I am going to Maui for a couple of weeks.
Has anyone had an experience with Air Canada 158cm/oversize kiteboarding equipment charges?
Also, any car rental experiences, recommendations?

Cram would know.

used a nsi golf bag that was oversized before to hawaii, i also brought a luggage bag for cloths, and a cary on for no extra charge,

just make sure if you got a golf bag you tell them you got, golf equipment, right now im trying to get these medical bags

so i could say im carrying medical equipment for a trade show these bags are alot bigger because when i fly to cabarette they don't believe i got golf equipment because im so young haha

I know about a golf bag trick but do not have one at the moment.
I was just wondering how particular they are when they know it is kiteboarding equipment, and any board bag is obviously bigger than 158cm.

Hey Jan

I've travelled with AC and Westjet and with a board bag larger than 158cm with no issues (Cabrinha 165cm Golfbag). While AC states the 158cm limit on their site I've never heard of them checking (not saying they never would). The weight seems to be the main thing - just make sure you keep it under 50lbs and you should be fine. I've never had to conceal that fact that it is kite equipment.

My trips have been to the Caribbean - but I would think Maui is the same.

Craig

Thanks Craig.

Just came back from Maui with Air Canada with a surfboard bag and a normal Dakine kite/board bag. Both were oversize but also under weight. The kite bag was a bit over the 158cm, but they didn't have an issue with it (never had a issue with that bag with multiple airlines).
The surfboard bag being a bit longer and obviously a surf board, they charge $50 instead of the standard $25. So not a big deal.

But at the end, on the way there the lady at the counter couldn't get my credit card to work, so gave me all my bags for free... and on the way back they forgot to charge me for the surfboard bag. Pretty happy with that!

If you phone AC ahead of time and tell them you have kiting equipment, and stay within your baggage and weight limits, there is no extra charge. They do have restrictions on size (I think 210cm) and you can't be over 70lbs, even if you pay. It is all on their website.

i normally travel with a 6ft Surfbag and it's almost always free.

get there super early, be really nice, and they'll either not bother to charge you (extra work) or just forget.

i would say i get charged maybe once out of every 4/5 flights...
AC/westjet/United

coming home the golf bags normally aren't going to fool anyone when Naish and Cabrinha are written on them

oh and bring your 6m
it's summertime!!

Has anyone even seen a tape measure at a check-in counter? Its not like they are going to measure it if you are within reason. The 165cm dimension is supposed to be the total BTW so even if you have a 130 cm board you will likely be larger than this dimension as you have to consider the width and depth with bindings.

I have yet to have a problem with a golf bag with AC, United or Westjet, 2 kites, board, harness, helmet, shorty wetsuit and bar...usually comes to about 49 lbs. As someone else stated, keep it under 50.

Oh and I have had numerous conversations with ticket staff about golf as I typically wear a Strata golf hat when checking in. Not that you need to go to this extreme but i think its fun. One Indian ticket guy with AC even said to me, "oh your wife isn't golfing? that's o.k. its really a mans sport anyhow!" lol

lol - but yet i have seen numerous measuring tapes at check in counters!

"things that make you say hmm..." Is that dating myself?

Take advice from Chris he is much better traveled than I. I have heard stories about travelling with 2/3 surfboards!

rockin this triple in a 6'7 at the moment.

looked at the one with wheels but found they added 10lbs!

How much are those bags worth and who carrys them?

10 lbs less with no wheels is alot when packing a board bag

cheers, BK