Flying with skis: your questions answered

Words: Gabriella Le Breton

With less than 100 days until the ski season starts, our thoughts are turning to good times spent carving up corduroy pistes and plundering powder bowls. But how best to transport your kit? What are the top ski bags of the season? And how can you maximise your time on the snow while incurring minimum damage to your prized possessions? Here are the answers to your ice-cold questions.

Why travel with my own kit?

If you’re planning a long ski holiday, or multiple trips to the mountains in a season, or are even just very passionate about a particular brand, you’ll want to travel with your own equipment. It will ultimately save you money and time trialling rental gear. Even if you don’t travel with your own skis or board, I always advise investing in and bringing your own ski or snowboard boots – comfy feet make for happy riders.

Does British Airways allow skis on planes?

Yes, as long as you let the airline know at least three days before you fly. Skiing and snowboarding equipment are welcome as part of your checked baggage on the condition they’re in a protective bag measuring no larger than 190 x 75 x 65cm and weighing no more than 23kg. You can also carry a ski boot bag as your larger piece of hand baggage (measuring no larger than 56 x 45 x 25cm, and also weighing 23kg or less). It’s worth noting that you can’t board a plane wearing ski boots. And yes, I have seen people try.

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What’s the best ski bag?

No longer flimsy baguette bags with awkward handles, today’s ski and board bags are technical pieces of kit designed to swallow up a quiver of skis as well as poles, helmets and clothing. Roller bags are my top choice for convenience and ease of manoeuvring, with most adding welcome protection for your kit.

Market leaders include the Db 70l Snow Roller and Thule RoundTrip Roller. The Db roller, which neatly folds up while not in use, includes nifty features such as inserts to keep your skis firmly stowed in place and a patented Hook-Up system, which lets you attach a Db Hugger Backpack or additional Db Hugger roller bag to it for maximum storage and convenience. Also worth mentioning is the Dakine Fall Line Ski Roller Hardside, which features a hard external shell and can even be strapped to your roof rack to free up space in the car.

What are the most cost-effective ski bag options?

Roller bags like the ones above are convenient but costly, with a separate ski bag and boot bag often proving a less expensive set-up. The simple but sturdy Picture Ski Bag is part-made from recycled polyester (69% of it from recycled bottles), buckles and trims. A further bonus of the two-bag approach is that separating your boots from the rest of your kit can help to keep the latter dry and fragrant. My pick is the Thule RoundTrip 45l bag, which comes with a standing mat to keep your feet dry while changing your boots, protective compartments for helmets and goggles, and pockets for gloves, phones and travel documents.

How can I protect my kit?

Ski and boot bags generally come with in-built protection, but these five time-honoured ski bum packing hacks can help to keep delicate items safe and prolong the life of your baggage:

1) If your ski bag doesn’t have compression straps, secure your skis together with rubberised straps to prevent scratches.
2) Cover ski pole tips with a pair of ski socks to prevent them tearing your bag.
3) Place goggles inside your helmet and sunglasses in your boots, gently securing them with soft items such as socks and underwear.
4) If you plan to ski until the very last minute, bring a flannel or travel towel to dry off your helmet and goggles and two plastic bags or dry bags for your ski boots.
5) Db Packing Cubes are ingenious, zippable compartments in various sizes that help to keep electricals, delicate items and dirty laundry separate, protected and easy to find.

I’ve got my kit and bags – so, where shall I go?

The world is your ski oyster, with thousands of resorts dotted across the Alps, Pyrenees, Scandinavia and North America. Make the most of the efficient train systems in Switzerland, France and Austria and travel directly from Geneva and Innsbruck airports to the likes of Engelberg, Verbier, Chamonix, St Anton and Mayrhofen. Combine sunny slopes with a spot of beach action by flying to Barcelona and travelling onwards to Baqueira Beret, or keep your eyes peeled for the northern lights in Norway’s finest winter wonderland resorts. For those with the luxury of time, embark on a Canadian or American ski safari to tick off some bucket list biggies such as Whistler, Aspen and Vail.

Plan your ski adventure