Ski boots - hand baggage or checked in

If you plan on taking Ski Boots as hand luggage check with both your airport and airline that this is allowed. As either can refuse. When I spoke to the airport they said they didn't have a problem but to check with my airline as they may have. Some airlines state they won't allow it and some of those state it's due to airport regulations.

Mekka wrote:If you plan on taking Ski Boots as hand luggage check with both your airport and airline that this is allowed. As either can refuse. When I spoke to the airport they said they didn't have a problem but to check with my airline as they may have. Some airlines state they won't allow it and some of those state it's due to airport regulations.

How confusing and unfair :evil:
What's wrong with ski boots in hand luggage? Flying seems to have become very complicated now - it's just as well I usually get the train :D

I flew out of Bristol to Geneva, and back from Geneva to Gatwick, so those airports must be okay with it (or at least they were in October), and so was EasyJet.

Ally

I always take mine as hand luggage in a boot bag, never had a problem. I put my goggles inside 1 of the boots to keep them safe. The rules are as long as the item fits into the over head and its under 10kg you can take what you want. (clearly within their rules)

If i could id also put my ski gear in hand luggage, then the airline can please themselves what they do with my bag, as long as i have my ski gear and the clothes on my back then im happy :lol:

As with Crispyapplepie we've taken our own boots three times and there's never been a problem taking them as hand luggage. When possible we check them in as hold baggage (in their own bags not our suitcases), but this decision has been based more on whether we have any baggage allowance left to do that, or whether the check in person (as in the last time) was prepared to let us go even further over our excess to check them in. It's incredibly difficult (for me anyway) to get the boots in the suitcases because mine weigh in at around 5kg, and MrEvs around 6-7 kg. Add that to the approximate weight of your empty case to start off with which is around 5kg, and before you've even put in a pair of knickers you've used up about 50% of your hold baggage allowance.

N.B. I know that many are reluctant to check in boot bags on their own for fear of them getting wrecked etc but that's a different issue I think.

This is what EasyJet says about their hand luggage rules (I've deleted the liquids bit):

10 Baggage

Conditions of Carriage Articles 8.1 and 9

Passengers and their baggage will be subjected to security screening throughout their journey. To assist us with this, please ensure that your cabin baggage is packed in such a way that, if requested by airport personnel at check-in, you are able to transfer articles into baggage to be checked in as hold baggage.

Hand baggage regulations in many airports are currently subject to change at short notice. Additional restrictions imposed by regional or national authorities and governing hand or hold baggage may be in force at the time of carriage. You may also be advised of changes to the hand baggage allowances or procedures set out in these Carrier's Regulations via e-mail communications from easyJet.

Save where the limits set locally are more restrictive, passengers are permitted one standard piece of hand baggage to a volume limit of 56x45x25cm (including wheels and pockets) ("Standard Hand Baggage"). It must fit without force into the gauges provided at check-in or departure gates. No weight restriction applies within reasonable limits — i.e. a passenger must be able to place the piece of luggage safely in the overhead storage bins without assistance.

In addition to the "Standard Hand Baggage" you may also carry:
(a) one of the following: An overcoat; an umbrella, or a shawl; and
(b) one standard size carrier bag of goods purchased from the departure airport.

If you exceed the allowances described above, you will be required to check additional and / or oversized bag(s) into the hold at check-in or at the gate. You will be charged a bag fee which will be advised to you at that time. Payment can be made by credit or debit card only.

We reserve the right to require you to check hand baggage into the hold (at no charge) should there be insufficient space in the cabin.

If you fail to pay for additional/oversized bags to be checked into the hold, we reserve the right to refuse travel without further liability to you.

Ally

Would reccomend checking with your airline. We always take our boots as hand luggage with Easyjet, but just got back from a trip with Thompson Air who said ski boots are no longer allowed as hand luggage with them. Luckily we had spare baggage allowance but met another passenger who had to pay £10 a kilo = £80 to put his boots in the hold as excess luggage!!!

Thats interesting that some airlines won't check ski boots in as hand luggage. I could understand if it was ice skates because then you have a sharp blade but I would not consider ski boots to be dangerous (unless you clunk someone over the head with them) :shock: Ria x

clairehb0 wrote:Would reccomend checking with your airline. We always take our boots as hand luggage with Easyjet, but just got back from a trip with Thompson Air who said ski boots are no longer allowed as hand luggage with them. Luckily we had spare baggage allowance but met another passenger who had to pay £10 a kilo = £80 to put his boots in the hold as excess luggage!!!

I had a look on the Thompson Air website to see what they say, and it doesn't say anything about not allowing ski boots in hand luggage, only that the weight restriction is 5Kg (do ski boots plus the bag weigh more than 5 Kg?) and you have to read your ticket for more specific item restrictions. How unfair and confusing :evil:

Thomson Airways Baggage Allowance
Standard luggage allowance
Each customer is entitled to a check-in allowance of up to 20kg baggage and a maximum 5kg for hand baggage (max. dimensions: 55cm x 40cm x 20cm).

No single item of baggage may exceed 23kg. Customers who have pre-paid for an additional check-in allowance which places them over the 23kg limit must check in an additional bag.

Baggage allowances can be pooled across a party, but no baggage may exceed 23kg.

Other bags such as handbags, laptop bags or laptop computers must be carried within the single item of cabin baggage. We recommend that video cameras, mobile telephones and other valuable items should be carried as hand luggage; they must not exceed the dimensions outlined above.

There are restrictions on what you may carry in your hand luggage – please read carefully the information enclosed with your tickets. Customers will only be able to carry Hypodermic Syringes in their hand luggage if supporting an approved "Diabetic Doctors letter". Customers carrying such items must also advise check-in staff.

You should be able to lift hand baggage into overhead storage compartments yourself.

Ally