Where to Find Cheap Winter Flights

So you’ve managed to bag a great deal on your ski accomodation and ski car hire. What about the flights? How much extra will you have to pay for your skis, snowboards and ski boots? Well, depending where you’re heading it might be quite a lot. While pricing baggage charges at the most popular airlines used by UK winter holidaymakers, we discovered some surprising results. Avoid an avalanche of extra charges by checking out our guide to airline charges.

Please note:

Definitions of sports equipment vary from airline to airline. In general, the term refers to items including skis, snowboards, golf clubs and bicycles.

All charges quoted refer to the total cost for a journey booked online. Luggage allowances mentioned are subject to a restriction on the size of a bag/suitcase. Always refer back to the airline’s website before booking or packing.

British Airways: www.ba.com

Destinations: Basle, Geneva, Lyons, Milan, Turin, Zurich

Hand Baggage: No Charge up to 23kg

Excess Charge: A flat rate of £25 each way for luggage weighing between 23kg and 32kg.

Skis and sports equipment: No charge for one piece if it falls within the size restriction, if “packed in a travel case specifically designed for that piece of equipment” and with a maximum weight of 23kg.

Swiss: www.swiss.com

Destinations: Geneva, Basle, Zurich

Hand Luggage: 8kg

Hold luggage: No charge up to 20kg

Excess charge: £13 per kg each way

EasyJet: www.easyjet.com
Destinations: Basle, Geneva, Milan, Turin, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Grenoble, Zurich.

Hand Luggage Allowance:

Up to 20kg costs £12 per bag. This fee is included in the fare quoted online, but the charge can be removed if you select zero checked bags on the drop down menu.

Charges for Excess Luggage: It is possible to increase the allowance when you book. An extra 3kg costs £36 return.

Skis and winter sports equipment: £33 (£46 when booked at the airport or by phone).

Bmibaby: www.bmibaby.com

Destinations: Geneva and Bergamo.

Hand Luggage Allowance: 10kg

Hold Luggage Allowance: Up to 20kg costs £15.98 per bag (£24 when booked by phone or at the airport desk)

Excess Baggage Charge: £6 per kilo each way

Skis and sports equipment: £35.98 (£45) including a ski boots. Ski boots that are checked in without skis must be booked as a pre-paid baggage item in the drop-down menu during the booking process and cost £15.98 when booked online.

Flybe: (www.flybe.com)

Destinations: Milan Friedrichshafen (close to the German-Austrian border), Chambéry, Geneva and Berne.

Hand Luggage Allowance: 10kg

Hold Luggage Allowance: Up to 20kg at £15.98 (£26) per item.

Excess Baggage Charges: £9 per kilo each way.

Skis and sports equipment: This one’s a bit tricky. Skis cost £45 if booked within 24 hours of booking your flight through the Customer Call Centre. There is a linit on the number of pairs that can be carried, but this varies according to the airliner. The airline offers a refund on your flight if you book and then find that your skis can’t be carried. The same charge applies to golf clubs. Surfboards and snowboards are carried on stand by only at the same charge.

Ryanair: www.ryanair.com

Destinations: Basle, Grenoble, Graz, Klagenfurt, Friedrichshafen, Salzburg, Turin, Bergamo.

Hand Luggage Allowance: 10kg

Hold Luggage Allowance: Up to £15kg costs £24 (£32) for the first bag, including £8 of compulsory check-in fees (£32 each for second and third bags, the price paid up-front at the airport is the same as the online price.

Excess luggage Charge: £12 per kilo each way.

Skis and sports equipment: £50 (£64).