Gatwick to Innsbruck, 4th Jan 2009. Monarch Airlines.
Party of 8. 1 suitcase and 1 boot bag for 1 person in the group, all weighed and checked in, some of which were overweight and a HEAVY tag put on the relevant case, no charges applied.
Ski bags had flight labels applied to them at check in, and we had to take them round to the outsize baggage check in where you are asked to prove its your bag by showing your boarding card.
Ski bags were not weighed, and not once was anyone asked to show what was inside them.
All 8 traveling had a pair of skis each, packed into 6 ski bags, and one of the party had 2 pairs of skis with them. Most of the ski bags were packed with clothing and other items.
Same at Innsbruck coming home yesterday, no weighing of ski bags or checking what is in them.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE AIRLINE DO NOT CHARGE FOR SKI CARRIAGE.
The tour operators in this case do, and surprise surprise - the Skiworld rep turned up at check in and tried to pull a fast one by suggesting we had to pay a second time for ski carriage as her records showed we had not paid for any. At 5.15am I was not in the mood for some old dragon trying it on, and she soon got short shrift from me, and departed with her tail between legs.
HOWEVER some airlines now have restrictions in place regarding ski carriage and may want to charge you.
Bottom line is simple: there is not one hard and fast rule regarding this issue, so please check with your airline or tour op before you travel. If your airline dont charge, like Thomas Cook and Monarch for example, you can gamble and not pay for ski carriage. However, if a rep from the toup company turn up at check in, you will end up paying MORE for ski carriage as they will make a higher charge there and then. Its up to you, gamble or play it safe and pay up front, but the money you are paying generally only adds to profiteering by the tour op, unless you fly with peasant airlines like Sleezyjet or O'Brienair.
I have never been asked to prove I have paid for ski carriage, or open a ski bag at Gatwick. Other airports may well be different, as may other airlines, so you ought to check before you make a decision.
