Hi all.
Can you guys tell the best way to travel with my TT 5.2? In its own bag or envolved in plastic?
Other thing: some people say that is better to say to the airline company that is a wakeboard and not a kiteboard. Does it work?
Thanks a lot.

PNey
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

Hi,

Are you travelling with your board only, or do you take kites with you?

I normally take a bag where I put board and kite in, then I tell the airline that these are paragliders, which I can take for free or pay less than a surfboard.
Depending on the airline you can choose what to say. Normally the surfboard option is the most expensive. Wake or waterski is good too, normally for free. If you take a board without kites use a boardbag or wrap it up. Fins and footstraps off. The guys at the airline always throw the stuff around.
Make sure that you cover the edges.

Enjoy your holidays

Toby

Hi Tobias. It´s me, PNey.
I use to travel with my paraglider and they don´t charge me extra tax for it, as you well said.
That´s a good idea to put the kites together with the board in the board bag, but I´m afraid that in the check-in they charge me for the extra size.
Well, let´s see...
I think that it´s good idea to put everything together in the bag and tell them that it is a paraglider.
Thanks, Toby.
PNey

Hi Toby.
I use to travel with my paraglider and they don´t charge me extra tax for it, as you well said.
That´s a good idea to put the kites together with the board in the board bag, but I´m afraid that in the check-in they charge me for the extra size.
Well, let´s see...
I think that it´s good idea to put everything together in the bag and tell them that it is a paraglider.
Thanks, Toby.

Just give it a try.
If you don't try, you have to pay anyway, but maybe it works and it will be for free.
Make sure to put the kites on top, so if they want to see it, you show them the kites.
Check in the internet at the site of the airline for sports baggage, everything should be explained with sizes.

travelling:

most flight-agencies don't know kitesurfing.
so, u got three sports to tell them
if you say, you got a windsurf-equipment, they will charge you.

if you tell them it's a wakeboard, they won't believe you, if it is too long.

best thing is to tell them it's a waveriding-surfboard. they go for free in most cases.

but always be sure to wrap enough stuff around your baby (kites, towels, neoprene)
so it won't get hurt

Hi PNey, I think you're getting ready for Cabarete?

If you are coming from the US, you have a few options. Trust me. I've done the trip 3 times.

If board is by itself, you can say it's a wakeboard and it will go free of charge.

If board is packed with kites and is less than 62" (check american site for bagge size), you may be able to get away with wakeboard and high altitude kites for free.

If you have a savvy check in person, tell them it's a surfboard and some kites. They charge $50 each way for a surfboard, and $75 each other for windsurfing gear... go figure!

Coming back from POP, if bag is light enough, even if stuff is in a board bag, they general won't charge. But if your bag is heavy, they will charge....

hope this helps!

oops sorry. just noticed you were coming from Brazil. Still, I think the tips I gave you still apply although carriers in other countries don't seem to be as strict as in the US... it always depends on the agent you get.. just like customs!

Yeah... Ready to go to Cabarete next week...
Thank you guys very much for the opinions.
I bougth a board bag that is exactly the size of my board (5.2) and a little bit higher. I´m going to put the kites and something else in it and tell them that´s a wakeboad.
I´ve contacted the American Airlines and they don´t charge wakeboards.
I hope the person in the checkin believes in me.
Thanks a lot guys...
PNey