It is the INCONSISTENCY by airlines which I find most annoying when travelling with paddlegear. I have carried my two piece paddle as cabin baggage [wrapped in bubble wrap], having insisted that the paddle is too fragile to be left to the tender mercies of baggage handlers. One trip I stowed it in the overhead lockers; one trip it travelled with the suits in the firstclass wardrobe while its owner slummed it in economy... I have travel with my Klepper and despite the worst attentions of the handlers, it has survived, but only because I have packed everything in bubble wrap AND padded and taped each end of the Klepper bags. Even so, they have managed to punch holes in the bags... I can't do much about the long frame bag [ I just pretend its a big golf bag ],BUT the hull I pack in a suitcase,which gives it the best protection. Also saves having to explain that yes, it IS a boat.... Every time I travel I get a different story from the airline [s]. It all seems very subjective, and the rules seem to change with the seasons, the pertaining security level, and the latest bit of cost-cutting... a bit like the lottery of dealing with over-weight luggage, and camping gear in general. PeterR -----Original Message----- From: Joyce Family Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Paddles in Airports Rob: I packed my Greenland paddles in 4" PVC inside my ski bag when I went to Alaska. People in Alaska who noticed it would ask me nonchalantly, "Gun or fishing rod?" The ski bag took a beating somewhere between Juneau and O'Hare but the PVC did its job. Tom *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Ixnay the idea of carrying a paddle through Albuquerque, NM. My wife tried to bring her new 2-piece Werner Kaliste home at Christmas and was stopped by security. It was bubble wrapped in the original shipping box. Apparently since the local TSA guys hadn't dealt with a kayak paddle before and it wasn't on their list of approved sporting goods she wasn't allowed to pass through. They kept referring to it as an oar and said it could be used as a weapon onboard the plane. Yeah right! Like the kid that carried on the skateboard or the guy with the guitar wasn't any more of a threat. We might have just had an a-hole security boss that was not going to be convinced, but unless it's listed we didn't have a legal argument. I vowed to, yet never followed through, writing a letter to ACA and asking them to help get kayak gear listed as legitimate airline carry on luggage. We ended up almost missing our flight and having to ship the thing home through a friend. Chris Kuhlman Seabrook *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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