Kayakers often ask, “How does Huge Experiences’ move a high school with their kayaks?” Response, “We fly with them.” Flying with your kayak may be intimidating at first but it is similar to flying with normal luggage.
Flying with your kayak may be easier than you think.
The goal with this kayak travel segment is to teach you how to fly internationally with your kayak gear at an economical rate.
Let’s break it down into steps:
1. Choose a kayak friendly airline. Airlines post their oversize baggage specifications whether they allow or “blacklist” kayaks. Stay away from airlines that do not allow kayaks as oversize luggage. If you use the rules in this article you may still be able to fly with a blacklist airline but don’t count on it.
Know weight and size allowance: Bags are free under 50 pounds, but will be classified as oversize based on dimensions and weight. Your max limit maybe around 115” (l+w+h) and typically = $80 fee. Freestyle kayaks are around 74” l+ 13” h + 25” w. Check the oversize baggage allowance for your airline.
2. Packing your kayak you will need: packing tape, sharpie, strap, boat bag or alternative kayak wrap.
A. Label each piece of gear.
B. Stuff lightweight items like fleece, dry tops, skirts, and booties into foot and stern compartments. Do not exceed 50 pounds unless you are fine with a possible second oversize fee for dimension and weight.
C. Brace your paddle(s). Use sleeping bags, sleeping pads, pfds, sandals, and any bulky items to provide support between your kayak and paddle. Tape and wrap the paddle well to the cockpit rim. I have observed non-braced paddles break.
D. Wrap to protect. You can use a kayak bag, but they are hard to find and end up being an additional awkward piece of gear you will have to keep up with during the entirety of your travels.
I use a disposable tarp or tough blanket from a thrift store. Wrap the kayak well with the tarp and secure with packing tape. You can use the tarp later as a ground cloth for camping. Tarps are also disposable and easy to pack during travel.
E. Make a handle for the skycaps. Imagine that skycaps hate heavy awkward to carry luggage. So, make it easy to carry.
a. Cut a hole in your wrapping system at the cockpit rim allowing for a handle.
b. Or make a shoulder strap that you previously built prior to wrapping. The shoulder strap can be a later needed piece of webbing that ties around the bow and stern and protrudes out of two holes from the tarp.
F. Label, Label, Label- Where will you be, where are you going, which flight number is it?
3. Checking in:
A. Show up 3 hours early. You have large luggage and if the plane is nearly full the counter person is likely to turn you down. If you are one of the earliest then there is little stress related to an over packed plan belly. Plus, you will want the extra time to carry your heavy gear.
B. What to say. International kayakers have to avoid the word “Kayak.”
The word “Kayak” is an expensive word at airports that is often charged twice as much as other similar sized items. Kayakers have learned to refer to the craft as a “surf ski.” What is a “surf ski?” A surf ski is something you sit on top of and surf in the ocean. It is like a surf board because of its design and you surf it in the ocean. Actually, surf skis are much larger than kayaks. The reason surf ski term is used is because the word “kayak” is costly and often blacklisted by airlines.
Continue relating the boat as similar to a surfboard using the word “surf” repetitively in order to be accepted and earn the surfboard rate. If they charge you $80 be happy, pay your fee, and leave the desk person with a smile.
4. What do if airline will not accept the kayak? Allow them to be in charge from the start, ask them how you can help move the item to where they need it so they will not have extra work, be excited about your “surf ski” adventure, and smile.
If they turn you down and say they don’t accept kayaks then you are going to have to ask them for their help. Going over the top to management is a bad ideal unless worded correct.
“Can I speak to your manager?” is a bad ideal. Note the manager is the one who has trained them to turn kayaks down in the first place. And they will be put in a place where they have to make an example.
Try this instead. “Thank you for your help. Obviously, you realize how important this piece of equipment is to my vacation. Is there anything you can do within your power or someone you can ask or lead me to speak with that can approve this? My apologies for not packing this well, being here earlier… Any help you can offer would make me most appreciative and have a strong positive impact on my vacation.”
Now, you have asked them for genuine help. It is hard to deny wanting to help someone who has been kind and asked for their help.
You may have to be persistent. Keep your eye on being the world champion of gratitude and letting the officials know how much it would benefit your trip. I have stuck out several “no you can not travel with your kayak.” Only to later be allowed based on barraging them with kindness and sticking out the situation.
David Hughes is the founder and director of Huge Experiences’ New River Academy. David continues to teach and lead international trips. For more “Kayak Travel” tips surf to www.kayakschool.org.
