Having a fine time over here in Indo but it cost me a bit more to get here than i expected. Only brought one surfboard, one kite board, two kites and minimal other gear and still came in at 32kg's.
Thats 12 kg's over the miesly 20 kg allowance, and that is with me carrying on perhaps 10 kg's.
the $20 a kg is over the top - perhaps $5 - $10 could be ok. - the tickets where not that cheap and in fact they end up charging me in US $, which I was not aware of - that sucked to.
So they hit me up for another $240 just to get here and when I go back it will be the same again plus any extra with gear I buy - so as you can imagine i think it is pretty rude. (all up extra $500 or so)
Only by letting other crew know that this company will treat you like this if you pursue a couple of these fantastic water sports, if some people start voting with there bookings it could make a difference in the future.
I won't be flying with them again.
Yeah its tough paying excess but I think you’ll find all of those charges are clearly spelt out somewhere before you buy your ticket.
Flyer beware!
Just a tip Ioz..........
Make sure your gear is as dry as possible when you're flying back. Damp gear can easily add another 3-5 kilos to your overall baggage weight, and Jetsar will gladly charge you for every additional gram. 
Went with Crapstarthe past few years-going with Garuda next week-full service airline and much more generous with baggage.
Garuda have a mixed safety record to say the least! I would definitely think twice about fly Garuda inside Indo as the planes are so old and dodgie... No problems flying International with them but try not to fly internally with them unless u have too and it's from experience that I say this!
merpati is the real one to watch for, last time i flew with them inter-islands they did their pre flight safety check by bashing the wings with a rubber mallet, i kid you not!
i think they name changed to adam air to throw off their dismal safety record... garuda is fine international and very generous with over weight luggage, came home last season with 42kgs of crap and after some animated pleading and begging and showing my passport to show how often i visit indo with garuda, they let me bring it all home sans excess charge.
going with jet star in nov only cause the ticket was free, not looking forward to trying to get my sup on board.
You can pre-buy your excess baggage with Jetstar.
Nationally it is $10 per kilo over but pre-bought it's like $6.
I presume you can do this internationally as well.
yeah, went with Garuda recently. They allowed 15kgs for sports stuff per/p. The 2 of us had 30kgs excess to play with, worked out well with 2 kites, board, etc.
Would suck if you had to pay more for your excess than the flight.
Just got back form the Cook Islands and where on Pacific Blue they used the old Virgin Blue baggage rules (1 bag of sports equipment = 5kg of your allowance) stuffed us up a bit but they where saying that all international Pacific Blue flights are still supposed to be using that rule.
Internally in Aus Virgin Blue is 28kg total
I would have a look at what it would cost to box up your kites and ship them back with a separate courier. Just make sure you insure it just in case. May work out cheaper.
Recently flew to Vanuatu and had a kite bag with gear 28 kgs. plus another bag 5kgs
The Jetstar flight to Brisvegas they slugged me, even though I paid full fare, The check in was a real hassel, and they shuffle you all around the air port to get sorted.
On the other hand,
The Virgin - Pacific Blue were excellent, (Brisvegas to Port Villa) no questions, nothing a problem, no extra charges, and all smiles.
I avoid Jetstar if I can, I have found that usually paying a bit more for the ticket with either Qantas or Virgin, works out more economical that trying to skimp on things with Jetstar.
While talking about airlines, if you ever decide to Fly to South America, do not use Aerolinas (Argentinean Airlines). It's cheaper, but when you get on the plane you will know why. No entertainment, the worst food I have ever experienced, and delays and flight cancellations are the norm. Use LAN Chile' or Qantas. LAN have all reasonably new planes, comfortable and reliable, with the new sort of entertainment systems.
Happy Travels
the airlines are certainly making it more of a challenge for us to travel and heavy penalties for us if we are over.. so far ive been pinged once in the last 3 years and have not repeated that episode.. make sure u do your homework and find out the airlines allowance.. i only fly with a 129 twin tip and a 130cm kitebag and it gets me thru the check in at airports.. the airlines are very strict about checkin luggage been a certain weight but lax on the carry on luggage.. if your taking a surfboard or SUP with u then theres no escape.. i fly air asia alot and they have a 15 kg limit and will ping u for any obvious sports board u have.. and now will actually ask u to open your bag to make sure your not telling fibbies about it.. as long as the board is at the bottom of the bag and there are clothes on the surface there isnt a prob.. ive been cleared everytime.. with air asia having the 15 kg limit i have to carry the bar/lines and harness and kite on me and get thru with a smile.. it wont last forever but its good while it is.. more money for beer :)
I always put all the heavy stuff in an oversized carry on bag, I've never had one of these weighed . You always see people carry on those huge carry on bags, just be one of them.
Dunno but I can get 2 kites board and gear at 20kgs. I just take minimal clothes
2 kites, twin tip, surfboard is around 19 kgs if packed in a board bag. When going to bali wear the oldest clothes you have and buy the rest over there as you throw out your old rags. Bag limits are LIMITS, expect to pay more if youre over. Poor airlines are crying poor
travel qantas, pay the extra, get a meal, quality service and relaxed baggage limits or winge like old mate ioz about a few bucks for his surfing and kite quiver!
next he'll be winging that the guy sitting next to him was wearing a singlet stubbies and thongs.....sheesh.
That happened to me when returning from a season at the snow last year, tried hitting me up for $300 I ended up putting on two pairs of board pants, both my snow jackets, carrying on such things as snowboard boots and bindings....still coast me like $140 but managed to half the original price atleast!!!
woah. i find some of these posts a bit rich.
i'm not on the side of the airlines, but they do spell out what they can charge you, it's not some magical made up on the spot secret. if their terms seem unfair, fly a different airline or to a different place.
the fact that a person is kitesurfing at all, and further, that they can afford regular travel to do so already puts them in a pretty darn fortunate group of humanity. if i could afford an international holiday each year and as much kite gear as some people seem to have, i'd just get on and enjoy it.
as it is i'm stoked to have a twintip and two second hand kites and a public transport system to get me to the beach. but i guess if connex and yarra trams wanted to start charging me to take my toys to the beach, i'd have a whinge too ...
Put my helmet on for the photos taken by my mates before checking in... nearly checked in wearing it just for a laugh.
sounds like nobody is weighing thier stuff before they go to the airport...they just go and hope they are under...couple of kites...couple of boards..and the rest of the stuff...bingo!! your way over...and who wants to go if you cant take all the toys...you can pre purchase kilos when you buy your ticket, and it will be a lot cheaper than what the smiling lady at check in will charge you, and if your still over you can say oh come on give us a break! i've allready bought extra kilos, and you have more chance of them waving you through...workes for me...oh and go vigin or garuda.
Yes - the excess cost me more than the original ticket,
that can't be right - can it ?
