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Airline ski damage

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Waldo-
Posts: 1026 - Karma: 184
Im flying out to colorado soon and im always sure to basicly ducttape my skis together in their bag so they dont move around. Then i was thinking.... How many of you had skis damaged by airlines? I have no clue if this is SG or NSG so ill post it here.
Nov 16 2010 6:28PM
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ndye
Posts: 3756 - Karma: 7,094
i havent so far but i use a hard bag. Chug went straight skis and was fine and dumont has before on airlines. you should be fine if you have a bag. wrap it in a little padding if your too worried.
Nov 16 2010 6:34PM
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3-6-steeze
Posts: 1135 - Karma: 147
I've never had a problem with damage.
Nov 16 2010 6:34PM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
Large bags get put to the side and put on separately, so more care is given towards them. It I'd completely safe to do it
Nov 16 2010 6:39PM
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BootySpunk.
Posts: 8148 - Karma: 84
The airport fucked up my ski bag but never my skis.
Nov 16 2010 6:48PM
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Captain_Slow
Posts: 1677 - Karma: 24
This is exactlyy what I do. In my ski bag (soft bag btw) I put in my ski shirts, pants , and even ducttape old clothes around my bindings just in case. Never had dmg problems with mine nor my family's.
Nov 16 2010 6:50PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
exactly this. Anything you don't absolutely need in your suitcase/bootbag, just stuff it in with your skis. For one thing, it makes your bag a little lighter and easier to carry, which is never bad, and it provides a little padding for your skis, and allows maybe a little bit more pressure to be put on the bag without risking your skis. Also helpful should the bag be dropped by accident at any point.

but flying into CO, they are accustomed to large numbers of skis coming in, and while accidents do happen due to stuff falling or shifting around within the plane, your skis should be in good hands.
Nov 16 2010 6:51PM
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timmi
Posts: 12874 - Karma: 3,460
pack your clothes into your ski bag. you can pack a smaller suitcase and protect your skis.
Nov 16 2010 6:52PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
its all about excessive amounts of padding inside your ski bag.
Nov 16 2010 7:00PM
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flexpattern
Posts: 1090 - Karma: 45
I usually pad them out a little...

On a side note I had my binding heel pieces popped up to check for drugs or something, they were definitely down when i put them in the bag, and I did have a written note inside the bag saying that they had been checked by the border patrol... didn't realise there was much scope for hiding drugs on a pair of skis...
Nov 16 2010 7:06PM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
I load my clothes around my skis and then put them in the ski bag. Never had a problem otherwise. I need to get a huge ski bag so I can fit my huge pow skis in and clothes so then I will only need that one bag to travel with.

So traveling with skis is a breeze, but my surfboard? Oh, hell no.
Nov 16 2010 7:31PM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
traveling with park skis is easy. duct tape them together. no need for a bag.

when i travel though i use a ski bag but dont stuff shit into it because the edges and brakes can wear into your outerwear during transit.
Nov 16 2010 7:35PM
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Slinger1x1
Posts: 8853 - Karma: 66
i wrap my skis in clothing.
Nov 16 2010 7:39PM
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MRoden
Posts: 753 - Karma: 211
I do what everyone else does with a ski bag when I fly.So am I the only one that puts old socks over the tips and tails of their skis when I fly then?
Nov 16 2010 7:40PM
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pmills
Posts: 7162 - Karma: 59
Click for larger image
Nov 16 2010 7:56PM
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skithesprings
Posts: 9086 - Karma: 1,349
haha, were those run over by a tank? or did they fall out of the plane?
how do boots get so fucked up?
Nov 16 2010 8:00PM
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skiingonskis
Posts: 2076 - Karma: 262
if you are worried about ski damage from travel, then your skis have not been shredded hard enough.  for reals though, ive just taped em together and they were fine.  granted, they might get a few scuffs, but compared to the beating that skis take while actually skiing, im not worried about it.
Nov 16 2010 8:46PM
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yeahno
Posts: 4008 - Karma: 3,414
I put my jacket, pants, assorted tees in ski bag. natural padding plus saves room in other bags
Nov 16 2010 8:47PM
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WILCOX
Posts: 1259 - Karma: 108
i work for United Airlines and if skis are anything is side luggage is broken we have a comp on the next fight u fly on us or if your not happy with that we possibly would pay to fix the damaged goods. It all depends on the Air line u fly on and what there bag policy is.
Nov 16 2010 8:51PM
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Chompo.
Posts: 4952 - Karma: 88
ummm so where is the story behind this...?
Nov 16 2010 8:54PM
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WILCOX
Posts: 1259 - Karma: 108
in this case i know for a fact we would Replace the boots because that looked like it fell of a cart and was ran over.
Nov 16 2010 8:58PM
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Broseph_Stalin
Posts: 3745 - Karma: 178
thats bullshit!
Nov 16 2010 8:59PM
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Waldo-
Posts: 1026 - Karma: 184
Brand new never used skis. If they were used i wouldnt care as much
Nov 16 2010 9:09PM
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ElbridgeGerry
Posts: 5902 - Karma: -27
I wrap my tips and tails in ski clothes. Tips generally in ski pants, and tails in my ski jacket.
Nov 16 2010 9:27PM
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pmills
Posts: 7162 - Karma: 59
please allow 8-12 weeks to process your claims.
Nov 16 2010 9:34PM
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.skiperisher.
Posts: 323 - Karma: 83
I take my bindings off my skis and tape my skis together. also i pack my outerwear in with my skis.

while on the subject does anyone know which airlines are good with skis in oversized bags. i always get rapped with extra charges. qantas and air canada have been good but have been charged with virgen, west jet and united
Nov 16 2010 10:45PM
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O.RLY
Posts: 310 - Karma: 19
My bag was inspected and they put the teryaki sau8ce that my mom was bringing back on the outside (in a glass jar) and it was smashed. Unrelated but pissed the hell out of me. And there's not a thing you can do.
Nov 16 2010 10:47PM
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STREETS
Posts: 1443 - Karma: 15
Lol I work as a Rampie, loading un loading planes and I would HIGHLY recommend wrapping that shit up. I've seen some shitty stacks before, like all the 40pound+ bags pilled on top of skis.
Nov 16 2010 10:49PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
its at that point you make the counter helps worst nightmare come true.
(dont get irate that wont solve anything, but a little heavy handed persuasion goes a long ways) haha

most of the people are terribly inept anyway.


were the boots in a bag? seems like that may have solved it?
Nov 16 2010 10:56PM
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pmills
Posts: 7162 - Karma: 59
at that point you just want to go home.

and ya, the bag was destroyed too
Nov 17 2010 7:00AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51645 - Karma: 162,278
I don't know about breaking them, but tsa might steal them.

When you get to where your going and you're season pass isn't attached to your jacket anymore, or something else is missing.

Hide your skis hides your boots
Nov 17 2010 7:55AM
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Where-am-I
Posts: 1635 - Karma: 281
cause they rippen off errthing out here
Nov 17 2010 9:00AM
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DockEllis
Posts: 1131 - Karma: 1,745
I flew Delta for a surf trip once and those bastards broke both of my surfboards which were wrapped in bubble tape and in an airline approved bag. Also when I got the bag, there were huge boot prints on it showing that someone walked on it. I filed a claim and they said they would send me a check for 600 dollars, time went by and I never received it.I contacted them about it and they sent me another letter saying that they were no longer paying me and that they were sorry. It was some bullshit to say the least.

As far as skiing stuff goes, I have never had a problem so I wouldn't worry too much about it as long as it shows up.
Nov 17 2010 9:02AM
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Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004

Ive had no problems in the past with air canada.  they treat ur stuff dece, just out 3 ski straps on (dependsing on camber/rocker) and in a ski bag and they shuold be fine, if they get run over by a tank ang get broken, you then should talk to em, but really, in a bag, with straps, not much an happen.  if u can carry on your boots. and toss them above you. thats a good way to keep them safe and warm (they might erturn the favour later ahah) i did tht last yr, but not mamy ppl were a fan of me there, they thought i was gunna go on a rampage and kill everyone, but thats how everyone thinks on a plane ahha.

Nov 17 2010 9:15AM
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DUKES
Posts: 5150 - Karma: 691
go to like a delivery store and get some bubble wrap and encase the ski and stick the skis in the bag
Nov 17 2010 11:59AM
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neutralzombie
Posts: 8629 - Karma: 606
if you have it in writing, you generally can fuck them with it and shoulda seen what their policy was about damaged goods.
Nov 17 2010 12:01PM
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DockEllis
Posts: 1131 - Karma: 1,745
I hear you, this was like 9 years ago though right around the time that the gov bailouts for the airlines were going down. So they used that as the excuse as to why they could no longer honor my claim.
Nov 17 2010 12:18PM
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DUKES
Posts: 5150 - Karma: 691
you shouldnt have waited
Nov 17 2010 12:24PM
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neutralzombie
Posts: 8629 - Karma: 606
that's shit dude. i would've still kicked their asses.
Nov 18 2010 12:06AM
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O.RLY
Posts: 310 - Karma: 19
Look at you thinkin' you're all tough!
Nov 19 2010 2:51PM
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BrewskiJr
Posts: 5738 - Karma: 1,478
Just get a little larger bag and put towels surrounding the tips. Then put your snow pants, jacket, hats, and gloves along the edges. They will be more than fine.
Nov 19 2010 3:21PM
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Mr_pretzel
Posts: 4616 - Karma: 1,289
chug life.
Nov 19 2010 3:27PM
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Shpadoinkle
Posts: 10437 - Karma: 84
Don't they also get free skis? I don't trust anyone with my skis. Except for friends that I trust with my life. I was sketch for days when I go mine mounted and they weren't in my hands.
Nov 19 2010 3:51PM
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Legoman
Posts: 533 - Karma: 13
I just stick some socks round the tips and put them in my ski bag, spend money on a decent bag though, I bought the Dakine Concourse bag and the padding is pretty hefty, my girlfriend just got the Fall-line bag and the padding is way less but still seems to do the job but we just put the carving skis in there.

Air Canada has always looked after our shit though, the new charges suck but its just as expensie to post
Nov 19 2010 4:05PM
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ElbridgeGerry
Posts: 5902 - Karma: -27
I THOUGHT YOU LEFT!
Nov 19 2010 11:21PM
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Anathema
Posts: 21048 - Karma: 5,061

are you really worried about your skis sliding around and scratching one another? this feels like a troll to me. im pretty sure jibbing one rail would damage your skis more than an airline ever will.

but if you're being dead serious, i've known people that saran wrap their skis to keep them completely secure and locked together. i find it a little redundant, since skis are something that take heavy abuse any way, and since skis will go into the oversize storage area they get a lot more care. i've taken a desktop computer and a television on a plane before with little to no worries about having them damaged. if you have any concerns at all, it should be about them getting lost. i've had that happen a few times. fuckin westjet......

Nov 19 2010 11:29PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14489 - Karma: 10,640
Holy fuck. I'm trying to take a backcountry skiing/ Avy 1 cert class next semester which has a trip to Boise and I am afraid of anything like this happening. I have never even been on a plane, too much stuff to worry about.
Nov 19 2010 11:31PM
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tBatt
Posts: 9632 - Karma: 580
Always carry on your boots. IMO, boots are probably the post important ski gear. I would MUCH rather rent skis if anything happened as opposed to renting boots.
Nov 20 2010 1:53AM
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pmills
Posts: 7162 - Karma: 59
this is the solution. i suggest wearing them through tsa
Nov 20 2010 8:02AM
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pvmatt
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10
Emirates Airlines bent my Volkl Crosstigers even though they were marked fragile and in a padded bag.They make you sign  a damage waiver or will refuse to carry them.I suspect my skis were at the bottom of a pile with lots of 20kg suitcases on top .I've travelled with Singapore Airlines,Qantas,Air New Zealand with no problems.They arent interested in compensating me so i have to claim on my travel insurance. Reckon a hard case like the Sportube may be the go.
Mar 26 2011 8:54PM
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derpina
Posts: 2186 - Karma: 55
My 181cm ski bag got fucked up. It's heavy duty material and on one flight it had multiple rips/ grease stains and shit. I was pissed.

Really depends on the flight, airline, etc.
Mar 26 2011 9:12PM
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