Flight Booking Tips for Ski Travel

Flight Booking Tips

As the temperatures start falling and leaves start changing, you’re likely thinking about travel plans for the winter. Perhaps you're heading to the Birkie? or maybe a ski trip to Europe? Guests on Lumi Experiences trips often ask for tips about when, where and how to choose flights. Here are a few insider tips we're learned over the years, specifically for skiers.

Plan ahead - it is almost always less expensive to purchase flights earlier than later. The app Hopper helps predict airfares and suggests the best time to buy.

Use an aggregator - websites like Google Flights aggregate offers from many airlines and can be a quick source to find the best fares. If you have any flexibility with your travel dates, use the Date Grid to compare flight prices around your desired dates. Sometimes it may make sense to arrive a day or two early for a lower fare. Given the possibility of weather-related travel delays, especially in winter, we encourage Lumi guests to arrive early and spend a day or two exploring their arrival city while acclimating to the time change.

Consider “Multi-city” routes - one common myth is that it is always less expensive to buy a round-trip ticket than a multi-city ticket, where your origin or destination is not the same in both directions. Multi-city routes often cost no more than a regular round-trip ticket. For example, it may even cost less to fly into Munich and out of Zurich than it does to fly round-trip to either airport. If you want to visit two different cities at the beginning and end of a trip, check out pricing for the multi-city route. It may cost less than you think!

Choosing your flight - You’ll likely want to choose a flight that has fewer stops, a shorter total flight time, and that any layovers are at least an hour. When comparing prices, beware! To offer a low sticker price, many airlines now lead with their “light” fares, which often only include a carry-on. If you plan to bring skis, make sure your ticket includes the baggage allowance you need ahead of time and avoid excess baggage penalties at check-in. Typically, the “next step-up” fare includes one checked bag and is less expensive than if you were to purchase a “light” fare ticket now and add a checked bag later.

Baggage fees - if you will be traveling with a ski bag, you might need two checked bags: your ski bag plus a bag for your clothes and/or ski boots. Alternatively, if you’re traveling with someone, you may be able to put both of your skis into one bag. Either way, remember to double-check the airline’s checked baggage size limits. A ski bag is often considered Oversized or Sports Equipment baggage, however, a ski bag typically costs the same as a regular piece of luggage and often includes a free boot bag allowance. Google Flights makes this easy: click “bag fees” in the fine print beneath “Best departing flights” to see the related bag fees.

Collect your miles - Don’t want to take the time to set up a frequent flier account or take the time to find your number? You may be missing out on future flight deals. The miles you earn from one trip to New Zealand could mean earning enough miles for a free flight to the Birkie. For quick reference when booking flights, create a list with your frequent flier account numbers in a notebook or Google Sheet. A password manager like Google Passwords can also help store your airline account info for you.

Travel insurance - After the Covid-19 pandemic, there is still more uncertainty about air travel than there used to be. We now recommend that all of our guests purchase travel insurance. Many past Lumi guests recommend TravelEx Insurance. There is also a calculator for Allianz Travel on the Lumi site. Even if you’re not taking a Lumi trip, you can still buy travel insurance through these sites.

Offset your carbon - As skiers, we often see the impacts of climate change impact snow conditions. Air travel seriously increases your carbon footprint. Can you carpool or drive to that ski destination? If you must fly, Google tells you the relative amount of carbon emissions for your flight itinerary compared to others and most airlines give you the option to offset your flight emissions. It’s a small step, but go ahead and check that box when purchasing your flight.

If you’re still thinking about where you want to travel this winter, the 2025 Nordic World Championships in Trondheim, Norway might be a great option. There are still flights available, although it’s almost impossible to find a hotel room in and around Trondheim during the races. We still have limited space available on the Lumi trip for both Weeks 1 and 2 – the perfect opportunity to ski in Norway, and cheer on your favorite World Cup skiers in person! Sign up by October 15 and save $300 / person on Trondheim World Champs Week 1.

Looking for an easy ski trip this winter? Here are Lumi’s Worldloppet trips that have the lowest fares and most convenient connections from several large US airports right now:

• 2025 Iceland trip: fly round-trip AND nonstop to Reykjavík, Iceland
• 2025 Norway trip: fly round-trip to Oslo, Norway
• 2025 France-Transju trip: fly round-trip to Geneva, Switzerland
• 2025 Seefeld & Engadin trip: fly multi-city into Munich and out of Zurich

Hopefully these tips help as you search for flights to your next adventure!

See you on the trail soon,

Garrott

garrott@lumiexperiences.com