Just thought I give people a heads up on not flying with Jetstar. They are seriously ferocious with luggage limits and even though you may pay less for the ticket they try to recoup revenue through excess baggage charges.
I got stung $70 for the 7 extra kilos i had over their 20 kg limit.

On a postive note Virgin treat kites and surfboards and snow boards as sporting gear and dont include it. I went to Nz recently with a lot of gear and had no problems.

A girl from Cairns just won the World champs motnain biking and flew home with Qantas who chargeed her 18$ a kilo for her bikes and racing gear ....$600 thanks perhaps they should be called ****as...

In summary - choose virgin. Keep your roller bags below 27 kg and stay away from Jetstar and ****as.

Never had a problem with garuda....

QANTAS are the roughest assmaters, last time i put 2 boardcovers on my favorite stick and still it got trashed.

I've had good experiences with garuda as well. 4 people travelling with 35KG each and no one even mentioned excess baggage.

Just a note to never have over 32kg in one bag because regardless of charges, most airlines won't accept it. That's where a DaKine BTS bag which splits in two is handy.

I'm just about to go to NZ with Air NZ and I have it on a hot tip from a lady who does check in for them that they WILL charge on anything over 23KG. She recommended ringing to office a few days before hand to try to ask for a raised limit.

What about a qantas -jetsstar link? I am on one in a few weeks to noosa wonder what happens there? I guess I will have to deal with Qantas first on the way but Jetstar on return?

I work in the airline industry so here are a few tips. Low cost airlines are very strict with check in times and weight of baggage worlwide, so always check allowances on your ticket and avoid exceeding them.
Since the rise in fuel prices mainstream carriers have become very stringent regarding excess baggage. This is compounded by the fact airlines have casual contract staff on commision in certain ports so there may be a charge one way yet not the other. (e.g. Mexico $50u.s. per board back to lax, $20u.s. per board inter island Hawaii). The golf bag deceiver does work because some airlines charge for oversize items(but not golf bags) A phone call prior, and a polite chat with check in staff can often avoid any excess charges; but if you chance going over the 30kg check limit/7kg hand luggage (or ticket specified weight) and they want to charge you are beter off organising seperate air freght. Alot of the guys on the asp tour use qantas because they are good with boards. Bon Voyage

Ill back you up on that Pearl as I am also very familiar with the industry. Qantas are actually very good with kitesurfing equipment. With most Board bags like the Dakine BTS/Coffin/Golf bags youll be fine as long as you within your baggage weight allowance. You luggage is just 'sporting equipment' and more then likely going to be checked in and collected from the 'oversized' baggage counters. This is no drama but I am only talking about kitesurfing equipment NOT bikes or other items. Qantas provide more then enough weight for a economy passenger's kitesurfing gear. I have travelled nearly everyday with kitesurfing equipment and its alot easier using Qantas/Virgin. Unfortunately with the rise in fuel and the critical deadlines that airlines like Jetstar have they are becoming quite strict but can I just say with regards to airlines like Garuda being easy going...there are REASONS why they are and there are reasons why they have a track record like they do. I know I would prefer to fly a carrier that is more strict on weight so I know how heavy my plane is for take off and landing! My tip would be to try and avoid flying Garuda. Airlines make glammy commercials with good looking people smiling and enjoying great service, food and inflight entertainment. Most people judge an an airline on all these things as being good or bad. They never have commercials that describe what type of engines they use, who is servicing their aircraft, how they are serviced, how old their aircraft are and what kind of training their staff have etc.

yeah kite crazzy,

I have 4.1kgs of boogy-board that Id like you to carry for me "just in case of excess baggage".

Bring your wife-girlfriend and tell her were going to survivor , just 1 personal item and your bikinis

Twice with Qantas.
1st time to NZ no hassle leaving, $316 XS to return with same gear.
2nd time Fiji, $212 XS but waived via a $40 cash payment to the checkin clerk.

Qantas are Virgin's marketing company.

Jetstar is definitely the very last airline I will ever choose. Only flew with them once, and that would be the last. Service is bad, manners of staff are totally unacceptable and of course (both on phone and at counter), and of course they have absolutely no leniency on anything. Wonder how long they will survive in the market. Lets all not fly jetstar!