Ski Trips

Ski Trips 2008-2009

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Snow Hawks

Ski & Social Club

Vail

December 10—15, 2008

Lodging Lion Square Lodge (ski in/ski out)

$1,070 includes

· 5-nights lodging double occupancy

· 4-days’ lift pass

· roundtrip air Chicago (depart 11:55am) / Denver (arrive 6pm) on American Airlines

· ground transportation

$500 Deposit before October 1

Balance due November 1

$535 Single supplement

$1,100 Trip cost after October 1

See booking information and full details below

Reservations must include deposit

Aspen

March 26—31, 2009

Lodging Hotel Aspen

$1,350 includes

· 5-nights lodging double occupancy

· 4-days’ lift pass

· Aprés -ski buffet

· roundtrip nonstop air Chicago (depart 9:55am) / Aspen (arrive 4:28pm) on United Airlines

· ground transportation

$1,350 Must be RECEIVED by February 22

See booking information and full details below

Reservations must include deposit

You need to know…

· Trip space is limited and is on a first come first served basis, based upon when your deposit is received

· Until your deposit is received, you don’t have a reservation

· Trip questions? Contact us at: trips @ snowhawksskiclub.com (remove spaces to email)

· Please read below about bag charges by airlines. Some airlines now also charge for a FIRST checked bag. Baggage charges are NOT included in prices stated.

· Check your airline tickets when you receive them for final flight times. You are responsible for arriving at the airport in time to pay any additional baggage fees, clear security, and check in.

How to Book

1. Print and complete the Trip Release form (this includes your ticketing information)

2. Mail your checks made payable to “Snow Hawks Ski Club” and the Trip Release to arrive before the due dates

Non-members: Your membership fee ($50) must accompany your trip deposit and you also need to print and complete a Membership Application

3. Before the “Balance Due” date, mail your check to:

Snow Hawks Trips JPH

100 E Bellevue #31F

Chicago, IL 60611

A note from the Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council:

“Be Cautious if You Are Considering Changing to One Large Bag Due to Airlines $25 Second-Bag Rule.

OK, ski clubs fought the airlines’ second bag surcharge, we lost, and it’s now gotten tougher. Today, nine out of the ten airlines we checked with are charging the $25 second bag fee and American Airlines now charges $15 for your first bag. But the per bag surcharge is no longer our main concern about luggage on airlines. There can be costlier luggage issues about which you should be aware.

In late May, The NSCN surveyed 10 North American airlines about surcharges for multiple bags, as well for oversized and overweight bag charges on domestic coach-class flights. The good news was that, of the airlines surveyed, only Air Canada counts a ski bag and a boot bag as two bags. The other nine airlines count a ski bag and boot bag as one bag (with some restrictions). But, with the exception of your ski bag’s length, the airlines are enforcing weight and size surcharges – and some of those charges can be substantial! Traveling with just one bag that’s 63 inches in combined length, width, and height and which weighs over 50 pounds can cost you a $100 to $400 surcharge for a roundtrip flight! (For example, United or Air Canada charge $100 for bags over 50 lbs plus $100 for being over 62" (not counting ski bag’s length) and each fee is charged for both inbound and outbound flights -- or a $400 total.) While it probably won’t apply to most skiers, for REALLY large or heavy bags, Delta charges $600 and American charges up to $530 per roundtrip flight for a bag that’s over 70 pounds and larger than 62" in total dimensions!

Basically, our luggage needs to be under 62" dimensions and under 50 pounds. Check the airline’s website just prior to departure to see if the rules have changed recently – then make sure that trip leaders pass the information on to their participants. Two small bags (or one bag plus a ski and boot bag) will usually be cheaper than one oversize and/or overweight bag. We also suggest that clubs equip trip leaders with a hand-held luggage scale to check participants’ bags for the return trip -- in case vacation purchases tip their bags to overweight. (Participants can check their own bags on the bathroom scale at home – but probably not at the resort – and the scales cost just $10-$30 each.)

We all probably need to learn to pack lighter on future ski trips, but we still should expect to pay.”