Longboard air travel

Hi all!

Just bought a Phantom 377, will pick it up at Miami beginning of september and need to bring it to cancun, any advice to convince the nice ladies at the American Airlines counter to allow my board on the plane?

Thanks!

Jorge

[Remi]

Hi Jorge,

Good choice

But this will be very difficult, you have to ask all the companies before pay your flight ticket if they can accept it.
Despit all the stupid rules they make to make more money, the true is that almost any plane can get it, they have container of 3m max but over the container their is plently space, just more difficult to put it their but working perfectly.
Good luck

Thanks for The input Remy! I guess I'll have to wing it and pray then!!! Any advice on riding and caring for the board? Also how can I register for the forum?

Regards,

Jorge

[Remi]

Hi Jorge,

Did you get this bag with your board?

https://vimeo.com/35560156

And a video of the board in action who can help to have the good position on the board :

https://vimeo.com/28880323

All the best

[Gyurmo]

hi jorge,

dont try travelling without the perfect bag - what remi mentioned. i use to put my wet suits to the nose and to the end of the board. that save my extra weight and little bit more durable.

check the airlines' official offers - huge differences!! choose that offer which give fix price per item or size, not weight price.

its just a roumor...!!! some of the airlines have fix price for different sport tools. in this case you can try EVERY nice ladies at the desk and one of them wont know for sure what is the different between surf and windsurf. stay with her and check your gear in as a surf board. of course this is not an official solution and only the criminals try this way... - as i said just a roumor... some years ago from st thomas to atlanta cost 70 bucks.

gyurmo

Hi Remi and Gyoumo,

Unfortunately the store didnt have the bag and we didn't get an answer from the distributor in time, so I'll have to make do with a SUP bag and loads of bubble wrap.

I'll try to get it I the plane in its original box, if that's not possible I'll get it in the sup bag and pray.

How the guys in the race board circuit do it?!?!?!?!?

All the best,

Jorge

[Gyurmo]

check the bag's tickness. 10mm needed minimum. the bubble wrap can help a lot if you have enough place between the board and the bag.

gyurmo

Hi Remi!

I got back yesterday from Miami, where I picked up my new Phantom 377. I had no trouble with the airline and the board is in mint condition, no dings!

I'm setting it up but I notice a couple of things:

No K9 anti-twist inserts where supplied with the board. How can I prevent the straps from twisting?
No tiki tool supplied
When the centerboard is fully retracted it seems to press down (a little) on the mast track pedal, is this normal?

Boards looks great! Can't wait to give it a go tomorrow, it's exciting to get back on a raceboard since the last time I sailed my Mistral One Design more than 10 years ago!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Since I've noticed is thread has plenty of views and for completeness sake, I want to write how I managed to get such a large board on board a plane...

I was flying from Miami to Cancun on American Airlines. It was surprisingly easy to get the board on the plane... I just let the guys doing check-in on the sidewalk handle it! They do charge a small fee, but they know how to handle things and to which airline representative talk to, the lady at the counter didn't as much a bat an eyelash when he saw the humongous board!!! I even tipped the sidewalk guy, it was definitely worth it.

Make sure you get a nice travel bag and that you protect your rail, bottom and mast track with extra cardboard and bubble wrap the nose and tail, also be aware they the airline will charge a substantial fee for taking the board...

Good luck on your travels!