hi guys,

while on my travels with my boat i have mostly driven, although the time is soon aproaching to fly. my problem is that there are currently boat bags on the market for play boats and small all purpose boats, but non (that i know of) for large creek/river boats.

has anyone had to find large bags???
or will airlines allow the large boats on without one????

any help's gud help, cheers.

i have driven with boats, carried them on planes and send them via cargo...

overall, there's no fixed rule with the airlines and the rule of just showing up and hoping for a helpful check in (lady) still counts.

as mentioned, they don't ask for bags but (nowadays) for money and this usually is negotiable.

if it's a charter you will get away better, also (usually) the cheaper/smaller airlines will let you get away with it. standard airlines (qatar, lufthansa, BA, Thai, IA, Aeroflot, RNA) all charged money which varied from a whooping 380$ to a bearable 30$.

Best is to ask (before you buy the ticket) if it is possible to get a fixed charge (lufthansa does so for 100$ both ways).

all the rest is open to the gods, the desk lady, the size of your boat, the size of lef luggage compartment in the plane and and and...

so there' s nothing really fixed to say but best is to get some direct inquiries from the airlines you might want to fly with and then bargain...

as mentioned, there are airlines/destinations which wont give you hassle (at least on way but who knows about your way back....

www.shivaoutdoors.com/boathousenepal (no infos of flying but of destinations/rivers/trips)

Friends of mine flew from uk to Norway a couple years back. they weighed their boats then chucked them in over sized baggage, some had stuff inside with cockpit covers on others just had empty boats! oh and they were from birmingham uni kayak club if thats any help.

Also several other friend have flown over to the zam and nile no problems with kayaks, Most airlines give you baggage alloxance for sporting equipment, normal luggage, hand luggage and camera equipment which caan go in the plane with you aswell as your hand luggage.

Try ringing your airline and ask them what the weight limits are

Good luck

cheers guys, will do.......

nice to see the detail too.