13 December 2011

Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) Compares Cost of Travelling with Ski Equipment This Winter

If you're looking to travel abroad this winter with ski or snowboard equipment, then Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has put together a comprehensive guide comparing the cost of transporting ski equipment on major airlines servicing the UK. The research also includes costs for the use of equipment delivery services such as skis2you and is available in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website, available at www.aph.com/skibaggage.

The research compares the ski baggage policies of 22 major airlines including baggage allowances, excess baggage fees, information on ski baggage weight limitations and the number of ski bags allowed per passenger.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is the no-frills carriers that were found to offer the smallest weight limitations for checked ski baggage with Monarch placing a weight limit of just 13kg per item and Aer Lingus only 15kg per item. Flybe, on the other hand, offers a generous 30kg.

With regards to the costs for exces baggage fees, Ryanair was found to charge passengers the most for transporting ski bags, with up to £50 per item, per flight when paid at the airport or £40 when paid online. Virgin Atlantic and SwissAir are the only airlines of the 22 surveyed that offer all passengers' free carriage of one set of ski equipment in addition to standard baggage allowance, regardless of the destination.

Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has also found that it can be cheaper to arrange an equipment delivery service, such as skis2you, Piste of Mind and Ski Carriage, to transport your equipment for a fixed fee. For example, skis2you will deliver any winter sport equipment to your chalet or resort hotel and then arrange for them to be picked up and delivered back to your home in the UK from only £29.95 for one ski bag. Customers will need to drop the equipment off at the UK depot two weeks before their holiday, which will also result in a 10% discount.