Sports equipment on the plane, how to bring skis, bikes, surfing and more

Bring thesports equipment in the plane could be quite a problem. You've booked a ski trip to Cortina but don't want to rent skis because you feel at home with your parents. Or you're planning a bike tour to Corsica and the idea of using a rental bike gives you hives. The problem is always the same: How the hell do you get all this stuff on the plane without spending a fortune or finding it destroyed on arrival?

Airlines treat sports equipment as special luggage almost on par with how they do For musical instruments, with rules and costs changing from carrier to carrier. See how it really works and how not to get ripped off.

Please note: airline rules on special and bulky baggage may be subject to update without notice, so always check the inherent regulations when you are planning your airline flight.

The basic rules for airplane sports equipment

The first thing to understand is that sports equipment is a vague term that includes just about everything that doesn't fit into a regular suitcase. Skis, snowboards, bicycles, surfboards, golf clubs, scuba gear, even paragliders. Each company has its own definition of what it accepts and under what conditions.

La general rule is thisa: sports equipment goes always in the hold, never in the cabin. Too big, too dangerous, too bulky. The only exception are the lightweight golf bags on some companies, but even there you have to pray there is room.

Weight limits vary but usually stop at 20-23 kg per piece, just like regular luggage. Some airlines like Ryanair go up to 30 kg for bikes only. If you exceed these limits you pay the excess per kilo, and trust me it's expensive.

Size matters even more than weight. The sum of length, width and heighta should almost never exceed 300 centimeters. To give you a practical idea: a surfboard 2 meters long in a case 15 centimeters thick and 60 centimeters wide makes 275 centimeters total. You fit in, but just barely.

A trick to save money on airline sports equipment when traveling with low-cost airlines: book sports equipment transportation at the same time you buy your ticket. I prices rise as you get closer to departure, and at the airport they slaughter you. Some have saved up to 30 euros each way simply by booking a month in advance instead of the day before.

One thing many people forget: put a card with your name, phone, and address inside the package as well as outside. If the outside label comes off in transit (it happens more often than you think) they at least have a way to track you down.

How much does it cost to bring skis and snowboards on a plane

Let's start with winter sports because they are the most common. ITA Airways includes skis and snowboards in your standard baggage allowance if you meet weight and size. It means you can bring a pair of skis with bindings, boots and poles without paying anything extra. Lufthansa and European flag carriers usually do the same. Skis travel as regular checked baggage and that's it. The problem comes with low-cost carriers.

Ryanair asks you 40-50 euros one way for skis, booked online in advance. If you show up at the airport without having booked the service, the price goes up to 60-70 euros. EasyJet is on the same prices, Wizz Air as well. Vueling ranges between 40 and 90 euros depending on the distance of the flight.

For skis always use a padded ski bag. The basic ones without padding are fine for car transport but in an airplane they are suicide. Several good products can be found on Amazon as affordable as the Cavest or the Snowsport products, all bags that make transportation to the airport much more convenient.

The great thing about skis is that you can shove a lot of stuff in the bag. Boots, helmet, ski pants, thermal jacket. Companies check the weight but don't open the bag to see what's inside. Many experienced travelers fill the ski bag to the brim to save space in the main suitcase.

The bike on the plane is a separate mess

Carrying a bike by plane is technically possible but requires planning and patience. Most companies accept it but with strict rules about disassembly and packing.

The standard procedure involves. disassemble front wheel, handlebars and pedals. The handlebars should be turned parallel to the frame and secured with clamps, the pedals should be removed completely (if you leave them mounted they will puncture the cardboard), the tires should be deflated because the pressure in the hold can make them explode. The rear gear is the most delicate part and should be protected with bubble wrap or thick cardboard, otherwise a blow will bend it and the bike becomes unusable.

Some companies such as Air France also require disassembly of the rear wheel to reduce the overall length. This complicates things because you have to have the right tools and a minimum of mechanical experience. If you don't know how to put your hands on the bike better to have it packed by a specialized store, it costs 20-30 euros but you can sleep easy.

For thepacking you have two options: the cardboard or professional hard bag. You get the cardboard for free from bike stores that receive new bikes in huge boxes. It works well for single trips but is disposable; you have to dispose of it upon arrival. Le rigid bags manufactured by Scicon or the models proposed by Evoc have challenging prices But you reuse it endlessly and it protects much better. It has wheels, handles, interior padding, and resists the most violent baggage handlers' bumps.

The problem with the rigid bag is. Where to leave it during the trip. If you do a loop tour with departure and arrival from the same city you can deposit it at the hotel. If, on the other hand, the itinerary ends elsewhere you have to send it by courier to the point of arrival, and there the costs go up. Many cycle travelers prefer cardboard for this very reason.

I bike costs vary greatly. Ryanair charges 50-70 euros with a 30 kg maximum limit, EasyJet about 50 euros, ITA Airways includes it in the allowance. Lufthansa accepts the bike as is without disassembling it on some flights, an almost unique exception in the industry.

Surfing and aquatic equipment by plane

Le surfboards are another complicated category because size is the real issue. A 9-foot longboard in storage can easily reach 290 centimeters total, which is at the limit of the regulations on sporting equipment on airplanes for almost all companies.

British Airways just doesn't accept them, period. Ryanair and Wizz Air yes but with high costs, 70 to 100 euros each way. Many American and oceanic airlines like. Qantas or Hawaiian Airlines are more surf-friendly because they have experience with these bags, the costs are lower, and the limits more permissive.

The problem is not just carrying it but protecting it. The surfboards are fragithem and a bump can create invisible cracks that then absorb water and ruin the board. Padded cases are mandatory. On Amazon you will find. Driver 13 surf and kite surf bags affordable and have 5-10 millimeter shock-absorbing padding.

For surfboards always remove the fins and put them in a separate pocket in the case. Protect the nose and tail with extra padding because those are the spots that take the most beating. And write FRAGILE on the luggage even though it will probably be ignored, but occasionally it works.

L'diving equipment has another hassle: the cylinders. They must be completely empty, valves on OFF, and declared at check-in. Some companies require a certificate attesting to emptying. Everything else in the kit (wetsuit, GAV, regulator, mask, fins) goes in a regular dive bag and counts as special baggage but no special problems.

Golf: the sports baggage most accepted by airlines

Le golf clubs are perhaps the easiest piece of sports equipment to bring on an airplane. Most airlines accept them without problem, and many include them in the standard baggage allowance.

The golf bag can hold up to 14 clubs plus shoes, gloves, balls and var accessoriesi. The weight limit is usually 15-20 kg, so you have to be careful not to overdo it with multiple clubs or extra equipment.

ITA Airways, Lufthansa, Air France and almost all national airlines carry golf clubs for free if you respect weight and size. The low cost instead charge, but prices are lower than for skis or bikes: 40-60 euros with Ryanair, similar with EasyJet.

Le hard golf bags are ideal for protecting clubs but weigh a lot. Reinforced soft ones are a good compromise. On Amazon there are several products available in both rigid material like the ABS Findways or the soft but sturdy bags and well-padded by McGregorXXX. Products that cost around 100-200 euros and have protectors in critical areas, saving weight.

A trick from regular golfers: carry your golf shoes in the bag and the rest of your clothes in your regular suitcase. Shoes are heavy and bulky; putting them in the golf bag saves you valuable space in your carry-on luggage.

The final tips on airplane sports equipment

Always book sports equipment transportation by plane online in advance, never at check-in. Prices at the airport are double and you risk running out of space in the cargo hold. Get to the airport well in advance if you have special luggage. Check-in takes longer and you often have to go to a dedicated counter other than the regular counter. Calculate at least 30 minutes more Than usual.

Bring the tools you need to reassemble your equipment upon arrival. Allen wrenches, pedal wrench, tire pump. Losing them in the packing or forgetting them at home means you won't be able to use your stuff as soon as you land.

And remember: sometimes renting locally costs less and saves you all the stress of transportation. If you're going to Cortina for three days with skis you use once a year, maybe it makes more sense to rent them than to spend 100 euros on air transportation plus the risk of damaging them. Use your brain before your heart.

• luggage
• bulky luggage
• special luggage