Families often ask, “How does the New River Academy fly with their kayaks?” “We fly with them.” Flying with your kayak may be intimidating at first but it is only slightly more difficult than flying with normal luggage.

The goal with this whitewater kayak school travel segment is to teach you how to fly internationally with your kayak gear at an economical rate.

Lets 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 company but don’t count on it.

I most often use US Airways and United Airlines.

Know weight and size allowance: Bags are free under 50 pounds, but will be classified as oversize based on dimensions. Your max limit maybe around 115” (l+w+h) and typically = $80 fee. Freestyle kayaks are around 74” hl+ 13” h + 25” w. Check the oversize baggage allowance for your airline.

(c) Morgan Tidd

Daniel Stewart measures boat dimensions. 

1. Packing your kayak you will need: packing tape, sharpie, strap, boat bag or alternative kayak wrap.
   1. Label each piece of gear.
   2. Stuff lite weight items like fleece, dry tops, skirts, 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.
   3. 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.
   4. 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.

(c) Morgan Tidd

A disposble tarp can also serve as a ground cloth.  Plus, it is not an awkward piece of gear you will have to carry.

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 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?

1. Checking in:
   1. Show up 3 hours early. You have large luggage and if the plane is nearly full the counter person is more likely to turn you down. If you are one of the earliest then there is less stress related to an over packed plane belly. Plus, you will want the extra time to carry your heavy gear.
   2. What to say. Avoid the word “Kayak.” The word “Kayak” is an expensive word that is often charged twice as much as other similar sized items. I always call my craft 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.” If the person behind the counter says to you, “that looks a lot like a kayak.” Smile at her and say, “Has anyone told you have a wonderful smile today? Yes, I agree. We do sit on these and surf them in the ocean.”

I keep relating it to a surf board because I want the surf board rate. If they charge you $80 be happy, pay your fee, and leave the desk person with a smile.

4. What if airline will not accept the kayak? I have traveled internationally with a kayak for 12 years now and always have been able to nicely convince the desk person to allow the kayak. Allow them to be in charge from the start, ask them how you can help move the kayak 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.

EG- “Can I speak to your manager?” is a bad ideal.

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 nothing but kind.

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.

Go Huge Kayaking in your international destination.