Another bit of news about ski carriage...

Last season I booked and paid to go to Italy with Neilsons, which included paying an extra £15 to cover extra baggage weight as I was carrying snowblades inside my personal luggage. Despite this the packed weight of my luggage came well inside my 20kg allowance; but when I got to check-in at Manchester the Thomas Cook rep refused to let me pass, saying I had to pay an extra £20 for ski carriage!!
The problem arose because the Thomas Cook agent didn't seem to have the intelligence to recognise that my snowblades were not skis but were just another constituent in my personal luggage, where they should have been no more liable for additional charging than my underpants, socks, or dirty washing. Whatever, I was furious and on returning home I confronted my agent, who in turn contacted Neilsons, who were suitably apologetic and immediately issued a refund.
So where does the airort demarcation point actually lie? Isn't all the extra charging just another rep scam, one designed to relieve us of every coin and note left in our pockets before the resort reps have the chance to work on us for the lion's share?

Welcome to J2ski :D Good news that you managed to get the extra charges refunded. Was this the check in staff that charged you. They are often subcontracted IOW not working for Thomas Cook. They may also be on incentive to ramp up takings at check in.

How did they know you had snowblades if they were already packed in your luggage?

I agree that they took the %$@£, and it does raise the issue... What defines a ski? or a snowboard?

Thats a bit of a shocking tale, and stinks of money grabbing. Be aware it is the tour ops with charter flights that charge for ski carriage, not the airlines, in many cases (not intended to be a pun..)

Your blades ARE skis, but the fact that you had them in your personal luggage and within your allowance gave them no right to charge you an extra amount. If you had them in another bag, fair enough.

However, what concerns me is HOW they knew you had them in there? When you check in a suitcase it gets weighed and thrown down the belt. Did you volunteer the fact they were in there, or was some kind of Gestapo-like rep making everyone open their suitcases?

Free Ski Carriage is something we always make sure we get included, (not difficult to negotiate when you book 30 places). Always make sure I have it in writing for the ski carriage gestapo though!

Ryanair have been conning people for years :evil:

Anyone booked flybe recently?

Just booked Dusseldorf to Gatwick return and on top of published fare there were taxes and fees. Fair enough I hear you cry. Then 12 EUR for a 15kg either way, 8 EUR for a SEAT either way (I mean will they let me stand?), 6 EUR booking fee either way and 6 EUR credit card fee. Advertised at about 80 EUR actual cost 190 EUR.

If you feel violated by Ryan Air then I feel like I've been hung drawn and quartered by Flybe!

tino_11 wrote:Anyone booked flybe recently?

Just booked Dusseldorf to Gatwick return and on top of published fare there were taxes and fees. Fair enough I hear you cry. Then 12 EUR for a 15kg either way, 8 EUR for a SEAT either way (I mean will they let me stand?), 6 EUR booking fee either way and 6 EUR credit card fee. Advertised at about 80 EUR actual cost 190 EUR.

If you feel violated by Ryan Air then I feel like I've been hung drawn and quartered by Flybe!

Cancel you're booking and join the campaign for honest airlines ....... could be a tad tuff tracking one of those down :evil:

I think you miserable southerners need to get this all in proportion!!! How do you think we feel living 'oop naaarth'!!!

You can still get a flight, including all the extras, for the price of a mediocre dinner for two!!!!!!

We have to pay a £55 supplement as well!!!! :thumbdown: