(Airport) Traveling with my Wakeboard, questions..

H20orSnowLetsGo

Several searches (yeah, that word that says "search" at the top) haven't revealed any results... or way too many and so forth, so I suspect it's been awhile since this one has been asked?

In two weeks I will be flying on Northwest Airlines... For the luggage policy..
Linky to NWA luggage specs and they have nothing specific for a wakeboard. It's definitely not "surf equipment" and my 134 cm baby is shorter (just wider) than my snowboards. Since airports can be strict, I did send their customer service a question, specifically asking on the policy for traveling with a wakeboard. If they think they're getting $80 from me EACH way, I'll ship it instead.

IF I need to ship my board, I'm estimating it might cost up to $35 each way if that. The question there is what is the best way to package/ship my board via UPS? Do I need extra padding? Would getting a roll of packaging tape and hacking up a couple of cardboard boxes do the job?

If NWA doesn't get back to me, then I may ship by the end of next week and needing suggestions. I hear they are very anal at the Spokane airport Mad

devon · Posted: May 26, 2007 5:48 pm Post subject:

it is to big for carry on, so you could get a case and just put some foam or crushe newspaper in it, the bag might cost more but you can use it all the time that you travel.
i dont understand why it would cost to bring a board on a plane
_________________
Ferrari 328 GTB

timmyDecker · Outlaw Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 187 City: Manhattan...KS

If you have a UPS store that you are shipping out of, they might have some packing materials. You might call a board shop and see where they get their boxes from. I would just make sure it padded enough to be protected.

Good luck with the airlines. In all honesty, I think you will wind up shipping it. My wife and I took our scuba gear to Cozumel a few years ago and ran into some problems. The airline wanted $100 for each dive bag each way:
Me: "Why do I have to pay $100 for scuba gear?"
Airline chick: "Because it takes special handling."
Me: "But these are just duffel bags that meet your weight limit."
Airline chick: "Well sir they take up more room than other bags."
Me: "No they don't. These are just duffel bags that meet your weight limit."
Airline chick: "If you want to take these bags with you, you will have to pay the fee."
Me: "Fine."

After our first dive in Cozumel, my wife points out that my bouyancy compensator is leaking air. When we get back to the U.S. I call the airline to make a claim.
Me: "Hi, I just took a flight to Cozumel and a piece of my scuba gear was broken and I need to file a claim."
Customer Service Chick: "Well sir, scuba gear isn't covered under our baggage policy."
Me: "I know, I had to pay the $100 insurance fee for your airline to take my bags. Since I paid the fee, my gear was insured."
CSC: "Oh no sir, that $100 doesn't insure your gear, it's just a handling fee."
Me: "So your telling me that I paid you $400 (2 bags, 2 ways) for two duffel bags that met your weight limit, you guys broke my stuff, and now you aren't going to cover the damages?!"
CSC: "That's right sir."
Me: "WTF?!" Evil or Very Mad

Sorry that was a little long, but I felt it was a story worth telling...

Liquid*Force*Rider · Posted: May 26, 2007 7:07 pm Post subject:

Last time I took my wakeboard on a plane I didn't have any problems. Just put it in the board bag and locked the zippers and they don't need to know whats in the bag.

To keep the boards from being damaged I got a few pool noodles and cut one side all the way threw and slid that over the edge of my board to keep all the edges protected, worked golden.

Lauri H · Outlaw Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Posts: 226 City: Theodosia

That's about what we did with my son't board. We used pipe insulation around the edges of the board, and put it in a board bag.
We expected some trouble, but got none. The guy at the baggage counter asked what was in the bag, when my son kind of stammered, he said "it's cool, I know what Liquid Force is".
No problems on either leg of the trip, and no extra charges.

FLWake · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 274

Most airlines let you check 2 bags per person for free so if you have it in a bag it should be fine. There are some normal suitcases that are nearly as tall as a wakeboard anyway so I don't think they'll say anything about it being over-sized.

DRAGON88 · Posted: May 26, 2007 9:43 pm Post subject:

Never had a problem flying with my wakeboard, I've done it 3 times and never had an issue. Unless they have a problem with it I don't see any reason why you would even bring it up, it is simply a bag to the baggage handlers.

JeffR · Addict Joined: 07 Apr 2006 Posts: 608 City: Victoria, BC

Ya if they hassle you about it being a wakeboard, then just say it is a snowboard, and if they try and make you pay extra fees, refuse, since they have no right to do so

Jeremy Coe · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Feb 2003 Posts: 408 City: Auckland

Having had a bad experience with a board of mine a few years ago (super squirt I think), just make sure you put foam pads (I used to get them from my board shop) on each end of the board. The handlers throw $hit around a lot and if the boards land on their end (even in a bag) it can split them...

grapic · Outlaw Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 192

We have traveled with boards several times. Don't say wakeboard to an agent. They usually translate wake to wave to surf. All airline guides say there is an extra charge for a surf board. We ran into an agent in Dallas following Worlds last year that gave us a very difficult time. We told him it was a water ski. He started searching through manuals and finally got out a measuring tape to check the bag dimensions. He wanted to charge $100 eventhough it was 1" shorter than the policy. After we watched several other competitors go through other lines with no questions ask I asked to see a supervisor who ok'ed without charges.

I've seen several people using padded golf bags for wakeboards. Airlines never charge for golf equipment. To many big business customers that they would make mad.

Yooper · Criminal Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 58 City: Marquette

I've flown on NWA many times with my board in a board bag. No issues.

Meltz · Criminal Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 85 City: Fairfield, Ca

I've traveled with snowboards without having to pay extra. Just get a bag for it. You can wrap it in towels or something.

H20orSnowLetsGo · Posted: May 30, 2007 5:37 pm Post subject:

Can anyone help decipher this cryptic written message, straight from the mouths of NWA:

For U.S. domestic and U.S./Canadian transborder travel:

Surfboards and/or mini surfboards/wakeboards will not be included in
determining free baggage allowance and will always be assessed USD 80.00per surfboard or boogie board. Exception: if the boogie board is less than 43in it will be accepted in the free luggage allowance, but in
excess of the free allowance boogie boards will be accessed a $20.00 USD
fee.<--- huh?? Between the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, surfboards and boogie boards and wakeboards will not be included in determining the free baggage allowance and will always be assessed USD 80.00 per surfboard or boogie board and wakeboards. Exception: if a passenger is traveling with more than one board, one may be included in the free baggage allowance and the other boards will be assessed USD 80.00 for each additional board. A Limited Luggage Liability Form must be signed.
[/i]

FLWake · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Apr 2007 Posts: 274

Basically saying that a wakeboard will cost you 80 dollars unless you have multiples, then 1 is free and the rest will cost you. I'm pretty sure thats only if you travel without a bag though.

Blake · Posted: May 30, 2007 7:14 pm Post subject:

If they ask what it is, for god sakes tell them its water skis... Trust me on this one.

jplvr · Newbie Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 37

Good god, I didn't dream this would be even close to an issue... I'll be traveling with a wakeboard in August, most likely.

I was considering using my snowboard bag to travel with already though and it sounds like that's just fine.

A snowboard weighs considerably more than a wakeboard, no? wtf?

PimpinD2 · Posted: May 31, 2007 10:35 am Post subject:

tell them its a boggie board, i know AA has a limit of 150cm or 160cm for snowboardand surfboards. telling them its a wakeboard isnt a good idea as thet hear board and think surf. Tell em its a boggie board and you should be ok.... ive never paid for a wakeboard, snowboards is another story though.....

NorthwestRider · Posted: May 31, 2007 12:39 pm Post subject:

http://buyslingshotsports.com/s.nl/it.A/id.635/.f?sc=22&category=808

Get one of these and you'll never get hassled. A bit spendy but if they are going to make you pay 80 bucks each way this might work out pretty well.

wakebdr2002 · Criminal Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 57 City: Lafayette

I travel with my board (in a regular board bag) several times a year and have never been charged extra. I just got back from a trip last week and they did not say anything.

teamvaldez · Outlaw Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 131 City: Canyon Lake

Just listen to those that are telling you, don't use the word "board" Tell them it is water skis and they should not have a problem.

--cresko-- · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 496

does anyone remember that counterfeit this bonus footage of parks and harf in the airport? Parks doesnt use a bag for his board and just keeps the bindings on, and it comes around the conveyor like that. Just thought it was pretty funny.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Jason_s$r has always used the "golf bag" trick and it has worked for him.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

I just checked mine downstairs and gave the guy a $10 tip. He didn't charge me for it. I had 2 wakeboards, a skate, 2 bindings, towels, shoes, and a heater top in it. It was heavy.

T2Ride · Posted: Jun 01, 2007 11:19 am Post subject:

When I went to Florida I had my board in a wakeboard bag and my roller bag. Both were checked wiht out issue. No extra fees. The lady put down as surf or snowboard equipment, I don't really remember.

pbrmeasap · Newbie Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 14

Last year I flew to Fla from Oregon and took an old board to ride at owc. I just checked it without a bag. They put the baggage claim sticker around the bindings and threw it with the rest of the luggage.

nickl011 · Posted: Jun 01, 2007 3:01 pm Post subject:

pbrmeasap, I'd be chewing out people if they threw my board.

pbrmeasap · Newbie Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 14

It was an old slider board, so I didn't really care, I just didn't want to have to shell out $40/day at OWC to rent a slider board. They didn't really know what to do with it, but I told them to just tag it and thow it in with the luggage. They just said ok, but they weren't responsible for any damage that may occur. When I picked it up at baggage claim there wasn't a scratch on it (at least no new ones).

tmbrown · Outlaw Joined: 03 Jul 2004 Posts: 218 City: East Roseville

wakebrad is on the right track... the clerks at checkin care a lot more... I used to live in CA and go to school in NY... when I went to/from home, I had extra luggage, overweight items, and I'd even awkwardly box my bike up... at the counter it'd cost me $200 to get it all on board, but instead, I'd check my stuff at the curb and give the guy $20... he'd make sure it all got on without any hassles.

Now, you think it would be any easier to carry without the bindings on (throw 'em in your luggage)? I like the idea of the noodle for protection too... and definitely need the bag...

03Belmont · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 4656

I have flown to orlando twice already this year and have had no problems flying with my wakeboards. they havent tired to charge me anymore or anything like that. I just check them and go. Have had no problems. (allegiant air) I have also flown with my board air tran, tma and delta and never had any problems

I have had any problems with damage either I just throw them in these and go.

http://buywake.com/catalog/detail/HY_nVQxp

H20orSnowLetsGo · Posted: Jun 03, 2007 8:40 am Post subject:

Because I don't trust airlines and didn't want to risk getting messed with, I used the idea of those pool noodles (worked great!) and covered the edges all the way around. Where I work I found a box that had shipped some glass item the day before so was like the good quality cardboard with foamy covering.

I do like the idea of putting in a golf bag for next time (amazing, golf gear weights more, YET that's a free item????). I'll just be throwing my bindings(boots) into my check-in luggage.

One person suggested to me for next time... seeing how I'm going to a wakeboard "camp" tell the airline it's "camping gear" since that's a free item and has truth to it Cool