Japan 2014/15

Mudhoney - 17 June 2014 10:43 AM

Hm that’s interesting.  The JAL site says you can only have 2x standard suitcase sized objects and long objects are an extra cost.

Don’t quote me as I’ve never flown JAL but recall them being a little more stingy than other carriers (surprising the budget options like jetstar and scoot are often the easiest as they just work off the total amount of weight you’ve pre purchased)

A quick google has given me this off JALS baggage details.

Skis: Water or Snow / Snowboards
Allowance/Requirements
One pair of skis/snowboard and one bag containing a pair of ski /board boots only

Cost
One pair of skis/snowboard and one boot bag containing only boots/bindings will be treated as a single item with the applicable checked bag charge.
Boot bag must not exceed 45 linear inches (length + width + height) and must contain only boots/bindings. Boot bags that contain other articles will be subject to the excess baggage charge for a single piece.
Maximum Weight and Size
One pair of skis/snowboard up to 126 inches and one boot bag containing boots/bindings only and not to exceed 45 dimensional inches (length + width + height)

Additional Information
Lighters or torches for applying ski wax are considered dangerous goods and are not allowed in checked or carry-on baggage

http://www.jal.co.jp/jba/aa/en_US/baggage/baggageAllowance.html

Hm that’s confusing as it appears to contradict this

I guess a wheelie gig bag might squeak under 203cm l+w+d if it was a smallish one?  or are they not that fussed about it?

I don’t think they are that fussed about.

There was a thread about the new restrictions - I think Mizu may have experienced flying with the board bags after the restrictions.

I flew with people who had them and there didn’t seem to be any concerns.

I also think they have to take into consideration Qantas baggage allowance when you are getting off a Qantas International flight.

I’ve gotta go somewhere now, but I’ll post in here later tonight mud!

I nearly got rogered by qantas on my 2013 trip. Not realizing that they changed their policy from the year before when a snowboard bag was cool to be counted in my checked baggage i was told at the counter that wasnt the case anymore and if i wanted my boards to follow me to japan id have to shell out $240 of my hard earned. A brief chat to a supervisor and some brain storming led to me putting my boards in my qantas silver members mates bag as if it was his and it was all cool.

Hm interesting, radpants.  What would you do if you went again and didn’t have access to your mate’s bags?

Yeah what change Mr Radpants, what did you do wrong?

I believe you can take two bags (one a board/ski bag) but the total weight of both has to be under 23kg.

Hi Mud!

Since JAL have changed their baggage allowance, I’ve found that I take MORE than ever before. Oz can vouch for how I pack and I swear I take it all, including the kitchen sink. (I’m a bloody shocker.) I think they’re more worried about the weight rather than dimensions of the bag. So for the last two years, I’ve taken two massive bags at around 20kg - I took about 40kg for myself!!!

I took my burton wheelie gig with my boards and snow gear, and my Kathmandu 70L bag for apres gear. I’m a shocker. But I was allowed to take it, so why not??   My wheelie gig bag is over dimensions by a couple of cm, but they’ve never measured it.

ozgirl - 17 June 2014 08:45 PM

Yeah what change Mr Radpants, what did you do wrong?

I believe you can take two bags (one a board/ski bag) but the total weight of both has to be under 23kg.

The thing i did wrong was not read the fine print.
That was my understanding too BUT if your going with qantas i suggest double checking as what caught me out was that as and economy flyer I was only allowed 1 piece of checked baggage up to 23kgs and a ski/board bag was no longer accepted as part of your allocated bags but an entirely separate bag in 2013. I read the terms afterwards and when i made my booking if I selected i had the boardbag, i would have only had to pay and extra $40 or something like that. It also said that failure to pre book it would incur a substantially large fee if extra baggage was needed on the day of flight.
It may have changed back again now, i really hope thats the case!!

For my 2015 trip if silver mate doesnt come, ill make sure ive opted for the extra special bag before hand!!!!!!

Just had a look and it seems that qantas has ditched that stupid system they had and its back to how it originally was. I mustnt have been the only person to kick up a stink!!

Ah thanks, guys, that is reassuring.

Do you all stay in lower-cost pension style accommodation or do you fork out and go upmarket?  We’re looking at a pension to save a few $.

I have stayed in a Pension in Hukuba. And enjoyed it there.

I tend to stay up market in Niseko (product of the people I travel with there), self-contained and have previously enjoyed the apartments HT Holidays have.

I know Mizu and the Ullr boys also stay in HT apartments.

But shopping can be a pain/limited. It is best to shop in Kutchan. Again this has never been a concern due to the people I travel with, but it is something to consider. And a positive to staying in a Pension.

in kutchan there is a store that sells fireworks, nuf said!!

Mudhoney - 18 June 2014 09:00 AM

Ah thanks, guys, that is reassuring.

Do you all stay in lower-cost pension style accommodation or do you fork out and go upmarket?  We’re looking at a pension to save a few $.

I tend to go for lower cost options. My best experiences have always been in the Japanese owned and run places. Easy access to an onsen is a must!

I agree on all fronts DRC!!

Mud the best onsen in Hirafu is in the one lower village! Very traditional.