flying Sun Country with kites...

[smrsco]

I'm headed to SPI the first week in November and was planing on using a golf style kite bag under the assumption that golf gear flies for free. I made a call to Sun Country the other day to make sure my assumption was correct before I dropped $150 on a bag. Here's how I understand it:

Golf bag if oversized(and if you've got a board in your bag it will be oversized): $75.00 each way

Surf/windfsurfing kit: $90 each way

As far as Sun Country is concerned a golf bag will only save you $30 round trip.

Do any shops in SPI rent boards? As an option I was wondering if you could send your board(s) to a Post Office in SPI and have them hold it till you arrive? That would be a good cheap alternative.

[Bryce]

From their website

Took the relevant parts..

Sporting Equipment
One (1) item of the following sporting equipment may be substituted for one of your checked baggage.

[cut]

* Golfing Equipment
One (1) item of golfing equipment consists of: one (1) golf bag containing not more than 20 golf clubs and one (1) pair of golf shoes.

[cut]

The following sporting equipment will not be counted as a piece of your checked baggage allowance, and require additional fees.

[cut]

* Surfboard/Wakeboard
The charge for one (1) surfboard checked as baggage is $90 on all flights. The maximum length is five (5) feet.
* Windsurfing Equipment
One item of windsurfing equipment consists of: One (1) windsurfing board with a wooden boom, one (1) mast with a maximum length of five (5) feet and one (1) sail. The charge is $90 on all flights.

Seems you can you can substitute a golf bag for one of your checked bags and that is what I have done in the past. (Once to SPI and once to seattle).

(Although it looks like you have to pay a $12 fee for any checked bag)

Technically it seems that putting kiting gear in a golf bag would still be golfing equipment (since it is in a golf bag... has less then 20 clubs and 1 or less golf shoes).

[smrsco]

Bryce-

That's what I thought too until I called(twice to be sure) and got the same answer. I think you can substitute a golf bay for your carry-on without any fee as long as it's not oversized. Once it's over 62 linear inches I think you're going to pay. I also get a feeling this is a new policy.


I just called USPS and it's possible to send a package and have it held at the post office in SPI. I did a rough package estimate on there site and it looks like it would cost between $20-$30 to to ship a box with 2 boards(no bindings) from Mpls to SPI. Sounds like a decent option. Kind of a pain but a hell of a lot cheaper than $150 best case scenario on Sun Country.

[Bryce]

You were also supposed to be able to bring along a snowboard and skis with out fees and those would oversized also. I wonder if the policy has changed with them also.

I guess I could see them getting strict with their fees... bummer.

[smrsco]

I know, that's what doesn't quite make sense. Skis, snowboards, and golf bags are all oversized in you're using 62 linear inches for the measure. Maybe someone else wants to call Sun Country and triple check.

[RobH]

With the current state of Sun Country and the employees taking a hit on wages until the end of the year - I would expect that nothing is free when it comes to bags anymore and if they can find a way to charge you they will. (If I was a Sun Country check in person taking a hit and worried about a job, I would charge you every way I could to get revenue back into corp.)

With a number of people traveling to SPI from MN we should find a way to at least ship the boards or offer $$$ to those making the drive down to carry equipment if they have the room.

Scott R - do you still have H and I covered for November ???

[Michelle]

We took our "golf" kite bag on Sun Country in April and were charged for the oversize fee as it was over the 62 linear inches. I told the lady that it was a golf bag and she said that the free golf bag rule only applies if it is less that 62 inches. I asked her how many golf bags she had seen which were less that that and she couldn't answer. So we were charged the fee. We only had boards in the bag, so it was light, we carried out kites as hand luggage. I have heard that if your bag is overweight, you get charged for that too - so there is the possibility of being charged twice on one bag!

For those who are driving down - you may be able to make a business out of charging to bring peoples equipment for a fee. I am also looking into the fedex option for November.

[TV]

wooden boom ???

[mdh01]

To answer the question about rental boards...yes, you can probably rent a board while you are there. I did that last November...both shops in town rented. Seems like it was less than $75 for the 4 days I kited....

I was then able to pack three kites into a standard golf bag, so it wasn't considered over size.

Mark

[JRN]

How about stickers to put all over the boards that say "SNOWBOARD"? Airtran wanted to charge me for a kiteboard, until I told them it was "like a Snowboard." Maybe prominent stickers on the kites saying "snowkite"? If it bothers your conscience, sprinkle some snow on your gear when you get back. I would trust UPS more than USPS to deliver stuff intact. I have heard of sending items ahead to your hotel of choice. Might be a better option than schlepping all that crap through the Airport.

[Michelle]

I should just add that this is my experience with Sun Country.
I have been able to fly with my golf bag for free many times on Northwest - no questions asked, so for those who are flying with other airlines, the golf/kite bag works great.

[larryg]

I will be driving my truck to SPI leaving Nov. 8th and will have room for some extra gear if anybody would like to send it with me. I fly back and leave my truck there until April so you would still have to bring it back (or leave it there til April).

[Kevinousdigian]

smrso - drop me an email with your contact info. Maybe we can hook up because I'll be down there Nov 5-10. kevin.ousdigian@gmail.com

I think the fee for a 'normal' checked bag depends on when you bought your ticket.

Is it ok to bring your bar/lines on the plane or will they think your up to something?

KO

[Dopper]

If anybody knows how to get a windsurf board/boom and mast on a plane and keep it under 5 feet in length then I want to know there secret. I didn't know they had fold-up rigs? I brought a 4.8 sail back from Az. last year on Sun Country. It was 6 ft in length. and weighed 7 lbs. (it was a dacron super freak) They had security check it out first. They wouldn't let me board the plane until security was done doing that. I only got it on the plane at all (1st) and without overcharges (2nd) after pleading my case to the airport manager. The pilot had to hold the plane up for take off until they let me board. When I boarded the other passengers were upset because I had delayed take-off and looked at me like I was a terrorist. Never again!

[Rookie Renstrom]

Im also driving down at the end of October and heading back the beginning of December . So If anybody wants to send there boards down with me. 952-936-035six

ride on,
Gary ~

[scottman]

Rob Hyland, I never really heard from you from the first offer, but here's my trip plans and I should hvae room for all your gear depending on what you want to bring, give me a list of stuff that you would want to be brought down and I'll let you know if I have the room or not, but anyways here are my driving plans: Leave Friday 11-21 at about 1:00pm from work, drive straight through and get there Saturday 11-22 hopefully around the same time frame. Sos far Caroline is going with but that might change being her company is closing in December and she is working on a new job, if it goes through she would start to work in late October at her new job, but we still don't know the details. If she does not go then moree than likely I will be traveling by myself down there, no big deal. So Rob, let me know what gear you need nme to haul and I'll make room and if the dates are good for you, I would hate for you to be down there and it blow Saturday morning and I don't get there until 1 or 2pm, it's up to you just let me know. I might just have room for someone lese's boards too if need be?

[djmadmike]

I will pay someone to cart my gear down there! I have a fear that if I fill my Best blue golf bag it may come in overweight too---double yikes!

Granted it was awhile ago I flew on Continental and left the 2 large pockets on my blue golf bag empty and got it on for free as a golf bag.

Gone are the days when I used to load up the golf bag and slip the guy outside a 10 spot. sniff sniff

I don't imagine I will be doing much kiting here in MN around Nov anyway!

Email me an offer djmad_mike AT Yahoo Dot com

Can't wait to see everyone in SPI!!!
Mike N