Hi

I am flying to Cairns this winter for my first kiteboarding holiday and was wondering what experience pople have had with taking their kit on the plane. I assume I will have to book excess baggage for the kite, harness board etc so which is the best airline to fly with?

Cheers

This is a very recent topic on people who are flying up to Cairns for the Kiteweek - Small amount of info on Virgin and Jetstar, but they seem to be the preferences, or most commonly used.

seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19252

Goodwinds and have fun!

Elizabeth B8 - Wello Kiter

Dont fly jetstar they are arsehole $7 per kilo for anything over 20 kg

One of the reps just flew syd - cairns on virgin with 2 huge coffins and didnt have to pay

qauntas are usually ok

your bags cant be over 28kg

Cairns is going off this weekend

massive social day in port douglas today

Bruce

I'll back uo Virgin Blue as well, no questions asked when I flew to Townsville last weekend with a 25kg 1.55cm long wheelie golf bag
Staff are heaps friendly, and the onboard safety drill and stuff was very entertaining!!!

Pretty sure the max weight for a single bag is still 32kg, but if it is 32.1, they will make you unpack and remove something.

Stick to around 25-28kg, its easier on your back too. Definintely use wheelie bags if you are taking 2 kites and a board.
Don't take both kite bags. Take some repair tape for your kite, the Flexi clear mylar stuff is excellent.
http://www.kitepower.com.au/catalog/category_302_Other_Accessories.html

Don't pack your wetsuit, you won't need it, just shorts and a thermal 1.5mm wettie top maybe.

Your big bag may not come out with the other bags on the luggage carousel at the airports, they often just shove them out a door and leave them laying there, so check where they will dump the oversize luggage.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve McCormack

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Originally posted by junglist

Hi

I am flying to Cairns this winter for my first kiteboarding holiday and was wondering what experience pople have had with taking their kit on the plane. I assume I will have to book excess baggage for the kite, harness board etc so which is the best airline to fly with?

Cheers

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Guys... try to keep the 'sporting equipment' seperate from your clothes and extra gear. If you have a split rolling kite bag make sure you pack the essential kite gear in one compartment/bag and clothes or extra item in the other bag. Split the bags apart upon checkin for when they get labeled and weighed. Tell them you have sporting equipment in one bag and clothes etc in the other. If you are flying Qantas you will not have to pay for excess luggage unless you go over their weight limit. I think Virgin may have the same policy.

It is most likely that your bags will be 'oversized' luggage and after check in you will get a special label put on your back and then be asked to go to the 'special/oversized' luggage counter. Upon arrival at your final port of destination yes...you may have to collect your luggage from the oversized/speacial baggage collection area...so dont freak out if you dont find it on the normal collection carousel. Upon collection simply strap the split bags together and wheel it away!!!

also dont forget that Cairns has an international port and it is possible to travel from SYD/BNE INTL to CNS on an international flight (No this does mean you get duty free!) sometimes these flights can be quite cheap because they want to put bums on seats. You just need to make sure you have a current passport and you keep your boarding pass on you that has 'D' sticker on it otherwise you aint getting off!

We’ve got an old boogie board bag you can borrow if you enjoy the snapping sound of rubber gloves