Just thought I would bring up a topic I raised two years ago re taking ski boots in hand luggage. I have for the past four years not taken my skis away with me and have arranged my boots so they lay flat and fit into a type of laptop bag. They come within size regulations and I have never ( so far ) had trouble taking them as hand luggage, so saving on costs. This year I flew Flybe to Gatwick then Easyjet to Venice with no problem ( even surviving a tarmac search at Venice on the way home ).
What was noticeable this year, was the amount of people wandering around the airports ( airside, after security checks ) with conventional ski boot bags. Knowing that a lot of people take their own boots with them I wondered if people were still having problems or have the rules relaxed ?
I know from previous comments that Bristol airport was a problem and tour operators are sketchy with advise. I don`t want to rock the bandwagon but it would be nice to know why there are these problems. A lot of hand luggage has a 10kg limit now and the size is O.K. and fit into the overheads with ease. Like most people the thought of losing your custom fit boots in hold luggage doesn`t bare thinking about !