Latest posts for the topic "Thomson/Crystal ski carriage"

Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:41:27 GMT

I travelled recently with Crystal for the first time, using Thomson Airways. They make a GBP30 charge per ski bag, and before we travelled I tried to seek verification on their limits and restrictions. I had some odd stories about People having to unpack items at check in, being asked to prove what's in their ski bags, being charged excess baggage, and other odd incidents.

Unfortunately, Crystal were unable to actually verify anything, and there is a very woolly set of rules mentioned. The only clear specification they state is that you can only pack ONE set of skis and poles or snowboard in your ski bag, assuming you've also got a hold bag to check in. You are also NOT allowed to put boots in the ski bag or hand luggage, according to their T&C's.

I had also read somewhere that they stipulated a 6kg weight limit, which if true would be stupidly low, but was unable to get Crystal, Thomson Airways or my travel agent, Skiline, to confirm. Crystal have a forum on their website where there is heated discussion on this subject, and even senior staff are unable to give a defInitive response.

Having flown with them recently, I decided to adopt my normal policy of filling my double ski bag with my skis and both mine and my wifes poles, entry of bubble wrap around the skis, along with 3 ski jackets, 3 pairs of sallopettes (not ALL mine I should add), a pair of walking shoes, several packets of chocolate bars, an iPod speaker, and my heaviest hoody - all of which packs the ski bag out nicely to protect the skis, and allows me to use the 20kg hold baggage allowance and fill my suitcase with ski boots, clothes, ski clothes such as fleeces, base layers, goggles and gloves etc.

We checked in at stansted, and were not asked to prove we had paid for ski carriage, which would have been GBP150 for all 5 bags we didn't need to pay for as it turned out, and they were also not interested in what was in the bags or how much they weighed. All they wanted to do was put the tags on them and get us to take them to the outsize baggage check in where they were simply x rayed. This is exactly how all my previous experiences of checking in skis has been at stansted, gatwick and Manchester, and confirms for me that ski carriage charges are simply a money making exercise for the tour operators. I know it's different with ryanair and easyjet, and BA allow you a full 23 kg for a 2nd bag if you pay the fee, but on package tours with charter airlines I think this is par for the course - certainly it is based on my experience. It suggests that you don't need to pay for ski carriage as you seem to be able to check in without anyone wanting to check. It also suggests that the reasons the tour ops give for applying the charges (ie extra cost of fuel) are nonsense.

I am sure others have very different experiences with tour ops and ski carriage, but I personally feel the time has come for a uniform policy on ski carriage so we all know where we stand. If anyone from the airlines or tour ops reads this, please think about these 2 suggestions;

1 - either don't charge for ski carriage, bearing in mind people are booking a ski holiday and would expect to be able to take their own equipment

OR

2 - apply a standard and sensible charge for ski carriage when holidays or flights are booked, say GBP25 per bag, and apply a clear and sensible policy regarding the weight per ski bag. I would suggest a 15kg limit would suffice, and simply writing the bag at check in would not cause delays. It should not matter what is in the ski gag provided people comply with the weight limit. Excess charges should apply per kilo in the same wY as it does/should with hold baggage. In addition, there should be a high charge applied at the airport for anyone who turns up with a ski bag if they have not paid or booked in advance, in order to put people off trying it on or not being organised. Skiers are not stupid people generally, and they know how to pack, and should know when they book that they will be taking skis or not.

Option 1 would be the simple option, but would probably involve the companies building the cost of ski carriage to the basic holiday cost, so expect to pay GBP25 per person extr even if you dont take skis, whereas option 2 would enable the tour ops/airlines to charge for skis prebooked and make a hefty charge for people skiers who try it on by turning up with non prebooked skis.
Either way, a clear allowance per bag across the companies should be introduced so everyone knows where they stand. 15kg would be sensible in my opinion. Any more is excessive, any less would be insufficient.

I'd be interested to hear peoples views on this, especially people within the industry.

Apologies for any spelling or grammatical errors, I'm on my iPhone, and its easier to edit later from my laptop.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:18:38 GMT

Interesting; I travelled on a package (with Neilson) for the first time in many years in January. I paid GBP30 for ski carriage and their conditions were quite clear in stipulating nothing other than skis and sticks should be carried in the bag.

The check-in girl at Bristol checked my tickets/invoice to see if I had paid and asked me whether there was anything other than ski equipment in the bag. (She was ok, though, as my main bag was 3kg over limit and she let me off; I think as the bag checked in before mine was well under the weight limit!)

A standard system would clear up the confusion around this issue, but I fear would never happen. Too many variables - tour ops, airlines, airports and check-in staff. I flew Ryanair to Salzburg once - not charged for ski carriage outbound, charged on the return.

My solution is fairly simple: fly Swiss - no ski carriage charge.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:06:46 GMT

LOTA wrote:

My solution is fairly simple: fly Swiss - no ski carriage charge.

Not much use for Austria, Italy, or France though.
I've looked at Lufthansa who also don't charge for skis, but you're limited where you fly to ie Munich basically.
Unfortunately, there are some really good priced packages out there (GBP529 for a week catered chalet in St Anton with half price lift pass) which are part of a package and mean you have no choice with your airline. This is where I think the companies need to get together OR BE REGULATED by ABTA or ATOL to come up with a suggested universal policy. Theres no reason why there should be any variables. It should be made simple:

1 hold bag up to 20kg included as usual
1 ski/board bag up to 15kg at a cost of say GBP25

Thats it, no more no less. Extra cost for being overweight GBP10 per kilo for example, and GBP100 for anyone not prebooking skis and turning up with them.
Should keep everyone happy.

Why dont they get on with it?
This would encompass Thomson, Thomas Cook and Monarch European charter airlines.
Other airlines like Ryaniar, Easyjet,Flybe, BA and Swiss for example have their own policies and tour ops do not charter whole flights, so you adhere to that airlines policy if you book a package.

When do I get the job?

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:16:59 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

LOTA wrote:

My solution is fairly simple: fly Swiss - no ski carriage charge.

Not much use for Austria, Italy, or France though.
with them.

Not quite so, Tone, Swiss to Geneva is pretty good for a fair bit of France. And Swiss to Zurich gioves good access by road or rail to the Arlberg, among others. I've been, very efficiently, to St Anton that way!

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 11:24:23 GMT

Tony - you are absolutely right and it would be great if your suggestion were to be adopted.

This area is a mess and we have had many threads over the years trying to get clarity on what is allowed in hand baggage, ski bag rules, etc. While you got away with stuffing your ski bag this time around, what would you have done if they had insisted on you taking out all the clothes, shoes, etc? Presumably, a nightmare unless you just happened to have an empty suitcase handy!

It would be lovely to think that all the carriers would adopt a standardised approach and apply a modest charge. Unfortunately, this will not happen anytime soon.

The so-called "low cost airlines" started this with charges for bags generally. They reckon that skiers (and golfers) especially those with their own skis are reasonably well-heeled and will live with the ridiculous charges imposed. They are also anxious to put off people from having too much luggage generally because it slows down turnaround times at the airports.

As usual they are suiting themselve and as long at there is no real alternative (part from the odd exception such as Swiss if it suits), it is unlikely to change anytime soon.

Governments won't intervene because they take the view that it is a market issue.

If somebody like the Sunday Times Travel Section were to make an issue of it, there might be some hope of limited changes but I doubt it!

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:03:10 GMT

I travelled with Thomson / Crystal this year and emailed them prior to travelling. The first response I got didn't even answer the questions I asked and the second reply was just a copy of their initial response. I then rang the travel agent and they said 15 kg. I got them to send me it in writing. I paid for 2 ski carriages and put them in the same bag but in hind sight did myself out of 30 quid because they never batted an eye lid at 2 pairs of skis in the same bag.

On the other hand last year I went to Canada and ski carriage was free. Once again put 2 pairs of skis in the same bag and nothing was said on the outbound journey, but on the return journey I was told that my ski bag of 20kgs was overweight. I tried to explain that it was because we had a double bag and that because our allowance was 10kgs each it didn't matter. The operative said it did because it was all about weight distribution on the plane and our skis needed to be in separate bags. I said to her do you think I'm stupid, it's the same bloody plane we came on. It's not like packing a car were you squeeze things in around your main luggage. Eventually I was let on but it just goes to show what she said was rubbish or I'd have been refused to check them in.

It's a source of concern every time. There could be some distance in going back to rentals!!

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:15:51 GMT

I stuffed my ski bag full of stuff when going with Thomsons and they said nothing, but I had 10kg of hand luggage and was made to put 3kg into my case.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:25:31 GMT

They weighed your hand luggage? Jeez, people were getting on our Thomson flight with miniature suitcases and huge backpacks. Just goes to show there is NO consistency, and they do whatever they want to suit themselves on the day. The daft thing is that if you move 3kg from one bag to another, you're still taking the same weight on.

I might drop the Sunday Times travel section an email on this matter.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:08:08 GMT

Yep, they said it was on H&S grounds in case luggage falls from a locker.

The only other time our hand luggage was weighed was in Budapest on a Ryanair flight. My sister had 11kgs in her case and I had 8.5kgs, they made use take a kilo from one case and transfer it to the other.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 08:39:43 GMT

I was surprised at the size of case Ryanair allowed in the aircraft at Stanstead - normal sized suitcases.
I would not have been happy if my small bag had had to go in front of my feet so a ruddy great case could go over head.

Coming back from Graz the handlers were more strict on hand luggage size - making the big cases be checked in.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:50:47 GMT

I recently read on another ski forum that somebody had put their hand luggage in the blue Ryanair measuring cage at the airport in Britain and was allowed to carry it on as it conformed. When it came to leaving Bulgaria they were asked to put it in the Ryanair cage again and although it was packed exactly the same it wouldn't even fit. This resulted in them having to check it in and pay 30 quid for the pleasure.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:02:18 GMT

Oh Dear ..... the Irish lot playing up yet again. Don't use them :evil:

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:23:51 GMT

Hoolio wrote:I recently read on another ski forum that somebody had put their hand luggage in the blue Ryanair measuring cage at the airport in Britain and was allowed to carry it on as it conformed. When it came to leaving Bulgaria they were asked to put it in the Ryanair cage again and although it was packed exactly the same it wouldn't even fit. This resulted in them having to check it in and pay 30 quid for the pleasure.

One of the few Watchdog programmes I've ever watched covered this. The airlines are deliberately putting gauages in airports smaller than their published sizes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2010/09/bmi_baggage_blunder.html

That they get away with it is pretty scandalous.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:42:48 GMT

If I may be as bold as to say, can we leave Ryanair out of this thread please?
It was started because of a recent experience with Crystal relating to ski carriage, and I don't want to get off topic with this one. Any other charter airline and tour op for European ski flights in particular may attention!
I said before - Ryanair and Easyjet have their own bespoke policy which is clearly outlined for ski carriage. You may not like it, or them, or their other baggage policies, but they are not relevant on this thread.
Thanks.

Now, anyone from the industry on here care to comment?

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:55:48 GMT

I went with Flybe from Manchester to Milan last year and paid GBP48 for transporting ski equipment - this consisted of a ski bag and boot bag
No problem at Manchester but at Milan on the return the check in operator tried to charge extra because there were two bags not one.
Airlines always quote a price for carrying skis but are not specific about what this covers and so this leads to confusion.
Has anyone else had this problem?

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 22:44:59 GMT

Pack your boots in your hold luggage, it solves any issues.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:06:02 GMT

I too have had problems with taking ski equipment even extending to Ski Boot Bags being allowed as hold luggage on the way back but not on the way out? Even though we were allowed to check in with a Ski Boot bag as hand luggage, it was then taken off us at the gate? Apparently ski boots are blunt instruments :shock:

It would be much simpler if they would standardise the rules and also take into account that going skiing involves more and heavier clothing that your average beach holiday, so the weigh allowance is easily breached.

We have tired of the airlines/tour operators inconsistencies and are driving out this time, taking as much luggage as we like :D No hanging around at the airport, no long term parking charges, no coach transfers and waiting for 2 hours for other flights to arrive and best of all...... if there is no snow in our resort, we can move to where there is some.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:15:52 GMT

Chedgrave wrote:I too have had problems with taking ski equipment even extending to Ski Boot Bags being allowed as hold luggage on the way back but not on the way out? Even though we were allowed to check in with a Ski Boot bag as hand luggage, it was then taken off us at the gate? Apparently ski boots are blunt instruments :shock:

It would be much simpler if they would standardise the rules and also take into account that going skiing involves more and heavier clothing that your average beach holiday, so the weigh allowance is easily breached.

We have tired of the airlines/tour operators inconsistencies and are driving out this time, taking as much luggage as we like :D No hanging around at the airport, no long term parking charges, no coach transfers and waiting for 2 hours for other flights to arrive and best of all...... if there is no snow in our resort, we can move to where there is some.

I appreciate why people would drive now, and have done it myself. But the best priced deals come in the form of packages, which means a flight.

The business of ski boots to me is a no brainer, as every single airline or tour op document I have seen CLEARLY states boots make up part of your checked in luggage allowance and may not be taken on as hand luggage. Therefore I don't understand why anyone would take ski boots on as hand luggage, and also why they would want to take a separate boot bag and run the risk of them going missing or being damaged. Each to their own and all that, but for me its a simple case of pack them in your hold bag.

As for taking more clothes than a beach holiday for 2 weeks, I disagree. Ski clothing is generally quite light, although often bulky. I think a lot of people think they should take their ski clothes, and in addition pack for a weeks worth of normal clothes, when in reality you hardly need any off the slopes clothing at all. If you have a particularly heavy jacket, wear it to travel in, simples. Otherwise, a 20kg luggage allowance seems ample to me for a weeks skiing, provided of course you can pack sallos and a jacket (or 3) around your skis in the ski bag......which brings us back to where we started regarding clarification on what ski carriage actually allows or includes.

Anyone from the travel industry actually got the balls to commit to having an opinion or making a statement on this?????

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:43:31 GMT

Tony, speaking personally, my ski boots cost a lot, and represent rather a lot of hours of work getting them right. I resent risking losing them to sloppy baggage handlers. I think if they went missing my bootfitter would cry, me too :shock:
I've not suffered lost/damaged ski boots yet, but I've had 1 pair of skis written off, and my brand new Black Roses were damaged between LHR and GVA last year.

Why is it acceptable to be able to take litre bottles of alcohol on in hand baggage and not be able to take ski boots which weigh less and are less of a safety risk. There is no logic to the restriction, unless, of course, it's an opportunity to gouge the passenger a little more with hold baggage charges.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:30:16 GMT

My boots definitely weigh more than a litter bottle of alcohol, maybe 4 bottles.:) But I I can't understand why it is such a big deal to let boots onboard as a carry-on bag. I mean it's allowed to take small suitcases that would fit in the overhead bins, so what is the problem here?

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:31:29 GMT

bandit wrote:Tony, speaking personally, my ski boots cost a lot, and represent rather a lot of hours of work getting them right. I resent risking losing them to sloppy baggage handlers. I think if they went missing my bootfitter would cry, me too :shock:
I've not suffered lost/damaged ski boots yet, but I've had 1 pair of skis written off, and my brand new Black Roses were damaged between LHR and GVA last year.

Why is it acceptable to be able to take litre bottles of alcohol on in hand baggage and not be able to take ski boots which weigh less and are less of a safety risk. There is no logic to the restriction, unless, of course, it's an opportunity to gouge the passenger a little more with hold baggage charges.

Bandit, with the greatest respect, I feel the same way about my own ski boots, thanks. Which is exactly why I would never let them go in the hold in a boot bag, as they are far better packed in my hold bag. Yes, any bag can get lost, but you can't worry about that happening or else you'd never travel. I've not had damaged ski's touch wood, and this is one of my reasons for finding out whether the airlines and tour ops can come up with a solution to this grey area, so that one can pack ones ski bag with towels or clothing around ones skis to prevent damage, without some jumped up check in clerk demanding you unpack these items. A simple weight limit would make everyone happy, I have suggested 15kg, and I have no doubt people would happily pay the GBP25 or so knowing full well what they would then be allowed to take in terms of weight.

As for boots, I do not have an issue with any airlines policy in suggesting they cannot be taken as hand luggage. I believe some bodies view them as a security risk (snigger) but I suggest that some people try to take them as hand luggage so that they can fill their hold baggage out with other items and not have to pack these! Maybe. I may be wrong!

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:36:47 GMT

I took my new boots on as hand luggage in their special wheely boot bag in October, with no problem at all. I flew with EasyJet, out from Bristol to Geneva and back to Gatwick, and they knew they were skiboots because you could see them as clear as anything when they went through the scanning machine.

Tony,
I thought your Scott Neos were damaged in transit by the airline? How did you get on, ski-ing on them, after you'd had them fixed? Are they okay now?

Ally

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:31:08 GMT

Wibble

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Sun, 20 Mar 2011 11:25:54 GMT

Sorry had second posted on the Lastminute.con, Ice Lolly and others thread instead

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 26 Feb 2015 19:39:35 GMT

I've booked with Thomson and I've had to buy another ski bag because they said "only 1 set of skis per bag". I'm now taking 2 double ski bags full of gear right up to the 15kg limit. Why do they feel this is OK but I can't put 2 sets of skis in my new double ski bag with wheels. I spoke to Thomson who were very keen and stuck to their policy. My Mrs is now overjoyed and is now taking more clothes than she could ever wear in a week.
Cheers Thomson for your total lack of understanding.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Thu, 26 Feb 2015 20:11:34 GMT

That's exactly the way I always travel now. 20kg case plus 15kg ski bag crammed full with ski clothing and helmet. No one ever asks you to open and check but it will get weighed so stick to the 15kg limit.

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Fri, 27 Feb 2015 07:25:51 GMT

Lee James Howard wrote:My Mrs is now overjoyed and is now taking more clothes than she could ever wear in a week.

:lol: :lol:

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Mon, 2 Mar 2015 17:06:10 GMT

20kg is more than enough for ski holiday. Why would you need to pack more in the ski bag lads?

Re:Thomson/Crystal ski carriage

Mon, 2 Mar 2015 17:28:24 GMT

Iceman wrote:20kg is more than enough for ski holiday. Why would you need to pack more in the ski bag lads?

It might be if you tramp around in one pair of tracky bottoms and a Lonsdale sweatshirt all week, and ski in the same jacket and sallos as well -)

20kg covers my helmet and boots, fleeces and thermals, gloves hats goggles etc, plus a weeks worth of clothing, while the ski clothing goes in the ski bag. Thats just the way I like to pack, and you probably don't need as much as I take to be fair. But its nice to have choices.