Ship your skis or check them? Flying to Denver with skis (2026-27)
Short answer: if skis and boots are your only checked bag, checking is usually cheaper: about $45 each way on United, Southwest, Delta and American, because a ski bag and a boot bag count as one bag. Shipping wins when your skis would be a 2nd or 3rd bag, you're over 50 lb, you're going car-free from DEN, or you just want to walk off the plane with a carry-on. Plan on about a week of lead time for the cheap shipping rates.
Fees checked Oct 21, 2026. Airlines change these often; confirm on the airline's site before you fly.
Airline ski bag rules and fees into DEN
Domestic economy, standard fares, no status or airline credit card. Fees are per bag, each way.
| Airline | Skis + boots count as | 1st checked bag, each way | Weight / size | Notes / sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United | Ski bag + boot bag = 1 checked bag (up to 2 pairs of skis in the bag) | $45 prepaid, $50 at the airport | 50 lb, then overweight fees. No oversize fee. | Fees for tickets bought on or after Apr 3, 2026. Boot bag must hold only boots/ski gear. [1] [2] |
| Southwest | Up to 2 bags (skis + poles, boots) = 1 checked item | $45 (2nd bag $55) | Each bag 50 lb max before overweight; 100 lb / 115 in total. Oversize waived. | Fees for bookings ticketed on or after Apr 9, 2026. Choice Extra and A-List Preferred get 2 free bags; A-List and Rapid Rewards cardmembers get the first free. [1] [2] |
| Frontier unverified | Ski bag + boot bag = 1 item if the boot bag is 25 lb or less | Varies by fare and date (Bag Price Checker) | Standard checked limit is 40 lb ($75 for 41-50 lb). Frontier's ski sheet says ski overweight starts at 50 lb. No oversize fee. | The 40 lb vs 50 lb rule conflicts on Frontier's own pages; confirm before you pack heavy. [1] [2] |
| Delta | 1 ski/pole bag + 1 boot bag per person = 1 item | $45 (2nd bag $55) | Combined 50 lb, then $100 (51-70 lb). Not accepted over 115 linear in. | Main and Comfort, no status or Delta Amex. [1] [2] [3] |
| American | 1 pair of skis + 1 equipment bag (boots, helmet) = 1 item | $45 prepaid, $50 at the airport (Basic Economy $50 / $55) | Over 50 lb combined, it's charged as 2 bags. No oversize fee. | Main Cabin fees for tickets from Apr 9, 2026; Basic Economy from May 18, 2026. [1] [2] |
| Alaska unverified | Ski gear + 1 boot/helmet bag (no clothes) = 1 checked bag | $45 (reported) | 50 lb; up to 115 in with no oversize fee. | AirlineGeeks reported the first bag went from $40 to $45 for bookings from Apr 10, 2026. Alaska's ski page still says "starting at $35." [1] [2] |
| JetBlue unverified | Ski bag + boot bag = 1 checked bag if combined is 50 lb or less (per AwardWallet) | $45 off-peak, $49 peak (added 24+ hrs ahead; $10 more within 24 hrs) | 51-99 lb: $150 overweight. JetBlue's fee page says bags over 80 in aren't accepted, so check its sports-equipment rules for long ski bags. | Peak dates include Nov 19-30, Dec 17-31, Jan 1-18 and Feb 11-22. [1] [2] |
What shipping skis costs
Ski shipping services quote by distance, size, weight and speed. Here's what they publish, plus real quotes SKI magazine pulled for one 25 lb ski bag, NYC to Aspen and back, in January 2026.
| Service | Published price | Timing | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShipSkis | From $39 to Colorado resorts like Breckenridge, Vail and Keystone [ShipSkis]; "as little as $49.99" for a small bag under 25 lb [ShipSkis CO]. SKI got $105 each way NYC to Aspen (basic), $255 next-day [SKI]. | Ground to next-day. Wants delivery 2-3 business days before you arrive [ShipSkis]. Cheapest rate needed ~8 days each way in SKI's test. | Drop off at UPS/FedEx/DHL, or pay for pickup (~$9.98 round trip per SKI). Up to $500 coverage included (SKI). |
| Luggage Forward | Single ski bag (25 lb) $114, double ski bag (40 lb) $149, boot bag $99 [Luggage Forward]. SKI's NYC to Aspen round trip: $159 with an 8-9 day buffer [SKI]. | Express (1-2 day) costs the most; shipping ~8 days early cuts the price roughly in half (SKI). | Door pickup in free 1-5 or 3-7 pm windows; a set time is $75 extra (SKI). Boots must go in a separate boot bag. |
| LugLess | Quote-based, FedEx and UPS side by side [LugLess]. SKI's round trip quote: $286 on the Essential plan, under $100 on the no-insurance Minimal plan [SKI]. | Ship 5-10 business days ahead in winter peaks [LugLess]. | You drop the bag at FedEx/UPS. Ski bag up to 45 lb and 76 x 9 x 8 in; boots can ride in the ski bag. |
ShipSkis is also a Steamboat partner, and Ikon Pass holders got a ShipSkis discount starting in 2023-24 (check if it's still offered unverified). [Alterra]
Affiliate disclosure: Skier Stash may earn a commission from some partner links at no extra cost to you. The shipping links on this page are plain links for now. How we make money
Ship, check or rent?
| Your situation | Best bet | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Skis + boots are your only checked bag, under 50 lb | Check them | About $90 round trip on United, Southwest, Delta or American ($45 each way). Shipping quotes usually start higher. |
| Skis would be your 2nd or 3rd checked bag | Compare | A 2nd bag is $55 each way on Southwest and Delta; a 3rd is $200 on Delta, American, JetBlue and Alaska. That's where shipping can win. |
| Basic fare, Frontier, or a heavy bag (over 40-50 lb) | Ship or rent | Overweight fees run $75-$150 each way, and Frontier's standard limit is 40 lb. |
| No rental car (Snowstang, shuttle) | Ship | Snowstang allows 3 pieces per rider; airport shuttles often allow 2 bags free. Ski bags + boot bags + suitcases add up fast. |
| Long trip, multiple stops, or you want to walk out of DEN with a carry-on | Ship | Book early: the cheap rates need about a week each way. |
| Short trip, or your skis are old/beat | Rent or demo | No bag fees, no shipping window, and nothing to haul up I-70. Compare shop prices for your dates. |
| Flying in the week of Christmas, Presidents' Day, or with < 5 days notice | Check (or pay for express) | Ground shipping needs days of buffer, and carriers don't guarantee holiday-week delivery. |
Getting through DEN with skis
- Check-in is Level 6, baggage claim is Level 5 of the Jeppesen Terminal. Oversized items like skis can come out somewhere other than your carousel, so follow the signs and display boards. [DEN]
- Curbside bag drop: DEN has run a free drive-through bag drop on 75th Ave (near the Pikes Peak lot) and at the Transit Center, 6am-6pm, for domestic United, Southwest, Delta, American and Alaska flights. You need to be checked in, with bags dropped, 90 minutes before departure. That info is from 2022, so check flydenver.com for current hours unverified. [DEN]
- Going car-free? Snowstang (Denver Union Station to Breckenridge) is $12.50 one way with 3 pieces per rider, and skis count as one. Epic Mountain Express from the airport runs $59-$129 with 2 bags free. Count your bags before you book unverified. [LugLess]
- The drive: DEN to Breckenridge is about 104 miles, roughly 1.75 hours in good conditions and often longer on winter weekends. I-70's Traction Law runs Sep 1-May 31. [LugLess]
Shipping to your lodging (Summit County, Vail, Steamboat)
You can't ship skis to a lift or gondola. Send them to your hotel, your condo's front desk, or a carrier counter that holds packages, and call ahead about fees. These are the published policies LugLess lists; confirm with the property.
| Breckenridge | Beaver Run: $25 to receive a ski bag, $5/day storage after 5 days, UPS/FedEx only. Grand Colorado on Peak 8: $8-$14/day for packages held before arrival. UPS Store at 400 N Park Ave holds packages (call for the fee). [LugLess] |
|---|---|
| Vail | Grand Hyatt Vail: $10-$30 by weight. UPS Store in West Vail (2121 N Frontage Rd W) and FedEx Office in the Avon Walmart hold packages. Many Vail Valley rentals can't take deliveries. [LugLess] |
| Steamboat | Steamboat Grand: UPS/FedEx only, won't hold gear more than 7 days before arrival. UPS Store at 1815 Central Park Dr is on the bus line. The ski area is about 3 miles from downtown, so ship to where you're sleeping. [LugLess] |
Label tip: put the guest name exactly as booked, your arrival date and "Hold for guest" above the address, and track it.
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FAQ
Is it cheaper to ship skis or check them?
Usually checking is cheaper if skis and boots are your only checked bag: about $45 each way on United, Southwest, Delta and American. Published shipping prices start at $39-$114 one way, and SKI's real NYC to Aspen quotes ran $159-$286 round trip. Shipping can win when skis would be a 2nd or 3rd bag, or overweight. [United] [Southwest] [SKI]
Do skis and boots count as one bag?
On United, Southwest, Delta, American and Alaska, a ski bag plus a boot bag counts as one checked item, within the weight rules. Frontier counts them as one only if the boot bag is 25 lb or less. Keep clothes out of the boot bag. [United] [Southwest] [Delta] [American] [Frontier]
How early should I ship skis to Colorado?
Have them arrive 2-3 business days before you do. To get the cheapest ground rate, ship about a week ahead; LugLess says 5-10 business days in winter peaks. [ShipSkis] [LugLess] [SKI]
Where do I pick up skis at Denver airport?
Baggage claim is on Level 5 of the Jeppesen Terminal (check-in is Level 6). Skis come out at an oversized-bag area, not always your flight's carousel, so follow the signs and display boards. Boot bags usually come out on the regular carousel. [DEN]
Can I ship skis straight to the resort or gondola?
No. Ship to your hotel, condo front desk, or a UPS/FedEx hold-for-pickup counter near the mountain. Many hotels charge to receive or store bags (Beaver Run in Breckenridge lists $25; Grand Hyatt Vail $10-$30 by weight). [LugLess Breck] [LugLess Vail]
What's the weight limit for a ski bag?
Usually 50 lb (combined with the boot bag on Delta, American and JetBlue). Frontier's normal checked limit is 40 lb, and overweight fees on the big airlines start around $100 each way. [Delta] [Frontier]
Related: Breckenridge opening day · Vail opening day · Steamboat opening day · Epic Pass price increase 2026