As much fun as a ski trip is, flying with your ski and snowboard gear can leave a lot to be desired. The requirements, policies, and costs of different airlines can make your head spin. So in this guide to flying with skis and snowboards, we help you navigate airline policies and make your next ski trip less stressful. We’ve done some of the research for you, but airline rules and fees change often, so always double-check the airline’s website before you fly.
Tips for Flying With Ski and Snowboard Gear
A few general tips apply no matter which airline you fly. First, confirm the airline will accept your equipment and check the price before booking your flight. Make sure your bag meets the airline’s size and weight limits. Before you fly, take photos of your skis or snowboard and your bag in case you need to file a damage claim. Add a luggage tag, since others may have the same bag as you. And check your airline’s liability policy for equipment damage, since some airlines limit what they’ll cover.
At the airport, you’ll usually need to drop ski and snowboard bags at an oversized baggage counter, which can take longer than the regular bag drop, so give yourself extra time. If you fly to ski often, sticking with the same airline helps you learn the rules. Or skip the hassle altogether and ship your gear ahead with a service like Luggage Free or Ship Skis.
You can save a lot with a little research before you check in. Some fares, cabin classes, elite statuses, and airline credit cards include free checked bags, so check whether yours applies to ski equipment. Most major U.S. airlines count a ski or snowboard bag plus a boot bag as a single checked item, as long as the combined weight stays under 50 pounds, and they waive oversize fees for properly packed ski gear. Standard checked bag fees apply, and on most major U.S. airlines, the first checked bag now costs around $40 to $45 each way. Here’s our quick guide to several airlines’ policies.
Air Canada
One or more sets of skis and poles carried together in the same bag count as one piece of checked baggage on Air Canada (poles carried separately count as their own piece, so pack them with your skis). Snowboards follow the same rules. Air Canada doesn’t charge oversize fees for skis or snowboards, but overweight charges apply above 50 pounds.
A boot bag containing only boots generally isn’t counted as a separate piece when it travels with your skis or snowboard. If the boot bag travels on its own or contains other items, though, it’s charged separately. Sports equipment bags should contain only sports equipment, not clothing or other personal items.
Alaska Airlines
On Alaska Airlines, ski and snowboard equipment is one pair of skis with poles or one snowboard, plus one boot/helmet bag, and it counts as one checked item. Additional sets of equipment are charged as extra items. Standard checked bag fees apply, and equipment over 50 pounds or beyond the airline’s size limit is subject to overweight or oversize fees.
American Airlines
One pair of skis or one snowboard plus one equipment bag count as one checked item. The equipment bag should contain only ski gear, such as boots, bindings, and a helmet, and the combined weight limit is 50 pounds. If the bag contains other items or is overweight, it may be charged as a standard checked bag, with additional fees, and you may be asked to open it for inspection. Standard checked bag fees apply, though AAdvantage elite members, Oneworld elites, and some cardholders get free checked bags.
Delta
One ski or snowboard bag plus one boot bag is accepted per person and counts as one checked bag. The combined weight may not exceed 50 pounds without overweight fees, but there are no oversize charges for ski equipment within Delta’s maximum size limit. Standard checked bag fees apply.
Frontier
On Frontier, skis or a snowboard, poles, and boots can count as one checked bag. A boot bag checked separately can be included as long as it stays under the airline’s weight limit for boot bags; otherwise, it counts as a second bag. Overweight charges apply over 50 pounds. You can also carry a boot bag on board if it fits Frontier’s carry-on rules, which require a paid carry-on on many fares.
JetBlue
On JetBlue, one item of ski or snowboard equipment, either one pair of skis with poles and boots or one snowboard with boots, counts as a single checked bag. If boots are packed separately, they need to be in a boot bag to count as part of the same item. Overweight fees apply if the combined weight exceeds 50 pounds, and equipment must be packed in a sturdy bag or case.
Southwest
Southwest’s famous “bags fly free” policy is gone. Southwest began charging for checked bags in May 2025 and raised its fees in April 2026, so most fares now pay $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second. A-List members, Southwest credit cardholders, and some fare types still get a free checked bag. The good news: Southwest’s ski policy remains skier-friendly. One pair of skis or one snowboard, poles, and boots count as one checked item, even if the boot bag is tagged separately, and oversize charges are waived for qualifying ski equipment, though overweight fees may apply.
United
United lets a ski or snowboard bag and an accompanying boot bag count together as one checked item. A boot bag on its own is subject to normal baggage fees. The combined weight must be under 50 pounds to avoid overweight charges, and bags with non-ski items may be charged as standard checked bags. Standard checked bag fees apply, and check United’s policy on liability, since the airline limits its responsibility for damage to ski and snowboard equipment.
