British Airways to refuse kayaks
As of Nov 6th BA are introducing a no kayak policy
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/bagsport/public/en_gb
I agree everyone should email BA to complain.... my complaint is posted below;
Re: Sporting equipment
I read with regret that you will no longer carrying kayaks. I've just travelled with my kayak with you from the UK to Uganda and back. I hope to go back very soon and had thought immmediately of flying with you again, but unfortunately now that you have changed your policy i won't be able. What i find difficult to understand is that the reason "Due to the large size and handling complexities, some sporting equipment cannot be accommodated through the airport baggage system or within the aircraft hold" is strange because prevously to nov6th you were able, but now you can not, so whats changed? Also Brussels airways advertises the fact that it is kayak friendly and surely they have the same complexities as you? It seams that the service is changing to suit the company and not the customer... Looks also like i'll be travelling with Brussels airways next time, and they'll offer free kayak transport if booked through www.kayakthenile.com!
Thanks for your time
Seemingly it's something to do with the new 'state-of-the-art' baggage system at T5 in Heathrow.
The future's so bright I gotta wear a blindfold…
Ross
I am extremely sorry that you are disappointed with our new baggage policy. I can understand how frustrating it is as you will be unable to carry kayaks on your future flights with us.Due to the large size and handling complexities, some sporting equipment cannot be accommodated through the airport baggage system or within the aircraft hold. Your feedback, though, is much appreciated. We monitor what our customers tell us, at every level of the business. For instance, the Board of British Airways see regular accounts of the issues being raised by our customers, together with examples of real comments, word for word. Our Chief Executive and Chairman set aside time each week to personally review a significant number of customer letters and emails. Improvements happen as a result.
I hope that you will reconsider your decision and fly with us again soon.
Best regards
Nazneen Khwaja
British Airways Customer Relations
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If they do actually read and mark up records, then it is worthwhile emailing them to point out your view on no longer carrying kayaks.
with all the talk of airlines not accepting kayaks and the start of a trend, does anyone have any experience with forwarding kayaks and gear by freight or courier to your destination ahead of you?
is it expensive? is it reliable? who to got with to where etc ? eg who ships to africa, canada, u.s.?
I know the lads on the zanskar dvd sent them by DHL?? how did that go any problems?
Just did a quick check on FEDEX website for a 25kg box of sport equipment from waterford to livingstone zam, was €309.97
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7254455.stm
The terminal 4 luggage system was cited as one of the reasons for the kayak ban. Lets hope this puts more pressure on them.
Just to add to mikes comment, has anyone any experience shipping boats to south america?
virgin atlantic have been promoting their surfboard/kayak friendlyness as a pr stunt after the british airways ban. Emirates are reportedly ok too but they may charge excess baggage. Ive no experience of either though.
Ive found ryanair great the way they let you select canoe as a sporting item but ive noticed that lately theyve been hiding extra costs into bringing sports equipment. Bringing a boat and prebooking it online costs €60 return on top of your flight costs now.
they have their priorities all wrong obviously its not about the cost of getting the person there anymore like it should be.
Last year we flew from dublin to grenoble france, The flights were 1c each way taxes were €5 each way and then carrying your kayak was €45 so it cost more to carry your roughly 20-30kg kayak than it did to ship us 60-70+kg lumps of lard!
??
For people heading to africa it also appears that South African Airlines are Kayak Frielndly too.
mike, the basis of low fairs airlines is to eliminate the need for "extras" in the travel, so it effectivly becomes like a hop on and hop off bus, they charge more for kayaks/baggage/whatever so that people will stop bringing them. i can only imagine that the eventual goal is to use the cargo hold for seating too, and herd people like cattle on and off planes, this way they maximise profit. this way eventually they wont need baggage handlers, or check in desks, etc.
however does the itemising of the bill really matter?, paying E45 for a kayak and E5 for the flights is still ALOT cheaper than for example Aer Lingus who will charge around E200, and let you take the kayak for free. however u will encounter no extra hidden costs with Aer Lingus at least you shouldnt!
if its service with a smile you want, dont go low fairs... you only get what you pay for, as for BA, they're just trying to compete with the likes of ryan air, if thats the way they wanna take their company thats fine, another company will step in to fill the void, just wait and see! sure i wouldnt put it past ryan air to get even more kayak friendly to blow competition out of the water!
Tiernan
didn't they stop taking kayaks because people were travelling with broken paddles and claiming that the airline broke them and getting a new pair out of them. it was costing them time and money to take them so they quit.
I know at least one person who did it, bad luck for the rest of us.
Arrive early, Smile and be very polite....
Adrian
Party on People!
i got completely fucked by emirates coming home from uganda...i mean completely fucked
in think this is what he said " well mind your stuff till you get home and send us the money" sure thing
he cited bagage charge but pocketed the money.
watch out anyway.
Whos flyies to the Zambezi and still take boats? I was thinking of going there at the end of August but its looking like a lot of hasslte getting there.
Peter
Apparently South African Airlines do but im still waiting to hear the official from them.
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/custrelform/public/en_gb
Make your feelings known, maybe if there is enough complaints on the new policy they may reconsider.