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Has anyone been busted for hiding boards behind golf clubs?

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Jimbud
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Has anyone been busted for hiding boards behind golf clubs?

Postby Jimbud » Fri Sep 28, 2012 6:12 pm

We are headed over to Oahu to do some kiting and golfing soon.
I thought that if we put the boards (2 TT’s) in a black sleeve with no straps or fins in the bottom of our kite bag. Then put a real set of clubs on top. Do you think they would bust us?
The rest of the kites and gear would go in our regular check in bags.
Can we get away with it?

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Re: Has anyone been busted for hiding boards behind golf clu

Postby tmcfarla » Fri Sep 28, 2012 6:33 pm

So far I've gotten away with boards in a golf bags about half the time (I've never had any golfing equipment in there). I think more and more airlines are charging for anything, golfing included. The worst they can really do is charge you for the boards, so I'd say try it but be prepared to pay for boards. No one has yet asked what was in my golf bag, some charge, some don't.

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Re: Has anyone been busted for hiding boards behind golf clu

Postby dt73775 » Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:44 pm

I think it really depends on the person at the counter - I had one guy open my disquise golf bags completely and go through all the stuff kitestuff, and then he just checked it in no charge . Go Figure. Make sure to bundle your stuff or put a net- TSA will open it for sure and if it all falls out , they are just going to stuff all back in - right or wrong.

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Re: Has anyone been busted for hiding boards behind golf clu

Postby tautologies » Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:52 pm

I have. Hawaiian Airlines are overzealous when it comes to charging. They even called me after I had checked in...after they had received the bag to claim there was a board in the bag. I was waiting to board the plane and had to go and talk to them. I just refused as we did not have the bag by the check-in area. By that time I'd rather miss the flight and use someone else then pay.

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Re: Has anyone been busted for hiding boards behind golf clu

Postby Peter_Frank » Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:00 pm

A friend of mine was about to leave his son at the airport with a golf bag.

The crew opened it, and found the kite gear (only).

They were asked to pay almost 800 US dollars for the kitegear, so he chose not to bring it and rent something...

But the airport crew said, there were not one single peace of golf equipment in there ?

So maybe just get a hammered old golf club to put in there and you go free ? :naughty:

:D Peter

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Re: Has anyone been busted for hiding boards behind golf clu

Postby Kupono » Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:18 pm

In Hawaii I use one of the inter-island air freight carriers. They're a lot cheaper than the airlines. Has anyone used airfreight from America to the islands?

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Re: Has anyone been busted for hiding boards behind golf clu

Postby dyyylan » Sat Sep 29, 2012 4:25 pm

Just remember... you're using the bag to bring your golf clubs - you just have enough room in the bag to also put kite gear in there.

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Re: Has anyone been busted for hiding boards behind golf clu

Postby Manuel V » Sat Sep 29, 2012 6:55 pm

Each Airlines have differents Rules for sporting Equipment.

Jet Blue for example don't charge extra for Golf Clubs but they charge $50
For kiteboarding equipment.

http://help.jetblue.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/we ... =obj(2236)

Make a web search of the airline rules to don't have a surprise at the airport.
Because sometimes charges for any "board" equipment are extremely high.

In 2007 I was on a surf trip to Nicaragua and the counter lady open my
surfboard bag and see 3 surfboards she want to charges me $80 per board! = $240
and my airline ticket cost me $365 round trip.
At the end they charge me $80 for the complete bag, but always is a pain to work with extra charges for travelling with "boards". Remember that airlines extra charges are each way.

Always is good to check extra charges cost before buy the travelling tickets
from one airline or the other.

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Re: Has anyone been busted for hiding boards behind golf clu

Postby 20 m or bust » Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:18 pm

Just flew to Oahu with kite gear in golf bag with clubs. Southwest guy opened the bag, saw the board and charged me the $50. Alaska air had no problem with the bag. It is hit or miss. On another point, I would never bring kite gear to Oahu again. The wind is light, we only have had one semi powered session and were skunked 3 times. The top spot is choppy as hell. I would take my inland lakes over the conditions here. It is beautiful water, beaches and temps, but other than that not worth the hassel. I will surf when in Oahu and kiteboard at home. IMHO.

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Re: Has anyone been busted for hiding boards behind golf clu

Postby TomW » Sat Sep 29, 2012 9:20 pm

most airlines know this trick. I was busted in Greece- Santorini- 5 years ago returning to Sweden. they asked
" what's this ? " , me : " it's a golf bag " . them : " yes, buts what's in it ? "
. me : " it's a golf bag ! ", them: " yes I see its a golf bag, but what is inside ? ", me " it has kite gear inside" .
I get a look. they say " next time you pay , get outa here "

my approach now is to pack all kites in vacuum bags and gear except board into big North base camp bag and check it in. surfboard I put in bag and say it is a snowboard. snowboards go cheaper. worked to Canary Islands :)


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