Hi All. I'm on my way to do some more sea kayaking on the island of Elba, Italy. I'm flying San Francisco (to Paris) to Florence via Air France and would like to take one of my wooden Greenland paddles with me. Last year, when I flew Florence to SF, I had only one suitcase and check a 7 foot plus paddle as my second bag with no problem. This year, I called the information line and they told me the rules, that an item over 7 feet counts as two bags, no matter what the weight. I have a 7.5 foot paddle, and a 7 ft. paddle. The agent on the phone also told me that if I again just show up with the paddle, they may just let me through again, with no extra charge. But if I make a reservation for the paddle, they would be sure to charge me. Also, this year I'm thinking of taking 2 bags insteaf of only one (more camera and hiking equipment.) Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? Barbara Richmond, California * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * --*--*-- Barbara Kossy Communications voice: 510-234-3479 fax: 510-234-6615 * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- *--* -- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Barbara Kossy wrote: > Last year, when I flew Florence to SF, I had only one suitcase and check a 7 > foot plus paddle as my second bag with no problem. > > This year, I called the information line and they told me the rules, that an > item over 7 feet counts as two bags, no matter what the weight. I have a 7.5 > foot paddle, and a 7 ft. paddle. > > The agent on the phone also told me that if I again just show up with the > paddle, they may just let me through again, with no extra charge. > > Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? > This was the subject of a Car Talk puzzler recently. Call them back and ask if you can send a box 52" on a side as a 2nd bag. A 7.5 foot paddle just happens to fit in there diagonally. Steve *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Steve Cramer wrote: > ... > This was the subject of a Car Talk puzzler recently. Call them back > and > ask if you can send a box 52" on a side as a 2nd bag. A 7.5 foot > paddle > just happens to fit in there diagonally. Actually, I think that this is a bit off. I just did the calculation, and the diagonal of such a box is approximately 90.6". This provides .6" more than would be required for a 7.5' rod, but a paddle is not a rod--it is a rod with blades attached. I suspect that the blades would prevent the ends of the paddles from reaching the corners of the box, in which case you will need the box to be a tad over 52" (unless the ends of the paddle come to within .3" of the corners--you do have that extra .6" to work with). Dan Hagen Bellingham, Washington *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions about how to fly with a 7.5 foot paddle. I'm particularly impressed with the idea of putting a paddle, on the diagonal, into a box. I think what I'll do is just show up at the gate with the paddle, neatly boxed (I already have a long box). From most reports I've received it seems that airline officials will "close their eyes" and let it through with no extra charge. I may have my friend who drops me off wait a bit, because if there is a charge that's high, I do have the option to leave the paddle behind. Happy paddling (and flying), Barbara * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * --*--*-- Barbara Kossy Communications voice: 510-234-3479 fax: 510-234-6615 * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- * -- *--* -- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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