Flying with kit to Maui??????

Hi there,

I know there may well be an answer to my question somewhere in the forum but I'd be buggered if if can find one so here goes;

Heading to Maui next month for 2 weeks.

Decided to take our own gear (hire is upwards from $765AUD for 12 days, all in).

However, the Hawaiian Airlines website isn't very clear at all on the charges, see below....

What exactly do we mean by windsurfing equipment?
Windsurfing equipment is defined as: One Windsurfing Board with a boom and one Mast and Sail
- OR -
Any one portion of the windsurfing equipment as defined above

Charges;

Australia:
Maximum Length: 115 inches in length (292 cm)
Maximum Weight: 70 lbs (32 kg)1 checked piece / per way
From Hawaii / North America to Australia $150 USD
From Australia to Hawaii / North America $150 AUD

Now, we plan on taking 2 x boards and 1 sail bag with (4 x sails, 4 x masts and 2 x booms). The total weight of the sail bag would be less than 32Kg. Each of us will not be checking in luggage - only a carry on.

So, as our kit has 2 extra masts & 2 extra sails do we get slammed $150 for each i.e. $600???? + $450 for the 3 bags???

Or do we just get charged $150 per bag (regardless of their content) i.e. $450??

Or do they mean;

1st - 1 board, 1 sail , 1 mast, 1 boom
2nd - 1 board, 1 sail, 1 mast, 1 boom 3
3rd - 1 sail and 1 mast
4th - 1 sail and 1 mast
I.E. Totaling $600AUD out $600USD back......

When I call they just read out the policy off the net, when I email they just cut & paste the policy......

I just need an answer.

Question;

Does anyone have any experience of taking kit over and bringing it back and what were you charged???

Last year I went I brought a new FSW board in Maui and even though the guys in the shop packaged it in a SUP box with Sup info all over it (they don't charge for SUPs); checkin made me cut open the box to prove it was a SUP and instantly knew from the tail it was a FSW board.....then slogged me $150USD.

If anyone can help or give advice I'd be exceedingly grateful......

Thanks in advance,

Danny

I have taken my gear all over the place, I pack my gear and if checkin ask questions, I answer them in most favourable way possible...

i.e. I put two boards in coffin bag (if asked that's my board with some clothes)
My sail bag sometime 4 sails, boom etc, (if asked that some sails and more clothes)
I try to avoid a discussion about windsurfing, its just surboard and some sails...

Never taken gear to maui, but I have heard and can understand that its one of the few places in the world where the check in staff know what windsurfing really is.

My advice is put roll the extra sails in the same same sail bag, and put the extra mast in the same mast bag, You might find you now have just got one sail, one mast, and one board each...

I would say your less likely to have a problem on the Australia side, than on the Maui side,

Thanks for the responses guys, I really appreciate it.

Really keen to hear if you get any advice from your buddy's son JKimbler, thanks mate.


I sent another email to HA;


Aloha,

Thanks for your reply. So, as I understand even of there are only three pieces of luggage, we would be charged by what's in the 'sail bag? Do I read that correctly?

If my maths is correct. That would mean 4 x $150AUD one way to Maui and 4 x $150USD one way back to Australia? That's $1,000 USD. More than the cost of the flight. A little outrageous don't you think?

I've taken windsurf kit around the world and never been charged that much - ever.

Regards,

Danny


Anyway I got a response in writing from HA;


Aloha Danny,

Thank you for your email.

The charges are 4 x AU$150.00 for the flight from Australia and 4 x US$150.00 for the flight from Hawaii/North America.

We understand when you mentioned that the charges are "a little outrageous" however we have to make sure that we are providing you the correct information to avoid future problems.

We truly appreciate your comment and rest assured that this feedback will be forwarded to our managers for their review and proper handling.

Thank you for choosing Hawaiian Airlines as your travel partner.

Mahalo,

Saldy/G5A
Hawaiian Airlines Reservations


Looks like we'll be hiring then.

What gripes me is that we could rock up with 2 X SUPS for $0 charge........

Don't get caught up on the specifics of their website. I have never been charged flying out of Sydney and only on occasion flying out from Maui heading home. Going with Hawaiian is great because they check your gear all the way through for you so you don't need to stress about the inter island flights. I would suggest one board, one boom, one mast and all your bits and pieces in a board bag and three sails rolled up in one roll in a small separate quiver bag. The last twice I've been I haven't paid an extra cent that way. It does come down to a bit of luck and picking the right check in person though.

ahhh the old flying with kit game

I lived all over the world for about 6 years and took kit with me everywhere. uk to Ireland, morocco, cabo verde, canaries, back to aus, oman and you NEVER know until you get to the check in gate. I used to fly with one board, three sails, two masts, one boom and all bits and i's almost always get away with using my big coffin bag (hint - lift it up a bit on your leg on the scales to reduce weight at check in)

best bet is to do your research online but it sounds like HA suck for travel with kit.

one tip is don't mention windsurf gear! I got stung flying London to masirah island in oman for 500 pounds, so $1000. however from there back to aus I got it on free because I said it was golfing gear (which flies for free with almost all airlines!). kiting bags now are branded as golf bags for this reason

so its always a gamble its nice to have your own kit.

in saying that, I spent two weeks on maui in 2013 and had epic hire gear and could swap and try different boards, sails for the whole time. that was good and almost worth the money - and also not having the stress of flying with kit

oh one more thing. id recommend, if flying with kit, get a ticket that will enable you to check your baggage all the way through to your final destination - DONT fly internally with one airline then change airlines as you'll have to collect then check in your kit and this is where you'll get stung both on time, and with your back pocket.

have fun - it's always an adventure flying with gear

They were good, nice gear, Ezzy sails and Fanatic boards Chinook booms/bases- no hassles - email them and ask for a price if paying in advance.

Swap sails and boards anytime they are open - even swap board for SUP if you have any windless days.

I think you'll find that most of the rental places are the same.

Not the first thread on this that I have responded to, but I'm willing to jump in again.
Been to Maui for windsurfing many times, I never take any gear besides my harness, I have a personal relationship with my harness, kinda like your favorite pair of shoes.
Renting, way too easy, and waaaaay more convenient, besides it's always gear that is more current than my own, so I enjoy trying out newer stuff.
Damage, they have that covered, don't worry about it.
Exchanges, they have that covered, don't like the board(s) or the sails, exchange them for free.
All the rental shops on Maui (the north shore only) have pretty much the same deals, just check them out to see who has the gear you like the best.
Money, from the U.S., extra baggage costs run very close to renting, but a bit less, but when you consider the hassle and worry that is avoided, it is so worth it.
Consider the amount of money you are going to spend on your trip anyway, and what %'age of the cost would be to rent as, opposed to paying extra to bring your own. You will find that it is a very small %'age of what you are going to spend anyway.

I always come home to my gear that has zero damage from the trip, because it stayed at home, safe and sound.
Also I have the option of bringing some kind of newer gear back with me as I have done in the past.

I took an empty board bag with me one time because I was in need of a newer board, so I figured I had nothing to loose. The board bag was rolled up tight and they didn't charge me any extra (but that was about 15 years ago). Anyway, I found the board that I needed, bought it, used it, then bagged it for my trip back (with extra padding like towels and clothes inside the board bag), they charged me $40 extra, but I got a very nice board back home w/o any damage. Good deal, something to consider.

Thanks for the responses guys, I'm leaning towards rental option now. Purely to avoid stress & possible charges which could exceed rental anyway.

Just gotta decide where to hire from now......