on my way.
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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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@rainman, not hot enough to know their own rules  Have travelled through T5 with a ski bag many times and never taken anything out, so it's not related to the scanner.
Very frustrating to have this kind of inconsistency when travelling, especially when they state the below.
| https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/baggage-essentials/sports-equipment wrote: |
You can take skiing or snowboarding equipment as part of your checked baggage so long as the bag is within 190 x 75 x 65cm.
Skis and snowboards must be packed in a protective bag and can be in the same bag as your boots or clothes.
If you pack your boots separately from your skis or snowboard, your boot bag can be carried as your larger piece of hand baggage if it's within the correct dimensions. If it isn't, it must be checked in and will count as an extra checked bag.
For safety reasons you can’t board the aircraft wearing ski boots.
Let us know you are bringing your snow sports bag
As soon as you have made your booking, let us know that you’re bringing your snow sport bag, especially if you know that you are on a popular snow sport route. Your snow sport bag is more likely to travel with you if you tell us in advance and at least three days (more than 72 hours) before you fly.
A snow sport bag is an oversize or out-of-gauge bag so check your snow sport bag in and drop it off at the out-of-gauge baggage belt no later than:
3 hours (180 minutes) before departure on long haul
2 hours (120 minutes) before departure on short haul
This will make it more likely that your bag will travel on the same flight as you. |
Funny that they state the last bit, I know that EJ have taken to not opening bag drop until 2hrs before a flight in some places, hopefully BA haven't been doing the same.
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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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@SnoodyMcFlude, definitely felt a bit OTT!
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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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Ignorance of their own rules happens all the time, e.g. with the early bag drop where if you have a flight before 10am you can drop your bags off the night before at certain BA UK terminals. it explicitly says on their website that all the travellers on the booking are not required to be present to check-in bags on their behalf their allowance but you have to have their travel docs. but of course I get told at the desk they do need to be, get the agent to ring a manager then all becomes clear.
A recent UK domestic trip on BA I was asked at the gate for ID for my daughter , she didn’t require to have any as she was under 16 which i told the agent but he was insistent. I had brought her passport knowing this happens and it was easier to whip this out than to argue with some little Hitler.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@ster, did that with EJ at Gatwick and the lady on the check-in desk was fantastic. I guess because it was late in the evening, quiet and she was due to go home soon
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| rainman wrote: |
| Dropped my son off at Heathrow in December, for a flight to Vancouver, and the BA desk agent not only wanted confirmation that his ski bag was pre-notified and paid for, but also wanted to know what was in it i.e. anything other than skis, boots and ski clothing! |
Well the slightly suprised to see a customer (never seen T5 so empty!) staff member who just took my skis under BA's twilight check-in's only had one question about ny ski case:
"Is it OK to put the label around this handle?"..he asked pointing to one of the solid, moulded plastic handles of my Sportube.
"Umm, sure" I replied, rather confused by the question 
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Given the amount of potential hassle if a ski bag is refused, I'd say it'd be worth a phone call on top of Internet research.
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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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| thecramps wrote: |
| Given the amount of potential hassle if a ski bag is refused, I'd say it'd be worth a phone call on top of Internet research. |
Too right, would rather book even if not needed, than not book and find it was needed.
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| thecramps wrote: |
| Given the amount of potential hassle if a ski bag is refused, I'd say it'd be worth a phone call on top of Internet research. |
I've never had a problem in a very large number of trans-Atlantic and internal flights with AC, BA and others. Not once has anyone asked me about these "pre registration" things.
Has anyone actually had a problem with a bag being refused? If so, what was the reason?
"Not pre-registering" isn't a reason: I can just rock up at the terminal, buy a ticket, check my snowboard bag, and fly, after all.
If so, how did they fix the problem?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| phil_w wrote: |
| thecramps wrote: |
| Given the amount of potential hassle if a ski bag is refused, I'd say it'd be worth a phone call on top of Internet research. |
I've never had a problem in a very large number of trans-Atlantic and internal flights with AC, BA and others. Not once has anyone asked me about these "pre registration" things.
Has anyone actually had a problem with a bag being refused? If so, what was the reason?
"Not pre-registering" isn't a reason: I can just rock up at the terminal, buy a ticket, check my snowboard bag, and fly, after all.
If so, how did they fix the problem? |
I had my skis bags booked and pre-registered but my flight was cancelled and we got our booking moved to an earlier flight. The result was the return booking for skis "fell off". We had a very tense long time at Lufthansa airport. They tried to send us to a generic queue which insane due to the many cancellations that day due to bad weather and we would have missed our flight.
Thankfully we were Business class so got support from that desk. Who spent ages on phones ti central offices. The issue was the flight was miss-classifidd as a summer flight and was not allowing them to be added despite space in hold.
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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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| phil_w wrote: |
| thecramps wrote: |
| Given the amount of potential hassle if a ski bag is refused, I'd say it'd be worth a phone call on top of Internet research. |
I've never had a problem in a very large number of trans-Atlantic and internal flights with AC, BA and others. Not once has anyone asked me about these "pre registration" things.
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Well from the posts above, it appears to be new this season from BA, so poast experience doesn't mean very much.
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Has anyone actually had a problem with a bag being refused? If so, what was the reason?
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They don't suggest it might be refused, just that it might not get on the same flight as you. From the quotes above, it seems there is always a chance it won't be on the same flight, but pre-registering reduces that chance.
| Quote: |
"Not pre-registering" isn't a reason: I can just rock up at the terminal, buy a ticket, check my snowboard bag, and fly, after all.
If so, how did they fix the problem? |
Well yes, but only if they have spoace for it in the hold.
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@rainman, I don’t believe you can be correct because on BA you don’t have to pay for a ski bag. It is just they allow your 23kg hold bag to be a bit longer than normal if it contains skis. So of course your toiletries and everything else will be in it. Unless you have booked two 23kg bags; in which case you can have them both with skis in if you wish.
The man operating the scanner has nothing to do with BA as he will be taking all oversized luggage. Is it actually a scanner?
I have a Twitter account especially for notifying BA of my ski equipment. It works very well to do it that way.
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You know it makes sense.
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@phil_w, Well that's all alright then. Didn't think it my input was so egregious. I tend towards a more belt and braces approach, but I'm glad the world works for you. 
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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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The BA policy has applied since at least December 2023, so it’s not exactly new.
@NickyJ, it’s not I think that they will refuse it. It’s just that they want to make it more likely that it’ll be on the same flight as its owner.
| Quote: |
As soon as you have made your booking, let us know that you’re bringing your snow sport bag, especially if you know that you are on a popular snow sport route. Your snow sport bag is more likely to travel with you if you tell us in advance and at least three days (more than 72 hours) before you fly.
A snow sport bag is an oversize or out-of-gauge bag so check your snow sport bag in and drop it off at the out-of-gauge baggage belt no later than:
3 hours (180 minutes) before departure on long haul
2 hours (120 minutes) before departure on short haul
This will make it more likely that your bag will travel on the same flight as you. |
Presumably they will restrict the extra cargo they bring on a plane if enough of these bags have been booked. Though it doesn’t make much sense as 23kg of luggage takes up the same volume whatever shape it is. Good luck with the two hours threshold given at T5 desks only open two hours before the flight leaves…
| Quote: |
| Euro Traveller: From 2 hours before your flight departure, but not before the earliest opening time of 04:30. |
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Poster: A snowHead
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@alex_heney, they've been requesting for at least a year or so, but implementation seems rare.
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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 didn’t book and if your flight is full in terms of cargo/ski bags as a ski route so your bag can’t be accommodated I don’t see why you would be hugely optimistic that the would be room on the next flight. Then means maybe hanging around at the other end and may throw other plans out.
I mean why wouldn't you book???
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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've just "live chatted" to book mine for upcoming flight to Verona on 17th Jan. They have actually made the live chat AI navigation easier than before. I started off saying "i wish to speak to an agent to inform you I will be taking a ski bag on my upcoming booking" and the bot sent the generic info posted above, asked me if I wanted to speak to an agent and I was straight through. So very easy to do now that I don't understand why you wouldn't bother. I'm in shock that BA have made something IT related simpler!!!
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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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Yes, its bizarre, how hard would it be to have a tick box on the booking form.
Or have the chat bot do it. Instead they have a person processing it.
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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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When I booked in my skis last year, the chat bot did it - it was fully automated. Perhaps because I didn’t ask to speak to an agent 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| ster wrote: |
Yes, its bizarre, how hard would it be to have a tick box on the booking form.
Or have the chat bot do it. Instead they have a person processing it. |
I find BA's whole system to be considerably more clunky and awkward to deal with bookings compared to EasyJet. They just seem to be a bit behind
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| ster wrote: |
| Yes, its bizarre, how hard would it be to have a tick box on the booking form. |
How many ski bags do they actually take to GVA. Ten maximum on a flight? Three or four normally? Fifty bags per weekend, 100 per week? Maybe another 100 per week to Venice/Turin in total. 6000 per annum including returns. And you want them to put a check box on their form for some of their millions of passengers to check by accident? When the bot now does it anyway!
It’s easier on EasyJet as you actually have to pay them money for ski carriage. (It used to be cheaper to take 23kg of skis than a 23kg bag, weirdly. Sadly no longer!)
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| James the Last wrote: |
| ster wrote: |
| Yes, its bizarre, how hard would it be to have a tick box on the booking form. |
How many ski bags do they actually take to GVA. Ten maximum on a flight? Three or four normally? Fifty bags per weekend, 100 per week? Maybe another 100 per week to Venice/Turin in total. 6000 per annum including returns. And you want them to put a check box on their form for some of their millions of passengers to check by accident? When the bot now does it anyway!
It’s easier on EasyJet as you actually have to pay them money for ski carriage. (It used to be cheaper to take 23kg of skis than a 23kg bag, weirdly. Sadly no longer!) |
Ski bags are not the only oversized carried around the world. They did advise to call to book when they first brought out the policy which is hugely inefficient for all concerned By all means bring out the policy but think it through and make it easy, isn’t that what IT is supposed to be good at/for? They do seem to be able to put everything else on the web form, rental cars, pay for seats, charity donations etc..
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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 thought I'd give the BA prebooking a go last night for my trip to Salzburg at the end of Feb. Never bothered before after many years of just turning up with my board bag as my only checked bag.
The AI assistant would not add to the booking so I had to request a human to process. It took 2 loops to request a human to assist and eventually I was added to a queue behind 84 others.
The queue went down in about 20 mins. I passed on my booking ref to the agent who said my booking had been updated. But then the chat crashed after I asked about written confirmation.
For anyone who pre-booked with BA did you get any confirmation/proof?
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| ste_B wrote: |
For anyone who pre-booked with BA did you get any confirmation/proof? |
Only a print out of the chat itself confirming it was added. BA do not (as I think Lufthansa do) send an email when its added nor do I think can you see it anywhere on your booking info you as the customer can access.
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FAQ
