Quick note to say had really good experience with QANTAS (again) getting my gear to WA from QLD and back, no easy task this year with 3 kids under 12 and a +12 week old!
They even helped carry by board to oversize! or at least tried!
Kids all used carry on Bags nothing in the cargo, that allowed a 3 bags + board bag and rig bag.
no extra charges nothing, key Number is 32kg, kit bag has to stay under that which isnt that easy, the other key factor is rain, you dont want any of it and ensure board, sail etc is 100% dry before packing to keep weight down.

I have lucked it with the rain issue on all my trips, but the more I think about it the more I relaise it could throw everything pear shaped!

firiebob said...
Qantas did a pretty good job of taking the rocker out of my last board

Maybe they'd seen some of your Green Island footage Bob and realised you don't need a whole lot of rocker tucked in behind the barrier reef on that crystal clear water.....

Nice to know.

That's a big haul with 4 kids - to WA. Good wife???!!!

More importantly, how was the sailing?

I have 3 kids (9 & under) so I get it.

just so many windy days there compared to the east coast!

Big deal or not they still tin fruited my board, do I blame Qantas of course not, I blame the brain dead clown who on the day didn't give a poop but was charged with looking after my baby. I guess for that reason I shouldn't have mentioned Qantas, but it's not always going to be roses for for everyone, my experience.

I dunno about carting gear, but our last trip east was with virgin, the best flight yet. New 'plane, free food and beer, and sexy hostess's
Last Quantas trip the chicks were old stinkers, grumpy, and cut us off after 2 beers!
The 'plane was so old it still had the ashtray in the armrest!

I just followed up on your question about damaged gear, and was surprised how seriously Qantas take it internally.
Essentially Qantas know who the baggage handlers are on every flight, and monitor complaints (as baggage respect is all part of the modern service requirements).

In fairness, transporting windsurfing boards is not exactly their speciality and lets face it, the boards are not exactly build for taking knocks...
I guess that is why we have to sign a disclaimer every-time we give them a piece of over sized luggage.

Interesting then that when i went to Taranaki in October from Darwin, qantas flat out refused to carry windsurfing equipment on the domestic leg from Darwin to Sydney. International is apparently fine but domestic is no go and confirmed in the fine print.
Keen to know how you got away with getting it from Qld to WA?

DarrylG said...
I will see how they go tomorrow night. How strict are they on the max length? My largest sail is just over 3.0 m.

I was thinking about you when I read this thread
Good luck with Qantas & the racing

Carantoc said...

easty said...

Spocktek said...
I dunno about carting gear, but our last trip east was with virgin, the best flight yet... and sexy hostess's
Last Quantas trip the chicks were old stinkers, grumpy, and cut us off after 2 beers!

Mmmm, well I guess 20 years ago the airlines would actively employ "sexy hostess's", then when they turned 30 or whatever age they were deemed "less sexy", or took maternity leave, they'd be sacked and replaced by a new younger "sexy hostess".
Maybe that's why anti-discrimination laws came in - imagine being sacked because you weren't young and "sexy", although with age and maturity you were excellent at your job.
Those "old stinkers" you disgracefully refer to were most likely "sexy hostesses" when they started working for Qantas, and they probably only let you have 2 beers because they've been in the industry long enough to know someone who shouldn't have more.
Hey is your wife / girlfriend sexy? You going to call her an "old stinker" when she gets older? Sack her for a younger model?

Fair enough I get your point, but when the arse is too big to fit down the isle perhaps a different career path is in order. Perhaps hostess training, management or some land based vocation where the pilot doesn't have to trim the left aeroloins when the loins are on the right side of the plane ?

Good pilot training surely?
Getting a bit close to my favorite pet hate - excess baggage vs passenger weight. Won't go there.

Actually the Metro in Tas has put overly heavy bus drivers on notice - their seats are rated to safely carry (I forget, but 140 - 160Kg), and any drivers over that are getting free help and gym memberships to help them lose weight, that's good policy!

On my experiences with the Qld WA gig, I also should add the following, (3 yrs in a row all good!)

I get to the terminal early, pre booked seats on line, super polite, mrs does really well with that!

Travel light and small, so that's 1 board under 250 so typically a wave board or 100-110 slalom, 1 set of rig gear 2 fins, 1 sail ( wave would be 2).
So my board bag is not much bigger than a large surf board bag and my rig bag is like 2.3 x .5 x . 35 approx and no more than 30kg.

The rig bag has wheels and handles at each end.

So it's all not big or heavy, just a bit awkward, I wouldn't want to try it with big gear or lots of.
The two bags actually strap together but that's seen as too big and heavy and they didn't like it, so I present it as 1 x bag oversize and 1 x sport equip.

If you keep it light and around 2.5 max length can't see that you would strike any issues.

When I first did it I tried contacting Qantas first for advise, that was hopeless so just did the above and has worked well.

They weigh your gear at oversize and also check that two persons can safely and easily handle your gear, so need to keep that in mind also.

Just checked in 60 kg plus gear. Very easy, very helpful. 1 bag 2 formula sails and 2 masts, 1 bag boom and misc incl clothes, 1 bag formula board / witty etc. only had to pay an extra $40 as two bags where over 23 kg, ( approx 26 / 28).
Best tip is to bring your own skate board, made moving the pile of gear very easy by yourself, then at check in just put in it in the boom bag.

Gear just needs to waiting for me now tomorrow morning. Confident it will all be there ok. The little hire car will be the next challenge.

DarrylG said...
All made it. Looks in good nick. They even got it off the plane first before everyone else's bags. Great service. 12.0m sails (3.1m long) fit into a rav 4 just

Yeh, but did you