G'day crew
Flying to Fiji next week to join my brothers yacht .Taking my smick hipster , haven't flown with Sups before . Liked the pool noodle idea in a recent post, but was looking for any tips especially re my Quickblade paddle . Thinking of taping it to the bottom of the board ? Maybe in another noodle? Cheers.

I've travelled with a paddle inside a couple of cardboard poster tubes taped together.

Airlines usually only worry about one bag so if you can fit your paddle in your board bag then she should be sweet. I would go the noodle option and then double or triple wrap with bubble wrap the handle and blades, don' t forget to bring enough to wrap the paddle back for the return journey. Also tape the paddle to the board so its not loose in the bag if you can. I cant imagine that baggage guys would want to damage your board on purpose especially if its light. Also don't forget to put some fragile stickers on the package. Take fins out and tape them on too.
If you can tape the whole board in bubble wrap and noodle the sides. just watch that weight.

I heard it told that some airlines regard a fragile sticker as a legal out clause in the event that the item is damaged. They claim that it is an acknowledgement by you that your item was fragile to begin with, and so you should expect the possibility of damage and therefore, they are not liable.

Thanks for the feedback guys, that's more or less what I was thinking of doing

Bubble wrap board and do an extra doubled up layer around the perimeter paying special attention to nose and tail area

use plenty of tape to hold it in place

Double wrap your paddle and tape it to the bottom of your board
the paddle should follow a similar curve to your rocker
if not roll a towel up and place under throat to take up cavity

tape the paddle to the board

when you arrive try and unpack so you can easily reuse

oh and remember to pack some extra duct tape for the return

Wavescience you may be correct, be wary of legal notices of airlines.

I always put the paddle on the deck of the board with a pool noodle either side. Bubble wrap the whole lot then into the bag. Keeps the bottom flat so it is always put down on that side so less stress on the paddle. Blade forward to fit the rocker. Never had an issue with 8 trips to Bali with Air Asia.

Thanks everyone, was going with the paddle on bottom theory but Hilly's idea also makes sense !
Be interesting to know which way up they must often get loaded.
Cheers

You honestly dont wantto know how they are loaded

i saw on my last trip to Mentawais one fella on each end of board bags swinging them up off the laoder and throwing them up and over into the buggy crate to smash down where they landed

8 boardbags thrown around at will

no care no responsibilty

Which ever way you do it wrap it well

You honestly dont wantto know how they are loaded

i saw on my last trip to Mentawais one fella on each end of board bags swinging them up off the laoder and throwing them up and over into the buggy crate to smash down where they landed

8 boardbags thrown around at will

no care no responsibilty

Which ever way you do it wrap it well