Latest posts for the topic "Thomson Airways ski carriage"

Thomson Airways ski carriage

Fri, 5 Nov 2010 15:25:06 GMT

Ok, I am going with Crystal for the very first time in Feb, flying STN to Innsbruck. I have been in and out of Innsbruck plenty of times, but I understand Thomson have some restrictions on the ski bags.
Reading the small print, it suggests a limit of 8kg, but thats outrageous and my skis and bindings weigh more than that I reckon. I usually pack my ski bag with lightweight clothing, and no one has ever batted an eyelid at check in or weighed the bag, but I have heard from some people that Thomson are quite anal about this.
Has anyone recent experience of taking skis with this airline, and if so, what kind of policy do they operate? I dont really want to change the way I pack for my ski trips.

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Fri, 5 Nov 2010 15:43:30 GMT

Looks like from the website it is 20kg and 5kg for hand luggage.

http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/legal/baggage-allowance.html

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Fri, 5 Nov 2010 15:45:54 GMT

We went with Thompson/Crystal to Sauze in 2009 and took a double ski bag packed with clothes. If I remember correctly it weighted about 18 kilos and no-one batted an eyelid or checked what we had paid for. We had paid for two sets of ski carriage but it was half the price then compared to what it is now.
We are going to risk them same bag with two sets of skis + clothes in January and have only paid for one set of carriage. I'll let you know how I get on.....

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Fri, 5 Nov 2010 20:33:45 GMT

Depends on the folk on the desk and how full the flight tends to be in my experience.
Should be GBP30.00 per set of ski's, that said
bOOked a last min crystal holiday to france last year with a 3rd party and they included it for free.

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Sat, 6 Nov 2010 10:38:04 GMT

Copied from Thompson T&C's:

"Carriage of skis/snowboards and boots by air: With a growing number of skiers and snowboarders taking their own equipment on holiday, charter airlines are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the extra weight and handling of these items. This has increased the risk of luggage being off-loaded from aircraft. In common with all other major winter sports operators, we have therefore introduced a system to improve the reliability of ski/snowboard carriage, at a cost of GBP30 per pair of skis/snowboard carried (max one set off skis/board per GBP30 charge made).The ski & snowboard bag must contain the pair of skis or snowboard only.

If you wish to have skis or snowboards added to your booking, these must be registered at the time of booking and if they should fail to arrive on your flight, the charge will be refunded and skis forwarded to you in resort free of charge. We will also provide superior skis for your use until your skis arrive. If you do not pre-book your skis/board carriage, there is no guarantee that they will be carried, but if accepted, a minimum GBP40charge will be levied at the check-in desk by an appointed rep. This charge does not apply to scheduled airlines, unless operating as a charter, where ski equipment may be included in the total baggage allowance and additional charges may be levied if this is exceeded. Please note ski/snowboard boots contribute to the overall luggage allowance."

It says exactly the same in the Crystal T&C's and doesn't mention weight. Just one set of skis. I've never had anyone at checkin ask to look in my ski bag and have got away with two pairs on several occasions.

I hav had my ski bag checked by security, but they are not in the slightest bit bothered about how many skis there are, they have a different agenda.

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Sat, 6 Nov 2010 16:09:15 GMT

" In common with all other major winter sports operators, we have therefore introduced a system to improve the reliability of ski/snowboard carriage, at a cost of GBP30 per pair of skis/snowboard carried (max one set off skis/board per GBP30 charge made).The ski & snowboard bag must contain the pair of skis or snowboard only. "

This makes me laugh - to improve the reliability, or to increase revenue?????

Interesting they say only 1 pair of skis per bag. I always take a double bag, and have had 2 pairs of skis in before, so are Thomson actually getting tough and going to enforce this in a Ryanair styleee? I hope not.

And are they going to check by making everyone open their bags at check in, which will result in 6 hour check ins and people missing flights, as well as lots of excess charges being applied.

What about boarders.....experience tells me that boarders have bigger bags than skiers generally, which are often packed with other things. How do they make a difference between a ski bag and a snowboard bag, as mine looks more like a board bag than a ski bag?

Methinks this is an attempt at putting people off taking their gear, or just a simple way of profiteering?

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Sat, 6 Nov 2010 16:58:48 GMT

Blimey, i was shocked and stunned to read this thread. Thats outrageous and i'm struggling to get my head round it.
Tony is going with Crystal.

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Sun, 7 Nov 2010 00:13:51 GMT

Snapzzz wrote:Blimey, i was shocked and stunned to read this thread. Thats outrageous and i'm struggling to get my head round it.
Tony is going with Crystal.

First time for everything. Plus we didnt get much choice for where we planned to go, as they have the only catered chalet available on the UK market.

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:03:15 GMT

Any updates on this from people who have flown with Thomson this season please?

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:16:10 GMT

Tony, Flew with Thomson in December 2010 to Innsbruck final destination Obergurgl. I got my pants in a twist having read their updated policy and posted a thread on here somewhere. We took two snow and rock single padded ski bags and two boot bags and one large hold bag for the two of us. In the padded ski bags we had one pair of skis each however, we packed the bags with our ski clothing and layers. Mine weighed 18 kgs and the OH weighed in at 16.8kgs. We had no problems whatsoever, they went through unchecked. Although I resembled the guy on Midnight Express prior to being busted :lol: You should have no problem :wink:

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:20:01 GMT

AlistairS wrote:Tony, Flew with Thomson in December 2010 to Innsbruck final destination Obergurgl. I got my pants in a twist having read their updated policy and posted a thread on here somewhere. We took two snow and rock single padded ski bags and two boot bags and one large hold bag for the two of us. In the padded ski bags we had one pair of skis each however, we packed the bags with our ski clothing and layers. Mine weighed 18 kgs and the OH weighed in at 16.8kgs. We had no problems whatsoever, they went through unchecked. Although I resembled the guy on Midnight Express prior to being busted :lol: You should have no problem :wink:

Thanks matey. Thats good to know, and I feel somewhat relieved, as my ski bag is always packed to the seems and weighs in about 18kg.
Where did you fly from?

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:25:07 GMT

Gatwick, I would imagine that Stanstead is much the same although I have not flown from there as yet.

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:46:27 GMT

We flew with Thompson from Gatwick to Geneva a couple of weeks ago. They insisted we put our boots in the hold rather than take as hand luggage, but we had two sets of skis and poles in one ski bag and another set of skis in another bag and they didn't weigh either of them.

The flight going out left 30 mins late but arrived on time (how do they catch up that time?) Staff very friendly and efficient. Seats quite roomy. "Light snack" was a cheese and onion wrap, chocolate cake, orange juice and tea or coffee. Same meal each way. No complaints with the air line at all.

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:01:36 GMT

clairehb0 wrote:

The flight going out left 30 mins late but arrived on time (how do they catch up that time?).

You not worked out yet that they add about 40 mins on to proposed flight times so that they can make themselves look good????

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 21:27:13 GMT

I just flew return Glasgow-->Torino and prepaid for ski carriage. Had close to 30kg in my ski bag as well as a full 20kg suitcase and the ski bag didn't touch the scales.

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:00:33 GMT

I flew out from Liverpool 3 years ago to Spain and they didnt check any bags what so ever except one of the lads who packed all of his things in his snowboard bag and hand luggage.
I think its just a ploy in order to gain as much money as possible. Angers me greatly!
That was with Ryan Air too.

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:21:17 GMT

Tony_H wrote:

clairehb0 wrote:

The flight going out left 30 mins late but arrived on time (how do they catch up that time?).

You not worked out yet that they add about 40 mins on to proposed flight times so that they can make themselves look good????

They just go faster. Seriously. That's what the pilot said to us when we were delayed from Cardiff recently.

Re:Thomson Airways ski carriage

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:27:06 GMT

EmmaEvs wrote:

Tony_H wrote:

clairehb0 wrote:

The flight going out left 30 mins late but arrived on time (how do they catch up that time?).

You not worked out yet that they add about 40 mins on to proposed flight times so that they can make themselves look good????

They just go faster. Seriously. That's what the pilot said to us when we were delayed from Cardiff recently.

They do add time onto a journey and they usually fly at a certain speed that has better fuel efficiency but if they are running late then they literally go faster. Pretty much as we do when we are running late. Saying that one of my friends just missed a flight to go skiing for a week in Austria.