Hi,
which airline do you choose to fly in Australia with backpack(~15kg) and kite (10-15kg?)?
I`ve read Virgin blue seems to be better than Jetstar.
And do you have some tips or things i should know (for example things i should say when i check in?)
After that we have a flight from Brisbane to Frankfurt with Etihad Airways. It seems to be a bit of gambling when you dont want to pay. Do you have some advise?
Cheers
I only fly Virgin in Australia with kiting equipment. Jetstar are very unfriendly when it comes to baggage.
Check the Virgin web site for detailshttp://www.virginblue.com.au/Personal/Flightinfo/BeforeYouFly/Baggagedangerousgoods/Baggage/Baggageallowanceexcessbaggage/index.htm
Sports Equipment
If you are travelling with Sports Equipment on a Virgin Blue domestic flight, you will be eligible to check-in an extra 5kg of baggage allowance free of charge. This additional allowance is allocated above your purchased checked baggage allowance for Blue Saver or GO! Fares or above the inclusive checked baggage allowance for Velocity Gold and Silver Members or for Guests travelling on Flexible, Corporate Plus or Premium Economy fares.
Excess baggage charges will apply once the full allowance, including the additional 5kg allowance, has been exceeded.
If you are taking only sporting goods and you are travelling on a Blue Saver or GO! fare, you will still be required to purchase the checked baggage allowance of up to 23 kg. Remember you can pre-purchase this allowance for $10 per flight before you arrive at the airport otherwise you will be charged a $20 fee at the airport.
For example, if you have purchased a baggage allowance of 23kg, and are travelling with a bike, you will be eligible for a total checked baggage allowance of 28kg. If your bike weighs 10kg, you will be able to take additional checked baggage (such as a suitcase) weighing up to 18kg.
If you are travelling with Sports Equipment on a Pacific Blue or Polynesian Blue international flight, your baggage allowance will not be increased, but your Sports Equipment will represent 5kg of your baggage allowance (regardless of the actual weight of the equipment).
As an example, assume your baggage allowance is 20kg, and you are travelling with a set of golf clubs:
* Your golf clubs will be considered to weigh 5kg (regardless of their actual weight).
* Your remaining baggage allowance will be 15kg (20kg total allowance minus 5kg for golf clubs).
* You will be able to take other checked baggage (such as a suitcase) weighing up to 15kg without incurring excess baggage charges.
Excess baggage charges will apply once your total baggage allowance has been exceeded.
Sporting Equipment includes but is not restricted to:
* Bikes
* Golf clubs
* Snow skis
* Surfboards
* Cricket/tennis bags
Agree-if you can avoid CrapStar and go with VB-do it-waaaay better with sports equipment-same thing going O/S with CS v. VB.
Definitely Virgin Blue.
Their old sporting goods policy was much MUCH better than their new one (Any sporting goods up to 23kg only count as 5kg of your baggage allowance), but they're much more pleasant about checking in a board bag with a couple of kites... whilst Jetstar just greedily rub their hands together when you walk up the check in counter with a board bag.
Said it before...
Take a normal 'Suit' bag as carry on and a backpack (kite).
In the suit bag goes kites, wetsuits, harness (no spreader bar) etc. Leaving only your bar and board for checked luggage.
Half the time boards are checked in at 'oversized' luggage somewhere else AFTER you have weighed in at check in. So feel free to stuff your bag with bars etc between the weigh in and oversize check in...
I love playing the check in game
Just been to fiji with jetstar
The luggage was under their weight limits so had no problems at all could have been simpler
IMO Virgin Blue are the go. Last time I was travelling with a lot of luggage plus kite gear, and the extra allowance for the sporting gear was excellent, however, I was just slightly over the total combined weight limit so they did of course dutifully charge me for every additional gram.
