Anyone been charged for boards on Qantas?
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- Huey's Right Hand
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Anyone been charged for boards on Qantas?
I hope you all don't mind me asking for help in researching a story.
Been following up on the ongoing dangers to surfers travelling with board bags in the wake of Ms Corby's troubles. In the process I've had a couple of reports that Qantas has suddenly begun cracking down on surfboard bags -- charging full excess rates when they used to let it slide, etc.
Has anyone had such an experience lately, particularly on an international flight? I got one report of a surfer being charged over $900.
Thanks for any help you can give. If it's not appropriate, moderators, gimme the boot.
Nick
Been following up on the ongoing dangers to surfers travelling with board bags in the wake of Ms Corby's troubles. In the process I've had a couple of reports that Qantas has suddenly begun cracking down on surfboard bags -- charging full excess rates when they used to let it slide, etc.
Has anyone had such an experience lately, particularly on an international flight? I got one report of a surfer being charged over $900.
Thanks for any help you can give. If it's not appropriate, moderators, gimme the boot.
Nick
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I don't have any recent international stories Nick, but I have noticed all domestic airlines getting much stricter with boards - this seemed to happen around the start of the year. Virgin Blue used to just tag my coffin bag and let me take it through to the 'oversize' baggage door myself.. instead, they're now weighing each bag meticulously (same with the other two airlines as well).
However, I haven't been charged excess baggage on any airline as yet (QS, VB, JS), but have heard along the grapevine that it's much more likely on JS than the other two.
However, I haven't been charged excess baggage on any airline as yet (QS, VB, JS), but have heard along the grapevine that it's much more likely on JS than the other two.
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depends on which airport you are at. I took a single board bag out of Sydney on QF to AKL a little whil ago - no worries. Same board bag coming back from NZ cost me $100 checking in at AKL. Check in staff blamed Qantas directives. I didnt get too upset at the time I had just had epic Raglan and I didnt care that much
Nah, its the Kiwis. Officious bunch of so-and-sos.
I flew Air NZ to the US in 2002 for a seminar, and they wanted to charge me excess for my laptop. The bird at the counter had a Kiwi accent.
Never had that problem with QANTAS, or any of the US airlines, or indeed on the return check-in with the US Air NZ staff.
An English expat friend of mine who travels extensively and has settled in NZ mentioned that when he has this trouble with check-in staff, the person behind the counter usually has that same funny eccent, regardless of the airline.
I flew Air NZ to the US in 2002 for a seminar, and they wanted to charge me excess for my laptop. The bird at the counter had a Kiwi accent.
Never had that problem with QANTAS, or any of the US airlines, or indeed on the return check-in with the US Air NZ staff.
An English expat friend of mine who travels extensively and has settled in NZ mentioned that when he has this trouble with check-in staff, the person behind the counter usually has that same funny eccent, regardless of the airline.
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airlines and boards
Not charging but when I got a Jetstar el cheapo from Newc to Gold Coast in April (just went for two days to have a slash at the superbank-yes it was worth it and yes it was more crowded than it looks on coastalwatch and yes I did drop in lots and yes I got dropped in on lots) the turds wouldn't let me check the boards because I was there only an hour before the flight -yea, a frickin' hour. But . . .the fine print on Jetstar ticket does say that you have to be there two hours before the flight if you have a range of things including surfboards.
So . . .what happened? I demanded to see a manager and got a nice PR type who told me that 'due to security compliance issues' the conditions were required to be observed by the airline -not me, but the airline.
I said what the heck do I do and they said that they would allow on this occasion but that it would be noted that I had been warned.
I later thought . . .so this went on my permanent record ?
I pray to Jeebus that my tardiness record will not stop me from entering the US at sometime in the future as apparently they have access to all records ever kept on anyone anywhere.
As for locking my bags, I always use cable ties on an ocean and earth coffin bag.
So . . .what happened? I demanded to see a manager and got a nice PR type who told me that 'due to security compliance issues' the conditions were required to be observed by the airline -not me, but the airline.
I said what the heck do I do and they said that they would allow on this occasion but that it would be noted that I had been warned.
I later thought . . .so this went on my permanent record ?
I pray to Jeebus that my tardiness record will not stop me from entering the US at sometime in the future as apparently they have access to all records ever kept on anyone anywhere.
As for locking my bags, I always use cable ties on an ocean and earth coffin bag.
Hawaiin Airlines yes
Earlier this year Hawaiin Airlines charged me US$80.00 for my surfboard from Hawaii to Australia. Going from Australia, the Australian staff for Hawaiin Airlines were cool enough to waived the charged to Hawaii.
Unfortunately, it's also an additional US$25.00 between any two points in Hawaii. The charge will cover two boards if they're in the same board cover. It all adds up if you're going island hopping. What annoyed me the most was that the inter island flights were always half full, so cargo space would not have been at a premium and I also had minimal lugguge to check in.
Unfortunately, it's also an additional US$25.00 between any two points in Hawaii. The charge will cover two boards if they're in the same board cover. It all adds up if you're going island hopping. What annoyed me the most was that the inter island flights were always half full, so cargo space would not have been at a premium and I also had minimal lugguge to check in.
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