Hawaiian Airlines Checks Golf Bags

tekko · Since 20 Feb 2006 376 Posts White Salmon Liquid Force

Hein. Thanks for the travel info. Did the straight down to El Paso and the across in the fall... Lonnnnnnng way across TX.

As for pimping.. I really do try to be respectful and not pimp.. while at the same time sharing with the community opportunities for demo, etc.

If I were actually pimping.. everyone would know it. I believe in the realm of things locally... there is much more pimping from others and local companies... and yet no one ever says a word about it.

Bottom line. I am an independant rep. I don't make any $ unless people get stoked and buy LF gear. I don't make any hard sells, talk shit about anything else or try to convince people to buy LF.... rather.. I very proactively go way out of my way to give any interested rider the opportunity to demo the gear, so they can make their own decisions.

There is a lot of really great gear out there this year, ours included... but there are differences.. and people have different tastes, so it is important for ALL the companies to have reps or riders out on the beach to allow the kiting public the opportunity to try the gear and make their own choices about what fits them.

Otherwise.. people just get caught up in hype, forum talk and sales pitches from the shops.. the best way to find out what works best for any rider is for that rider to ride as many different options as possible and then make their decision... hopefully supporting their local shop in the process.

The great thing about the Gorge and Portland is that kiting is big enough here to support multiple shops, that carry almost every brand.. so riders have choices and access to whatever they want.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I'd say Tekko's a pretty dang tame pimp!

alankitesurf2 · Since 21 Jun 2006 81 Posts Â

Went to Maui on Hawaiian last month and had no trouble with extra fees. I use my real golf bag as I think it's just a matter of time before the agents figure out the NSi, naish and slingshot fake bags. I am a golfer so I bring my clubs (and a very lightweight carry bag for the golf clubs inside the main bag) keeping the weight under 50 lbs.The hard side golf bags never get checked and
give great protection. If you have even a couple of clubs rattling against each-other a quick shake of the bag is all you need to convince the agents there are really golf clubs in the bag .Don't expect any sympathy with your letter- more likely to lose the golf and ski bag exemptions than gain any additional perks!

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I haven't sent the letter, instead I sent a flaming bag of poo to Kraemer.

Nak · Fri Feb 29, 08 11:46 am

I'm going to chime in hear and say that I think letters, enough of them, can help. All the airlines care about is making money. If they think they can charge you extra for something, and you'll still fly them, they will charge you. I wouldn't mention anything at all about what bags the gear was in, just that you got charged for checking your kite gear. Let Hawaiian know that their competition, NWA, does not charge for carrying kite gear and therefore you will be flying NWA from now on. This will include all of your business flights as well. It dosen't matter that you don't fly for business, they don't know that. Business travelers bring more revenue to the airline than pleasure travelers, so if they think you're part of that group they'll pay more attention.

PKH, I would also let them know that you run a popular forum, and that people look to this forum for travel advice. Let them know that the advice on your forum will be that people fly on airlines that DON'T charge extra for kite gear. It's possible that they may change their policy...

Bettyboarder · Fri Feb 29, 08 12:15 pm

Send the letter. I think Nak is right. If enough people complain then maybe we can get the airlines to change their policy.

Nak · Fri Feb 29, 08 12:34 pm

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Just checked and it looks like NWA is about the same price as Hawaiian, but just with the stop in Oahu. If you could rig it so you had a 1 day layover in Oahu that could actually be a real bonus.

CrazyC · Since 07 Apr 2007 174 Posts P Town Stoked

Tekko: How much $$$$$$$$$$ to stuff in the van? Word on the travel attitude.

I vote yes on the poooo for kramer.

I payed on my flight to and from SPI. Crying or Very sad

PKH: Send the letter. Why not try?

EdG · Since 19 Dec 2005 425 Posts Just a Kook that's Obsessed

Maybe a letter writing campaign from the crew? This board gets a lot of hits!

sentone · Since 10 Feb 2006 66 Posts Â

lots of good angles here and ya it sucks being put of the spot to drop more coin with out a option....although i havent been rousted but once leaving from pdx it seems the stress of traveling is a coin toss.....for those of you who have time try this........AIR FRIEGHT......take your stuff to the airport a day or two before you leave its best to use the airline your gonna ride lets say hawaiian or aloha......send your stuff by the pound ya its not free but you can take more toys and have less drama ......i think but i havent checked lately its about half the price...that way you travel with less of a load when you get here get your bags and your car then go over to the air frieght terminal pick up your stuff........they use the space available ploy for your gear but lots of planes come and go every day...... the terminal for frieght is a stones throw from where you get off the plane on maui and kauai and the big i not sure about oahu....we learned this process in the wind surf days when traveling with double coffins sail quiver bags masts ect when we would show up at the counter it was a scene and the check in people would bum hard ......for those ridding inter island try to drop your gear off at least acouple flights before your flight ........the air frieght people are way cool the counter folks can be ....well read this post ....they have a hard job and some where the human factor plays in.......any way its something to look at it forsure makes the travel day alittle more smooth Exclamation

broadbandito · Since 26 Apr 2005 342 Posts CSO headwaters WheatHead

One of my first jobs after college was as a writer for a corporate travel magazine. I'm no expert on travel, but it was clear to me that the rules that govern fees are old school and not obviously rational. One of the guidelines for airfare seemed to be tied to how much a traveler was likely to spend on other travel expenses, such as hotels, cars, food, etc. That's why staying over a Saturday night traditionally gets a cheaper airfare--they know you're stuck away from home and you'll need to drop some dough. Why the airlines care if the hotels make extra money is beyond me--but travel is like a big incestuous family and they all want travelers to spend, spend, spend. Corporate devil golfers are good business for airlines as they likely to buy lots of expensive business airfare tickets and travel a lot, with expense accounts rather than personal savings (aka not price sensitive).

The volume of $ helps for sure. If airlines think they can make more money by attracting kiters, they will consider how to be competitive. Letters can't hurt.

Given most of the airlines provide sucky sevice, have disgruntled employees, and are hanging by a bankrupt thread, I think they will do all they can to raise fees and get more revenue from passengers. Many are charging for a second checked bag of ANY size now, unless you are a frequent flier with that airline. I won't be too shocked if golfers have to pay extra soon. Shocked

Sasquatch · Since 09 Mar 2005 2103 Posts PNW Bigfoot

So couple of weeks ago I run into this Trustifarian friend of mine who travels about 7 month outside of the US per year. The blessed invidiual tells me about his most recent travels to some islands off India. So I ask him if he saw any kite borders. He replies, "yes", but not on the water, just at the airport. In 90 plus degree heat, the boarder was wearing most, if not all his travel clothes in order to get his kites and stuff into his check-in bag and be under weight. Wearing two pairs of jeans as well as other items in 90 degree humid heat in an airport and on a plane. . . I could stop laughing.

Anyone ever hear or do any kiting over in India?

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

pkh, ya not going to dig this, but gotta keep it real, man:

you just got back from maui and are hitting spi in april and you'e crowin about $80? wtf?

golfers get a ride but then, shit they have to go out and play GOLF. which compared to kiting is cool if you're like 85 or something.

seems like a pretty screwed up trade-off to me.

stop whining. pay up or stay home. . .

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

it was $160 actually (both me and Nicole got hit.) anyway I am over it, the last post on this was 20 days ago why dig it up and make me feel bad? Wink

I do feel lucky to get to travel around, I am thankful for that.

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

sorry for the harsh tone-bad day. i apologize cause i dig what you do, i know you aint gettin rich on the forum and its a cool place to hang out
. i saw you kite in cozumel and you have my respect.

my bad.

Onad · Mon Mar 24, 08 11:33 am

Yah, man! That’s like ~150 Coronas that pkh could have drank!!! Crying or Very sad