Ski carriage fees vary widely between UK airlines. Low-cost and leisure airlines charge a separate fee for every ski or snowboard bag, on every flight. British Airways is the main exception: if your fare already includes hold luggage, a ski bag counts as one of your checked bags. Whichever airline you choose, booking ski carriage online in advance is almost always cheaper than paying at the airport.
This guide compares how Jet2, TUI, easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways handle skis and snowboards for winter 2026/27. It covers what each airline charges, the weight and size limits, what you can pack in a ski bag and practical ways to keep the cost down. Airline fees change often and can vary by route and date, so always check the price shown in your own booking.
Ski carriage fees at a glance
| Airline | How skis are charged | Weight limit | Price guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jet2 | Separate ski carriage fee, per bag per flight | 22kg | Priced by route; recent guides list from around £30 per flight online |
| TUI | Included with some ski packages; a fee applies otherwise | Check your booking | Varies by booking type |
| easyJet | Separate sports equipment fee, per item per flight | 20kg (small item) | Recent guides list around £40 per flight online; more at the airport |
| Ryanair | Separate ski equipment fee, per item per flight | 20kg | Ryanair lists £45 at booking, £50 if added later |
| British Airways | Counts as one checked bag within your allowance | 23kg (Economy) | No extra charge if it replaces a checked bag on a fare with hold luggage |
These figures come from airline websites and recent baggage guides. Prices change during the season, so treat them as a guide rather than a fixed charge.
Jet2 ski bag fee
How Jet2 charges for skis
Jet2 sells ski carriage as a separate add-on. Each ski or snowboard bag needs its own ski carriage booking for each flight, so a return trip means paying twice. The allowance is 22kg, which leaves room for boots, a helmet and some clothing alongside your skis or board.
What it costs
Jet2 prices ski carriage by route and date, so there isn’t one fixed figure. Recent baggage guides put it at around £30 per bag per flight when booked online, with higher charges if you leave it until the airport. At the moment, Jet2’s ski carriage page offers 25% off when you add seats, meals and ski carriage together. Check the price shown in your booking before you pay.
Jet2 ski routes from Birmingham
For winter 2026/27, Jet2 flies from Birmingham to Chambéry, Geneva, Grenoble, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Turin. Our guide to ski flights from Birmingham covers every route, how often each one runs and which resorts each gateway serves.
TUI ski carriage
Packages and flight-only
TUI sells ski holidays as well as flights. Some of its ski packages include ski carriage in the price, which can make a package better value than it first appears. If you book flight-only, or your package doesn’t include it, you’ll need to add ski carriage separately.
Checking your booking
TUI’s rules depend on the type of booking, so check your confirmation to see what’s included. If ski carriage isn’t listed, add it through your TUI account before you travel rather than waiting until the airport.
easyJet sports equipment fee
How easyJet charges
easyJet’s basic fares don’t include hold luggage, and the airline treats skis and snowboards as sports equipment. That means a separate fee per item, per flight. easyJet splits sports equipment into small and large items, and skis and snowboards usually count as small items up to 20kg.
What it costs
Recent baggage guides list easyJet’s small sports item fee at around £40 per flight when booked online, with a higher charge at the airport. As with the other airlines, prices vary, and the figure shown during booking is the one that applies.
Packing rules
easyJet expects skis and snowboards to travel in a proper bag or case. The sports equipment allowance covers the equipment only, so don’t use it as an extra suitcase for clothes.
Ryanair ski equipment fee
How Ryanair charges
Ryanair charges a separate ski equipment fee for each item on each flight. Its fees page lists ski equipment at £45 per item per one-way flight if you add it when you book, rising to £50 if you add it later. The maximum weight is 20kg per item.
Planning ahead
Because the fee goes up after booking, decide at the start whether you’re taking your own skis. If you’re not sure, compare the cost with renting equipment at your resort.
British Airways skis allowance
Skis as part of your checked baggage
British Airways is the exception among UK airlines. If your fare includes a checked bag, a ski bag can count as one of your checked items at no extra charge, as long as it stays within BA’s size and weight limits. In Economy, the standard checked bag limit is 23kg.
When you’d pay
To take both a suitcase and a ski bag, you’ll need either a fare with two checked bags or an extra bag at BA’s usual price. Hand-baggage-only fares don’t include any checked luggage, so you’d have to add a bag to carry skis.
Flying BA from the Midlands
British Airways’ ski routes leave from London airports, not Birmingham. If BA’s allowance saves you money, factor in the trip to Heathrow or Gatwick. A Birmingham to Heathrow chauffeur transfer or our Gatwick Airport chauffeur service gets you and your skis there without a train journey.
What you can pack in a ski bag
General rules
Most airlines expect one ski bag to hold either one pair of skis and poles or one snowboard. Many also allow boots and a helmet inside, provided the bag stays within the weight limit. However, using the ski bag for general clothing can break the airline’s rules, so check before you pack.
Boots in the cabin
Ski boots are expensive and hard to replace at short notice. If your airline’s hand luggage rules allow it, carry your boots in the cabin. That way, if your ski bag is delayed, you can still rent skis at the resort and ski in your own boots. Our guide to UK hand luggage size and weight rules explains the cabin limits.
Weighing your bags
Weigh your ski bag and suitcase at home. Going over the limit at the airport means excess baggage charges, which can soon cost more than the ski carriage itself.
How to keep ski carriage costs down
Book at the same time as your flight
Airlines usually charge less for ski carriage booked online with your flight than for carriage added later or paid at the airport. Ryanair, for example, charges more if you add ski equipment after booking.
Share a bag
Some airlines let you pack two pairs of skis in one bag, as long as it stays within the weight limit. Not all of them allow it, so check your airline’s rules first.
Compare packages and flight-only
A ski package that includes ski carriage can work out cheaper than a flight-only booking plus separate fees. Compare the total price, not just the flight fare.
Rent at the resort
For beginners, or anyone who skis just once a season, renting skis at the resort can cost less than flying with your own. Many skiers take only their boots and helmet, then rent skis when they arrive.
If your ski bag is delayed or damaged
Ski bags usually come out at a separate oversized baggage belt or area, not the main carousel. If your bag doesn’t arrive, report it at the airline’s baggage desk before you leave the arrivals hall, and keep your reference number. If your equipment is damaged, report it straight away and photograph the damage.
Claims for delayed or damaged baggage have strict time limits. Our guide to lost or delayed baggage compensation explains what to do and which deadlines apply.
Dropping ski bags at the airport
At most UK airports, you check in at your airline’s desk first, then take your ski bag to a separate oversized baggage drop. Allow a few extra minutes for this, especially on busy Saturday mornings in the ski season. Our guide to flying with golf clubs explains how oversized baggage works at UK airports, and skis go through the same process.
Getting your skis to the airport
Ski bags are often too long for a family car to carry comfortably, especially with passengers and suitcases as well. For ski trips, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class is usually the most practical choice, with seats for up to seven passengers and more luggage space than a saloon. Our guide to V-Class luggage capacity for family holidays explains what fits.
If you’d like a fixed price for your ski airport transfer, you can get a quote online. Let us know how many ski or snowboard bags you’re bringing and how long they are.
On the way home, our Birmingham Airport transfers include flight monitoring, so your pickup adjusts if your flight lands early or late. With meet and greet at Birmingham Airport, your chauffeur waits in arrivals while you collect your skis from the oversized baggage area.
Book your ski airport transfer
National Executive Transfers provides fixed-price chauffeur transfers to Birmingham, Heathrow and Gatwick, with space for skis, snowboards and winter luggage in the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. Flight monitoring is included, and meet and greet is available on your return. Tell us your flight, passenger numbers and ski equipment, and we’ll plan the right vehicle and pickup time. Get a quote and book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jet2 prices ski carriage by route and date. Recent guides list it from around £30 per bag per flight online, with a 22kg allowance. Check the price shown in your booking.
It depends on your fare. British Airways includes a ski bag within your checked allowance if your fare includes hold luggage. On other airlines, compare the total fee for both flights, including any package deals.
Not usually, if your fare includes a checked bag. The ski bag counts as one of your checked items, as long as it stays within BA's size and weight limits.
Many airlines allow boots and a helmet inside the ski bag, as long as it stays within the weight limit. Check your airline's rules, and consider carrying your boots in the cabin instead.
Often, for beginners or one trip a season. Compare the cost of ski carriage for both flights with the rental price at your resort.
Some airlines allow it, as long as the bag stays within the weight limit. Check your airline's sports equipment rules before you pack.
