Boatwerks.net

Hi,
I'm going to Costa Rica this december and I'm looking for an airline who will let me bring a JK Vilain with me.
I'm flying Montreal to San Jose.
Thanks for your helps?

Patrick Levesque

I've done it with Air Canada in the past but there are a couple of things to think of regardless who you go with:

1. Consider using a boat bag. I made one out of a $10 blue tarp and nylon thread, there are commercial ones available though. I also used some cheap nylon rope through the grab loops to make handles for the baggage people (I figure you have a better chance of your gear making where you need it in one piece on time if you make it as easy as possible for people to deal with it).

2.Find out what restrictions they have on size and weight. You might need to drop it at the airport a day or two early and pick it up at the oversize counter when you get to costa rica, or pay a little extra.

3. Think about calling it something other than a kayak at the counter when you drop it off. Coming home from NZ I called my boat a surfski, which wasn't questioned because it was in a bag. I've heard that the word 'kayak' red flags the package because Air Canada has had trouble with fragile touring and slalom boats being destroyed en route, though I've never had any trouble myself.

4. Be early and courteous. In my experience being nice to the person behind the counter makes weight and dimension limits flexible.

Good luck

Andrew

@bliss-stick canada Was it a creek boat?

From my experience, air canada does not accept longer than 203cm, so a playboat is fine but not a creekboat.
Let me know if you had succes in the past with a creek boat!

Thanks you for your information

Patrick

as far as creekers goes you gonna have to send it via cargo... its defn the more expensive option

Patrick,

moi, je pense que les kayaks sont completement interdites au AC maintenant , meme les playboats.

Dan