Having a fine time over here in Indo but it cost me a bit more to get here than i expected. Only brought one surfboard, one kite board, two kites and minimal other gear and still came in at 32kg's.

Thats 12 kg's over the miesly 20 kg allowance, and that is with me carrying on perhaps 10 kg's.

the $20 a kg is over the top - perhaps $5 - $10 could be ok. - the tickets where not that cheap and in fact they end up charging me in US $, which I was not aware of - that sucked to.

So they hit me up for another $240 just to get here and when I go back it will be the same again plus any extra with gear I buy - so as you can imagine i think it is pretty rude. (all up extra $500 or so)

Only by letting other crew know that this company will treat you like this if you pursue a couple of these fantastic water sports, if some people start voting with there bookings it could make a difference in the future.

I won't be flying with them again.

Just a tip Ioz..........

Make sure your gear is as dry as possible when you're flying back. Damp gear can easily add another 3-5 kilos to your overall baggage weight, and Jetsar will gladly charge you for every additional gram.

Garuda have a mixed safety record to say the least! I would definitely think twice about fly Garuda inside Indo as the planes are so old and dodgie... No problems flying International with them but try not to fly internally with them unless u have too and it's from experience that I say this!

merpati is the real one to watch for, last time i flew with them inter-islands they did their pre flight safety check by bashing the wings with a rubber mallet, i kid you not!
i think they name changed to adam air to throw off their dismal safety record... garuda is fine international and very generous with over weight luggage, came home last season with 42kgs of crap and after some animated pleading and begging and showing my passport to show how often i visit indo with garuda, they let me bring it all home sans excess charge.

going with jet star in nov only cause the ticket was free, not looking forward to trying to get my sup on board.

yeah, went with Garuda recently. They allowed 15kgs for sports stuff per/p. The 2 of us had 30kgs excess to play with, worked out well with 2 kites, board, etc.

Would suck if you had to pay more for your excess than the flight.

the gaz said...

yeah, went with Garuda recently. They allowed 15kgs for sports stuff per/p. The 2 of us had 30kgs excess to play with, worked out well with 2 kites, board, etc.

Yeap also went Garuda in July with the family so I took 3 shortboards and a long board no problemo

cRAZY Canuk said...

Just got back form the Cook Islands and where on Pacific Blue they used the old Virgin Blue baggage rules (1 bag of sports equipment = 5kg of your allowance) stuffed us up a bit but they where saying that all international Pacific Blue flights are still supposed to be using that rule.

Internally in Aus Virgin Blue is 28kg total

Yep same here, just back from Bali with Pacific blue (Virgin), 1 x kite gear bag around 22kg, leavin oz the friendly checkin girl let me know it only counted for 5kg of checked baggage, told me to shop up !!!! So I could have checked a second bag with another 15kg in it.

Travel Virgin pack 2 bags, call one as sports gear and use up the whole 20kg allowance in it.

Easy checkin both ways, very friendly helpful staff, go Virgin

the airlines are certainly making it more of a challenge for us to travel and heavy penalties for us if we are over.. so far ive been pinged once in the last 3 years and have not repeated that episode.. make sure u do your homework and find out the airlines allowance.. i only fly with a 129 twin tip and a 130cm kitebag and it gets me thru the check in at airports.. the airlines are very strict about checkin luggage been a certain weight but lax on the carry on luggage.. if your taking a surfboard or SUP with u then theres no escape.. i fly air asia alot and they have a 15 kg limit and will ping u for any obvious sports board u have.. and now will actually ask u to open your bag to make sure your not telling fibbies about it.. as long as the board is at the bottom of the bag and there are clothes on the surface there isnt a prob.. ive been cleared everytime.. with air asia having the 15 kg limit i have to carry the bar/lines and harness and kite on me and get thru with a smile.. it wont last forever but its good while it is.. more money for beer :)

2 kites, twin tip, surfboard is around 19 kgs if packed in a board bag. When going to bali wear the oldest clothes you have and buy the rest over there as you throw out your old rags. Bag limits are LIMITS, expect to pay more if youre over. Poor airlines are crying poor

travel qantas, pay the extra, get a meal, quality service and relaxed baggage limits or winge like old mate ioz about a few bucks for his surfing and kite quiver!

next he'll be winging that the guy sitting next to him was wearing a singlet stubbies and thongs.....sheesh.

That happened to me when returning from a season at the snow last year, tried hitting me up for $300 I ended up putting on two pairs of board pants, both my snow jackets, carrying on such things as snowboard boots and bindings....still coast me like $140 but managed to half the original price atleast!!!

KitingCasey said...

That happened to me when returning from a season at the snow last year, tried hitting me up for $300 I ended up putting on two pairs of board pants, both my snow jackets, carrying on such things as snowboard boots and bindings....still coast me like $140 but managed to half the original price atleast!!!

Same thing happened to me on a recent trip to NZ. Flew over with Virgin, no problems at all with their sports allowance. Returned with Jetstar and had issues trying to get under the limit. Ended up putting on all of my clothes, one top after another then taking off the lot in one go and tying them around my waist. Snowboard boots were heavy so it made sense to wear them on the plane Put my helmet on for the photos taken by my mates before checking in... nearly checked in wearing it just for a laugh.

Ended up paying about $100 but was pleasantly surprised when my credit card statement confirmed it was $NZ and converted to about $80 AUD. Having said all that it was my own fault, should have packed less. Will remember for next time but will certainly chose Virgin over other carriers whenever I can.

sounds like nobody is weighing thier stuff before they go to the airport...they just go and hope they are under...couple of kites...couple of boards..and the rest of the stuff...bingo!! your way over...and who wants to go if you cant take all the toys...you can pre purchase kilos when you buy your ticket, and it will be a lot cheaper than what the smiling lady at check in will charge you, and if your still over you can say oh come on give us a break! i've allready bought extra kilos, and you have more chance of them waving you through...workes for me...oh and go vigin or garuda.

the gaz said...

yeah, went with Garuda recently. They allowed 15kgs for sports stuff per/p. The 2 of us had 30kgs excess to play with, worked out well with 2 kites, board, etc.

Would suck if you had to pay more for your excess than the flight.

i just came back from Bali with garuda on anew plane !! was all good
the real plan is to get to airport early, like be the first one to check in and then get the hard luck story rolling you have a far beter chance with an empty plane, rather than being passenger number 176 rolling in with excess

hey Gaz is that you kiting at Peli on your avtar ? bring back the frog!

greenleader said...

travel qantas, pay the extra, get a meal, quality service and relaxed baggage limits or winge like old mate ioz about a few bucks for his surfing and kite quiver!

next he'll be winging that the guy sitting next to him was wearing a singlet stubbies and thongs.....sheesh.

qantas absolutely fingered me on way from brissy ay 23kg with 39 on me. weighed everything wouldnt let me have my initial carry on as a carryon becus it was too big aparantly but it was just a large back pack (similar to kite bags) i ended up wearing 10 shirts a jumper 3 shorts jeans, throwin out towels n **** i dont need to weigh in.. still like 8k ove limit paid up big time... ONLY to as soon as all that i just chukd it in my big kite travel bag and no dramas... wish i knew that **** earlier wudnt of thrown all my stuff out