America West Airlines - UNFRIEDNLY TO PADDLERS

[Patrick]

To all paddlers wishing to take their paddles with them free of charge,

BEWARE of America West Airlines.

I recently travelled to Canadian Nationals and unfortunately America West charged me $80 to transport my paddles one-way.

Sadly, they are unwilling to refund this ridiculous charge (although skiis are exempt) and will continue to charge any person transporting a paddle $80 for each leg of their journey.

I suggest you use another airline.

[c1slalom]

[Comment]

After having read your post I read the America West policy.They are a low cost carrier, hence poor paddlers will use them...so its good to know what exactly is the policy.
Total dimensions for carry-on bags may not exceed 45 inches (add length + width + height).

Total dimensions for checked bags may not exceed 80 inches (add length + width + height) and may be subject to the following fees:

Checked Bag Dimensions Fee per Bag
Less than 62" Free
62" to 80" $80
Greater than 80" Send via Sports Express or
other commercial shipper*

Since paddles are more than 62" one has to pay for them.

Very bad indeed!

[JW Lester]

Why is it that European low cost carriers such as Easyjet, Ryanair or Jet2 have reasonable rates (eg. a boat on Jet2 is 15 pound sterling - a paddle just 5) but N. American airlines seem to screw paddlers over at every opportunity - or refuse to fly their gear at all?

Airlines to Avoid:

America West
Air Canada
Alaska/Horizon
Continental
Delta
Northwest/KLM
Southwest

Will take boats, but screw you over with high fees:
American
United
US Air

[Haha]

hey dude!

Which one to fly then? You have black listed all of them....what have we started here?

--cheers!

[JW Lester]

;) My point exactly.

The first list are airlines you simply can't fly on because they will not take your boat. So that leaves you the list of airlines that charge unfair fees. I haven't heard anything about some of the smaller startups like JetBlue or ATA but I wouldn't hold my breath.

US Air is about $80 each way
American is about $100 each way
United Airlines is $127 each way

of course a silver tounge or the gift of gab may help some but I would count on paying and consider yourself lucky if you manage to pay less. In N. America we usually put two boats together so you get 2-4-1 at least.

But in any case you can see a major difference in how European airlines and N. American airlines treat their customers - I fail to see how Jet2 can fly a boat from Belfast to Prague for 15 pounds on a 29 pound plane ticket and United Airlines feels they need $127 to transport the same item from Florida to California on a $300 ticket.