Ready to hit the slopes? Before gearing up for your ski trip, read these tips for finding the best airports for skiers and simplifying travel on the ground before leaving the airport.
Best Airports For Oversize Luggage
If you’ve ever traveled with oversized luggage, you know there are myriad ways your cargo adventure can go! Before you can look forward to sipping on piping hot chocolate in a chalet, you need to get to the airport and go through the check-in process.
Jan Hewitt, a travel expert in ski and golf transfers at Lifts To, has helped thousands of travellers navigate the challenges of getting their gear from airport to resort smoothly.
She writes, “Some airports are more ‘gear-friendly’ than others!”
Based on Jan’s experience handling ski and golf transfers, she gives a nod to the following airports as the friendliest to skiers and travellers with oversize luggage:
- Geneva Airport (GVA) – The gold standard for Alpine travel. Dedicated ski baggage lanes, large baggage claim areas, and efficient processing make it a top pick.
- Zurich Airport (ZRH) – Swiss precision at its finest! Great oversized baggage services.
- Munich Airport (MUC) – Super organised, and they understand ski gear handling well.
Favorite Airlines For Oversized Luggage
Which airlines do the best job of servicing oversize luggage? Jan says to look for flights from SWISS Air, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and JetBlue.
“SWISS Air loves skiers! Lufthansa is easy, organised, and permits generous baggage allowances for ski gear.”
JetBlue is appealing to skiers, golfers, and other travelers bearing sizable loads for their affordable oversized baggage fees.
How big is big, and what is meant by oversized? Steve Schwab, CEO of Casago, gets specific with just how big your luggage can be on one of his preferred airlines.
Steve notes, “My favorite airline for traveling with oversized luggage is Allegiant. They simply have the best policies for luggage sizes. Of all the major US airlines, they allow you to check the largest luggage – it can be up to 80 inches. Pretty much every other airline has a limit of 62 inches. While I don’t fly Allegiant very often, it certainly can be the way to go when traveling with oversized luggage.”
Best Airport Lounges After Dropping Off Your Gear
I’ve often referred to airport lounges as an oasis. Jan sees things similarly, declaring, “After hauling ski bags through check-in, a lounge is a lifesaver.”
Her top picks?
- Munich’s Lufthansa Business Lounge, spacious and modern, offering hearty Bavarian snacks
- Aspen’s Escape Lounge, small but stylish, perfect for U.S. ski trips
Airports With Ski Bag Carousels
Skiers traveling through Colorado’s Denver International Airport (DEN) are greeted by a vertical ski carousel in baggage claim. This is very handy when you are looking to grab your luggage quickly and ergonomically!
Another American airport that offers a vertical carousel catering to ski and snowboarding enthusiasts is the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) in Utah.
The airport has undergone massive renovations over the last decade, most recently including a whole new experience for travellers with oversized luggage, be it golf clubs, skis, or snowboards.
Skiers no doubt rejoice at the sight of a vertical baggage claim carousel, perfect for retrieving sports equipment and oversized luggage on the ground transportation level of the airport (no more taking the stairs or escalator with gear in hand!).
As of the time of writing, Denver and Salt Lake City are the only airports in the US that provide vertical baggage carousels for oversize luggage.
On the other side of the pond, you can find vertical carousels in a couple of airports as well.
Jan offers, “Geneva and Zurich both have vertical carousels for oversized luggage. They’re generally efficient, but you do need to keep an eye out – sometimes, bags can get ‘stuck’ or take longer to appear than regular checked luggage.”
Ski-Friendly Rental Cars
Do you need to rent a car for your ski trip? Consider renting a car from SIXT.
Starting with a trio of cars in 1912 in Munich, Germany, SIXT now operates in 105 countries, with branches in over 2,200 locations. One niche market they tap into is equipping skiers in some parts of the US and Europe with rental car add-ons like ski racks to make transporting gear more manageable.
In America, SIXT rents cars with ski racks at Denver International Airport and Aspen International Airport. These cars have all-season tires. Those traveling to snowier areas of the US are encouraged to book a vehicle with four-wheel drive.
Snow Tires in Europe
When renting a SIXT vehicle in Europe, you can request winter tires as an add-on in certain countries famous for snow, including Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, and others. Snow tires are automatically included with your rental at no cost when you travel to Germany and Austria during the snowy season, because winter tires are required in those countries by law.
Carina Otero, founder of She is Not Lost, travels the world, often with her skis! She writes, “SIXT has been my go-to choice for renting winter-capable cars for my ski trips in the Alps and beyond because they’re reliable. It’s important for me to have winter tires on my rental, and I’ve found that SIXT is one of the few companies that can guarantee them when making a reservation.”
With a variety of vehicles to choose from, Carina says, “SIXT’s fleet usually has the latest models in top condition, and their loyalty program also has great perks – getting upgraded to a luxury vehicle is always a welcomed surprise!”
Finding The Right Car For You
Cherie Carter is the Managing Director of Indigo Car Hire, a car rental company that enjoys over 5,000 5-star reviews.
She writes, “We get a lot of customers who get prices for private transfers to and from ski resorts and then call us to compare against the cost of car rental. Most of the time, car rental is cheaper. So they’re getting much more flexibility for a better price.”
For car type and size, Cherie notes the considerations need to be the number of people traveling and how much equipment they have.
“Most prefer to hire a rental with a ski rack and a four-wheel drive because they are better on winter roads. They may even need to have winter tires fitted in some destinations. Some ski resorts have rules that mean cars must have car chains, so we recommend always checking with the resort what the requirements are before booking a car rental,” Cherie encourages.
Considering Insurance
With varying weather systems and driving conditions, it is important to know what you’re covered for. Cherie cautions, “If renting a car for a ski trip, they must understand the level of insurance they have. Driving in difficult conditions comes with risks, and they may want to consider what they are covered for and what they aren’t. They may want to consider a higher level of insurance to reduce their financial responsibility in the event that something happens.”
Hertz is a great source for car rentals on ski trips in Canada and abroad. They also offer ski racks accommodating skiers and snowboarders, at an additional cost. Sedans can hold four sets of skis or two snowboards and SUVs can store between four and six sets of skis or up to four snowboards.
Shuttles and Transfers
Not everyone rents a car as many resorts offer shuttle service or alternative transportation.
Jan says she rarely rents a car, stating, “For most skiers, a private airport transfer is the way to go; no dealing with rental cars, parking, or unfamiliar mountain roads.”
Always check with your hotel or resort before planning your ride from the airport to your stay. They may offer a free shuttle service or refer you to a private airport transfer, making it easier for you to ski-in and ski-out!
Planning a Fly-In, Fly-Out Skiing Adventure
On the hunt for adventure and don’t mind driving?
If you’re looking to travel with your skis by air and then find yourself on an epic powder expedition in the pickup truck of your dreams, a trip to experience Canada’s breathtaking mountain ranges may just be what you need.
Some of the country’s best skiing is found in Western Canada. Far Out Wilderness’ special ski tours, where you can rent 4X4 trucks with winter tires and get some ski holiday planning to boot. Rentals can be picked up at Vancouver Airport (YVR), Calgary Airport (YYC) or in downtown Victoria, BC. Other pickup and drop off locations can be arranged.
Of note is Far Out Wilderness’ 10-day “Dreamy Powder Highway Trip,” where you can hit British Columbia and Alberta’s top ski destinations.
Your adventure begins in Vancouver where you pick up your rental car and head to Whistler Blackcomb, followed by more overnight stays for skiing at Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, and Banff Sunshine before returning your rental vehicle to Far Out Wilderness at Calgary International Airport.
Plan Your Next Trip
Wherever you’re flying from and whoever you’re flying with, stay tuned to TravelMint for top travel tips to make your life easier and refreshed.
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