Header image: Mike Brindley
Flying with your snowboard bag is never going to be the most glorious experience of your life, but if you’re paying out the arse for additional baggage costs, that early morning slog to the airport can turn pre-trip excitement into a bitter ordeal pretty quickly…
Nobody likes searching for ages to find the cheapest flight, just to be shat on by a huge “sports equipment” fee, so we’ve done our best to bring you an up to date assessment of how much each individual airline is throwing on top of the up-front fee, thereby (hopefully) saving you some hassle in the long run. Most of the airlines charge the same for a ski bag or snowboard bag, so you can pass this info onto any friends or family who insist on carrying two planks.
No, don’t thank us, it’s all part and part for the cause – just send us the cash you save in a stamped addressed envelope, that’ll do nicely.
All prices are accurate as of May 2017 based on flights within the EU (to the best of our knowledge and understanding).
| AIRLINE | FIRST HOLD BAG FEE | SKI/SNOWBOARD BAGGAGE FEE (ONE WAY) | EXTRA NOTES |
| Aer Lingus | €15-70 depending on size and destination. | €40 online, €50 through reservations centre or at airport. | Max Weight 23kg. Max one piece per person. |
| Air Berlin | €13-110 depending on size and destination. | €50 up to 30hrs before departure, €95-115 after. | Prices increase to €100/145-165 for items over 23kg. |
| Air France | Free | Free (counts as free baggage allowance) or €70 if take hold bag | Can use as free baggage allowance. Max. 20kg. No longer than 300cm. More info here. |
| Alitalia | Free | Free (counts as free baggage allowance) or €55 if take hold bag | Max. weight 23kg. More info here. |
| British Airways | Varies – Euro Traveller Free, Basic Fares £20-£40 | Free (counts as free baggage allowance) | Max. 190cm in length. Must be in recognisable bag. 23kg max. |
| EasyJet | £13-35 online (£35-45 at airport) | £35 pre booked/£45 at airport | Max. 20kg. You can pool weight allowances across standard hold luggage and boardbag. More info here. |
| Finnair | Free Unless Travelling Economy Light (€20 pre-booked, €30 at airport) | Free (counts as free baggage allowance). | Must be under 23kg and 220cm in length. More info here. |
| FlyBe | £19 Small (up to 15kg), £24 Standard (up to 23kg) | £30 via Contact Centre or Airport | Booked on a space available basis via Contact Centre or Airport |
| Iberia | Free | Free (counts as free baggage allowance) | Must be under 23kg. More info here. |
| Jet2 | £45 | £25 | Needs to be pre-booked. Max. weight 22kg. Max. size 182cm x 91cm. More info here. |
| KLM | Free | Free (counts as free baggage allowance) or €70 at airport as extra. | 300cm max length |
| LOT | Free (as long as not flying with Economy Simple) | Free (if counts as free baggage allowance) or €50 | Max. weight 45kg. Need to declare equipment 24 hrs in advance by calling LOT Call Centre. More info here. |
| Lufthansa | Free (as long as not flying Economy Light) | Free (in addition to standard allowance) or €50 if in addition to free allowance weight. | Register no later than 24hrs before flight. Additional equipment must be within weight limits of travel class. |
| Monarch | From £15 to £36 online, + £5 surcharge at Customer Services, or flat rate £36 at Airport | £25-£28 pre-booked or £35 at airport. | Max. 20kg. Boots can be taken in a separate bag as part of main hold bag allowance providing combined weight doesn’t exceed 20kg. More info here. |
| Norwegian | £7-50 depending on route or £40 at airport for direct international flights. | £24-28 online or £33-43 at airport. | Max. weight 20kg. 250cm max length. |
| Ryanair | £10-55 | £40 if pre-booked/£45 at airport | Max. weight 20kg. More info here. |
| SAS | Free (If not on Go Light) | Free (counts as free baggage allowance) | Max. weight 23kg. More info here. |
| Swiss Air | Free (If not on Light) | Free (counts as free baggage allowance) or €50 | Max. weight 23kg. Boots can be in separate bag. |
| TAP Portugal | Free | €50 | Max Weight 32kg. |
| Turkish Airlines | Free (20kg) | Free (counts as baggage allowance), or €30 | Max weight 32kg. |
| Vueling | From £11.24 online, £30.26 at airport | From €30.26 | Max weight 50kg. |
