Are you going somewhere this summer to ski? With airlines charging more and more for baggage fees here are some tricks of the trade for traveling with ski bags and boot bags.
Take only what you need
Pack only what you need! Take only the essentials. For example, if you are going for an extended trip, contemplate bringing single serving packets of liquid detergent like Tide and do your laundry in the sink. You may have to bring a rubber stopper to let the water soak. This is a great way to bring less socks and underwear. However, your mother probably told you to always have a clean pair of underwear and skimping on this might not be the best idea.
Get creative
Use space in creative ways. Think about storing socks, toiletries, and any other small items in your ski boots. Also, see if you can carry on your boots with your carry-on bag. Many times you can connect your boots to a backpack and detach them when you put them in the overhead compartment. Check with your airline if you have any questions and to see if they allow ski boots as carry-ons. Sometimes they will count the boots as an additional item. However, if you are creative with your strapping techniques the gate agents usually look the other way.
Also, you can pack a lot of clothes to help pad your skis in your ski bag. However, be careful of weight restrictions. If you have ever had to repack a bag at the airport, it is not a pleasant experience. Usually, the bag should be 50 pounds or under. If you have the weight between 50 and 75 pounds you will have to pay extra in excess weight fees. If it is over 100 pounds, the airline usually does not allow it on the plane.
Thinking outside the bag
If you are concerned about weight, contact your local animal hospital and see if you can use their scale. Since they have to weigh large animals their scales are wider and longer than a bathroom or a handheld spring-loaded luggage scale. In the week leading up to a trip, pack your ski bag and your boot bag or whatever additional bag you plan to bring and head on down to the Vet. This allows you to see how much your bag weighs. Try to get your bag around 50 pounds. It is also helpful to know how much your bag weighs in case the scale at the airport airline counter is not calibrated correctly. If you tell an airline agent that you weighed your bag at a veterinary hospital they might be more inclined to believe you and cut you a break.
Safe travels and get out there and make some turns!
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