Travelling with sporting equipment can be tricky – and expensive.
All of the top airlines in the UK allow passengers to travel with sporting equipment, but the price will not only depend on the company, in some cases there are different costs for different objects.
There are also some additional rules for bringing sporting equipment onto flights, depending on who you are flying with.
Often it is worth dismantling your sporting equipment to reduce the risk of damage, however they still have to be checked in specially and are not classed as normal luggage.
Here is how much it will cost to travel by air with a piece of sporting equipment as well as the specific rules that certain airlines have.
Ryanair
(Image: Getty)
Ryanair allows passengers to bring a range of equipment on their holiday and breaks down costs into different types of sporting gear. Online booking prices start at £30 and can go as high as £60.
Here is the price breakdown:
- Bike – £60 online / £75 at the airport
- Large sports item – £55 online / £65 at the airport
- Sports equipment – £35 online / £40 at the airport
- Ski equipment – £45 online / £50 at the airport
- Golf clubs -£30 online / £40 at the airport
Sporting equipment must not exceed 20kg or 30kg for bikes.
EasyJet
You can only bring one piece of sporting equipment per person onto easyJet flights.
Easy jet break it into two sections, small sports equipment, and large sports equipment, pricing is as follows:
- Small sports equipment (per item) – £37 online / £47 at the airport
- Large sports equipment (per item) – £45 online / £55 at the airport
According to EasyJet, small sports equipment would include golf clubs, skis/snowboards, driving equipment, paragliders, pole vaults up to 450cm, and sporting firearms. If you want to travel with sporting firearms to book you must be over 18 and it must specifically be a competition firearm.
Large sports equipment includes bikes, canoes and kayaks, hand gliders and surfboards/wind surfers.
Jet2
Jet 2 allows sporting equipment with the exception of sporting weapons/shooting equipment, ammunition, archery equipment.
For the most part sporting equipment on Jet2 must be under 22kg unless mentioned otherwise. Jet2 ask that you get in touch with their call centre to receive further information and a price.
TUI
Like Ryanair, TUI breaks down costs for specific sporting items that they allow onto their flights and provide the following pricing on their website:
- Diving & scuba equipment from £30
- Bikes from £30
- Fishing rods from £20
- Skis from £28
- Golf clubs & other equipment from £27
They add that prices may vary depending on your destination.
British Airways
British Airways ask that you phone them at least 72 hours before you fly to request approval for sporting equipment, and prices can vary on the rout and the specifics of your equipment. below is a list of equipment that you can request for approval on their flights:
- Heavy or big equipment
- Specialist equipment
- Bikes
- Diving equipment
- Golf clubs and umbrellas
- Firearms and ammunition
- Ski and snowboarding equipment
- Surfboards and kayaks
- Rackets, rods, cues and sticks
What is your experience flying with sports equipment? Let us know in the comments.
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