Looking at heading over to WA this summer for a few weeks but am a bit uncertain on the rules with baggage as i havent done any windsurfing travel in the past 5 or so years. I previously have used virgin with no worries and qantas but had a look on there websites and they both have limits which don't fit a wave board in! Qantas exclusively say that windsurfing equipment must be sent via freight and virgin have a size limit of about 180cms for baggage. Anyone know of any way around these or any other options? I'm assuming using freight is going to cost a packet, any advice would be appreciated.
refer to this thread, i fly qantas (minimal extra cost, so worth it for the fact that they give you a feed), but sounds like virgin are pretty good too. www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Flying-with-gear
also www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/sporting-equipment/global/en you can go to 277cm.
biggest tip i can give is to get a gear bag with wheels, maneuvering bags on trolleys sucks.
There are a lot of threads on here (as swsh posted above) about this but the airlines are forever changing their policies so it's tough to answer.
It generally goes; Jetstar not even a look in as they fly A320's Syd-Per which use containers for the baggage which the boards don't fit in, Virgin is ok but you will pay a lot in excess baggage, Qantas usually the best particularly with their new flat rate policy for adding up to two more bags
I've flow Qantas and Virgin to Wa over the last three summers. Last summer I flew Qantas under what is their current baggage policy (I think). I payed $40 excess baggage each way to allow me to carry two extra pieces; I checked in 2 boards in separate bags and then the gear bag, each item under 23kg (this is tough to do with the gear bag depending on how many sails you take but stash stuff across bags).
That line about the windsurfing kit having to go freight was there at the time I flew but I believe this really applies to certain planes, as they fly the 737 syd-per you shouldn't have any problem.
I would not expect to rock up with a load of kit and fly without paying any excess baggage as you used to be able to as it just won't fly with their new policies no matter how nice you are. Pre-pay (way cheaper than at the airport) for the amount you think you will need, then if you run into issues you can at least say you've come prepared 'paying your way' so to speak.
At the end of the day I'd fly Qantas and I think it would be no issue as long as you take into account what I have said above. Also rock up to check in way early as then if you have a drama it's no problem and the check in staff generally aren't stressed checking you in 2+ hrs before the flight rather than 40 min before take off, much less likely to have issues imo. That said anything can happen and if you meet the wrong person having a bad day.
I've flown across country with wave gear before with qantas a couple of times.
3 sails, 2 masts, boom board harness in a board bag and told them it was a surfboard. Definitely a surfboard. As long as it's under 23-25kg you should get it onboard no problems at all.
For some reason they start getting upset about windsurfers. BA and Qantas international policy is / was that they would not take windsurfers due to the length of "the sail mast", yet they'd take 277cm long surf boards. So as a result, they can get quite funny about windsurfers because their guidelines were written in the dark ages.
Surfboards are fine. Someone told me that to travel with a surfboard was an unalienable human right as an Australian, so as a result the airlines (from my experience) don't even blink when you present a surfboard at check-in.
Qantas also make you pay for extra bags these days unless you are paying high price for normal airfare or a frequent flyer.
Jetstar have a 1.9 length limit, but you can buy extra weight reasonable cheap.
Virgin I believe to be best airfare price and can have luggage upto 3m I think, then add extra bags (upto three) for $15 ea (sydney-Brisbane) but probly a bit dearer to perth.
On a return flight from Brisbane to Port Moresby it cost me $40 per 23kg bag on Virgin on a $400 cheap return flight.
It is really a must to try and buy your extra luggage when you buy your ticket, if you rock up to the airport it is gunna cost you heaps more.
I think virgin and qantas allow you to buy extra bags after you purchase the ticket.
But jetstar dont (that I have found).
A couple of weeks ago I flew MEL -> PER -> MRU and back using Qantas for the domestic leg. Both ways domestic flights used A330. I had my board + sail + mast + boom packed in one bag at approx 20kg, all the other bits in another bag at 10kg, and clothes in hand luggage. (The baggage allowance was 30kg because of the international flight)
Bag length was 250cm, and you should be able to take up to 277cm.
There no problems/negotiations or anything like that at the airports, the staff just directed me to take my "surfboard" to oversize luggage and it was done within a minute or two. No extra fees.
Ok so things don't seem to have changed much from the my last trips. Looks like I'll book either qantas or virgin and pay for some additional baggage to be safe. Thanks everyone for your replies.
