Taking the stress out of air travel WITH SPORTING EQUIPMENT

Active travel is on the rise. More people want their travel to include shredding mountain trails, catching fish, hitting the slopes or riding the waves. While the thought of flying with sports equipment can be daunting, there are ways to keep your equipment safe in the air. After all, a player’s performance is often impacted by whether or not they are using their own equipment.

So whether you are a golfer, a rock climber or deep-sea diver, there are ways to navigate the details of air travel with sporting equipment. First and foremost, you will be off to a good start when you let the airline know in advance by sending an email to info@flynamibia.com.na

Here is a list of things to know about air travel with extra equipment that will make the experience easier and more enjoyable.

What are the sporting goods allowances that do not cost extra?

Individual sports persons or sports groups will be permitted sporting equipment packed as one piece with a maximum weight of 15 kg on top of the free checked baggage allowance allocated on the ticket. This means if you are flying economy class, you are allowed 20 kg of normal luggage and 15 kg for sporting goods. In other words, if you add golf clubs, your total free weight allowance is 35 kg and you will only be charged for excess baggage if you exceed 35 kg.

What are the size limitations for sporting goods?

Individual sports items with maximum dimensions of two metres are permitted. Sports items exceeding these dimensions cannot be transported as checked baggage and must be sent as cargo.

Your sporting goods must have a total dimension of no more than 155 cm and must have at least one flat surface.

Bulky items without a flat surface could damage the baggage handling system, so if your baggage exceeds the conventional baggage requirements, special handling will be required.

What else do you need to know?

Sports equipment bags and cases may not contain clothing or other personal items. They must be used only to carry sports equipment.

What if your sport of choice is music or photography?

Perhaps your travel equipment of choice is a large musical instrument. You should be aware that your instrument is not permitted in the aircraft cabin and will need to be checked in with a “fragile” sticker attached. You will also be required to sign a limited release tag. Make sure to keep your musical instrument in a hard case for protection, and to inform the airline three business days before you travel so that necessary arrangements can be made.

If your sport of choice is photography, you are allowed to travel with your equipment (lenses and cameras) onboard the aircraft at no extra charge, as long as your equipment is not heavier than 8 kg and not exceeding a total dimension of 155 cm.

Other photographic equipment such as lighting equipment or tripods must be packed in cases or boxes and transported as checked baggage.

If your cameras or lenses are heavy, you are allowed to carry on this equipment of up to 50 kg onboard, but you will be charged an excess baggage rate. Also, your bags will be tagged with a SkyCheck tag and placed on the SkyCheck facility during boarding. Again, make your reservations for these services no later than 72 hours prior to departure. Here too, you will need to attach a “fragile” sticker and to sign a limited release tag.

TRAVEL HACKS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS

Here is a list of hacks that professionals found most useful when travelling with their equipment. Perhaps what worked for them will work for you.

Be prepared – Gerhard Erasmus, Namibian cricket captain

“Pack soft equipment on the outside to protect fragile or expensive equipment. Invest in a solid case or a good bag. Always ask for a “fragile” sticker. It is important to zip-tie or lock your bags.”

It’s all about how you pack – Jo-Joe Hamunyela, Namibian professional cyclist and founder of Jo Joe’s Cycling Academy

“As a cyclist who has represented Namibia a couple of times, I like to travel with my bike in a bike box. The shipment boxes that they come in, I found this to offer more protection for my bike than a bike bag. If you don’t have a box, most bike shops should be able to help you with a spare box. When you travel, you need to dismantle your whole bike first. This means removing the seat, handlebar, wheels and even loosening your derailleur because these are very sensitive. You don’t want to get on your bike on the other side of the world and find something broken. Once everything is dismantled, I wrap my bike in bubble wrap and then put it into a cardboard shipping box.”

Check your dimensions – Justine Braby, Surfer/Skater

“The dimensions allowed by the airline make a difference. I’ve always travelled internationally with surfboards a lot smaller than six feet. This made a difference when going to Australia, or to Mexico via Germany. But when in Mexico, if you travel regionally you have to pay a large amount extra to fly with your board, making it cheaper to rent a board wherever you’re going to or even buy a board there and sell it when you leave. It’s good to check with the airline before you travel to know what their policies are. When travelling with my skateboard or surfskate, I always take the trucks off.”

Take only what you need –Sky Ilifa, Videographer

“If you have to think twice if you’re going to need an item, then don’t take it. Travel light and be minimal in your packing. If you’re taking a tripod, rather use one that can fit into your checked-in luggage.”

CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE

Check out FlyNamibia's Conditions of Carriage for more information: www.flynam.com