overweight

[peterrib]

Checked in with United for the first leg of my trip and my deceiver bag came in a few #s over. At home I thought no big deal. At the baggage check they wanted an oversized bag fee plus $125 for the overweight. And they were were not even nice about it. Had to repack carry ons to remedy the weight issue. That was a totally new experience. The same bag has been to the Dominican and Florida with no issues. Live and learn.
Looking forward to wave riding on the central Calif coast.
Cheers, Peter

[djmadmike]

Bugger on that. The airlines are sticklers now.

Anyone have a bag report on Sun Country to SPI? I have a big blue best golf bag, but hoping I don't have to pay an over sized fee.

Rock on
Mike T Nelson

[BBAddict]

Mike, unfortunately Sun Country has figured out people don't go to Harlingen to golf! It's highly uncommon to get away with it anymore. Last time I flew SC, they didn't even ask; just charged the fee.

Good luck!

[djmadmike]

Bugger man! That happened to me too and I was hoping it was better.

Did they just charge you the standard overweight fee of 75 clams? If that is the deal, I am going to cram my bag full since I will be paying for it anyway (keeping under 100 lbs though)

rock on
Mike N

[BBAddict]

I remember it being $90. It was an oversize fee based on the dimensions of the bag. I think I recall people being charged double for oversize and overweight, but I've usually just been charged one fee for oversize and I know mine weighed near 70 lbs.

[Professor Robae']

UPS your kit!!!

I have a couple sailing buddies that do this every time and swear by it. Send it ground, plenty early, to your hotel and track it.

No schlepping - SAVE YOUR BACK - at a lower cost!

Have fun! - the Professor'

[Elkman]

I flew Sun Country from Minneapolis to Harlingen. When I left MSP, the people at the counter charged me $75 for the bag, because it was both oversize and overweight. (The agents had to check through their rulebook to determine what fee applied, but it was apparently just one fee.)

On the way back this morning, the people at the counter asked, "What's in the bag? Surfboards?" I answered, "Yeah." (Close enough, and I didn't want to explain the difference between surfboarding and kiteboarding.) I let it slip that I had two boards in there. Apparently, Sun Country charges $75 per "surfboard", even though my two kiteboards weren't as big as one surfboard. The net result is that I had to pay $150 in ransom to bring my kite equipment back from South Padre.

The moral of the story: Don't tell them you're carrying two surfboards, even if they're in one bag. Just say it's sports equipment.

By the way, I left MSP with one board, but returned with two. I had so much success with the Spleene Door on Friday and Saturday that I had to buy one of my own.

[peterrib]

Hey All,
Second leg of my trip from Tucson to California on US Airways there was no additional bag charge. No oversize and didn't even weigh it. I have Fed ex'd equipment to Tex in the past and it's cheap and inexpensive, my Slpeene 64 is too big to get into any bag. This trip I've just got a small board so thought I'd carry it. So far in Pismo, no wind insight but lots of paddle boarders. Got the week to wait for wind.
Cheers, Peter

[Reds]

When the American Air tix agent found out my "golf bag" didnt have any golf clubs in it he paged me on the concourse. I called him from the gate he said "there are no golf clubs in you bag" I said "kite gear", he said "$100". I paid. (on top of the $50 I already paid for checking two bags). On the way home (from Miami) I went curbside to the skycap. He was nice to me and diddn'y say boo. $5 tip. Always go skycap if available. Also fyi...when they say 60 linear inches...thats the total of L x W x H measurments, I guess. You gotta pay to play. Good thing this sport is worth it!

[alf]

Reds,
I fly american all the time, and if you look on their website under baggage regulations, there is no additional charge for "kiteboarding" equipment as long as you are within the weight limits. Even if it is in a "Golf" bag. If I were you, I would complain to AA and get your $100 back.

[djmadmike]

Great info to know. Yikes 150 clams for one bag--eeek gads man. I may have to break out a $20 for the sky cap

Rock on
Mike T Nelson

[peterrib]

Moved up the coast to find wind Wed and got some good riding out of San Simeon Thurs. Self launches with all the debris on a narrow beach was new but doable. Locals were friendly and fun to watch on their directionals on the big surf.
Flew home out of Santa Barbara on Delta, checked 2 bags, no charge at all,....didn't ask!