Solitude and Snowbird, UT 3/9/2008

[Marc_C]

This is pretty amazing considering that these were skis we bought (matching pairs) about 4 years ago at Sports Authority for under $200 new including bindings. Who the hell steals skis like this? This could be material for a "dumb criminals" story. My first question is if anyone knows any statistics for how common ski theft is?

Bummer about the skis. We do have ski theft but I sure don't have any actual numbers, although my understanding is that the rate is fairly low. Regarding the specific skis in question, mistaken identity/cluelessness is a more likely possibility than outright theft.

I might break down and do some shopping of my own while we're in SLC. Do you have any recommendation for any good sales where I might pick up skis and bindings? Ideally it would be someplace with a policy like I saw one time at the Footloose store at Mammoth where you could rent demo boots and the rental fee would be deducted from the price if you decided to buy.

The Alta Ski Shop (both the one next to the Wildcat ticket office and the one in Albion Base) have their demo skis on sale. Don't know the exact price but it's typically around $350 for skis and bindings in usually very good to excellent shape. The Deep Powder House (all locations - GMD, Alta Lodge, and Rustler Lodge) is running a similar deal.

[Edited to add: Yes, the $299 sale that Admin posted starts 1 Apr, but that doesn't mean that you can't get great deals now - just not quite as cheaply.]

You might also want to check out The Lift House, on Ft. Union Blvd (7200 S) just west of the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, next to the 7-11.

 

[Jcocktosten]

Jans in Park City often has similar deals to what everyone has already posted about. Last trip my wife picked up a pair of K2s that were virtually new for $300

 

[Tony Crocker]

On our February trip my ex-wife bought demos from Canyon Sports for $350 and I bought demos from Alta for $422.

My skis arrived this morning but I did not use them as I didn't have my boots and my bindings would have to be adjusted twice. The boots will arrive by tomorrow morning.

I've heard the boot carry-on advice before and will be thinking about it in the future. I'm used to traveling with another large carry-on so much reconfiguration my be required. My boot and ski bags are both on their last legs. The risk of lost luggage logically increases with number of connections (one going to France and 2 coming back) and I suspect having 2 airlines involved doesn't help either. I'll also mention that Air Canada appears to be a high-risk airline in this regard.

 

[Admin]

I'll also mention that Air Canada appears to be a high-risk airline in this regard.

I thought that you were on Air France to Delta?

 

[ChrisC]

Oh man - I pack my work files and computer in one pack- and ski stuff in another.

But my Euro pack is on my plane. Everything but skis.

(Note: I have had VERY successful flights with United/Lufthansa - 100% success with 7 SFO - london, and via frankfurt to - lyon, geneva, berlin - over 6 years.)

But I take this... everywhere.


It's boots and ski stuff - except skis

 

[rfarren]

(Note: I have had VERY successful flights with United/Lufthansa - 100% success with 7 SFO - london, and via frankfurt to - lyon, geneva, berlin - over 6 years.)

Part of your success has been avoiding Charles De-Gaull, and Schiphol. Paris may be the worst airport to transfer to another flight in all of Europe. Schiphol may not be much better. Frankly, you've been lucky with Heathrow. It's not terrible to transfer in, but it is worse than La Guardia for delays. It's also very risky in the winter, where ice-fog has been known to shut the airport down for days. IMHO the best airport in Europe to have a transfer in is Barajas. Being in southern europe it generally avoids bad weather, and it doesn't get a huge volume of traffic. If in the north then Geneva, Zurich, or Frankfurt are generally the best to fly into. Those are less likely to have strikes like Malpensa, or Fiumincino in southern Europe. That being said, this whole spiel gives even more reason to bring your boots on board.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

What's going on with those boots in the Dakine bag?? ^^^ Looks like something a 70s glam-rock band would wear.

The obvious trick is to avoid transferring in Europe... how about flying directly into your target city? That said, I've never had trouble with Zurich or Vienna.

 

[Marc_C]

What's going on with those boots in the Dakine bag?? ^^^ Looks like something a 70s glam-rock band would wear.

Snowboard boots, as boarders are Dakine's primary market.

 

[Sharon]

My suitcase just arrived at 5PM Monday. The skis and boots are still AWOL.

Yeeesh Tony! A guy who travels as much as you should know by now to never check your ski boots...especially when flying overseas. I think there's about 20% chance that something won't arrive. Skis are an easy fix, but ski boots...not-so-much.

This is what I do:

I have a Sierra Designs ski bag/backpack (not unlike this one http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/ ... Id=2356921)

In it I can fit my ski boots, a pair of socks, goggles, hat, gloves, base layers nd my ski pants. This way I will be set to ski when I get there. It is a PITA to schlep around from plane to plane, running through the airports to catch connections, but it is definitely worth it when you get there. It became quite obvious to me that it is the way to go when my friend spent a good part of a powder morning getting fitted for rental gear because the bag didn't come in. The next day it arrived, but it had been placed next to something hot and the plastic melted ruining her bag, her helmet and a few other items that got too hot.

Airlines suck. Northwest is one of the worst IMO.

ALWAYS carry your boots in your carry-on.

 

[rfarren]

ALWAYS carry your boots in your carry-on.

No truer words were ever spoken. =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

 

[berkshireskier]

Sharon's 100% right here. Like the old American Express ads (with Karl Malden), you should NEVER leave home without your boots and other necessary ski items in your carry-on bag. It is a pain to have to haul this bag through the airport when making connections, but with the increasingly bad record of airlines "misplacing" bags and the cost of ski vacations these days, why chance missing a day of skiing because of missing boots and other items?? American Airlines misplaced my ski bag (on my trip back home, fortunately) on my latest trip to Utah and I didn't get the bag back until 48 hours after I got home.

 

[EMSC]

ALWAYS carry your boots in your carry-on.

American Airlines misplaced my ski bag (on my trip back home

And this can be an additional key to the debate. Always carry your boots on when it matters - when going TO somewhere to ski. If you are going home and don't plan to ski for a couple of weeks, you have time to sort it out or authorization to buy new in time for that next trip/day of skiing. Thus on at least some trips (for sure for many east/mid-west folks in the spring), you carry on the plane to, and avoid the PITA on the way home. At least for the final spring break ski trip that so many take..., etc...

 

[rfarren]

ALWAYS carry your boots in your carry-on.

American Airlines misplaced my ski bag (on my trip back home

And this can be an additional key to the debate. Always carry your boots on when it matters - when going TO somewhere to ski. If you are going home and don't plan to ski for a couple of weeks, you have time to sort it out or authorization to buy new in time for that next trip/day of skiing. Thus on at least some trips (for sure for many east/mid-west folks in the spring), you carry on the plane to, and avoid the PITA on the way home. At least for the final spring break ski trip that so many take..., etc...

I would say always bring your boots on board with you. It may be a PITA but... if they lose your boots you may never see them again. I like my boots and don't want them being slammed into a corner by some guy who has no idea whats in there. Skis are skis... they can take a beating, and can always be replaced. Boots on the other had, if damaged or lost, can be a real pain in the bud.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

If they lose your boots on the way home, you get the maximum payoff from the airline and go buy new ones.

On our recent trip through DIA, we didn't ski on either the arrival or departure day, so we checked in our boots and nothing happened. But two of our bags were delayed and delivered the following morning. My wife got on the phone and pried a $300 voucher out of them for our "inconvenience and emotional distress."
:lol:

"You don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate."

 

[rfarren]

Well I doubt the airline will reimburse me for the entire value of my boots. If they lose an armani suit, they won't give you the full value for that because as far as they are concerned the gap makes suits fine. In otherwords: my boots are great, and not cheap... and I don't think they are going to give me the full value for it.

 

[Admin]

Well I hardly doubt the airline will reimburse me for the entire value of my boots. If they lose an armani suit, they won't give you the full value for that because as far as they are concerned the gap makes suits fine. In otherwords: my boots are great, and not cheap... and I don't think they are going to give me the full value for it.

That's actually not true. I the absence of any other agreement limiting damages they owe you the actual cash value of the lost item. ACV = replacement cost - depreciation. If the value of the Armani suit is $2,000, and it ha a life expectancy of 10 years, and you've owned it for 3 years they owe you 70% of $2,000 based on straight-line depreciation. They're not entitled to replace an Armani suit with a suit from The Gap.

 

[rfarren]

What is the industry life expectancy of ski boots?

 

[Marc_C]

Well I doubt the airline will reimburse me for the entire value of my boots.

From a travel site:

Liability for loss, delay, or damage to baggage is limited unless a higher value is declared in advance and additional charges are paid. For most international travel (including domestic portions of international journeys) liability for loss, delay, or damage to baggage is limited to approximately $9.07 per pound ($20.00 per kilogram) for checked baggage and $400 per passenger for unchecked baggage. For travel wholly within U.S. points, federal rules require any limit on an airline's baggage liability to be at least $1250 per passenger for aircraft having less than 61 seats, and $2500 per passenger for all other aircraft. Excess valuation may be declared on certain types of valuable articles. Carriers assume no liability for fragile, valuable or perishable articles.

 

[Admin]

As I said above, "in the absence of any other agreement limiting damages".

As far as life expectancy of ski boots that's reasonably within the discretion of the airline's claims adjuster, but something in the neighborhood of 5-7 years should be reasonable as most folks don't use them longer than that.

 

[rfarren]

So, if they lose your skis, boots, gear, and luggage. You could theoretically, lose more that $2500, especially if you've packed more than two pairs of skis. $2500 is more than enough for my boots though

If the value of the Armani suit is $2,000, and it ha a life expectancy of 10 years, and you've owned it for 3 years they owe you 70% of $2,000 based on straight-line depreciation.

If I have 90 ski days on my boots and their life expectancy is 300 days, then they would only give me 70% of my boots. My new boots would still be pretty expensive. What's more, I would have to have them worked on again to get rid of all the hot spots. They wouldn't reimburse for the extra work on the boots would they?