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We’ll be taking our snowboards on a BA flight shortly. Previously we’ve just turned up with the oversize bag and been able to check it in (usually do the night before as it’s an early flight from LHR). This year I noticed on BA that we should notify them that we want to take an oversize snowsport bag at the least 3 days before the flight, or they can’t guarantee transporting it.
Having made several frustrating calls to contact BA (because you can only pay online to add extra bags, not to tell them you’re bringing a large one in your allowance), I keep getting automated responses which cut me off. The automated agent thinks it’s either a missing bag and then cuts me off, or it just cuts me off before it passes me on to anyone to specifically log we want to take an oversize bag.
Has anyone ever had their snowsport bag declined at LHR? Or has everyone always managed successfully to notify BA in advance (in which case I need to keep trying!). Just thinking that this is wasting a lot of time trying to contact them, and perhaps we just bank on checking the bag in the night before, but don’t want to risk the bag being turned away.
Last time I checked skis (a proper winter sport!) on BA was 2017 on City Flyer and it was no problem.
Now I aim to fly Swiss to the Alps if possible, even for French resorts, as they add a piece of ski equipment for free on all but hand luggage only tickets. They also say you should notify them and I always have achieved this by phone, but some people I travel with haven’t and have never had a problem.
Sorry, probably not the most useful reply, but it’s a data point and a bump to your thread none the less!
Thanks, useful to know about Swiss. I have some United miles so think it might be Swiss next year!
You should be able to do it on chat. Try something like…
“I’m travelling with a snowboard, please can you add a SPEQ SSR to my booking [insert PNR] dimensions are H*W*D and weight is nn Kg.”
Reword if you’ve got more than one on the booking.
For a bikebox I ask for SSR code ‘BIKE’, no idea if they have a distinct code for a snowboards, but I think ‘SPEQ’ is the generic for sports equipment.
Fwiw I’ve never been denied when I didn’t notify them, but if the route is busy with people taking oversize, you will improve your chances if you tell them.
Thanks. That worked! Said they’ve added it so hopefully all OK now.
Haven’t been turned away before when we’ve just turned up but feel better at having notified them as requested.
I’ve personally never had trouble turning up unannounced with a bike, but I have been on a flight where about 10 bikes were left on the tarmac at LHR because the hold was full. Most of those passengers were in Economy so would have pre-booked outsize baggage, but it didn’t guarantee transport. My own bike was onboarded successfully, even though I was travelling in Club and hadn’t pre-booked.
I would try to use the online chat, but don’t panic if you can’t get through and don’t expect guaranteed delivery if you do. It’s worth noting that when BA once failed to deliver my (pre-booked) skis, they paid for rental while I was waiting for delivery.
Ah, @jj , that’s what I wondered if they ever leave equipment behind. It sounds like they do occasionally. We’re in Club and I finally got through to someone at BA late today. They said they’d logged our board bag as oversized luggage so hopefully it’s OK.
@E, I hope you have a great trip…and, remember, a bad day in the mountains is always better than a good day in the office.
Sorry, bit of a bump, but just following up on the Swiss “skis fly free” thing for completeness, as I have discovered Lufthansa has the same policy, opening up connections through MUC for easy skiing too!
Thanks, useful to know about Swiss. I have some United miles so think it might be Swiss next year!
They both have an online form you fill out to book your special baggage onto the flight. (You have to tick that you’ll pay the surcharge at the airport, but another page makes it clear this form is to be used even for snow sports baggage being carried for free.) Must be at least 72 hrs before flying. I used the Lufthansa form at 6pm last night and the confirmation came through at midday today.
As an aside to this aside, I also discovered there are three “Lufthansa Express Bus” links that only bookable as part of a connecting itinerary, taking all the risk out of your onward connection. They operate a bus as a “flight” on three routes, one of which in MUC-INN. So I’ve booked LHR-MUC-INN on LH for cheaper that than just going into MUC for self-transfer and waaaay less than the BA service to INN is currently selling… and I can bring my skis for free!
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